Career
Mac Dre's music gained popularity in the early to mid 1990s throughout the Bay Area, eventually receiving national recognition through his independent record labels Romp and Thizz Entertainment. He released many hit singles, such as "Too Hard for the Radio", and most recently "Feelin' Myself". He was the creator of the "Thizzle Dance", a popular dance which holds no specific standard. Hardship and controversy were staples of Mac Dre's career. After recording his first three albums between 1989 and 1991, Mac was charged with conspiracy to commit bank robbery. His record label, Romp Productions, and his many references to "Romper Room" in his songs, coincided with a Vallejo robbery gang of the time calling themselves the "Romper Room Gang" and responsible for the robberies of many area banks and pizza parlours. Hicks was alleged to be a member of the gang. The rapper was sentenced to five years in prison in 1992.
In prison, Hicks gained some notoriety by recording the lyrics to songs directly over the Fresno County jail inmate telephone. His album, Young Black Brotha, was a result of such efforts, as well as guest appearances on fellow artists' songs, all while Hicks was still imprisoned. A later album, Back 'N Da Hood, was also made up of these prison-recorded songs.
After his release from prison in 1996, Mac Dre began releasing albums steadily, building pace in the early 21st century. Mac Dre's audience was growing, and mainstream hip-hop stations were beginning to give Hicks' music more airtime. Hicks relocated to Sacramento, California in 2001, where he began a label, Thizz Entertainment.
Death
On November 1, 2004, Mac Dre was shot to death while returning to his hotel after a performance in Kansas city. A car pulled up next to the white van carrying Dre along with other Thizz artists. Whether words where exchanged or not, the ordeal ended in the bloodshed of a bay area rap legend. The van swerved off the road and into a ravine where it ran into a tree. Word is that Dre was thrown from the van, but officials say they found him in the front seat, dead on arrival. Some believe that Mac Dre's killer was Kansas City rapper Anthony "Fat Tone" Watkins. In 2005 Watkins was murdered, allegedly by Bay Area rapper Mac Minister. In March 2006, Mac Minister was arrested by FBI officials.
Fish Head Stew
Mac Dre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm a hutch-peeler with much scrilla and I love to get high, homie
Shady character like Don King, so you better keep your eye on me
I done bust niggaz in the grill and had 'em wearin partials
Jacked high rollers and ran from the US marshalls
It's called survival and only the strong can survive
And went the distance with the feds while some of my partners took a dive
Strive to stay alive, can't let no nigga smudder me
Sippin bubbly, breakin down buds from a fat sack
Reservations at ( ? ) arts craft shack
I stacks fat cause a mackaroni gots to have cheese
( ? ) pillows and cigarillos and backwood leaves
And I drinks Hen by the gallon, so sometimes I might trip
Infrared beam with black talons and that extended clip
Quick to do some sprayin, so nigga, watch what you sayin
You'll get your show cancelled like Keenan and Ivory Wayans
[Chorus]
I'm just a pimp, mane, tryin to stack some Francs
So I can have French maids pedicure my bunions
Oh, you ain't knowin, what is you, new?
Yo hutch must be feedin you fish head stew
[Verse 2: Mac Dre]
Mac Dre shake broke hoes with bolos and kids
Tell a bitch she can take a long walk off a short bridge
And hope she land in shark-infested waters
Heartless, takin over turfs like Nino did to Corace
Kidnapped by the feds and treated like a sucker
But now I'm free they see payback's a motherfucker
I'm sickenin, like dickin all they daughters and nieces
Now CO's and PO's want me restin in pieces
Gettin peace is so hard that it'll make your nose bleed
And I been smokin since niggaz was on gold weed
Born to be a player, rhyme sayer and clock grits
Strapped with two 23 speedin chop sticks
Quick to kick a bitch to the curb
And get back with her on a 33rd
I never worry, never worry, it's all copastetic
Got mo' game than needed insulin in a diabetic
[Chorus]
[Verse 3: Mac Dre]
I be fitted, dipped in butter, hair cut like Kobe
Blindin 'em with science like Thomas Dolby
Pullin on black MI, sippin top-shelf Cuevo
Playin with my hutch hair while she lickin on my navel
Stable full of money-makin stallions
Been in the feds with dreads from Jamaica and Italians
Shrimp scampi eater Peter Long []
Puffin purple cush at the building with my cousons
Strapped, armed, ready, ain't nobody goosin me
Got ( ? ) where the airbags used to be
Boy, you should see how I act off the privilege
Hennessy is like Popeye's spinach
I'm ready to take heads off, gunplay or fight
I dot eyes and have 'em wearin they sunglasses at night
Fool, that's real, that ain't no frontin
Them punk-ass niggaz don't want to see Dre about nothin
The lyrics of "Fish Head Stew," a song by Mac Dre, presents a narrative about a hutch-peeler (a drug dealer) who deals with challenges that come with survival in his line of business, such as avoiding the authorities and dealing with betrayal by partners. The song portrays the main character, Mac Dre, as a player, or as he puts it, a pimp, whose objective is to make money and enjoy life's pleasures, such as good food and drinks, fashion, and being around beautiful women. The song's chorus and title reference a meal called "fish head stew," often associated with poverty and struggle. Mac Dre appears to use this imagery to contrast his present state of wealth and success.
In the first verse, Mac Dre boasts about his reputation as a shady character who is capable of violence and who has run-ins with authorities. He emphasizes the importance of staying alive and being smart to avoid being caught or betrayed. He talks about his love for drugs and his loyal fans, who are mostly women. He then refers to his indulgence in luxury items such as expensive pillows made from animal fur and rich food. In the second verse, Mac Dre adopts a more aggressive tone, boasting about his ability to take over territory and not caring about the consequences. He claims to be untouchable and dares anyone to cross him.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a hutch-peeler with much scrilla and I love to get high, homie
I make a lot of money in my job, love to smoke weed, and I work in the sex industry.
Shady character like Don King, so you better keep your eye on me
I'm a crafty person and can't be trusted, like boxing promoter Don King.
I done bust niggaz in the grill and had 'em wearin partials
I've hit people in the mouth so hard that they needed to wear fake teeth after.
Jacked high rollers and ran from the US marshalls
I've robbed wealthy people and escaped from law enforcement.
It's called survival and only the strong can survive
Life is difficult and only those who are strong can succeed.
And went the distance with the feds while some of my partners took a dive
I was able to handle being questioned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) while others I knew couldn't.
Strive to stay alive, can't let no nigga smudder me
I'll do whatever it takes to stay alive and not let anyone hold me down.
Got to stay f-are-double e and keep these bitches lovin me
I need to stay fresh and keep women interested in me.
Sippin bubbly, breakin down buds from a fat sack
I'm drinking champagne (or similar alcohol) and cutting up marijuana.
I stacks fat cause a mackaroni gots to have cheese
As a pimp, I need to have a lot of money.
( ? ) pillows and cigarillos and backwood leaves
I have decorative pillows and smoke cigars and cigars made from backwoods.
And I drinks Hen by the gallon, so sometimes I might trip
I drink Hennessy (a type of cognac) in large quantities and sometimes get drunk (trip).
Infrared beam with black talons and that extended clip
My gun has an infrared sight and a large magazine.
Quick to do some sprayin, so nigga, watch what you sayin
I'm quick to use my gun, so be careful what you say to me.
You'll get your show cancelled like Keenan and Ivory Wayans
I'll take action against you like when a TV show gets cancelled, as happened to the creators of In Living Color, Keenan and Ivory Wayans.
I'm just a pimp, mane, tryin to stack some Francs
I'm a pimp and trying to make a lot of money.
So I can have French maids pedicure my bunions
I want to have servants taking care of my feet.
Oh, you ain't knowin, what is you, new?
You don't know this already? Are you new to this?
Yo hutch must be feedin you fish head stew
You must be naive or gullible if you don't know what's going on.
Mac Dre shake broke hoes with bolos and kids
I get rid of poor women and families quickly.
Tell a bitch she can take a long walk off a short bridge
I don't care about someone's well-being and will tell them to harm themselves.
And hope she land in shark-infested waters
I hope she dies in dangerous conditions.
Heartless, takin over turfs like Nino did to Corace
I'm ruthless and taking over territory like Nino Brown did in the movie, New Jack City.
Kidnapped by the feds and treated like a sucker
The FBI arrested and treated me unfairly.
But now I'm free they see payback's a motherfucker
Now that I'm free, they'll see that I'll take revenge.
I'm sickenin, like dickin all they daughters and nieces
I'm disgusting, like having sex with someone's family members.
Now CO's and PO's want me restin in pieces
Correctional officers and probation officers want me dead.
Gettin peace is so hard that it'll make your nose bleed
Finding peace is so difficult that it's like having a nosebleed.
And I been smokin since niggaz was on gold weed
I've been smoking marijuana for a long time.
Born to be a player, rhyme sayer and clock grits
I was made to be a womanizer, rapper, and make money.
Strapped with two 23 speedin chop sticks
I'm carrying two guns with large magazines.
Quick to kick a bitch to the curb
I'm fast to get rid of a woman.
And get back with her on a 33rd
And maybe come back to her later.
I never worry, never worry, it's all copastetic
I don't worry, everything is fine.
Got mo' game than needed insulin in a diabetic
I have a lot of skill, more than is needed like insulin for a diabetic person.
I be fitted, dipped in butter, hair cut like Kobe
I dress well, look good and my hair is cut similar to Kobe Bryant.
Blindin 'em with science like Thomas Dolby
I'm impressing people with my intelligence and knowledge, like the musician Thomas Dolby.
Pullin on black MI, sippin top-shelf Cuevo
I'm smoking marijuana and drinking expensive tequila.
Playin with my hutch hair while she lickin on my navel
A woman is playing with my hair while performing oral sex on me.
Stable full of money-makin stallions
I have many sources of income.
Been in the feds with dreads from Jamaica and Italians
I've been in prison with people from Jamaica and Italy who have dreadlocks.
Shrimp scampi eater Peter Long []
I dine on expensive seafood dishes.
Puffin purple cush at the building with my cousons
I'm smoking marijuana with my cousins in a building.
Strapped, armed, ready, ain't nobody goosin me
I'm carrying a gun and am prepared for anything to happen.
Got ( ? ) where the airbags used to be
I have a gun hidden where the airbags used to be in my car.
Boy, you should see how I act off the privilege
You should see me when I'm feeling powerful.
Hennessy is like Popeye's spinach
Hennessy is like a power boost for me, similar to the effect spinach has on Popeye the Sailor Man.
I'm ready to take heads off, gunplay or fight
I'm willing to use violence if necessary.
I dot eyes and have 'em wearin they sunglasses at night
I'm willing to injure someone to the point that they'll have to wear sunglasses at night.
Fool, that's real, that ain't no frontin
That's the real deal, not pretend.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
trevor watson
we should have never lost the MAC... dude spits fire!
Marco Constantino
Jkoklo
Marco Constantino
Kokomo.m on I'm
Karen D
Music will never be the same, RIP MAC DRE! ❤️
Four Twenty
This will never be a throwback, this will always be relevant. #TIP
J J
Mac Dre. Never get old. Slapper 💯💯💯💯
Bill Gray
Facts
MrLooper
The thing about mac dre is no matter who he is on the track with or no matter how weak the beat is His verse goes hard AF
Regal Herbsman
MD always went hard on every track, truly missed. RIP
420topramen
such a tight ass beat...MAC DRE all damn day! stay HIGH