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.
The Pain
Mac Dre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pain nigga (uh)
This don't feel like pain to me (no pain, no gain)
No Pain (hit em' with the heaters)
[Verse 1]
Potna I'm vicious, you better check my statistics
Pimp the blood out of bitches, and boy I off a witness
Two fat double actions that chop like axes
Nigga I tear patches, bring the heat like matches
Pigs tryin' to snatch us but they can't catch us
Cause homie with chip, is too quick for Crown Vic
Plus I gotta give em' the slip cause I'm a ex-convict
One more strike I'm out, fuck what they talkin' bout
I'm hyphin' out, ain't no strikin' out
I'm a home run hitta, get a, bitch to do my dirt
Nigga the game bring pain, that's why I hurt
[Chorus - 2X]
Feelin' the pain
Feelin' the pain
Feelin' the pain
(Once more)
[Verse 2]
I got some cuddies on Kemper, with some bad ass tempers
Just layin' dead to make a muthafucka wimper
In the winter rock some G-focs and peacoats, with the dope
Tryin' to push more flake than ski slopes
Pocket full of see-notes, tryin' to live life lav
But in this game sometimes you have to live like sav
It's a bumpy road, so I'm always in a grumpy mode
Drunk at the club, hella buzzed, nigga bumping hoes
Who knows I might bump a Bonnie like Clyde got
Run up with somethin' in the bitch, why not
I'm hot, disgusted, tired of being busted
I'm tellin' you somebody finna get hit with the musket
[Chorus - 2X]
[Verse 3]
I'ma do what I gotta do to get it up out of you
Fuck robbin' one, fool a rob a crew
We call it eattin' when we catch a fool leakin'
Straight face take his shit, nigga no sneakin'
We can get a knot out a spot, hop coast
Murder, get further, to a spot that's not close
Get cheese like nachos, go bother some notch hoes
Always keepin' the hascos strapped like Roscoes
P. Coldtrain, we feed cocaine
To the dope fiends, who need dope mayne
Knock, knock who is it
My lil' nigga with the smidgets
Tryin' to stack some digits
Nigga can you dig it?
[Chorus - 2X]
In Mac Dre's song "The Pain", the lyrics are centered on the violent world of drugs, crime, and gangs in Oakland, California. The chorus repeats three times, "Feelin' the pain," emphasizing that violence is simply a part of life in this community. The first verse is about his reputation for violence and how he avoids law enforcement. "Potna I'm vicious, you better check my statistics," he boasts. He also admits his perilous existence, as he only has one strike left before he goes to jail for good. Throughout the second verse, his lyrics focus on the drug trade and how everyone is trying to make a quick buck, no matter the cost.
The third verse talks about robbery and drug use, painting a picture of a harsh and dangerous life with no way out. His lyrics "We call it eatin' when we catch a fool leakin'/ Straight face take his shit, nigga no sneakin'" suggest that he doesn't care if someone is hurt or killed if it helps him attain his goals. The overall message of the song is that this life of crime is dangerous and fraught with peril, yet it's the only way to survive.
Line by Line Meaning
I came to bring the pain
I'm here to cause harm
Pain nigga (uh)
I'm emphasizing the harm I bring
This don't feel like pain to me (no pain, no gain)
What I do may seem hurtful, but it's necessary for survival
No Pain (hit em' with the heaters)
I'm not afraid of causing pain; I'm ready to attack
Potna I'm vicious, you better check my statistics
I'm ruthless and you should be scared of me
Pimp the blood out of bitches, and boy I off a witness
I'm willing to kill to protect myself and maintain power
Coughin' on the cat piss with some gats under the mattress
I'm living a dangerous life with weapons at the ready
Two fat double actions that chop like axes
The guns I have pack a punch
Nigga I tear patches, bring the heat like matches
I'm causing destruction and am always ready for a fight
Pigs tryin' to snatch us but they can't catch us
The police are after me, but I'm too clever and quick to be caught
Cause homie with chip, is too quick for Crown Vic
I'm good at escaping from the authorities
Plus I gotta give em' the slip cause I'm a ex-convict
I have a criminal record and can't afford to be caught again
One more strike I'm out, fuck what they talkin' bout
I'm running out of chances and don't care what others say
I'm hyphin' out, ain't no strikin' out
I'm not quitting, and won't let anything stop me
I'm a home run hitta, get a, bitch to do my dirt
I'm successful and willing to use women to do illegal things for me
Nigga the game bring pain, that's why I hurt
The gangster lifestyle is violent and hurtful by nature
Feelin' the pain
I'm acknowledging that my actions are causing pain
I got some cuddies on Kemper, with some bad ass tempers
I have aggressive friends who are ready to fight
Just layin' dead to make a muthafucka wimper
I'm capable of killing to intimidate others
In the winter rock some G-focs and peacoats, with the dope
I dress well and have drugs to sell
Tryin' to push more flake than ski slopes
I'm trying to sell a lot of drugs
Pocket full of see-notes, tryin' to live life lav
I have a lot of money, and I'm living luxuriously
But in this game sometimes you have to live like sav
Being part of the gangster lifestyle means being ruthless and brutal
It's a bumpy road, so I'm always in a grumpy mode
The gangster lifestyle is difficult and stressful
Drunk at the club, hella buzzed, nigga bumping hoes
I go to clubs and use my status to attract women
Who knows I might bump a Bonnie like Clyde got
I may find a partner in crime like Bonnie and Clyde did
Run up with somethin' in the bitch, why not
I'm willing to commit violent acts
I'm hot, disgusted, tired of being busted
I'm fed up with being caught by the police
I'm tellin' you somebody finna get hit with the musket
I'm warning others that I'm about to get violent
I'ma do what I gotta do to get it up out of you
I'll do whatever it takes to get what I want
Fuck robbin' one, fool a rob a crew
I'll go after groups of people in order to get more money
We call it eattin' when we catch a fool leakin'
We take advantage of people and their vulnerabilities
Straight face take his shit, nigga no sneakin'
I'll take what I want and won't hide my intentions
We can get a knot out a spot, hop coast
We can make a lot of money by selling drugs in different locations
Murder, get further, to a spot that's not close
Killing can sometimes be a means of escaping the authorities
Get cheese like nachos, go bother some notch hoes
We make a lot of money and use it to attract women
Always keepin' the hascos strapped like Roscoes
I always have a gun and am ready to use it
P. Coldtrain, we feed cocaine
I sell cocaine and it's a major source of income
To the dope fiends, who need dope mayne
I sell drugs to people who are addicted and need them
Knock, knock who is it
I'm announcing my presence
My lil' nigga with the smidgets
I have a small associate with me
Tryin' to stack some digits
We're trying to make money
Nigga can you dig it?
Do you understand what I'm saying?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ANDRE HICKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind