One of Mac Mall’s first singles was a song called “Ghetto Theme”, and the music video directed by Tupac Shakur in 1993. He was also longtime friends with the Mac Dre, who was his mentor early on in his career/ repairing their friendship a couple of years before Dre’s death.[clarification needed] He is one of the premier artists on Dre’s Thizz Entertainment label. He is also cousins to E-40 and B-Legit.
In 1993 Mac Mall released his debut album Illegal Business? on the Young Black Brotha label. He was just 15 years old at the time his debut album was released. Khayree Shaheed worked as the producer and the album featured Ray Luv, Mac Dre and The Mac. In 1995 he contributed a verse to E-40’s “Dusted and Disgusted”, and in 1996 he signed a record deal with Relativity Records, which released his second, and most successful album, Untouchable.
In 1999, he started his own Sessed Out label, the first release being the compilation Mac Mall Presents the Mallennium, followed by his first solo album on the label, Illegal Business? 2000 a year later, although his popularity of a few years earlier had waned. Immaculate followed in 2001, on which he mixed gangster rap with religious themes, with Mackin’ Speaks Louder Than Words in 2002 and Illegal Game in 2004. He also contributed to the first “Boss Ballin” compilation record produced by D-Shot, cousin of Mac Mall and brother of E-40 and former member of the Bay Area Group “The Click”.
Discography:
* 1993: Illegal Business?
* 1996: Untouchable
* 1999: Illegal Business? 2000
* 1999: Mallennium
* 2000: Beware of Those (With JT the Bigga Figga)
* 2001: Immaculate
* 2002: Mackin Speaks Louder Than Words
* 2004: Illegal Game (With JT the Bigga Figga)
* 2004: The Macuscripts, Vol. 1
* 2005: The Macuscripts, Vol. 2
* 2005: The Macuscripts, Vol. 3
* 2005: The Macuscripts, Vol. 4
* 2005: Da U.S. Open (With Mac Dre)
* 2006: Thizziana Stoned And The Temple of Shrooms
Opening Doors
Mac Mall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's goin' on man
Yeah, motherfuckers wanna ask me how I got started
Well it's a long ass story, you know
Hella dates, times, hella names
Just a youngsta in tha game
Let me ask you a question though, potna
Tell me nigga have you ever watched your family starving
I been there at 6 in the morning when rollers barge in
I had to generations of your family hooked on ...
All this drama and still my cuddies keep fallin'
3 summers ago my older cousin' tried ballin'
And when tha judge got him a crooked jury he started falling
Slow down youngsta that's what my mother keep callin'
3 steps ahead of death I been that way since I was crawling
Late 89 Freaky D. fronted me a whole one
Only 13 cooked it up and then I sold some
Fetti came fast cause the story street was poppin'
Pushin' in Nikes and now I hit tha block knockin'
Crestside playa bending a corner in them Chevs
And let me get funky we rip the city in to shreds
Some say they livin' close to the edge, well I was raised there
Got my shit together, hit tha track and got paid there
And never did I stress of the jail termes
Some say it's filthy money but it's well earned
So why some tell you 'Just say no'
I'm gettin' vicious about my hustle steady opening doors
[Chorus:]
[Cold 187um & Kokane]
You got to go out there, and handle your business
Open them doors, handle yours, alright
Said it's allright, leanin' to the side
Pimpsters and gangsta lean
Baddest playa on the scene
3 years later still young in tha streets
Started writing playa raps still slangin' tha D
I came wit Crack The 40 and Pay This Pimp
First time I touched a microphone I knew I had this gift to uuuh
Make a million, stop coke dealing
So I got wit Mac Dre, we got paper to make
I did a 7 song EP
But it didn't get released
Cause my cuddie was to hard for the fuckin' police
On the real it was a straight conspiracy
Feds set my potna up don't want the town hearing me
They got my folks in the system, thought I was washed
No record, no money, no hoes on the jock
And I was just so close
Got me thinkin' what the devil wanna do me for
So now I'm back to the track where I came from
Same soldier, same streets, up in tha same crumbs
Them wanna see a playa straight starving and broke
Instead of pimpin' and livin' and steady opening doors
[Chorus]
A year later it got a little greater
Me and Khayree now we're gettin' young playas together
Dropped Illegal Business had the V-Town sewed
We sold 200.000 + independent, hoe
Down with YBB but I had to do my own shit
Get full control or you be broke as fuckin' gone quik
But I knew it all started from Strictly
No matter what tha suckas do the game is still in me
Packed up my mackin' and my Crestside slang
Took some ...now it's tha youngsta running his thangs
And now a nigga got action went straight platinum
So when you buy this tape I'm the one that's doin' stackin'
Pulled them licks and had to slang lleyo
Now I'm in tha industry straight opening doors
[Chorus]
Yeah, yeah so I guess it all worked out you know what I'm saying
It all started from a dream from my nigga young Michael Robinson
Better know as The Mac
Shit went all through Mac Dre, Young Coolio you know what I'm saying
Indeed this shit is livin' through me
Young Mac ass Mall 1995 pimp or die
Mac Mall's "Opening Doors" is a song that tells the story of the rapper's journey from poverty to success in the rap game. The song is an autobiographical account of the struggles he faced growing up in Crestside, California, and how he used his talents and determination to overcome these challenges. The chorus of the song, sung by Cold 187um & Kokane, urges listeners to "go out there, and handle your business. Open them doors, handle yours." These lines serve as a reminder that success is attainable, but it requires action and hard work.
The first verse of the song describes some of the hardships Mac Mall faced growing up. He raps about his family's poverty and how he witnessed them struggling to make ends meet. He also describes how he got involved in drug dealing at a young age to make money. Despite these challenges, he never let them defeat him. He remained determined and focused on making a better life for himself. The second verse of the song describes his journey into the rap game. He talks about how he started writing rhymes and eventually worked with Mac Dre to create a seven-song EP. He also describes how the police tried to shut down his music career by framing him, but he persevered and kept pushing forward.
The third verse of the song is a celebration of Mac Mall's success. He talks about how he started his own record label and had his own hit songs. He also reflects on how he rose from poverty and made it to the top of the rap game. The song ends on a triumphant note, with Mac Mall proclaiming himself as "Young Mac ass Mall 1995 pimp or die." Overall, "Opening Doors" is a song that encourages listeners to strive for success in the face of adversity and never give up on their dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
What's goin' on man
Greetings, what’s happening?
Yeah, motherfuckers wanna ask me how I got started
People are frequently asking me how I began my career
Well it's a long ass story, you know
It's quite a lengthy narrative, as you are aware
Hella dates, times, hella names
Numerous dates, times, and names
Just a youngsta in tha game
I was just a juvenile in the game
Let me ask you a question though, potna
May I ask you a query, my friend
Tell me nigga have you ever watched your family starving
Have you ever experienced looking at your family suffering from hunger
I been there at 6 in the morning when rollers barge in
I was there when the law enforcement barged in at 6 in the morning
I had to generations of your family hooked on ...
I had two generations of your family under the influence of narcotics
All this drama and still my cuddies keep fallin'
Despite all this tension, my friends continue to slip and fall
3 summers ago my older cousin' tried ballin'
My elder cousin attempted to become extravagant three summers ago
And when tha judge got him a crooked jury he started falling
When the judge gave him an unjust jury, he started declining
Slow down youngsta that's what my mother keep callin'
Take it easy, young one, that's what my mother reminds me to do
3 steps ahead of death I been that way since I was crawling
I have always been three steps ahead of the Grim Reaper since I was an infant
Late 89 Freaky D. fronted me a whole one
In late 1989, Freaky D. provided me with a whole unit
Only 13 cooked it up and then I sold some
At only 13 years old, I cooked it and made sales
Fetti came fast cause the story street was poppin'
Money arrived quickly because the storyline on the street was thriving
Pushin' in Nikes and now I hit tha block knockin'
I was rocking Nike shoes and now I'm pounding the block
Crestside playa bending a corner in them Chevs
A Crestside player bending a corner in those classic Chevrolet cars
And let me get funky we rip the city in to shreds
Let me get this good vibe going; we tear the city apart
Some say they livin' close to the edge, well I was raised there
Some say they are living dangerously, but that’s where I grew up
Got my shit together, hit tha track and got paid there
I fixed my mistakes and hustled on the track, made a living there
And never did I stress of the jail termes
I never had concern for getting caught and landing in jail
Some say it's filthy money but it's well earned
Some might call it dirty money; however, I worked hard to receive it
So why some tell you 'Just say no'
Why do some people urge you to say no to drugs
I'm gettin' vicious about my hustle steady opening doors
I am becoming aggressive about my hustle and continuously finding opportunities to open doors
[Chorus:]
Chorus section of the song
[Cold 187um & Kokane]
Collaborative artists featured in this track
You got to go out there, and handle your business
You need to go out and deal with your own matters
Open them doors, handle yours, alright
Open doors and take care of your business, it’s all good
Said it's allright, leanin' to the side
Announced that everything is fine, leaning to one side
Pimpsters and gangsta lean
Pimps and gangsters always lean
Baddest playa on the scene
The coolest player on the block
3 years later still young in tha streets
Three years later, and still youthful on the streets
Started writing playa raps still slangin' tha D
Started creating rap songs while still selling drugs
I came wit Crack The 40 and Pay This Pimp
I produced the songs Crack The 40 and Pay This Pimp
First time I touched a microphone I knew I had this gift to uuuh
From the moment I first grabbed a microphone, I knew I had this [undefined sound] gift
Make a million, stop coke dealing
Get rich and quit dealing cocaine
So I got wit Mac Dre, we got paper to make
I teamed up with Mac Dre, and together we had to earn some money
I did a 7 song EP
I made a 7 song extended play
But it didn't get released
However, it was never made available
Cause my cuddie was to hard for the fuckin' police
Because my friend was too tough for the police to handle
On the real it was a straight conspiracy
To be truthful, it was a clear conspiracy
Feds set my potna up don't want the town hearing me
Authorities framed my friend because they didn't want me to be known by the town residents
They got my folks in the system, thought I was washed
They got my acquaintances in the system and assumed I would be defeated
No record, no money, no hoes on the jock
No reputation, no money, no women interested in me
And I was just so close
And I was almost there
Got me thinkin' what the devil wanna do me for
It made me question why the devil wanted me to fail
So now I'm back to the track where I came from
So now, I'm back to hustling on the road where I began
Same soldier, same streets, up in tha same crumbs
Same individual, same roads, living in the same conditions
Them wanna see a playa straight starving and broke
Some individuals want to see a player suffering and broke
Instead of pimpin' and livin' and steady opening doors
However, I choose to continue hustling, living, and consistently looking for opportunities
[Chorus]
Chorus section of the song
A year later it got a little greater
A year later, things got a little better
Me and Khayree now we're gettin' young playas together
Khayree and I are working together, teaching young players the ropes
Dropped Illegal Business had the V-Town sewed
Released the album Illegal Business and it dominated Vallejo
We sold 200.000 + independent, hoe
We sold over 200,000 copies independently, you know
Down with YBB but I had to do my own shit
Affiliated with YBB, but I had to work on my own matters
Get full control or you be broke as fuckin' gone quik
Gain complete control or you will become broke in an instant
But I knew it all started from Strictly
However, I knew it all began with my previous album Strictly
No matter what tha suckas do the game is still in me
Despite anything my haters might do, I have the game within me
Packed up my mackin' and my Crestside slang
I took all my skills and Crestside dialect with me
Took some ... now it's tha youngsta running his thangs
Added something that is censored; now, a young person is in charge of things
And now a nigga got action went straight platinum
Now, I'm having success and getting recognized with a platinum record
So when you buy this tape I'm the one that's doin' stackin'
So, when you buy this tape, I'm the one earning money
Pulled them licks and had to slang lleyo
Performed illegal activities and had to sell cocaine
Now I'm in tha industry straight opening doors
Now, I'm in the industry, continuously finding opportunities and opening doors
Yeah, yeah so I guess it all worked out you know what I'm saying
Yes, indeed. I suppose everything worked out well, do you know what I mean?
It all started from a dream from my nigga young Michael Robinson
It all started from a dream from my friend, young Michael Robinson
Better know as The Mac
Commonly known as The Mac
Shit went all through Mac Dre, Young Coolio you know what I'm saying
This became renowned through Mac Dre, Young Coolio, do you know what I mean?
Indeed this shit is livin' through me
Truly, this stuff is alive and well through me
Young Mac ass Mall 1995 pimp or die
Young Mac ass Mall - a pimp or a person who dies in 1995
Contributed by Kylie S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.