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.
Too Hard for the Fuckin' Radio
Mac Dre Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It ain't nothin' but some shit I wrote
About a young brotha deep in the game
They call me Mac Dre and I'm keepin the name
I sport Nikey shoes, I got a mic to use
To talk bad about suckers, I don't like the fools
Down and dirty bout spittin' my hits
And if not, I'm gettin' my grits
Playin' the game like it's supposed to be played
Makin' much more than the minimum wage
Not a pimp daddy, don't drive a Caddy
I just mack and get all that babby
Dre, you know I never slow down
Smokin cesstee until I'm really towed down
Walk into the party, fully perked
Grab the microphone and let the mouthpiece work
I got hype and the game starts flowin'
The girls get freaky and it starts showin'
And when the party's over at the end of the night
They say: Damn, Mac Dre you ain't nothin' polite
Cause I'm the numero uno, could never be the dos
A Mack named Dre and I'm poppin the most
18, makin' raps 'til I'm 80 though
And too hard for the fuckin' radio
"Tell me somethin' good"
I'm too hard for the fuckin' radio
My rhymes are dope cause Mac Dre made 'em
And made you geek every time you play them
On your tape deck, hooked to your Sacco
A little hard, but brotha I'm a mack, though
Nothin' nice, makin' raps that you wanna hear
Gettin cessted, put my hands on the beer
I can't help it, that's what I like to do
Sloppy drunk, rappin' on the mic for you
A young brotha, kinda bone-skinny
I take a girl to the golden penny
Get romantic, just like I planned it
Then cut turf and leave the girl stranded
Is it hard becuz I just beat it?
Not really, that's what the girl needed
That's game, I thought that you knew this
Mack game, and mine is the smoothest
Like lotion I'm in motion
I'm a mack, I was a big ocean
But no matter what the fuck your name is
Nothin' nice is what my game is
18, makin' raps 'til I'm 80 though
And too hard for the fuckin' radio
"Tell me somethin' new"
I'm too hard for the fuckin' radio
Come to the Northside of the V
The C the r the e the s-t
Hit Lennard, what will be seen?
20 young niggaz gettin full of the Hen
This is the Romper Room, and you know who I am
The mack named Dre, so get with the program
Nothin' proper, freaks will clock ya
And if there's funk, then punk we'll mop ya
So beware of the four-door Delta
Get your crew if you think they can help ya
And step up but not too close
Cause the Crestside is poppin the most
And all you girls, don't you feel left out
And to the boys, I've worn that flesh out
And after that we can still be friends though
And if not, we'll be friends with the Indo
Romper Room kickin on Lennard Street
Mac Dre full of the Hennessy
18, makin' raps 'til I'm 80 though
And too hard for the fuckin' radio
"Too Hard" is a classic song from Mac Dre, who was famous for his unique style and charisma as a rapper. In this song, he boasts about his talents as a rapper and his lifestyle as a “mack,” while also acknowledging that his music is too explicit for mainstream radio. Mac Dre starts the song by introducing himself and declaring his love for Nike shoes and disdain for “suckers.” He then raps about his approach to the game, which involves working hard and making more than minimum wage. He also talks about his indulgences, such as smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase “I’m too hard for the fucking radio,” which is a statement about the explicit content of his music. This phrase is repeated throughout the song to emphasize Mac Dre’s confidence in his lyrical abilities, even if it means his music may not be suitable for airplay. Mac Dre also raps about his romantic encounters with women, but without any attachment or commitment. He describes himself as a “mack” and brags about his ability to attract women.
The song ends with Mac Dre rapping about his hometown of Vallejo, California, on the Northside of the V. He raps about a specific street called Lennard, where he and his friends would hang out and drink Hennessy. The song ends with Mac Dre repeating the chorus, again emphasizing his confidence and pride in his music.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen up, I'm about to get dope
Pay attention, I'm about to do something cool
It ain't nothin' but some shit I wrote
This is just something I came up with
About a young brotha deep in the game
18, makin' raps 'til I'm 80 though
I'll keep making music for a long time
And too hard for the fuckin' radio
My music is too edgy for mainstream radio
Contributed by Anthony F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@erenkavvas6502
This song is a perfect combination of percussion, edm, and rap. Mac Dre makes the funnest songs to listen to when I'm on a run.
@keitomineproductions4133
I wouldn't be surprised if it was made on something like an MPC
@JohnBrown-he9oe
+
@NebulousNova
3c Romp is another good Mac Dre song that has the combination you are talking about
@Airsoftsnipingkid
He made this in high school, so dope
@deonacross3626
Mac Dre will always be in the game through life and death
@joeygriff1706
2021 and STILL slappin this heat Mayne R.I.P To the one and only Mac Dre
@rjdacayanan6386
R.I.P. Mac Dre the 707 is gonna miss u
@Bopperspaniel
Worldwide loss rest up pimp
@staceyhogg9889
Rip cuz FAM KINFOLKZ