Born Dedrick D'Mon Rolison in 1971, Mack 10 perpetually represented Inglewood, California throughout his career, the Los Angeles neighborhood he called home. His professional rap career began in 1995 when he signed with Priority, the premier label for West Coast rap at the time, and released his self-titled album. The West Coast gangsta movement was peaking around this time, and Mack 10 capitalized on the trend with "Foe Life," a song he wrote with Ice Cube, one of the West Coast's reigning talents. The partnership struck gold, and the song became a coastal anthem, opening the door for a successive single, "On Them Thangs." Mack 10 then partnered with Ice Cube again a year later to form the West Coast supergroup Westside Connection along with another Los Angeles rapper, WC. The three had united for a standout song on Mack 10's debut album, "Westside Slaughterhouse," and hoped to reprise their camaraderie for the Westside Connection album. They certainly did so, recording the boastful lead single "Bow Down," which taunted the East Coast, along with several other songs discussing the East-West tension that dominated rap at the time.
Mack 10 followed the number two-charting Westside Connection album with his second album, Based on a True Story, and its lead single, "Backyard Boogie," in 1997. The album became his most successful, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard album chart, and confirmed his quick ascendance to fame. Moreover, the album is generally considered to be Mack 10's career highlight: it features a modest number of guests (Snoop Dogg, E-40, Ice Cube), top-notch G-funk-era producers (Ant Banks, Soopafly), and little of the filler that would begin to populate his successive releases. Mack 10 returned a year later with another Top 20 album, Recipe, which is notable for its abundance of guests. In fact, only one song featured Mack 10 alone; every other song featured at least one guest, if not more; everyone from Master P and Mystikal to Jermaine Dupri and Ol' Dirty Bastard. Following the extravagencies of Recipe in 1997, Mack 10's career began to slowly spiral downward, much like the West Coast gangsta rap scene he rode to fame. His only release in 1998 was Hoo Bangin': Mix Tape, more of a showcase for the many up-and-coming rappers on his Hoo Bangin' label than for himself, and listeners weren't very interested. When Mack 10 finally did return with another full-length of his own, The Paper Route, in 2000, three years after Recipe, listeners similarly weren't very interested.
The relative disappointment of The Paper Route brought Mack 10's souring relationship with Priority Records to an end, and along came Cash Money Records, who happily signed the rapper to a contract. The partnership seemed somewhat unlikely. Cash Money was a leading Dirty South label with a small roster of in-house rappers such as Juvenile and Lil Wayne; however, the label was looking to expand its roster as well as its reach, and Mack 10 offered it a great opportunity to unite the West Coast and Dirty South. The resulting album, Bang or Ball (2001), neither topped the charts nor garnered substantial attention despite boasting "Hate in Yo Eyes," a Dr. Dre production that interpolated the Bee Gees' "Stayin' Alive." The album nonetheless signaled a new direction for Mack 10, who sounded surprisingly comfortable working with one of the Dirty South's premier producers, Manny Fresh. Less than a year later in summer 2002 came Mack 10 Presents da Hood, a Hoo Bangin' release prominently featuring numerous up-and-coming West Coast rappers: K-Mac, Deviossi, Skoop, Cousteau, and Techniec. More importantly, though, the album featured "L.A. for Ya," an anthemic song that was customized for the West Coast's leading radio stations as well as for Lakers and Clippers home games. The customized versions worked, and the song garnered quite a bit of airplay on the West Coast, making it one of Mack 10's biggest hits in years. Ghetto, Gutter and Gangster appeared in 2003 followed by Hustla's Handbook two years later
Chicken Hawk
Mack 10 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Approach with my gun in a 2-1-1
As I sick'em lay my victim may I lick'em
All action stop nobody move no pop
As I wreck shop red alert make yo blood squirt
When I work in the brownies and the high top chucks to do dirt
Keep it sound put it down my way
Through the ghetto hit the peddle every corner I'm turning
Look for the money the kilos and the gallons of shermin nigga
Till we meet I stash my heat
Neat in my baggage do damage nasty as a savage
Looking for the cabbage
It's on 20 grand I spot a bird in hand
As I spread my wing span I swoop ready to land
Got to get him, hit the spot grab the sack
And I shake it blessed with the game
To make it bus its easier to take it, nigga
[Chorus]
I'm a chicken hawk hunting for a chicken
Sticking, my hit to ya brain with the cane, nigga
I'm a chicken hawk hunting for a chicken
Sticking, my hit to ya brain with the cane, nigga
"Don't make me kill everybody on this motherfucker"
On a late night creep the hawk sours on a mission
Mashing through the hood heard this nigga had the chickens
36 zones in each sack to be exact
Got 50 G's or more in street value worth of crack
As he put it down out of control with the cavey
Got Benzos on the grass twisting front and back Cadi's
Cappuccino instead of coffee moet
No more rossie, rolex diamonds all glossy
Glossy, Mr. Flossy
Sewed up the block keys to double up rock
I gotta lick him, nigga won't know what hit him when I get him
Shoot straight never hesitate fools cooperate
Or I drag, tag them body bag'em with my magnum
Heat in yo chest how we do it in the west
I gaffle up yo dope and fly back to my nest
I stalk hit up in chalk all over the sidewalk
Its Mack 10 fo' life better know as the chicken hawk
Interlude:
Man: Allo
Mack 10: Yeah nigga, I got yo bitch, so take all the ??? you got and put on ??? behind the ??? or I kill this motherfucker
Girl: Fuck this nigga don't give any shit
Mack 10: Bitch shut the fuck up right now
On a midnight flight the hawk glides through the breeze
Pull my wings at ease as I lands in the palm trees
Overlook my lick set my scope like a sniper
Hawk the bitch piper be alarmed for the type a fool
That I hoot ride when he do ride
I came ruff out the box Inglewood school of hard knots, nigga
A gaffle dick is all I ever gave a hoe
Where peneltons not a cape so I can't save a hoe
Mack 10 just stepped off the planet of the apes
Foe the money and dope I never rapes I duck tapes
Bitches I mack'em down flag'em down they pull over
Feel lucky as a four leaf clover in a Range Rover
They never know its the hawk his self
My eyes redder than red with St. Ides on my breath
I draw down all this licking got me nervous so I'm twitching
Bitch two to the dome or take me to yo nigga chickens
[Chorus]
(Phone ringing)
Man: Allo?
Mack 10: Oh I see you Mr. Funny-man. Aw motherfucking
Yeah you're the kind of nigga that ??? with your bitch
Well listen to this motherfucker
(Screaming)
(Gun shots)
(Phone hung up)
The lyrics to Mack 10's song Chicken Hawk are about the titular character, who is a ruthless predator on the hunt for drugs and money. The phrase "chicken hawk" is a slang term used to describe someone who preys on the vulnerable in order to exploit them. In this song, Mack 10 uses the persona of the chicken hawk to describe his own predatory behavior. He details how he stalks his victims with a gun in hand, and how he approaches them with a calm and collected demeanor before unleashing his deadly force. He describes how he is able to get away with his crimes by hiding his firearm in his luggage, and how he is able to slip in and out of neighborhoods undetected.
Line by Line Meaning
Quietly I stalk niggas call me the Chicken Hawk
I silently approach my targets, like a predator. My nickname is the Chicken Hawk.
Approach with my gun in a 2-1-1
I approach with a gun, utilizing the strategic formation 2-1-1.
As I sick'em lay my victim may I lick'em
Once I have my target in sight, I take them down and claim my victory over them.
All action stop nobody move no pop
I command everyone to stop and not make any sudden movements or noise.
As I wreck shop red alert make yo blood squirt
I cause chaos and damage, and the resulting violence results in bloodshed.
When I work in the brownies and the high top chucks to do dirt
I work in the ghetto, dressed in brown clothing and high-top Chuck Taylor shoes, to engage in criminal activities.
Keep it sound put it down my way
I prefer to do things my way and keep it quiet.
Protected by an A.K. as I search for my pray
I carry an AK-47 for my protection while I search for my target.
Through the ghetto hit the peddle every corner I'm turning
I move through the ghetto at a fast pace, turning every corner.
Look for the money the kilos and the gallons of shermin nigga
I search for money, drugs, and other valuable items to steal.
Till we meet I stash my heat
I keep my gun hidden until I meet my target.
Neat in my baggage do damage nasty as a savage
My gun is neatly packed away but I am still capable of causing destruction and acting violently.
Looking for the cabbage
I am looking for money.
It's on 20 grand I spot a bird in hand
I see my target who I know is holding a large sum of money.
As I spread my wing span I swoop ready to land
I approach my target with my gun drawn and ready to make a move.
Got to get him, hit the spot grab the sack
My goal is to take down my target and steal his money.
And I shake it blessed with the game
After successfully stealing the money, I feel lucky to have come out on top.
To make it bus its easier to take it, nigga
It's easier to steal money than it is to make it through legal means.
I'm a chicken hawk hunting for a chicken
I am a predator hunting for prey (money).
Sticking, my hit to ya brain with the cane, nigga
I will use my gun to kill anyone who gets in my way.
On a late night creep the hawk sours on a mission
I move stealthily through the night with a mission in mind.
Mashing through the hood heard this nigga had the chickens
I move through the neighborhood looking for my target.
Sewed up the block keys to double up rock
I control the drug trade in the neighborhood and have a significant amount of inventory.
I gotta lick him, nigga won't know what hit him when I get him
I need to take down my target before he knows what's happening.
Shoot straight never hesitate fools cooperate
I don't hesitate to use my weapon and expect cooperation from others.
Or I drag, tag them body bag'em with my magnum
If someone doesn't cooperate, I will use violence to take them down.
Heat in yo chest how we do it in the west
I will shoot someone in the chest as is common in the West coast gangster culture.
I gaffle up yo dope and fly back to my nest
I steal drugs and money and quickly flee the area.
I stalk hit up in chalk all over the sidewalk
My criminal activity is evident and visible to others (chalking on the sidewalk).
Its Mack 10 fo' life better know as the chicken hawk
I am Mack 10, the Chicken Hawk, and will always live this gangster lifestyle.
Oh I see you Mr. Funny-man. Aw motherfucking
I confront someone who has crossed me in a threatening manner.
Yeah you're the kind of nigga that ??? with your bitch
I am angry at someone who seems to be playing games with me and my associates.
Bitch shut the fuck up right now
I order someone to be quiet.
My eyes redder than red with St. Ides on my breath
I appear to be drunk, my eyes glossy and my breath smells of St. Ides (a malt liquor).
I draw down all this licking got me nervous so I'm twitching
My violent lifestyle has caused me anxiety and nervousness.
Bitch two to the dome or take me to yo nigga chickens
I threaten to kill someone or have them lead me to valuable targets (chickens).
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DEDRICK D'MON ROLISON, HENRIK MILLING RASMUSSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
EWF
You got gangsta in yo soul if you pump this in yo ride 😎2019 still bangin MAcK 1 O
truthmouthpiece2
so sad only a few know that dope g-funk era classics
Drak Dragon
just found this... damn this beat is 🔥🔥🔥
Funk Buddah12
@ThaRealHogg T-Dawg not really means u hanging with the wrong crowd if thats what u think
ThaRealHogg T-Dawg
truthmouthpiece2 Tristin?
Trent Yates
I swear Mack is on OG. He was one of the best MCs that ran hip hop in Los Angeles during this time period.
Worn out Testicles
95-96 sure birthed some serious classics!
Damian
i love this song both lyrics and beat
Will E. Fresh
If niggaz knew what it was about
Terence Addison
I just can’t get over how good the OG shit is VS this new generation shit. S/O to all the REAL REPRESENTATIVES from the old school. I definitely give respect and props because y’all niggas talked that shit and walked that shit, and it wasn’t about clout chasing. #2020