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.
Where The Shit Goes Down
Ice-T Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Representin
Strictly Westside, nigga
South Central in the muthafuckin hiddouse
Check the technique, nigga
Representin for my real niggas out there
Fuck all you buster-ass niggas
Word
[ VERSE 1 ]
Saturday night in L.A., time to play
My peoples hummin like a vibrator, gotta make crime pay
I'm packin two gats and I wish I could carry more
Might sound crazy, but I ran out of slugs before
Yeah, I know the feds watch me
But my vest clashes hard with the Versace
So I'm just rollin in the black five hun'
I used to lowride, now it's just for fun
I had 5 cars, but now I got one
Hard to keep up ballin when you're on the run
I got two ki's in my trunk and a shovel
Stepped on the one, so now I gots double
The shovel's for drama, need I say more?
Got the fat stash spot under my passenger floor
That's for the other strap, the automatic type
I gotta keep it close in case shit gets hype
Got a bitch in jail, she didn't snitch, she did three
I'ma have to roll solo till they set her free
Cause I got some other crimeys down, true gees
But they got all day, so now it's just me
And I'ma kick this slang until the day I die
I can't go straight, I won't even try
I'm stuck in the game, so don't ask me why
It's life in L.A.
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
Long Beach and Compton are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where the shit goes down
[ VERSE 2 ]
Now niggas like they credit and they like to get they loans on
So I hooked up with my boy who turns them phones on
He told me bout this nigga who won't pay
He also said he knew excactly where the muthafucka stay
So I went and got some homies I hang with
Some crazy muthafuckas who I used to bang with
We took a trip to his crib
I snatched his hoe and his kids, and this is what we did
I tied they punk ass up
I cracked the safe with an axe, and then the phones we cut
I didn't hurt his wife
But I promised next time that I would take her life
I shot a nigga in his neck for disrespect, caught a body
Got a murder in Miami for a shoot-out at a party
Got blood in my trunk from a punk who squealed
Had a partner tried to play me and his cap I peeled
Now I rest with my finger on my heater
Hand on my beeper, a light sleeper
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
New York and Philly are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where my shit goes down
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
Frisco and Oakland are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where my shit goes down
[ VERSE 3 ]
I use to sling enough water you could float a boat
You could ski on the mountains of fuckin coke
But now most niggas serve chronic
So I let em check the bank, and then I'm all up on it
I serve em with a cute hoe
In a week they tell my bitches 'bout all they dough
Then I jack and I kill
The jack's for the money, the kill's for thrills
I got 9'000 blacks that still serve crack
Got a bitch who works the Plaza too on the track
Got a GTA connection and I fence for jewels
Got some little kids that move my fuckin dope in schools
Got warrants for arrest in about 20 states
Got a bigger body count than fuckin Norman Bates
I'm a killer, jacker, dealer, pimp supreme
I'm livin out the hustler dream
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
Houston and Atlanta are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where that shit goes down
[ VERSE 4 ]
Tonight I gotta meet this nigga from around the way
Some think he's cool, I think he's DEA
He said he want it bad, he heard that I got it good
I bagged up ten ki's of flour and met him in the hood
I met him at my spot, cause I know it's cool
Pat him down on sight to remove his tool
I made him name 10 niggas he should know
But that still ain't shit in the game of blow
He asked to see the dope, I asked to see the cash
He reached for that briefcase too fast
A fuckin pig, yo, he thought he had the chump
I had my nigga in the closet with a bull pump
And now there's fuckin shot-up body all on the floor
But that's what the shovel's for...
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
Newark and Miami are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where my shit goes down
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
Detroit and Chicago are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where that shit goes down
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
D.C. and Cleveland are some down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where the shit goes down
I lowride and I sag and cuss
I cover my face with the rag and bust
I know all my niggas live in down-ass towns
But South Central L.A. is where my shit goes down
In Ice-T's song "Where the Shit Goes Down," the rapper embraces the gangster lifestyle of South Central LA, portraying a world where crime, violence, and drug dealing take center stage. He depicts the difficulties of trying to make enough money to survive in a dangerous environment, and the lengths one has to go to stay alive. The first verse paints the picture of Ice-T on a Saturday night in LA, armed and dangerous, and forced to improvise in his criminal endeavors due to a shortage of ammunition. He explains that he's watched by law enforcement but tries to stay inconspicuous with his designer wear and black car. The second and third verses detail some of his crimes, such as robbing a home and stealing drugs, alongside his fears of crossing the DEA. In the fourth verse, Ice-T meets a man who he believes to be a potential buyer for drugs, but after a brief exchange, he discovers that the man is, in fact, a cop - leading to a violent altercation that ends with the use of a shovel to dispose of the body.
The song lays bare the realities of life in the more impoverished parts of LA and shows how crime becomes a way of life due to limited opportunities, especially for gangs and other groups in that environment. Ice-T, throughout the song, provides a narrative of his survival of both the environment he finds himself in and the criminal activities he undertakes. The lyrics are filled with profanity and provocative language that suggests a rebellious attitude to the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Ice-T, nigga
I am Ice-T, representing the Westside.
Representin
Representing for all the real niggas out there.
Strictly Westside, nigga
My loyalty lies solely with the Westside.
South Central in the muthafuckin hiddouse
I reside in South Central and it's where my activities take place.
Check the technique, nigga
Watch and learn from my style and skill.
Representin for my real niggas out there
I am here to represent the true gangsters.
Fuck all you buster-ass niggas
I have no respect for weak and cowardly individuals.
Word
That's the truth.
Saturday night in L.A., time to play
It's the perfect time for me to get into some illegal activities.
My peoples hummin like a vibrator, gotta make crime pay
My associates are always active and we need to make a living through illegal means.
I'm packin two gats and I wish I could carry more
I have two guns with me and I feel like I need more to protect myself.
I had 5 cars, but now I got one
I used to be wealthy, but now I have to be more careful with my expenses.
Hard to keep up ballin when you're on the run
Maintaining a lavish lifestyle is difficult when you're constantly being pursued by the authorities.
The shovel's for drama, need I say more?
The shovel is intended to bury any evidence of a violent crime.
That's for the other strap, the automatic type
The hidden stash is for my other gun, which is an automatic weapon.
I gotta keep it close in case shit gets hype
I need to always have my gun within reach in case things escalate quickly.
I'ma have to roll solo till they set her free
I need to work alone until my accomplice is released from prison.
Cause I got some other crimeys down, true gees
I have other partners in crime who are loyal and trustworthy.
Now niggas like they credit and they like to get they loans on
Some criminals like to take out loans to finance their illegal activities.
I serve em with a cute hoe
I offer them a beautiful woman to act as a distraction during business transactions.
The jack's for the money, the kill's for thrills
I rob people for financial gain, but I also enjoy killing for the thrill of it.
I'm a killer, jacker, dealer, pimp supreme
I am proficient in several illegal professions including murder, robbery, drug dealing, and prostitution.
I know all my niggas live in down-ass towns
I have associates in other dangerous cities throughout America.
South Central L.A. is where my shit goes down
However, South Central L.A. is where my primary activities take place.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAMS, MARROW, OGLETON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Japjongetje
Ice-T never claimed to be the most lyrical MC in the game, but he is a master storyteller. You can almost see the events unfolding during this song.
Уэс Стьюди
YES.
В НАТУРЕ.
jdbankshot
underrated as an mc... muthafucka can kick it.
Val JS
Incredible beat. And Ice flows nice, as usual.
DiddleBuZe
This album is so gangsta deserves more listening.
QiLow105
That beat is hella dope!
Brian Munich
Ice t is unique style of any hip hop artist ever living legend
KJ from OC Podcast
Respect to Ice T. The first 2 lines of the chorus comes from a Kam song called Givin It Up. Came out a year before Ice Ts album. "I low ride and I sag and cuss. Cover my face with a rag and bust."
ALEXANDRE TEIXEIRA BENJAMIN
Esse é o cara!
cariocabassa
O cara mesmo!!!