When he was held by Washington, D.C., police regarding the murder of a drug dealer in 1987 ("Murder, Drugs, and the Rap Star" read a Washington Post headline), it gave him an even greater notoriety (he was never charged with the murder). Declaring war on D.C.'s go-go scene and loudly criticizing Run-D.M.C. (then the ruling New York hip-hop outfit), Just-Ice set a pattern for many a future hip-hop feud. Little could halt Just-Ice's ascension to hip hop stardom, though the departure of Mantronik from Sleeping Bag was a bad omen. KRS-One stepped in to produce 1987's Kool & Deadly, an album that swapped Mantronik's hi-tech skills for raw, elemental beats and rhymes. The British and New York public that had so enthusiastically embraced Back to the Old School were indifferent about this one, and 1989's The Desolate One (with KRS-One back in the producer's seat) was no great improvement. By 1990, both Just-Ice and Sleeping Bag appeared to be quickly fading as a new generation of MCs and labels overtook them. He continued to release albums at intervals across the 1990s, but they were on tiny independent labels, although one, 1993's Gun Talk, had major-label distribution and had five of the album's 10 cuts produced by Kurtis Mantronik; and were rarely noticed. Just-Ice was a member of hip-hop super session, the Stop the Violence Movement, which released one single ("Self Destruction") in 1990.
Gangster Of Hip Hop
Just-Ice Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hip hop rules
And if ya didn't know
Hip hop rules
Kick the ill flow
Hip hop rules
I'm breakin all the news
Hip hop rules
Big black skinny nigga
6'4" with the .44
Got the slow flow it sound like coke dough
In the Benzo smokin on Coco
My blood niggas say I'm true Vatos loco
For real had a Land Cruiser before my deal
Then I copped a 400 Lex and I'm set
Moving through the projects like Tyrannosaurus Rex
Shootin Tex at sets make a ho clits wet
Now I cash big checks tryin to own assets
Built like the Aztecs
Why you niggas ass bet
Remember Ice Ice Baby
Drove you crazy then I was big as Jay-Z
I got paid and I got swayze
Eatin' shrimp with my feet up made me lazy
I bought about 10 cars and about 5 cribs
Out in the woods nobody knows where I live
Got a beautiful wife and two kids
But I'm married to hip hop and that's how it is
Cause
Chorus:
Hip hop rules
And if ya didn't know
Hip hop rules
Kick the ill flow
Hip hop rules
I'm breakin all the news
Hip hop rules
From the old to the new school
It's been a long time since you seen me
On the TV V-Ice is here for sheezy
Takin' what's mine
Cause it's my time to hit y'all with a new style of rhyme
Yeah
This is hip rock it can't be stopped
Bomb tha system
Straight to the top
Millions of dollars I been spendin' em
I love rap, I paved the way for Eminem
Needless to say I rap back today
Y'all forgot about me like y'all forgot about Dre
But I'm still here
With no fear I say what I want and make sure its clear
Yo
I play ball break jaws break all types of laws
Militant haters wanna kill me with a cause
Feel me
I been nice since the P was free back when KRS was runnin shit
Wit BDP
I spit rapnology wack rappers follow me
Let me take you to my Shaolin temple where scholars be
Studying astronomy and the world's prophecy
Giving sight to the blind enabling them to see
It's me GOD equal 4 plus 3
Coped a 6 with the V for the year 2G
Stay blowin on trees, how many guns? 23
But it only take one to make you history
My clan hold me nobody control me
So fuck a PO and being parolee
I write solely light grey Roley
Not the Bible but I lead a church of niggas Holy
Because
Chorus:
Hip hop rules
And if ya didn't know
Hip hop rules
Kick the ill flow
Hip hop rules
I'm breakin all the news
Hip hop rules
From the old to the new school
I've got dawgs up north
I've got dawgs down south
I've got dawgs that'll smack blood out of your mouth
Then lick they hand
It's the Darkman brother number 12 from the Wu-Tang Clan
You heard me on Gza you heard me on Deck
That was me with ODB that bust a Tek
La and Vanilla want money like Rockfeller
If not I'll have to pop a fella
I'm the illest Caucasian, rhymes blazin
I went 17 platinum, amazin'
Now just listen to the sound I kick
Chillin with my man La, watchin gangsta flicks
Don't ask why? I cheer for the bad guy
Maybe it's the hydro, I'm so high
Or maybe it's the Xtasy gettin the best of me
The industry keeps on testin me
But I won't fold I'm just too bold
One thing about Ice I stay cold
The chorus of Just-Ice's song Gangster Of Hip Hop is quite self-explanatory. It is proclaiming the power and pre-eminence of hip hop in the music industry. It asserts that hip hop controls the game, is eternal, and can't be denied or overthrown. The verses follow through with vividly painted self-aggrandizing anecdotes, clever wordplay, and allusion to the artist's iconic status. The first verse outlines the artist's affluence, material possessions, and his formidable presence in the music industry, especially in the past. The second verse emphasizes his enduring relevance and innovative contribution to the hip hop culture. He declares that he is an uncompromising artist who won't bend to the industry's whim but instead challenges its status quo. He also underlines his influence on other artists and his legacy in the Wu-Tang Clan.
The lyrics of the song Gangster Of Hip Hop are a classic example of bravado and self-glorification in rap music. They are full of punchlines, metaphors, and allusions, which reflect the artist's skillful wordplay and verbal dexterity. The song is an emulation of the gangsta rap genre, which extols violence and power, especially through the use of guns, cars, and luxury goods. The artist's public persona is essential to the song's message because it reinforces the idea of his musical dominance over others. However, beyond the surface of the song's lyrics, there is a subtle subtext of the artist's social commentary on the entertainment industry. He seeks to expose the music industry's manipulative tactics, power dynamics, and racism, which affect and exploit black artists.
Line by Line Meaning
Hip hop rules
Hip hop is the dominant genre of music
And if ya didn't know
In case you were unaware
Kick the ill flow
Perform rhymes with skill and creativity
I'm breakin all the news
Announcing new developments in hip hop
From the old to the new school
From the earlier days of hip hop to the present
Big black skinny nigga
A tall and thin black man
6'4" with the .44
6 feet 4 inches tall with a .44 caliber gun
Got the slow flow it sound like coke dough
His rap style is deliberate and smooth, like the sound of someone kneading dough made from cocaine
In the Benzo smokin on Coco
Riding in a Mercedes-Benz and smoking cocaine
My blood niggas say I'm true Vatos loco
His gang associates consider him to be a true and loyal member of their group
For real had a Land Cruiser before my deal
He owned a Toyota Land Cruiser SUV before he became famous
Then I copped a 400 Lex and I'm set
He subsequently purchased a Lexus LS 400 luxury car and felt satisfied
Moving through the projects like Tyrannosaurus Rex
He navigates through low-income housing neighborhoods with ease and dominance
Shootin Tex at sets make a ho clits wet
He fires gunshots at rival gangs and excites women sexually
Now I cash big checks tryin to own assets
He now earns a lot of money and aspires to accumulate wealth
Built like the Aztecs
He is strong and muscular like the ancient Mesoamerican civilization
Why you niggas ass bet
Why do you doubt me?
Remember Ice Ice Baby
Recall the hit song "Ice Ice Baby" that made him famous
Drove you crazy then I was big as Jay-Z
At the time of "Ice Ice Baby," he was as popular as Jay-Z is now
I got paid and I got swayze
He earned a lot of money and felt satisfied
Eatin' shrimp with my feet up made me lazy
Enjoying life and being comfortable made him lazy
I bought about 10 cars and about 5 cribs
He purchased approximately ten cars and five houses
Out in the woods nobody knows where I live
He lives in a remote area where no one can find him
Got a beautiful wife and two kids
He has a spouse and two children
But I'm married to hip hop and that's how it is
His true passion and dedication is to hip hop music
It's been a long time since you seen me
It has been a while since he has been in the spotlight
On the TV V-Ice is here for sheezy
He is now appearing on television again, and he is certain of it
Takin' what's mine
He is seizing his opportunity to be successful again
Cause it's my time to hit y'all with a new style of rhyme
Now is the perfect moment to debut a new type of rapping
This is hip rock it can't be stopped
His new music is a fusion of hip hop and rock that cannot fail
Bomb tha system
Revolutionize the music industry
Straight to the top
Attain the highest level of success
Millions of dollars I been spendin' em
He has been using his fortune lavishly
I love rap, I paved the way for Eminem
He loves rap and he was a trailblazer for Eminem's career
Needless to say I rap back today
He is now making rap music again
Y'all forgot about me like y'all forgot about Dre
People have overlooked his skill as they overlooked Dr. Dre's
But I'm still here
He has not disappeared, and he is still present in the hip hop genre
With no fear I say what I want and make sure its clear
He speaks his mind without hesitation and makes sure he is understood
Yo
An exclamation to grab attention
I play ball break jaws break all types of laws
He engages in risky and illegal behavior
Militant haters wanna kill me with a cause
He has enemies who are extremely determined to hurt him
Feel me
Understand me
I been nice since the P was free back when KRS was runnin shit
He has been a skilled rapper for a long time, since KRS-One was very popular
Wit BDP
With Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One's group
I spit rapnology wack rappers follow me
He is a master of rapping techniques, and lesser rappers copy him
Let me take you to my Shaolin temple where scholars be
He invites you to listen to his music with complex and deep meaning
Studying astronomy and the world's prophecy
These scholars study cosmic phenomena and predictions about the future
Giving sight to the blind enabling them to see
His music gives insight to those who are ignorant or misinformed
It's me GOD equal 4 plus 3
He compares himself to a deity by using mathematical symbols
Coped a 6 with the V for the year 2G
In the year 2000, he acquired a BMW 6 Series with a V8 engine
Stay blowin on trees, how many guns? 23
He frequently smokes marijuana and owns 23 firearms
But it only take one to make you history
One gun is sufficient to end someone's life and make them historical as the deceased
My clan hold me nobody control me
His gang members support him without trying to manipulate him
So fuck a PO and being parolee
He is not afraid of law enforcement or parole
I write solely light grey Roley
He owns a Rolex watch that is silver-colored
Not the Bible but I lead a church of niggas Holy
He does not follow religious scripture, however, he inspires a group of loyal followers
I've got dawgs up north
He has associates in the northern region of the country
I've got dawgs down south
He has associates in the southern region of the country
I've got dawgs that'll smack blood out of your mouth
He has associates who would physically harm his enemies without hesitation
Then lick they hand
His associates would then lick their hand, a sign of dominance and bravado
It's the Darkman brother number 12 from the Wu-Tang Clan
He is affiliated with the legendary hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan
You heard me on Gza you heard me on Deck
He has collaborated with other members of Wu-Tang Clan like GZA and Inspectah Deck
That was me with ODB that bust a Tek
He was with Ol' Dirty Bastard when they fired a gun
La and Vanilla want money like Rockfeller
Vanilla Ice's stage name is "Ice" and he is addressing someone named La, both of whom want to be as wealthy as John D. Rockefeller was
If not I'll have to pop a fella
If his demands are not met, he will use violence against someone
I'm the illest Caucasian, rhymes blazin
He is one of the greatest white rappers, and his rhymes are hot
I went 17 platinum, amazin'
He achieved 17 platinum record sales, an amazing feat
Now just listen to the sound I kick
Pay attention to his lyrics and style of rap
Chillin with my man La, watchin gangsta flicks
He is relaxing with someone named La, watching movies that glorify criminal behavior
Don't ask why? I cheer for the bad guy
He supports the antagonist rather than the artist
Maybe it's the hydro, I'm so high
He suggests that marijuana is influencing his perspective
Or maybe it's the Xtasy gettin the best of me
Alternatively, he is suggesting that ecstasy is affecting him
The industry keeps on testin me
He is frequently challenged by the music industry
But I won't fold I'm just too bold
He will not give up, he is confident and bold
One thing about Ice I stay cold
His persona in the industry is true to his name, cold and unemotional
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Arpit K
1:21 is peggy's sample. Unbelievable production
Something54321
Nah 2:11
Logical Blackman
For those who ainβt knowing. βBeatboxβ originally meant drum machine. Practitioners of the vocal art of simulating drum beats were known as human beatboxers.
Some of these artists named themselves after actual drum machines. In this case DMXβs namesake was the Oberheim DMX. It was one of the first drum machines to use actual drum samples instead of synthetic sounds (like the famous Roland TR-808).
You can hear it in songs like Sucker MCβs and Itβs Like That, by Run-DMC. And in new wave music, Blue Monday by βNew Order.β
Elle_H
I literally haven't heard this since the 80s! The memories this brings back...wow...
Todd Pace
@Frank Jones
Davy DMX too
Richard Adlam
Mantronix king of beats
Alden Bland
Man I HATE the fact that Just and Mantronix didn't hookup to do Just-Ice second album. Together they released the most complete album I had heard at that time. Mantronix beats and production was Perfect for Just's aggressive style of rap. Just-Ice wasn't your average style rapper. For that time he was unique with his Heavily Reggae influences. I have always felt that he and Kurtis Mantronix would have taken the Rap scene to the next level at that time.
Richard Price
For those that gave this a thumbs down...you're not ready for this.
Derrick Anderson
Just Ice is one of the coldest rappers of all time. Way before his time. You could ask Rakim that.
Mackadocious MosFerocious
Word !!!