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 life
Mac Dre Lyrics
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Bitch
Life's a bitch
Life's a bitch and then you die
Life's a bitch and then you die
Lifes a bitch and then you die
Lifes a bitch and then you die
to enjoy riches in legitimate fashion
So many of us say fuck it get a bucket
and run up in something and keep smashing
It's all about survival
but jealous rivals make it hard for us to do this
So everybody got a gun but when we was younger
our only weapon was our two fists
Now who missed the first lesson in life don't be no punk
If you a man have heart be a savage whether you sober or drunk
I seen niggas in the pen getting
their ass dug out over some hop or a pack of Kamels
But that's the game home boy and every move you make is a gamble
Them squares don't under stand so it takes niggas like me to explain it
I show vengeance violence and hatred because underneath it's so much pain
I ain't no sissy or punk so don't trip when you see me crying
A nigga just hella mad his partners is dead and his folks keep on dying
My enemys feel the same way they want me dead they think I'm the nigga
that put they partner 6 feet under and left his son with no father figure
I live day by day not giving a fuck and when they ask me why
I pause for a minute then I reply because lifes a bitch and then you die
(Chorus)
Lifes a bitch then you die nigga
don't want a whole slice just let me taste the pie
They sent me to the pen for five years
for a crime that was never committed
I ain't no bank robber but that five years
had me thinking maybe I should have did it
Do my thoughts deceive me? What a mutherfucker supposed to think
Locked down trapped looking at four walls a toilet bowl and a sink
ain't that a bitch I've been struggling ever since I could remember
But I stay strong year round from January all the way to December
See I am a hustler I need cash bad as a fat bitch need jogging
So I specialize in three things and that's
Pimping hogging and dogging (thats right)
Half these suckers walking around here fake as three dollar bills
If you with that bullshit don't come around me
I do this for reals not for thrills
I got to watch my back for them suckers that's out to do harm
Got a tattoo of a list full a partners
that's dead that run all the way down my arm
So If you see me mugging tripping and bugging don't stop and ask me why
A nigga just hella mad because Lifes a bitch and then you die
(Chorus)
I got a crew full of the realest that's deep as the Pittsburgh Steelers
Retired bank robbers ex-dope dealers and adversary killers
Our mission is simple get rich and stay real nigga
So our kids can live fat better then we did when we was little niggas
Life is short you only live once and ain't no telling when your leaving
So I'm going to do it all have a ball
while I'm still living and breathing
See I am a philosopher and my philosophy is this
Don't be no punk young homey if it's worth it take that risk
Anything's possible but nothings for sure
Got to take advantage of all opportunities
and get your money you know
Love those who love you but don't never let it fuck up your vision
How much love did your loved ones
have when you was broke or doing time in prison
Stay on your toes don't fuck with hoes before you read them
Watch your back for them rats that set niggas up to keep they freedom
It takes 365 days for the earth to spin one time
But it only takes one minute
for that guilty verdict when that snitch drops that dime
A damn shame I thought rat heads get nothing but cheddar
But I got partners doing all day with 35 next to that letter
So I'm in trouble unless I bubble So I struggle to keep my peace
Staying money motivated with thoughts of Mike Robinson and D.J. Cee
(chorus)
In Mac Dre's song "Life's a Bitch," he discusses the struggles and harsh realities of life as a young black man. The chorus repeats the phrase "life's a bitch and then you die," which highlights the overall theme of the song. Dre begins the song by explaining how difficult it is for young people in his community to attain wealth in a legal way, which often leads to committing crimes. He emphasizes how important it is to survive in this environment, but also how it is constantly being made difficult by rivals who are constantly trying to stop them. Dre details how he and his peers are constantly under threat and how they use weapons to protect themselves, whereas in the past, they would only use their fists.
He then brings up the topic of imprisonment and how he was wrongly convicted of a crime he did not commit but ended up doing time for it. Dre juxtaposes how he was raised to be a good person, but life forced him to become something else entirely. He talks about his final acceptance that 'life's a bitch,' which helps him deal with the pain of losing loved ones, of imprisonment, and of constantly having to fight for survival. Throughout the song, Mac Dre talks about his philosophy of life, stressing the importance of family, staying vigilant, working hard, and seizing opportunities to make something of oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
Bitch
Life is tough
Life's a bitch
Life is tough
Life's a bitch and then you die
Life is tough, and death is inevitable
It's not often young niggas get a chance
to enjoy riches in legitimate fashion
Young people rarely get the opportunity to achieve success through legal means
So many of us say fuck it get a bucket
and run up in something and keep smashing
Many young people resort to crime because they don't see any other options
It's all about survival
but jealous rivals make it hard for us to do this
Life is about survival, but competition from others makes it difficult
So everybody got a gun but when we was younger
our only weapon was our two fists
People carry guns now, but when they were young, they only had their strength
Now who missed the first lesson in life don't be no punk
If you a man have heart be a savage whether you sober or drunk
Being tough and aggressive is important for survival
But that's the game home boy and every move you make is a gamble
Life is like a game, and every decision is a risk
Them squares don't under stand so it takes niggas like me to explain it
People who haven't lived the same experiences don't understand, and it takes someone who has to explain it
I show vengeance violence and hatred because underneath it's so much pain
The violence and anger is a mask for the pain beneath it
I ain't no sissy or punk so don't trip when you see me crying
Even though he's tough, he still feels emotions and is allowed to cry
My enemys feel the same way they want me dead they think I'm the nigga
that put they partner 6 feet under and left his son with no father figure
His enemies want him dead because they blame him for the death of their friend, who left behind a fatherless child
I live day by day not giving a fuck and when they ask me why
I pause for a minute then I reply because lifes a bitch and then you die
He lives carefree because he knows that life is tough and death is inevitable
Lifes a bitch then you die nigga
don't want a whole slice just let me taste the pie
Life is tough and short, so he just wants to experience it as much as he can
They sent me to the pen for five years
for a crime that was never committed
He was wrongfully convicted and sent to prison for five years
See I am a hustler I need cash bad as a fat bitch need jogging
So I specialize in three things and that's
Pimping hogging and dogging (thats right)
He's a hustler who needs money, so he specializes in illegal activities like prostitution and robbery
Half these suckers walking around here fake as three dollar bills
If you with that bullshit don't come around me
I do this for reals not for thrills
Many people are fake and he doesn't want to associate with them because he's serious about his illegal work
So If you see me mugging tripping and bugging don't stop and ask me why
A nigga just hella mad because Lifes a bitch and then you die
If he's angry, it's because life is tough and death is inevitable
I got a crew full of the realest that's deep as the Pittsburgh Steelers
Retired bank robbers ex-dope dealers and adversary killers
His crew is made up of tough, experienced people, including former robbers and killers
Our mission is simple get rich and stay real nigga
So our kids can live fat better then we did when we was little niggas
Their goal is to get rich and provide a better life for their children than they had growing up
See I am a philosopher and my philosophy is this
Don't be no punk young homey if it's worth it take that risk
He considers himself a philosopher who believes in taking risks if it's worth it
Anything's possible but nothings for sure
Got to take advantage of all opportunities
and get your money you know
Life is uncertain, so you have to make the most of opportunities and make money
Love those who love you but don't never let it fuck up your vision
How much love did your loved ones
have when you was broke or doing time in prison
Love those who support you, but remember that they may not always be there for you when you're struggling
Stay on your toes don't fuck with hoes before you read them
Watch your back for them rats that set niggas up to keep they freedom
Be cautious around women and don't trust snitches who turn on their friends to stay out of trouble
It takes 365 days for the earth to spin one time
But it only takes one minute
for that guilty verdict when that snitch drops that dime
Time passes slowly, but a guilty verdict can come quickly if someone snitches
A damn shame I thought rat heads get nothing but cheddar
But I got partners doing all day with 35 next to that letter
He thought snitches would get rewarded, but instead, his friends are serving life sentences
So I'm in trouble unless I bubble So I struggle to keep my peace
Staying money motivated with thoughts of Mike Robinson and D.J. Cee
He needs to make money to stay out of trouble and is motivated by thinking of his friends
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: FRED KNOBLOCH, THOM SCHUYLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind