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.
Just Clowning
King Tee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[King Tee:]
Yo whassup, it's King Tee on the vocals
I rock the coolest rhymes, from here to Acapulco
I drive a Cadillac, not a played out DeSoto
Look I'm fin' to pose, photographer take my photo
Cool is back, in fact I'm comin' exact
So we all got together, and thought of a freestyle
Gather round the stage, and come see how
Pros go for what they know and get paid for it
And I brung along the Breeze, so you can enjoy it
... And to fans I'm an idol
It's me and Breeze, "Just Clowning" is the title
Get up what's happening? I'm a King, not a Captain
Do the most coolest rappin', talk smack I'll be gat'n
I'm the King Tee punk, and I don't talk junk
But I do smoke blunt, love rappin' to funk
You know the mic is like a vine I swing on it like Tarzan
I drink a Coke and hit a note like Barbara Streisand
Step up, fess up, stand around and
Get down to the song "Just Clowning"...
... It's the joint! [Repeat x 4]
[MC Breeze:]
Well I happen to be, hopin' to be, a big-timer
A dope rhyme and you won't find a
Nother MC who can get with this program
Served by no one, I mean no man
You say I'm good, it's the truth, you're not soupin'
I take it as a compliment and keep troopin'
Unlike most you know I never stop flowin'
My name is MC Breeze 'cause I'm the master at blowin'
Rhymes and lyrics, that is my specialty
I'm high-fidelity, you can't mess with me
Don't even think you can just sneak up
On bein' number one, is a high that I'm stuck on
I'm on a mission, wishin', all the time you spend
That you would make a legend or a monument
I'm not souped up, or a pooh-butt
I only lay my voice on a track that Pooh cuts
A beat is like food for thought so I eat it
I'm feelin' kinda hungry Pooh so just feed it
Keep the bass poundin' I like the way it's soundin'
Pooh is gettin' ill while me and Tee are just clowning
... It's the joint! [Repeat x 2]
[King Tee:]
I've been rappin' for a while, I'm acquirin' chapstick
Like a magician with the mic I do a hat trick
I don't wear a cape, or perform at a sideshow
Let me hit the 40 'cause my throat is kinda dry yo
When I'm on stage it's like a Broadway play
King Tee and MC Breeze and Jennifer Holiday
But Breeze, my throat's gettin so'
Get on the mic and won'tcha give it a go
[MC Breeze:]
Clowning, is like actin' ill sometimes
But when I ill, I like to say a dumb rhyme
To increase my fame and star stature
I'm like Anita Baker I'm caught up in the "Rapture"
Hittin' like bolos when I go solo
Last name is spanish but yo, I'm not a cholo
Keep the bass poundin', I like the way it's soundin'
Pooh is gettin' ill while me and Tee is just clowning
[King Tee:]
But, but, but Breeze... You know me and you can clown right, right?
We gotta see if... Mixmaster Spade can do it
... It's the joint!
[Mixmaster Spade:]
Well it's Tuesday night, I got nuttin' to do
I guess I'll get on the phone and call DJ Pooh
Say "Whassup Pooh? Are you beat?"
He say "Forget that stuff, let's hit the street"
Since I got a Caddy, and you got a Z
I can roll witchu, or you can ride with me
I say "We goin to a club that's dynamite" (Where?)
The Red Onion on a Tuesday night
I walked in and glanced, shook a few hands
Grabbed the baddest broad, then I commence to dance
I looked the DJ, and said "Whassup?"
He said "Spade's in the place and he's doin' the butt"
Now I'm back to the rap that we have at hand
I'm the Mixmaster man with the master plan
I slapped the girl on the butt then she started to frown
And...
[King Tee:]
Yo Spade, cool out! Man, we just clowning
... It's the joint! [Repeat x 4]
The song "Just Clowning" by King Tee is a classic West Coast hip-hop anthem that celebrates the laid-back lifestyle of Southern California. In the first verse, King Tee establishes his credentials as a cool and confident MC who drives a Cadillac and poses for photographs. He raps about teaming up with MC Breeze and DJ Pooh to create a freestyle session that showcases their skills and pays tribute to the fans who idolize them. The chorus, "It's the joint!" is a catchy refrain that invites the listener to join in the fun.
In the second verse, MC Breeze takes over and asserts his claim to fame as a master of rhymes and lyrics. He boasts about his high-fidelity skills and his ability to flow like a river, never stopping or slowing down. He also acknowledges the importance of the beat, which is like food for thought, and praises DJ Pooh for his production work. The third verse marks a shift in tone, as King Tee and MC Breeze begin to clown around and joke with each other. They compare themselves to Broadway performers and Anita Baker, and acknowledge their love for clowning and acting silly.
Overall, "Just Clowning" is a fun and upbeat song that showcases the charisma and talent of King Tee, MC Breeze, and DJ Pooh. It captures the spirit of the West Coast hip-hop scene in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when artists like N.W.A., Ice-T, and Cypress Hill were making their mark on the music industry. With its catchy chorus and playful lyrics, "Just Clowning" remains a beloved classic of the genre to this day.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo whassup, it's King Tee on the vocals
King Tee introduces himself as the vocalist to his audience
I rock the coolest rhymes, from here to Acapulco
King Tee boasts about the cool rhymes he writes and how they are appreciated everywhere, even in Acapulco
I drive a Cadillac, not a played out DeSoto
King Tee mentions that he drives a Cadillac and not a DeSoto, which he considers an outdated car model
Look I'm fin' to pose, photographer take my photo
King Tee wants to take a picture and requests the photographer to take his photo
Cool is back, in fact I'm comin' exact
King Tee claims that cool is back and he is representing it perfectly
It's MC Breeze and King Tee, and Pooh on the track
King Tee lets the audience know that it's him, MC Breeze and Pooh who are creating the track
And to fans I'm an idol
King Tee acknowledges that to his fans, he is an idol
It's me and Breeze, "Just Clowning" is the title
King Tee and MC Breeze created a song called "Just Clowning"
Get up what's happening? I'm a King, not a Captain
King Tee greets the audience and emphasizes that he's a King and not a Captain
Do the most coolest rappin', talk smack I'll be gat'n
King Tee claims that he does the coolest rapping and if anyone talks smack, he'll be carrying a gun
I'm the King Tee punk, and I don't talk junk
King Tee refers to himself as a punk and lets the audience know that he never talks junk
But I do smoke blunt, love rappin' to funk
King Tee admits that he smokes blunts and enjoys rapping to funk music
You know the mic is like a vine I swing on it like Tarzan
King Tee compares the microphone to the vine that Tarzan swings on and describes how he conquers it with his rapping skills
I drink a Coke and hit a note like Barbara Streisand
King Tee mentions that he drinks Coke and can hit a note like Barbara Streisand, implying his musical talents
Step up, fess up, stand around and
King Tee calls out to the audience to step up, admit their actions, and gather around
Get down to the song "Just Clowning"...
King Tee asks the audience to groove to the song "Just Clowning"
... It's the joint! [Repeat x 4]
King Tee repeats the phrase 'it's the joint' four times, emphasizing its quality
Well I happen to be, hopin' to be, a big-timer
MC Breeze hopes to become a big-time rapper
A dope rhyme and you won't find a
MC Breeze claims that he writes great rhymes and no one can beat him
Nother MC who can get with this program
MC Breeze thinks that no other rapper can match his style
Served by no one, I mean no man
MC Breeze doesn't want anyone else's help to become successful
You say I'm good, it's the truth, you're not soupin'
MC Breeze agrees with people who say he's good, and doesn't believe they are trying to flatter him
Unlike most you know I never stop flowin'
MC Breeze prides himself on his continuous flowing style, which he believes sets him apart from other rappers
My name is MC Breeze 'cause I'm the master at blowin'
MC Breeze takes pride in his name, which implies he's a master of blowing audiences away with his rapping skills
Rhymes and lyrics, that is my specialty
MC Breeze's specialty is writing great rhymes and lyrics for his rap performances
I'm high-fidelity, you can't mess with me
MC Breeze is confident of his style and thinks no one can touch him
Don't even think you can just sneak up
MC Breeze warns other rappers not to think they can surpass him in skill or popularity
On bein' number one, is a high that I'm stuck on
MC Breeze gets a natural high from being the best rapper and is addicted to it
I'm not souped up, or a pooh-butt
MC Breeze asserts that he is not coked up nor a coward
I only lay my voice on a track that Pooh cuts
MC Breeze only lends his voice for tracks produced by Pooh, and no one else
A beat is like food for thought so I eat it
MC Breeze loves beats as it nourishes his skill and passion for rapping
I'm feelin' kinda hungry Pooh so just feed it
MC Breeze tells Pooh to feed him more of his beats
Pooh is gettin' ill while me and Tee are just clowning
MC Breeze notes that Pooh's producing is really sick while he and King Tee just play around with their rapping
... It's the joint! [Repeat x 2]
MC Breeze repeats 'it's the joint' twice, agreeing with King Tee about the track's high quality
I've been rappin' for a while, I'm acquirin' chapstick
King Tee reveals that he's been rapping for a long time and has been suffering from a dry throat
Like a magician with the mic I do a hat trick
King Tee compares his rap performance to a magic trick, where he uses the microphone like a hat for his tricks
I don't wear a cape, or perform at a sideshow
King Tee asserts that he doesn't need a cape to perform heroically nor does he perform at a low-quality sideshow
Let me hit the 40 'cause my throat is kinda dry yo
King Tee asks for a drink, specifically a 40, as his throat is really dry
When I'm on stage it's like a Broadway play
King Tee regards his rap performance to a Broadway play, implying it's of high-quality entertainment
King Tee and MC Breeze and Jennifer Holiday
King Tee, MC Breeze, and Jennifer Holiday's performances are compared to each other's high-quality performances
But Breeze, my throat's gettin so'
King Tee tells MC Breeze that his throat is really dry
Get on the mic and won'tcha give it a go
King Tee asks MC Breeze to lend his voice to the song
Clowning, is like actin' ill sometimes
King Tee describes clowning as acting foolishly sometimes
But when I ill, I like to say a dumb rhyme
King Tee admits that he likes to say silly rhymes when he's clowning around
To increase my fame and star stature
King Tee believes that saying silly rhymes can help him gain more fame and success as a rapper
I'm like Anita Baker I'm caught up in the "Rapture"
King Tee compares himself to Anita Baker, who is lost in joyous excitement, to describe how passionate he is about rapping
Hittin' like bolos when I go solo
King Tee hits hard like bolos and creates a powerful performance even when he raps solo
Last name is spanish but yo, I'm not a cholo
King Tee's last name is Spanish but he's not a gangster or cholo, trying to dispel any misconceptions about him
Pooh is gettin' ill while me and Tee are just clowning
King Tee emphasizes how sick Pooh's producing is while he and MC Breeze just have fun rapping
But, but, but Breeze... You know me and you can clown right, right?
King Tee reminds MC Breeze that they can have fun and clown around while making music
We gotta see if... Mixmaster Spade can do it
King Tee suggests that they see if Mixmaster Spade can also have fun and clown around while creating music
... It's the joint!
King Tee and MC Breeze repeat their earlier phrase, 'it's the joint,' indicating the song's overall quality
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: D.J. POOH, KING TEE, MARK S JORDAN, ROGER MCBRIDE P
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edward Newton
Still one of the best Bass Drops of all time!!!!!!!!
Jon Martin
Goddamn,I havent seen this album cover in crazy years.damn I was in high school back in the day bumping this whole album.king tee,true west coast pioneer.OG
Marcus Smith
King Tee was way ahead of his time!!!
harleiux12
Very underrated album!!!!
bjharris634
Mix master spade was classic. Toddy Tee can’t be left out. The batter ram.
Bentley Bentley
That's all I bumped in my lac from CPT to Carson. Big beanie bosses 90746
Bentley Bentley
That's all I played in the 1984 and up I was the Compton possies number#1 fan back then they know me big beanie bosses #90746 Carson in the house mix master Ken
Dae Bow
And don't forget Just Say No
Manny bro I
Facts
Jay's Kicks N Fits
@Bentley Bentley Posse's