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 Fo 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
Im Runnin' With Those Thug Niggas And Drug Dealas That Bug Niggas That Got Skrilla Im 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]
Role Is Andre 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 Thats 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 Im Pullin Her Partner Friends
Who Got Some Ends To Spend Nigga Look Im 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 Im 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 Mac Dre's song "Shakin The Feds," he is boasting about his criminal lifestyle and how he manages to evade the law while making money. He is unapologetic about his actions and sees himself as a pimp who doesn't love his women. He talks about how he runs with thugs and drug dealers and how he makes his women do illegal things to make money. He also mentions how he stays alert for the police and the feds who are always after him. In the chorus, he mentions that his name is Andre but the authorities can't catch him slipping because he is driving a 7-tre and shaking the feds while making money.
Mac Dre's lyrics are filled with street language and slang. He talks about drinking "Heem" and smoking "Green Grass" which are slang terms for beer and marijuana. He makes reference to Orville Redenbacher, who is the founder of a popcorn brand, saying that he couldn't be more butter, which means that he is smooth or cool. He also mentions Togos, which is a sandwich chain in America. Goldie, the featured artist on the track, talks about drinking 211, which is a malt liquor, and refers to himself as the "Mac-A-The-Dre," combining both his and Mac Dre's name.
Line by Line Meaning
I Drink Heem, And Smoke Green Grass Everyday
I drink alcohol and smoke marijuana regularly
In 'em They Blaze In My Clean Ass Chevrolet
I smoke weed in my nice Chevrolet car
Gas Break Dip Down The Strip When I Fo Yo
I drive fast and recklessly on the street when I'm with you
With Four Hoes, That Touch Mo' Bread Than Togos
I'm hanging out with four women who make more money than Togo's sandwich shop
No Hobos, I Fuck With Cream-Of-The-Croppers
I don't associate with homeless people, only the best
Head Doctors With Choppers And Bomb Ass Coppers
I'm with women who give great head and carry guns, while also having excellent-looking police officers around me
Orville Redenbacher Couldn't Be More Butter
I'm incredibly smooth, like Orville Redenbacher popcorn
I Spit These P's When I Knock Her
I'm talking about money when I have sex with a woman
Ima Pimp I Don't Love Her
I'm a pimp and don't have feelings for the women I'm with
Undercover, I Do It Under Your Nose
I do illegal things without attracting attention and without you noticing
I Hit A Lick On Your Partner With One Of Your Hoes
I robbed your friend with one of the women I'm with
Im Runnin' With Those Thug Niggas And Drug Dealas That Bug Niggas That Got Skrilla Im Godzilla Cha-Chilla
I'm involved with dangerous people who bother others and make lots of money, and they see me as the king
It's What Is In My Hoes, Cause I Make'em Do Illegal Shit To Get My Dough
I'm involved in illegal activities and the women with me are also involved to help me make money
Slit My Throat, If You Ever See Me Fakin'
I'm so real that I would rather die than be fake
I Betta Be Tendin' To This Pimpin' And What They Makin'
I need to focus on my pimping business and the money it brings in
Role Is Andre But They Can't Catch Him Slippin'
My name is Andre but I'm too smart for the police to catch me slipping or making mistakes
Yokin' It Up Smokin' It Up
I'm combining smoking and drinking while hanging out
He's Rollin In The 7-Tre Gas Break Dippin'
I'm driving a 7-Tre car fast and abruptly on the street
Shakin' The Feds Makin' The Bread Ching-Ching
I'm making money and avoiding getting caught by the authorities
I Drink 211 And Smoke On Bomb Til' It's Gone
I drink a cheap beer and smoke on weed until it's gone
Then Drop A Hits With The Mac-A-The-Dre From Night Til' The Morn
Then I go and make great music with Mac-A-The-Dre all night long
It's Long So Start Your Livin It (Boom Boom)
Life is long, so start living as fast as possible
Man I See The Niggas Sippin'(Whoa Wha)
I notice other people drinking
Lustin' For Women Thats Been Suckin' N Fuckin' Him'n Them'n
They're attracted to women who have already had sex with them and others
Me I Jus Sav It Up Been Goin' To Hookers Pass The Buck
I save my money and visit prostitutes without wasting it on unnecessary things
Master Deluxe Make A Trick Make Money Ass Up
I have a flashy car, can get women easily and make money by pimping them out
But If The Hoe Don't Listen Then Im Pullin Her Partner Friends
If a woman I'm with isn't listening to me, I'll threaten to harm her friends
Who Got Some Ends To Spend Nigga Look Im In It To Win By All Means
I'm here to win and make money, and I'll do whatever it takes to get there
Cause This Rappin' Ain't Payin' For My G's
Rapping isn't making me enough money to support my 'gangsters'
I Could Resort To Jackin' And Slayin' But That Won't Burn
I could resort to robbing and killing, but that's not a long-term solution
I Know These Puddles Wanna See Me In Shackles
I know the police and others want to see me in jail
Because I Roll With Killas And Dealas, Hyenas And Jackals
Because I associate with dangerous people who prey on others
You Say You Dealin' With Network
You claim to be dealing with a big network of people
Cut-Throat Every Nigga Laugh
I'm ready to attack anyone who laughs behind my back
Rushin' These Hoes Catch Elbows And Jabs
I'm physically abusing women who are not doing as I say
We In The Lab Where It Don't Stop
We're never stopping to work or make music in the recording studio
It's K-I-Gig You Can See Me Checkin' Chins Servin' Dome Shots Smoke Style
I'm always ready to fight, willing to give a headbutt and a punch, and smoke at the same time
It's The Big Dog Head Coach Im That Nigga
I'm the big boss who's in charge
Got My Hand On My Gun And My Finger On The Trigga
I'm ready to defend myself with my gun
Playin' With My Fab Toys Running From The Bad Boys
I'm playing with my expensive things and running from the police
(Trippin') Lossing Control, I Never Had Poors
I'm losing control and feel like I have never been poor
Rugged And Real, Lovin' This Skill
I'm tough and authentic, and love what I do
Game To My Folks, Hang With My Folks, Swang With My Folks
I always stick with my close friends and associates
Drunk Fucked Up Off 151, Beat My Beezy Up And Say "What Have I Done"
I'm drunk and high on alcoholic drink 151, and I'm physically assaulting my lover, then regretting it
Gorilla Pimp, Behind The Tent Gettin' Bent
I'm a powerful pimp, getting high behind a tent
On The Savage Ass One "I Was Collectin' My Rent"
I'm collecting money from a woman I'm pimping out in a violent manner
The Mac Guy, Triple Stack Guy
I'm the Mac Dre guy, who is rich and triumphant
Killin' Them Suckas That Give The Rap Game A Black Eye
I'm killing the people who are ruining the reputation of the rap game
Roll The Weed Up, Somebody Turn The Beat Up
I'm rolling a joint and asking for the music to be turned up
While I Continue To Spit Relax And Kick Your Feet Up
While I keep rapping, enjoy some relaxation
Mac Game So Cold I Make Your Nose Runny
My pimping game is so powerful that I can make you cry
Mac Dre So Cold Takin' Hoes Money
I'm Mac Dre, so powerful that I'm taking women's money without any consequences
Contributed by Logan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.