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.
Shakin' the Feds
Mac Dre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Verse 1: Mac Dre]
I Drink Heem, And Smoke Green Grass Everyday
In 'em They Blaze In My Clean ass Chevrolet
Gas Break Dip Down The Strip When I for Yo
With Four Hoes, That Touch Mo' Bread Than Togos
No Hobos, I fuck With Cream-Of-The-Croppers
Orville Redenbacher Couldn't Be More Butter
I Spit These P's When I Knock Her
Ima Pimp I Don't Love Her
Undercover, I Do It Under Your Nose
I Hit A Lick On Your Partner With One Of Your Hoes
I'm Runnin' With Those Thug niggas And Drug Dealas That Bug niggas That Got Skrilla I'm Godzilla Cha-Chilla
It's What Is In My Hoes, Cause I Make'em Do Illegal shit To Get My Dough
Slit My Throat, If You Ever See Me Fakin'
I Betta Be Tendin' To This Pimpin' And What They Makin'
[Chorus: x2]
Rollers On Dre But They Can't Catch Him Slippin'
Yokin' It Up Smokin' It Up
He's Rollin In The 7-Tre Gas Break Dippin'
Shakin' The Feds Makin' The Bread Ching-Ching
[Verse 2: Goldie]
I Drink 211 And Smoke On Bomb Til' It's Gone
Then Drop A Hits With The Mac-A-The-Dre From Night Til' The Morn
It's Long So Start Your Livin It (Boom Boom)
Man I See The niggas Sippin'(Whoa Wha)
Lustin' For Women that's Been Suckin' N fuckin' Him'n Them'n
Me I Jus Sav It Up Been Goin' To Hookers Pass The Buck
Master Deluxe Make A Trick Make Money ass Up
But If The Hoe Don't Listen Then I'm Pullin Her Partner Friends
Who Got Some Ends To Spend nigga Look I'm In It To Win By All Means
Cause This Rappin' Ain't Payin' For My G's
I Could Resort To Jackin' And Slayin' But That Won't Burn
I Know These Puddles Wanna See Me In Shackles
Because I Roll With Killas And Dealas, Hyenas And Jackals You Say You Dealin' With Network
Cut-Throat Every nigga Laugh
Rushin' These Hoes Catch Elbows And Jabs
We In The Lab Where It Don't Stop
It's K-I-Gig You Can See Me Checkin' Chins Servin' Dome Shots Smoke Style
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 3: Mac Dre]
It's The Big Dog Head Coach I'm That nigga
Got My Hand On My Gun And My Finger On The Trigga
Playin' With My Fab Toys Running From The Bad Boys
(Trippin') Lossing Control, I Never Had Poors
Rugged And Real, Lovin' This Skill
Game To My Folks, Hang With My Folks, Swang With My Folks
Drunk fucked Up Off 151, Beat My Beezy Up And Say "What Have I Done"
Gorilla Pimp, Behind The Tent Gettin' Bent
On The Savage ass One "I Was Collectin' My Rent"
The Mac Guy, Triple Stack Guy
Killin' Them Suckas That Give The Rap Game A Black Eye
Roll The Weed Up, Somebody Turn The Beat Up
While I Continue To Spit Relax And Kick Your Feet Up
Mac Game So Cold I Make Your Nose Runny
Mac Dre So Cold Takin' Hoes Money
[Chorus x2]
In "Shakin' the Feds," Mac Dre and Goldie rap about their hustling lifestyles, incorporating themes of drug dealing, pimping, and general indulgence. Throughout the song, both rappers discuss their love for alcohol and marijuana, boasting about their ability to stay ahead of law enforcement and make money from their illegal activities. The chorus repeats the motif of "shaking the feds," or avoiding getting caught by the authorities, while earning money.
In the first verse, Mac Dre mentions his penchant for enjoying his clean Chevrolet and riding with four women who make more money than Togos sandwich shop. He brags about his association with powerful people or "cream of the croppers," including "head doctors with choppers and bomb-ass coppers." Additionally, he exploits his profession and role as a pimp, claiming that he doesn't love his women and makes them perform illegal activities for him to earn money. He also refers to an incident where he robbed his partner's women while they were together.
Goldie raps the second verse, starting off by describing his taste for malt liquor and claiming that he works all night and day with Mac Dre. He insinuates his knowledge of the local prostitutes, but he doesn't indulge in casual sex, stating that he prefers to save money for his retirement. He also talks about how he'd resort to more violent activities if rapping wouldn't pay his bills, singing, "I could resort to jackin' and slaying, but that won't burn." Finally, he talks about hanging out with his criminal associates, including "killas and dealas, hyenas, and jackals," who he asserts makes law enforcement agents want to see him fail.
The song's lyrics demonstrate the glamourization of crime and illegal activities but still depict a reality among some individuals who engage in such offenses. The song encourages fast lifestyles and instant gratification, warning of consequences but never shying away from the idea that such a life will always remain thrilling.
Line by Line Meaning
I Drink Heem, And Smoke Green Grass Everyday
I consume alcohol and marijuana on a daily basis
In 'em They Blaze In My Clean ass Chevrolet
I smoke marijuana inside my Chevrolet car
Gas Break Dip Down The Strip When I for Yo
I drive quickly and erratically down the street when I go to meet someone
With Four Hoes, That Touch Mo' Bread Than Togos
I am accompanied by four women who make more money than the sandwich chain 'Togo's'
No Hobos, I fuck With Cream-Of-The-Croppers
I only associate with the best, high quality people
Head Doctors With Choppers And Bomb ass Coppers
I have relationships with skilled medical professionals, gun owners, and police
Orville Redenbacher Couldn't Be More Butter
I am very smooth and confident
Ima Pimp I Don't Love Her
I am a pimp and do not have romantic feelings for the women I associate with
Undercover, I Do It Under Your Nose
I do illegal activities in secret and right under the nose of those who may be watching
I Hit A Lick On Your Partner With One Of Your Hoes
I took advantage of your associate with the help of one of your women
I'm Runnin' With Those Thug niggas And Drug Dealas That Bug niggas That Got Skrilla
I am associating with violent criminals and drug dealers who aggressively pursue money
I'm Godzilla Cha-Chilla
I am a dominant, powerful force
It's What Is In My Hoes, Cause I Make'em Do Illegal shit To Get My Dough
The reason why my women make money is because they perform illegal activities for me
Slit My Throat, If You Ever See Me Fakin'
If I am ever pretending or not being true to myself, I would rather die than continue living that way
I Betta Be Tendin' To This Pimpin' And What They Makin'
I need to focus on my pimping and the money I am making
Rollers On Dre But They Can't Catch Him Slippin'
The police are trying to catch me, but I am too skilled for them
Yokin' It Up Smokin' It Up
I am smoking marijuana and enjoying myself
He's Rollin In The 7-Tre Gas Break Dippin'
I am driving a 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 fast and in a zig-zagging manner
Shakin' The Feds Makin' The Bread Ching-Ching
I am eluding the police and making money
I Drink 211 And Smoke On Bomb Til' It's Gone
I drink the alcoholic drink '211' and smoke marijuana until I finish it
Then Drop A Hits With The Mac-A-The-Dre From Night Til' The Morn
I work with Mac Dre to create music throughout the night
It's Long So Start Your Livin It (Boom Boom)
It's a long night, so we need to make the most of it
Man I See The niggas Sippin'(Whoa Wha)
I observe other people drinking
Lustin' For Women that's Been Suckin' N fuckin' Him'n Them'n
These men want to sleep with promiscuous women
Me I Jus Sav It Up Been Goin' To Hookers Pass The Buck
I save my money and use it to hire prostitutes
Master Deluxe Make A Trick Make Money ass Up
I use a high-quality car to help me make money
But If The Hoe Don't Listen Then I'm Pullin Her Partner Friends
If a prostitute disobeys me, I will turn to her associates to ensure compliance
Who Got Some Ends To Spend nigga Look I'm In It To Win By All Means
I will do whatever it takes to make money and succeed
Cause This Rappin' Ain't Payin' For My G's
I am not making enough money through music to support myself
I Could Resort To Jackin' And Slayin' But That Won't Burn
I could turn to robbery and murder for money, but that is not a sustainable solution
I Know These Puddles Wanna See Me In Shackles
The police want to arrest me
Because I Roll With Killas And Dealas, Hyenas And Jackals
I associate with violent criminals and drug dealers who aggressively pursue money
You Say You Dealin' With Network Cut-Throat Every nigga Laugh
You claim to have a significant business network, but everyone is laughing and being ruthless to each other
Rushin' These Hoes Catch Elbows And Jabs
I am physically pushing and fighting prostitutes
We In The Lab Where It Don't Stop
We are in the recording studio, where the work never ends
It's K-I-Gig You Can See Me Checkin' Chins Servin' Dome Shots Smoke Style
I have confidence in my skills and am performing with style
It's The Big Dog Head Coach I'm That nigga
I am a big, powerful figure who is in charge of others
Got My Hand On My Gun And My Finger On The Trigga
I am prepared to use my gun if necessary
Playin' With My Fab Toys Running From The Bad Boys
I am playing with my expensive possessions while simultaneously avoiding the police
(Trippin') Lossing Control, I Never Had Poors
I am losing control, but I have never been poor
Rugged And Real, Lovin' This Skill
I am tough and authentic; I love what I do
Game To My Folks, Hang With My Folks, Swang With My Folks
I am loyal to my friends and associates, and we spend time together doing what we do best
Drunk fucked Up Off 151, Beat My Beezy Up And Say "What Have I Done"
I am drunk and beat up my girlfriend, regretting it afterwards
Gorilla Pimp, Behind The Tent Gettin' Bent
I am a physically imposing pimp who enjoys using drugs
On The Savage ass One "I Was Collectin' My Rent"
I am describing a violent interaction with one of my prostitutes
The Mac Guy, Triple Stack Guy
I am a skilled rapper and drug dealer
Roll The Weed Up, Somebody Turn The Beat Up
Prepare the marijuana and music for me to enjoy
While I Continue To Spit Relax And Kick Your Feet Up
I will continue to rap and unwind, so sit back and relax
Mac Game So Cold I Make Your Nose Runny
My pimping skills are so effective that it will make you emotional
Mac Dre So Cold Takin' Hoes Money
I am very effective at taking money from prostitutes
Contributed by Claire T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.