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.
Let's dance
King Tee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(King Tee is back again)
(Play that beat)
(Let's dance
I know you got the feeling
Let's dance
Come on and get down) --> Sweet Tee
[ VERSE 1: King Tee ]
Now what I want y'all to do is...
Think of this, then relax yourself
Then add to the pressure felt
I want all of y'all to motivate your self-esteem
Then pinch (Ouch...) See, this ain't no dream
It's the King, and I came to the place to
Start the party, give a little taste to
Suckers, punks and souped up chumps
They ought to know now, I love rappin to funk
So I recommend this, I insist this
Get out your seat before you all miss this
Dancin tune made to rock the room
Grab a partner (Come on!) and swoon
To the right, and I might
Say a little rhyme, so suckers, don't bite
Grab yourself a girl while I freelance
No mumbo jumbo, so handle that and...
(Let's dance
I know you got the feeling
Let's dance
Come on and get down)
[ VERSE 2: King Tee ]
Back once more with somethin funky
They tried to beat me and tried to punk me
But - it couldn't happen
Never, no way, no how, so don't be actin
Souped just because you're down with the group
I sit on your face and I poop
But don't get me wrong, I'm not that type of fellow
I like to make people dance, and I tell ya
I could be a choreographer, a teacher
A producer, or a preacher
More like a pro cause I do my trade well
I got a formula, but I can't tell
But what I wanna do is make you swing
To a funky beat brought by a King
So you know what to do, take a chance
Grab a freaky-deaky and...
(Let's dance
I know you got the feeling
Let's dance
Come on and get down)
(Let's dance)
(Where's the party at?
The party's over here!)
(Compton)
(Where's the party at?
The party's over here!)
(Compton)
(Let's dance
I know you got the feeling
Let's dance
Come on and get down)
(Do the hoochie-coochie)
(Fellas, I'm ready to get up and do my thang
Doin it, you know?) --> James Brown
The song "Let's Dance" by King Tee is a classic hip-hop party anthem meant to get people on their feet and dancing. The lyrics encourage listeners to let go of their inhibitions and join the party. The opening lines set the tone with an introduction from King Tee and Sweet Tee, singing "Let's dance, I know you got the feeling, come on and get down."
In the first verse, King Tee urges listeners to motivate themselves and embrace the party atmosphere. He suggests dancing with a partner and to the beat, and even freestyles a rhyme. In the second verse, King Tee proudly declares his status as a top-notch rapper and musician, and notes that he could also "be a choreographer, a teacher / A producer, or a preacher." He highlights the danceable nature of his music and urges listeners to take a chance and dance with a "freaky-deaky."
Overall, "Let's Dance" is a feel-good song that evokes the carefree spirit of a wild party. King Tee uses his lyrics to encourage people to let loose and enjoy themselves, making it a memorable classic of early East Coast hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
(Let's dance
King Tee invites everyone to dance
I know you got the feeling
King Tee knows that the listeners have the desire to dance
Let's dance
King Tee encourages again to start dancing
Come on and get down)
King Tee is inviting everyone to dance and have a good time
Now what I want y'all to do is...
King Tee is about to give instructions
Think of this, then relax yourself
King Tee tells his listeners to imagine and relax before the dance
Then add to the pressure felt
King Tee asks the listeners to build up the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming dance
I want all of y'all to motivate your self-esteem
King Tee wants his listeners to feel good about themselves and gain confidence
Then pinch (Ouch...) See, this ain't no dream
King Tee wants his listeners to realize that this is real and not just a dream
It's the King, and I came to the place to
King Tee introduces himself as the king of the dance floor
Start the party, give a little taste to
King Tee starts the dancing and wants to show his listeners how it's done
Suckers, punks and souped up chumps
King Tee is referring to those who don't dance and enjoy themselves as losers
They ought to know now, I love rappin to funk
King Tee reveals his love for funk and how it drives his performance
So I recommend this, I insist this
King Tee is encouraging and insistent on everyone joining in the fun
Get out your seat before you all miss this
King Tee doesn't want anyone to miss out on the fun and asks that they get up and dance
Dancin tune made to rock the room
King Tee's music is made to make everyone dance and enjoy themselves
Grab a partner (Come on!) and swoon
King Tee is encouraging everyone to dance together and feel the rhythm
To the right, and I might
King Tee may guide his listeners into dancing a certain way
Say a little rhyme, so suckers, don't bite
King Tee doesn't want anyone to copy or steal his moves
Grab yourself a girl while I freelance
King Tee encourages his male listeners to find a female partner to dance with while he freestyles
No mumbo jumbo, so handle that and...
King Tee wants his listeners to know that there's no trick to dancing; they just need to 'handle it'
Back once more with somethin funky
King Tee returns with another funky song
They tried to beat me and tried to punk me
King Tee is referencing those who doubted him and his ability to make people dance
But - it couldn't happen
King Tee succeeded despite the doubters
Never, no way, no how, so don't be actin
King Tee doesn't want anyone to act like they can stop him from making people dance
Souped just because you're down with the group
King Tee is referring to those who try to be cool just by association
I sit on your face and I poop
King Tee is using vulgar language to describe how he doesn't take kindly to fake people
But don't get me wrong, I'm not that type of fellow
King Tee clarifies that he's not violent and he prefers to make people dance instead
I like to make people dance, and I tell ya
King Tee reiterates his love for dancing
I could be a choreographer, a teacher
King Tee is saying that he's such a good dancer that he could become a teacher or a choreographer
A producer, or a preacher
King Tee's talents extend to producing music or leading a congregation
More like a pro cause I do my trade well
King Tee is confident in his abilities and knows how to put on a good show
I got a formula, but I can't tell
King Tee has a secret formula to make people dance, but he's not willing to share
But what I wanna do is make you swing
King Tee's goal is to make people dance and have a good time
To a funky beat brought by a King
King Tee's funky music is the perfect beat to dance to
So you know what to do, take a chance
King Tee is encouraging everyone to let loose and have fun
Where's the party at?
King Tee wants to know where the fun is happening
The party's over here!
King Tee is announcing that the party is right here, where he's performing
Do the hoochie-coochie
King Tee wants everyone to dance the hoochie-coochie, a popular dance move
Fellas, I'm ready to get up and do my thang
King Tee is ready to dance and do his thing
Doin it, you know?
King Tee is enjoying himself and encourages his listeners to do the same
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.