Ice-T started in 1982 out with other West Coast rap pioneers such as Kid Frost, DJ Flash, and The Egyptian Lover with Electro recordings. Later on, he changed his style and was the first West Coast rapper to be accepted by the East Coast. 6 'n The Mornin is sometimes seen as the track that triggered the whole gangster rap movement. It was produced by The Unknown DJ, who produced electro funk tracks before and went on to produce Compton's Most Wanted. The song was inspired by Schoolly D's "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" and became itself the inspiration for Eazy-E and N.W.A's Boyz-N-The-Hood. Ice-T went on to work with Afrika Islam, the man behind the beats on 1987's Rhyme Pays, 1988's Power and 1989's The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say.
He also is a star in Law in Order: Special Victims Unit.
In 1992 he created the crossover band Body Count with 4 other black musicians.
Real
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pop out with 2,000 in my jeans thats just the back pocket
Diamonds dripping all up on the floor
Wet sign they need to mop it
Now they see me taking off JayIce to
Lil Johnny rocket
Use to wear jays now i pop out with Balenciagas
Ik my granny watching
Haters see me elevating
They cant do nothing bout it
So they hating from a distance
They just hate and watch it
I get new whips and wreck em
I couldve gave back so they call a nigga selfish
I left sum niggas back, now they mad I couldnt help em
I heard he snitching call em mr soulja boy tell em
He sending threats cuz his girl head up on my pelvis
I'm head hunting
Looking for them niggas they just got pronounced dead on me
Now I gotta hide cuz a nigga know the feds coming
Never been a killer but you know Im never scared homie
Tried to spread love but they tried to put the led on me
Now I need a rag cuz I went and got this red on me
I got all these shooters so I never had to kill nothing
Said he wanted smoke and when he got it I aint see him puffin
And I'm with Triple R bringing heat just like a fucking oven
These niggas know Im with the bull shit
These niggas like to use they fingers they aint doing shit
I spent 3,000 on this fit lil bitch I'm too legit
It aint no mileage on this whip im in the newest shid
Showing them lil diamonds on the gram that shid dont cost shid
Left my lil hoe inside the hood I need a boss bitch
Enough of all that flaw shit
My young nigga off shit
Heard he want smoke we pull up on em and exaust shit
These niggas playing police games and I aint here for that
You got my name all in yo mouth you can get killed for that
I heard them niggas took yo shid boy where yo pistol at
Nigga take my shid and Imma find out where my victim at
Im head hunting
Looking for them niggas they just got pronounced dead on me
Now I gotta hide cuz a nigga know the feds coming
Never been a killer but you know Im never scared homie
Tried to spread love but they tried to put the led on me
Now I need a rag cuz I went and got this red on me
I got all these shooters so I never had to kill nothing
Said he wanted smoke and when he got it I aint see him puffin
And im with Triple R bringing heat just like a fucking oven
In Ice-T's song "Real," he talks about his success and the haters that come with it. The first verse begins with him bragging about his money and expensive items, such as having $2,000 in his back pocket and wearing Balenciagas instead of Jordans. He mentions his come up story, particularly going from a school nobody to being a hot topic. He also addresses the haters who are jealous of his success but can't do anything about it except watch from a distance.
In the second verse, Ice-T talks about his enemies and how he handles them. He embodies the idea of "head hunting," saying that those who come for him will end up dead. He mentions not being afraid to defend himself and how he has shooters who will do it for him. He ends the verse by reiterating his allegiance to his crew, Triple R, who bring the heat like a "fucking oven."
Overall, "Real" is a song about Ice-T's success and the threats that come with it. He is confident in his abilities and his crew, and is not afraid to defend himself against those who come for him. The song highlights the harsh realities of being famous and how it can attract unwanted attention and jealousy.
Line by Line Meaning
Money the only option
The singer has few options in his life other than making money.
Pop out with 2,000 in my jeans thats just the back pocket
The singer is casually carrying $2,000 in his back pocket.
Diamonds dripping all up on the floor
The singer's diamond jewelry is so flashy it appears to drip on the ground.
Wet sign they need to mop it
His diamonds are so flashy that it appears as if the floor is wet.
Now they see me taking off JayIce to Lil Johnny rocket
The singer has changed his name from JayIce to Lil Johnny Rocket.
Use to wear jays now i pop out with Balenciagas
The singer used to wear Jordans, but now he wears expensive Balenciagas shoes.
Ik my granny watching
The singer's grandmother is watching him.
Went from being a school nobody, to the hottest topic
The singer went from being an unremarkable student to a popular and successful musician.
Haters see me elevating
The singer is becoming more successful and popular than his haters.
They cant do nothing bout it
His haters are powerless to stop him from becoming successful.
So they hating from a distance
His haters are expressing their dislike from afar, rather than confronting him directly.
They just hate and watch it
His haters are simply observing and disliking his success, without taking any action.
I get new whips and wreck em
The singer buys new cars and drives them aggressively, often leading to damage.
I couldve gave back so they call a nigga selfish
The singer refused to give money back to someone, who then accused him of being selfish.
I left sum niggas back, now they mad I couldnt help em
The singer did not assist some people, causing them to become angry with him.
I heard he snitching call em mr soulja boy tell em
The singer believes someone is informing on him, and compares them to rapper Soulja Boy.
He sending threats cuz his girl head up on my pelvis
Someone is threatening the singer because their partner is getting close to him.
I'm head hunting
The singer is aggressively seeking out people who have wronged him.
Looking for them niggas they just got pronounced dead on me
The singer is searching for people who have been killed in his name.
Now I gotta hide cuz a nigga know the feds coming
The singer is now in danger and must hide because law enforcement is coming for him.
Never been a killer but you know Im never scared homie
The singer is not a murderer, but he is not afraid of danger.
Tried to spread love but they tried to put the led on me
The singer attempted to show kindness, but others have responded with violence.
Now I need a rag cuz I went and got this red on me
The singer has been injured and needs a cloth to stop the bleeding.
I got all these shooters so I never had to kill nothing
The singer has many people willing to harm others on his behalf, so he has not needed to kill anyone himself.
Said he wanted smoke and when he got it I aint see him puffin
Someone threatened the singer, but did not follow through.
And I'm with Triple R bringing heat just like a fucking oven
The singer's group, Triple R, is bringing pressure and intimidation to their rivals.
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Justin Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ParadiseMediaLLC
damn Summer, 96' we used to bump this shit rollin in the car at night....Real shit like this is long gone these days.....
@canadianmob590
Same! Bring back that 96 sheeet!
@stevil2006
Undeniably untouchable. Unique
@daywalker2876
One of the all time greatest storytellers. No doubt !
@undeadmaster666
this man speaks nothing but truth if you cant see that then you aint real
@tulpenboy
Power is still a legend for real!!!!
@bobbyhyman1
WORD!....ICE ALWAYS BEEN NICE
@tymbark46
Please world, return to the real.
@GoreBastard
Fuck, not heared this for years! Fucking beast of a song man!
@r8dbmxxx1
best ice t album ever...