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 Hunted Child
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Today in Los Angeles another youth loses his life. Gunshot wound to
the head. Street violence is at an all time high)
No jokin' I'm sleepin' with my eyes open
Wanted for a homicide ride the gun's still smokin'
Didn't know what I was doin' but did it anyway
Now the posse's on my trail they say I'm gonna pay (Run!)
I had a gun it's mine and I packed it
Out with my crew the boys caught some static
Me and this sucker punk went at it
Bang! Nine automatic
Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
(Sources say the assailant was 17-years old and lives in South-Central
Los Angeles)
Now I'm on a hideout tip 'cause they're after me
LAPD says they're gonna capture me
Was I crazy? I guess I had to be
'Cause once you kill it's instant catastrophe
Your whole life is over (Through!)
Forget about your girl your (Crew!)
Nowhere to run, so what you gonna do?
Be glad it's me, homeboy, and not you
The Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
I'm only 17, I didn't mean to kill, man
But I was slangin' and bangin' for the thrill, man
When they said (Kill!) I felt chill, man
But once I pulled the trigger, boy, then things got ill, man
My homeboys dipped out the back fast
Left me alone in the echo of the gun blast
Everybody saw my face, I didn't wear a mask
You want to know my name? Just ask
The Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
(The science of Capitalism which you teach to the youth on the streets
today with the 'ends justifying the means' mentality ain't happenin')
I'm sweatin' heavy 'cause my face is on TV
Everybody in this whole world's after me
Since I was young I never had a damned thing
At Christmas time I'd hate to hear the bells ring
'Cause in the ghetto Santa ain't got a dime
Your mother's standin' in the welfare line
The way the youth survive is crime
My life is over so I might as well speak my mind
I killed a brother 'cause this system had me geared to kill
'Cause what I call home you call hell
My ghetto quarters ain't no better than a jail cell
But there's a message in this story that I'm tryna tell
We're just brothers on the streets killin' brothers
This system has us geared to kill one another
Sellin' dope to poison each other
The plan of The Man, word to the mother
But I'm a sucker 'cause I fell into their plan
187, I killed a brother man
My life on Earth was hell, you understand?
But when I die I'm goin' to hell again
I'm the Hunted Child I'm the Hunted Child I'm the Hunted Child The
Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
I'm the Hunted Child
The Hunted Child by Ice-T is a powerful commentary on the realities of street violence and the influence of a system that has failed its youth. The song begins with a reference to the news report about another young person losing their life to street violence in Los Angeles. Ice-T then delves into the story of a 17-year-old boy who finds himself being hunted by the police after committing a homicide in self-defense. The boy speaks about his life in the ghetto, where he was forced to survive through crime, and ultimately finds himself trapped in a system where killing becomes the only way out.
The powerful lyrics of The Hunted Child condemn a society where young people are driven to commit acts of violence as a means of survival. The song also highlights the systemic issues that contribute to the cycle of poverty and violence in underprivileged communities. The boy's story is a tragic one, and the fact that he is being hunted by the police only serves to demonstrate the failure of the system to protect its vulnerable youth.
Overall, The Hunted Child is a poignant and thought-provoking song that sheds light on the harsh realities of life in underprivileged communities. It is a powerful reminder of the need for systemic change to ensure that young people are not driven to such extreme measures as a means of survival.
Line by Line Meaning
No jokin' I'm sleepin' with my eyes open
I am constantly alert and on guard.
Wanted for a homicide ride the gun's still smokin'
I am being pursued for murder, and my weapon is still hot from firing.
Didn't know what I was doin' but did it anyway
I committed the act without fully understanding the consequences.
Now the posse's on my trail they say I'm gonna pay (Run!)
I am being chased by a group of people who want revenge, and they say I must pay for my actions.
Hunted Child I'm the Hunted Child
I am being hunted by others due to my actions.
Now I'm on a hideout tip 'cause they're after me
I am attempting to stay in hiding because people are trying to find me.
LAPD says they're gonna capture me
The police force is determined to arrest me.
Was I crazy? I guess I had to be
I might have been irrational for doing what I did, although it felt like the right thing to do.
'Cause once you kill it's instant catastrophe
Taking another person's life is always a terrible situation and has severe consequences.
Your whole life is over (Through!)
Once you commit a serious crime, your life as you knew it is finished.
Forget about your girl your (Crew!)
The relationships you had previously might as well be forgotten because they will not help you now.
Nowhere to run, so what you gonna do?
Since there are no options to escape from the consequences of your actions, what actions do you have left to take?
Be glad it's me, homeboy, and not you
Be thankful someone else is facing the consequences of their actions, and not you.
I'm only 17, I didn't mean to kill, man
I did not intend for the events to lead to a murder, and my young age highlights my inexperience with life.
But I was slangin' and bangin' for the thrill, man
I was engaging in dangerous activities for the excitement of it.
When they said (Kill!) I felt chill, man
The command to kill another person affected me emotionally and made me feel nervous.
But once I pulled the trigger, boy, then things got ill, man
The outcome of my actions was not what I had hoped for and had negative consequences.
My homeboys dipped out the back fast
My friends abandoned me quickly in the face of danger.
Left me alone in the echo of the gun blast
I was left alone to face the consequences of the gunshot I fired.
Everybody saw my face, I didn't wear a mask
I did not take measures to hide my identity, and now everyone knows who I am.
I'm sweatin' heavy 'cause my face is on TV
Seeing my face on the news is causing me to worry intensely.
Since I was young I never had a damned thing
I have lived in poverty my whole life and have never had many possessions.
At Christmas time I'd hate to hear the bells ring
Even during the holiday season, the happiness that is supposed to accompany it does not exist in my life.
'Cause in the ghetto Santa ain't got a dime
In the low-income neighborhoods, Christmas is not a time of gift-giving and presents, as there is not enough money to go around.
Your mother's standin' in the welfare line
Families in poverty often rely on government assistance and must wait in long lines to receive help.
The way the youth survive is crime
Many young people in poverty turn to criminal activity as a means of survival.
My life is over so I might as well speak my mind
Since my actions have caught up with me, I feel like I can now speak openly about my thoughts and opinions.
I killed a brother 'cause this system had me geared to kill
The societal system in place contributed to my actions and made me feel like killing another person was justified.
'Cause what I call home you call hell
My environment and the surroundings in which I live are vastly different from yours and are close to unbearable.
My ghetto quarters ain't no better than a jail cell
My living situation is not much different from that of a prisoner.
But there's a message in this story that I'm tryna tell
While my situation is dire, there is an important lesson to be learned from my experiences.
We're just brothers on the streets killin' brothers
People in the same societal situation are fighting and killing each other, even though they should be working together.
This system has us geared to kill one another
The societal structure in place creates life-threatening situations that foster violence and hostility towards others in the community.
Sellin' dope to poison each other
Drug use and the selling of dangerous substances can harm the community and harm individuals within it.
The plan of The Man, word to the mother
The societal system is intentionally working to create a dangerous and violent environment to keep certain people in power.
But I'm a sucker 'cause I fell into their plan
I was foolish to engage in violent activities that only perpetuate the problem.
187, I killed a brother man
The term '187' refers to murder, and I admit to killing someone.
My life on Earth was hell, you understand?
I lived in a terrible situation and experienced many hardships that most people cannot comprehend.
But when I die I'm goin' to hell again
The afterlife for me looks bleak and dreadful, even worse than the life I have lived on Earth.
I'm the Hunted Child
The consequences of my actions have led to me being hunted by others.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: CHARLES ANDRE GLENN, TRACY MARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@regitmeisner3546
When I was 20,This was my shit!!.. I'm 51 now so don't fuck with me !!
@isabeltaylor-clark479
Haven't heard this tune for 20+ years.
What a great tune
Great lyrics
Great message.
Still sounds amazing in 2019.
@JSmoov.
who's still bumpin this in 2020 ? #jstv
@isabeltaylor-clark479
Believe it or not I first heard this on the John peel show UK radio 1 in the late 80's
John peel middle aged English man played anything from def metal to gangsta rap, to punk to well, just about anything.
R.I.P John Peel.
@bloodlinesoffire5633
I remember that shit 😅 origional kiss fm was good when it was still an illeagle station 👍
@bloodlinesoffire5633
John peel the mac daddy 😅👍
@erikgification
One of my favorite Ice T songs still remember when it first dropped
@user-uu9xg7iw7i
Yo! ICE - T luv it !! ...thx.
@bloodlinesoffire5633
Still banging in 2022 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳
@craigstrachan
Classic song from The IcebergFreedom Of Speech :Just Watch What You Say .up there in my top favourite Ice-T albums along with OG Original Gangster and the 1st Body Count album . The true OG .