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.
How I Got This Name
Mac Dre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[ Mac Dre ]
Since I was a young buck my mackin was cool
I used to tongue-kiss girls in the back of the school
And maybe sometime a nigga got mo' than a kiss
I put my finger in some puss that smelled like piss
And as I reminisce, huh, it's kinda funny
They didn't run from me, they used to jock young Dre
Then I stepped up game and got some cock one day
It was a bloody mess and yes, tight as some vice grips
But I was a little nigga killin some tight shit
Tossed, turned and started fuckin her few friends
Cause she told two friends and they told two friends
And word got out that young Dre could fuck good
Then I bumped a bitch who could fuck and suck good
And after that cock was nothin to me
So I flipped the script and stopped fuckin for free
Every bitch I dicked down, had to kick down
Whoever I tossed up, had to cough up
Young in the game, mayn, but quick to learn
That money makes this world turn
So I peep game, pop that thang
And let fools know how I got that name
Mac Dre, boy
(Mac Dre, boy)
[ Mac Dre ]
I used to creep on Crest streets with a tight mask on
Posted, toasted, gettin my cash on
Strapped with a gat and a bottle of Hen though
Orange zig zags and big bags of that Endo
I pushed pebbles to the midnight hour
24-7 same clothes, no shower
Dopesacks smellin like nutsacks, but fuck it
I was checkin ducats, collect in buckets
But now I'm fresh out the pen with a chip on my shoulder
And out of the motor my blood runs much colder
Somebody told a fed I was in the mix
Hittin licks, nigga, ain't that a bitch
I make raps, stay far from saps
Checks my traps and collect my snaps
The Country Club Crest is where I got this game
And rappin on the mic is how I got that name
In the song, "How I Got This Name" by Mac Dre, the rapper reflects on his early life experiences that helped him become the successful musician he is today. He starts by talking about his sexual explorations as a young boy where he used to tongue-kiss girls in school and sometimes got more intimate with them. He highlights how he talked young girls out of their lunch money and they never ran away from him as they were interested in him. He then mentions how he became famous for being a good lover and how he stopped sleeping with women who would not pay him.
As the song progresses, Mac Dre speaks about his drug-dealing days, and how he pushed "pebbles" in "big bags of that Endo." He discusses how he practically lived the life of a criminal before landing himself in prison. After getting out, he stayed away from getting involved with criminal activities and started making music. He explains how Country Club Crest is where he got his inspiration from and how he got his name, Mac Dre, from rapping on the mic.
The song is about Mac Dre's early life and his journey to becoming a rapper. It talks about his experiences with women and his drug-dealing days, which shaped him as a person. It also highlights how he realized that money makes the world go round and how he got his inspiration to make music.
Line by Line Meaning
Since I was a young buck my mackin was cool
I have been smooth with the ladies since a young age.
I used to tongue-kiss girls in the back of the school
I used to kiss girls at the back of the school with my tongue.
And maybe sometime a nigga got mo' than a kiss
Sometimes, I went further than kissing with girls.
I put my finger in some puss that smelled like piss
I touched a vagina that smelled bad.
How I talked little girls out they lunch money
I convinced young girls to give me money from their lunch money.
They didn't run from me, they used to jock young Dre
The girls used to like me.
Then I stepped up game and got some cock one day
Eventually, I convinced a girl to have sex with me.
It was a bloody mess and yes, tight as some vice grips
The first time I had sex, it was tight and a bit difficult.
Tossed, turned and started fuckin her few friends
After that, I had sex with her friends as well.
Cause she told two friends and they told two friends
The girls spread the word about my sexual prowess.
Then I bumped a bitch who could fuck and suck good
I found a girl who was good at both sex and oral.
So I flipped the script and stopped fuckin for free
I started asking for money in exchange for sex.
Every bitch I dicked down, had to kick down
Any girl I had sex with had to pay me.
Whoever I tossed up, had to cough up
The girls had to pay me for sex.
Young in the game, mayn, but quick to learn
I was young and inexperienced, but I learned quickly.
That money makes this world turn
Money is the most important thing in this world.
So I peep game, pop that thang
I observed and learned from others and adapted accordingly.
And let fools know how I got that name
I told people how I got the name Mac Dre.
I used to creep on Crest streets with a tight mask on
I used to walk around the streets wearing a mask.
Posted, toasted, gettin my cash on
I was making money and feeling good about it.
Strapped with a gat and a bottle of Hen though
I carried a gun and a bottle of Hennessy with me.
Orange zig zags and big bags of that Endo
I smoked Endo marijuana using orange zig-zag rolling papers.
Dopesacks smellin like nutsacks, but fuck it
The marijuana bags smelled bad, but I didn't care.
I was checkin ducats, collect in buckets
I was collecting a lot of money and saving it up.
But now I'm fresh out the pen with a chip on my shoulder
I just got released from prison and I am angry and resentful.
And out of the motor my blood runs much colder
I have become colder and more ruthless after my time in jail.
Somebody told a fed I was in the mix
Someone told the police that I was involved in criminal activities.
Hittin licks, nigga, ain't that a bitch
Committing robberies is difficult and risky.
I make raps, stay far from saps
I now make music and stay away from shady individuals.
Checks my traps and collect my snaps
I check my music sales and collect my money (snaps).
The Country Club Crest is where I got this game
The Country Club Crest area is where I learned how to survive and hustle.
And rappin on the mic is how I got that name
My success in the music industry is how I became known as Mac Dre.
Contributed by Colin V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.