His first tracks were produced by The Unknown DJ who also produced Ice T's earliest gangsta rap tracks. He has collaborated with artists such as Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Rappin' 4-Tay, B-Legit, Ice-T, and Masta Ace. He also worked with other producers such as DJ Pooh, Marley Marl, Ant Banks, E-Swift of Tha Alkaholiks and Madlib.
Although he helped launch the career of Tha Alkaholiks, who became popular in their own right, Tee's own career didn't fare quite so well. His highest charting album, Tha Triflin' Album, peaked at #95 on the Billboard 200 while his other albums scraped the bottom of the chart.
Dr. Dre tried to help revitalize Tee's career by signing him to Aftermath Records. He appeared on Dre's albums, Dr. Dre Presents...The Aftermath and 2001, and recorded his own album. But Tee was eventually dropped from the label. Nevertheless, the album he recorded for Aftermath, Thy Kingdom Come was released in 2002 on a German independent label. It featured guest appearances by Dre, Ice T, Too $hort, MC Ren, DJ Quik, Kool G Rap, Shaquille O'neal, Kid Frost, El DeBarge, and others.
Those that have followed gangster rap since its roots will credit King Tee with being one of the leading founders helping gangster rap build credibility and eventually helping to open doors for some of today's biggest names in hip-hop. He is also cited as being one of the biggest inspirations for popular East Coast rapper The Notorious B.I.G., whose early style bore a striking resemblance to that of King T.
Dippin'
King Tee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Had to run and get this blunt that I left in my Benz
I lit the shit and caught a early mornin buzz
And called my nigga E 'What up loc?,' 'What up cuz?'
I'm thinkin bout pullin out the trey for performance
And maybe hit a few corners
I let the batteries charge while the kids stood waitin
For me to hit the switch and floss the Daytons
So I drove her straight down to the wash spot
They shine my shit up real glossy
Suckers starin but my shit jumps like Kriss Kross G
So fuck what ya heard cause my trey does flips
The superclean three with the lifts
I guess I got my whole day planned and I'm trippin
Quick to hit the switch so let's go dippin
Let's go dippin, dippin through the streets (repeat 3X)
Now I'm rollin cocked up, flossin down the street
I took Imperial to the beach
But before I arose on the scene
I saw the individuals rollin like a team
Drove a little bit futher saw mafia for life
Without a doubt everything was tight
But they gotta watch out for the King
Cause I can make my sixty-three sing
No pigs round, no I ain't no sucka
I'm doin sixty just hangin this muthafucka
More Bound To The Ounce is what counts so I show it
Even if it means I gotta total it
Swervin from lane to lane
A Cadillac just ain't the same
If you don't know what I mean and ya sittin
Come on, get in, let's go dippin
Let's go dippin, dippin through the streets (repeat 3X)
I felt like Cube cause today was a good day
For me to act the fool in my trey
I'm not worried bout a sucka tryin to stick and rob
I just buck em down with my thirty-odd
Creeped up to the beach, packed to capacity
Hoes walkin by 'Hi Your Majesty'
I said I'm not Young MC but what's the flava
I played it like Troop cause I'm not ??souped??
I park my shit on three wheels cause I'm ill
Compton's on the set with the real deal
This one's for the riders all around the world
Dippin through the hood wit your girl
Bumps in the back, sunroof top
Niggas lookin crazy so I'm reachin for the gloc
Every hood knows where the blood and are crippin
Ain't nothin like a Sunday out just dippin
Let's go dippin, dippin through the streets (repeat 3X)
In "Dippin" by King Tee, the rapper describes a typical Sunday morning in his neighborhood, filled with blunts, cars, and cruising the streets. He begins by describing how he had to run back to his Benz to retrieve a blunt and catch an early morning buzz. He then calls his friend E to join him in "pullin out the trey," or a 1963 Chevrolet Impala, to hit some corners. King Tee mentions that he had to charge the batteries while young kids watched him awestruck, waiting for him to hit the switches and show off the car's hydraulic lifts. After shining up his trey at the carwash, King Tee sets off down Imperial Boulevard towards the beach.
Driving down the street with his trey bouncing, King Tee sees a group of guys representing the Mafia for Life crew, but he's not worried because he knows he can make his trey sing. As he cruises along the coast, he's greeted by girls calling him "Your Majesty," and he plays it cool like Troop. Finally, King Tee parks his car and enjoys the rest of his day with the bumps in the back, a sunroof top, and his trusty glock by his side.
Line by Line Meaning
Well it's a hot hot Sunday jump up around a quarter to ten
It's a hot and sunny Sunday around 9:45am
Had to run and get this blunt that I left in my Benz
Had to go get my marijuana cigarette that I left in my car
I lit the shit and caught a early mornin buzz
I smoked the marijuana and got high in the morning
And called my nigga E 'What up loc?,' 'What up cuz?'
I called my friend E and asked him how he was doing
I'm thinkin bout pullin out the trey for performance
I'm considering taking out my car, the 1963 Chevrolet Impala
And maybe hit a few corners
And maybe drive around some street corners
I let the batteries charge while the kids stood waitin
I waited for the batteries to recharge while some children watched
For me to hit the switch and floss the Daytons
For me to use the car hydraulics and show off the wire wheels
I tap my shit, yo, my shit was hot
I tested my car hydraulics and they worked well
So I drove her straight down to the wash spot
So I drove the car straight to the car wash
They shine my shit up real glossy
They cleaned my car and made it shiny
Suckers starin but my shit jumps like Kriss Kross G
People are staring at my car, but it bounces up and down like Kriss Kross
So fuck what ya heard cause my trey does flips
Don't believe what you've heard, my car hydraulics can make it flip
The superclean three with the lifts
This is the super clean 1963 Chevrolet Impala with hydraulics
I guess I got my whole day planned and I'm trippin
I have planned my entire day around driving this car and I'm excited
Quick to hit the switch so let's go dippin
I am eager to show off my car hydraulics, let's go for a drive
Now I'm rollin cocked up, flossin down the street
Now I am driving with my gun ready, showing off my car
I took Imperial to the beach
I drove on Imperial Highway to the beach
But before I arose on the scene
Before I arrived at the beach
I saw the individuals rollin like a team
I saw a group of individuals driving together
Drove a little bit futher saw mafia for life
Drove a little further and saw a group representing the Mafia
Without a doubt everything was tight
Without any question, their cars were impressive
But they gotta watch out for the King
They have to be careful of me, the King
Cause I can make my sixty-three sing
Because I can make my car's hydraulics perform well
No pigs round, no I ain't no sucka
There are no police around, and I am not a fool
I'm doin sixty just hangin this muthafucka
I am driving at 60 miles per hour while my car bounces
More Bound To The Ounce is what counts so I show it
Having more hydraulics capacity is important, so I demonstrate it
Even if it means I gotta total it
Even if it means my car will be damaged
Swervin from lane to lane
I am driving erratically, changing lanes quickly
A Cadillac just ain't the same
Other luxury cars can't compare to the Impala
If you don't know what I mean and ya sittin
If you don't understand what I'm saying and you're just sitting there
Come on, get in, let's go dippin
Come on, get in the car and let's go for a drive
I felt like Cube cause today was a good day
I felt like the rapper Ice Cube because it was a good day
For me to act the fool in my trey
For me to show off and be foolish in my car
I'm not worried bout a sucka tryin to stick and rob
I'm not worried about someone attempting to rob me
I just buck em down with my thirty-odd
I will shoot at them with my .30-06 rifle
Creeped up to the beach, packed to capacity
I drive my car slowly to the beach, it's full of people
Hoes walkin by 'Hi Your Majesty'
Women are walking by and greeting me as if I'm royalty
I said I'm not Young MC but what's the flava
I tell them I'm not the rapper Young MC, but I ask what's going on
I played it like Troop cause I'm not ??souped??
I acted confidently, like the R&B group Troop
I park my shit on three wheels cause I'm ill
I park my car with only three tires touching the ground because I'm cool
Compton's on the set with the real deal
I represent Compton and I am the real deal
This one's for the riders all around the world
This song is dedicated to car enthusiasts everywhere
Dippin through the hood wit your girl
Driving through the neighborhood with your girlfriend
Bumps in the back, sunroof top
The car has a powerful sound system and a sunroof
Niggas lookin crazy so I'm reachin for the gloc
People are looking at me strangely, so I get my gun ready
Every hood knows where the blood and are crippin
Everyone in these neighborhoods knows where the gang members are
Ain't nothin like a Sunday out just dippin
There's nothing like driving around on a Sunday
Contributed by Stella W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Str8RapMuzik
It sucks that he wasn't as successful as most rappers like Dre, or even Snoop. Guy at least people still remember his music
Evil Jesus
Those dudes music is wack
seldomsceen
the original version. King Tee is so underrated....a legend
VaZ X
such a soulful track, and to think, this was made at a time when the gang bang murder rate in Los Angeles was at it's highest
James Schuh
Damn! This brings back memories of my summer of 95'. Good cruising and bumpin' music 🎶 man 😉👍
TheGoldeagle99
Man, love this joint right here. Good music!!! 😎
kevin taylor
Absolutely legendary 🔥🔥🔥
scotty furmage
This instrumental is so Dope
Jani S.
The memories hearing this!! Still a banger!
Mark Lindsay
Just imagine if bangers like this dropped today...hope is restored!