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.
The 5th
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This guy here say he wants to get in, man
You're sure homeboy's ready?
Yo Ice, this nigga said he's ready, man
Yo, kid you're sure you want to be down with this, right?
Yeah, I'm sure, I'm ready
Aight
Know what you're in for, right?
Blood flows like sands in the hourglass
Cash moves everything
Bitches in g strings
Gats flashin', mothers make cream on a stick move
Improve your dope flow
Cold max with the long dough
High rollin', back breakin' plot diggers
The ill niggas
Comanche style
Blood letting weapons of death
Stop your breath
If you trip on the click
A hot thump to your chest
And your back just rips
You want to be a made man
The fam accepts no mistakes
Chopped up bodies, lots of funeral wakes
Make your bones
Bring a rat back dead just ahead
A cop's better
Use this Beretta
Snitch, bet your bitch
She in a pre-dug ditch
'Cause I command a whole battalion of life takers
Plus the other bosses want to see yo guts
Check your nuts
Dump the bodies in the desert
Here's the keys to a truck
Me, I'm overloaded, born hard and scarred
Crime intellect
More complex than nerves in your spinal chord
Bank job my forte
Not off of gun play
Hostage taker
I killed my brother with a salt shaker
He tried to short me a buck
What the fuck?
A nigga that lies
Is a nigga that dies
No cries for the punk
He got trunked and bombed
Since he tried to steal I chainsawed his arm
I drink blood from a cup when I want to then
Plus the bosses up north made me kill my friend
They told me, "This ain't no game, kid, you're in it
You're down with the Syndicate, but never admit it"
[Chorus]
Muthafucka, now you're down for life
Rat on the fam and we'll kill your wife
Fuck up a scam and you'll feel the knife
Who is this?
(The Syndicate does not exist)
A thousand ki's, off-shore private yacht
Really ain't no sweat, Coast Guard and customs are bought
Colombian Mexicano connect
Raise the bet
One D-E-A wouldn't roll, we pulled his tongue through his neck
Just a message to the rest: don't test
Housing developments are built on the bodies
Of punks who wouldn't party
Big shots are called from the pen's inner sanctum
Where the mega-gees
Regulate the streets, fuck release
They got power that you can't comprehend, my friend
They want you dead, yo, you're dead before the daylight ends
Your eyes shiver and you grit your teeth
You sold your soul, now cold blood's how you get relief
Now you do what we do, say what I say
Muthafucka, don't blink unless I say okay
This is a organization, not a one-man gang
And you die if I ever hear you spilled my name
[Chorus]
My friend, I thought this day would never come
(What do you mean, man? Hey!)
Who was there when your wife had your first child?
(Hey, why you're lookin' at me like that, man?)
Who looked out for you when no one else was there?
(Hey, I'm your friend, man!)
Now word's out you're talkin' to the feds about me
(They lyin', man)
There's only one thing I can do
(Hey man, wait a)
You treat me like a bitch
(Hey yo)
Now look at you!
Look at you, muthafucka!
Now look at you!
Cops on the take, I got moves to make
Feds ain't that easy, I still got em to shake
They had my man's bitch wired for a month and a half
Snatched my nigga up in Aspen, bail's five million
Bounced him out in a hour, power
Went and met him quick, hit him with a ice pick
Can't take no chances, he romancin' with whores
No tellin' what he spilled when behind closed doors
The fam's protection and loyalty is top priority
Violate, your body is found in three states
Cargo is heat on a Hong Kong cruiser
Contact
No cash, they want a ton of crystal meth
High risk'll bring more riches than the national debt
We launder money through he S and L's and pro-ball teams
Ain't no business untouched when it comes to cream
Documents forged from my hitters from Jamaica
In and out of town before you hit the ground
This is the mob, baby, now you're on, no off-switch
Suffocation you snitch
[Chorus]
Ice-T's song The 5th is a hard-hitting and powerful glimmer into the world of organized crime. The song begins with a warning to those who are ready to enter the world of organized crime. The warning is that blood flows like sands in the hourglass, and cash rules everything. The lyrics then go on to describe the gory details of the dark world of crime. Ice-T describes how crime bosses use violence to keep their underlings in line, and how the fam accepts no mistakes. The song also describes how the family members have to be ready to chop up bodies and attend many funerals. The message is clear; it's important to think twice before entering the world of organized crime.
The chorus warns that if anyone rats on the fam, they will kill their wife, and if anyone messes up a scam, they will feel the knife. The song describes violent and gruesome acts like tongue-pulling and body dumping, which are committed without so much as a blink. The lyrics also describe how it's important to stay quiet about the family and not to spill the boss's name.
In conclusion, the song is a warning to those who are thinking about getting into organized crime. Although the life may seem thrilling, the lyrics show that once you're in, there's no way out. The lyrics describe how at the first sign of disloyalty, the bosses will be quick to take action, which means that those who enter the world of organized crime must be ready to commit heinous acts and become ruthless.
Line by Line Meaning
Blood flows like sands in the hourglass
Violence is a part of life in this organization and it never stops.
Cash moves everything
Money rules everything and is the driving force behind all the actions.
Bitches in g strings
Women are viewed as sexual objects and are used to lure in men.
Gats flashin', mothers make cream on a stick move
Guns are constantly brandished, while mothers manage the financial aspect of the organization.
Improve your dope flow
Always strive to improve the quality and quantity of drugs being distributed.
Cold max with the long dough
Maintain a cool attitude and handle large amounts of money.
High rollin', back breakin' plot diggers
Live extravagantly, work hard, and scheme every day.
The ill niggas
Members of the organization refer to themselves as the best of the best.
Comanche style
Referencing the Comanche tribe's long history of successful tactics and warfare to describe their own approach.
Blood letting weapons of death
They use deadly weapons to kill their enemies.
Stop your breath
They will do whatever it takes to silence anyone who opposes the organization.
If you trip on the click
A hot thump to your chest
And your back just rips
If you make a mistake or betray the organization, you will be killed swiftly and brutally.
You want to be a made man
The fam accepts no mistakes
Joining the organization is a serious choice, and once you do, any mistake you make could cost you your life.
Chopped up bodies, lots of funeral wakes
Make your bones
To make it to a higher position in the organization, you have to prove yourself by committing brutal crimes.
Bring a rat back dead just ahead
A cop's better
Use this Beretta
Snitch, bet your bitch
She in a pre-dug ditch
Killing someone who is a rat (informant) earns you a higher standing, and they are warning against betraying the organization.
'Cause I command a whole battalion of life takers
Plus the other bosses want to see yo guts
Check your nuts
He is a respected leader who controls a group of killers, and it is vital to show no signs of weakness or fear.
Dump the bodies in the desert
Here's the keys to a truck
Disposing of the bodies is just another part of the job, and they make it easy by providing keys to a truck.
Me, I'm overloaded, born hard and scarred
Crime intellect
More complex than nerves in your spinal chord
He is experienced in the criminal world and has an incredibly strategic mind.
Bank job my forte
Not off of gun play
Hostage taker
I killed my brother with a salt shaker
He tried to short me a buck
He is skilled in robbing banks and kidnapping people and will use any means necessary to maintain his power.
What the fuck?
A nigga that lies
Is a nigga that dies
No cries for the punk
He got trunked and bombed
Since he tried to steal I chainsawed his arm
Lying and stealing will get you killed, and they have no remorse for those who betray them.
I drink blood from a cup when I want to then
Plus the bosses up north made me kill my friend
They told me, "This ain't no game, kid, you're in it
You're down with the Syndicate, but never admit it"
He is loyal to the organization and will do anything they ask, even if it means betraying his friends.
Muthafucka, now you're down for life
Rat on the fam and we'll kill your wife
Fuck up a scam and you'll feel the knife
Who is this?
(The Syndicate does not exist)
Once you join the organization, you're in it for life. Betrayal or mistakes will not be tolerated.
A thousand ki's, off-shore private yacht
Really ain't no sweat, Coast Guard and customs are bought
They have access to a lot of drugs and are able to transport them with ease by having control over the authorities.
Colombian Mexicano connect
Raise the bet
One D-E-A wouldn't roll, we pulled his tongue through his neck
They are willing to go to great lengths to keep the drugs flowing, even if it means killing DEA agents.
Just a message to the rest: don't test
Housing developments are built on the bodies
Of punks who wouldn't party
The organization is not to be underestimated, and they have no qualms about killing those who oppose them. They also don't hesitate to use their victims for profit.
Big shots are called from the pen's inner sanctum
Where the mega-gees
Regulate the streets, fuck release
They got power that you can't comprehend, my friend
They want you dead, yo, you're dead before the daylight ends
High-ranking members are still able to control things from prison, and they are terrifyingly powerful.
Your eyes shiver and you grit your teeth
You sold your soul, now cold blood's how you get relief
Now you do what we do, say what I say
Muthafucka, don't blink unless I say okay
Once you join the organization, you are in for life and must obey orders without question.
This is a organization, not a one-man gang
And you die if I ever hear you spilled my name
The organization functions as a unit, and betraying any of its members is punishable by death.
My friend, I thought this day would never come
(What do you mean, man? Hey!)
Who was there when your wife had your first child?
(Hey, why you're lookin' at me like that, man?)
Who looked out for you when no one else was there?
(Hey, I'm your friend, man!)
Now word's out you're talkin' to the feds about me
(They lyin', man)
There's only one thing I can do
(Hey man, wait a)
You treat me like a bitch
(Hey yo)
Now look at you!
Look at you, muthafucka!
Even close friends are not exempt from punishment if they are suspected of snitching.
Cops on the take, I got moves to make
Feds ain't that easy, I still got em to shake
They had my man's bitch wired for a month and a half
Snatched my nigga up in Aspen, bail's five million
Bounced him out in a hour, power
Went and met him quick, hit him with a ice pick
Can't take no chances, he romancin' with whores
No tellin' what he spilled when behind closed doors
He is skilled at evading the police and is very powerful. He will do whatever it takes to protect himself and the organization, including killing anyone who may pose a threat.
The fam's protection and loyalty is top priority
Violate, your body is found in three states
Cargo is heat on a Hong Kong cruiser
Contact
No cash, they want a ton of crystal meth
High risk'll bring more riches than the national debt
We launder money through he S and L's and pro-ball teams
Ain't no business untouched when it comes to cream
Documents forged from my hitters from Jamaica
In and out of town before you hit the ground
This is the mob, baby, now you're on, no off-switch
Suffocation you snitch
The organization is focused on loyalty, and anyone who breaks it will be killed and their body disposed of in multiple states. They also have vast connections, with no business free from their influence and an extensive network of forged documents and money laundering.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RICHARD J. ASCENCIO, TRACY LAUREN MARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adriansmith4064
Ice-T one of greatest Storytellers in Hip Hop 👌
@dario9280
most underrated album in hip hop history...best gangsta rap ever...
@kingnino4836
Yep, Ice is the best
@geoffreywells2589
@King Nino not. Funky gripster
@anthonyabela6776
Party with Ice T an Public Enemy at Festivalhall 1 of the best Rap Shows ever seen an have party with Eminem But IcE is the General!
@canadianmob590
Not by me and my posse
@igorvandamme2324
Exact😊
@Sam-uy7oq
One of the best rap albums of all time. Right up there with 2Pac and BIG
@captenhook123
damn right
@AngelsTakeMe2Heaven
Seva25 hell yeah. NOBODY beats Ice on the gangsta rap. REAL OG