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
Ghetto Horror Show
Mack 10 Lyrics
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[Mack 10]
I'm screamin as I'm dreamin I see evil bad spirits
In a cold sweat heard magnums in my dreams my ears ring
So this time on the mic I bring horror like Stephen King
All my good times are turned bad like the Evan's
Seen hundreds get wounded but like a thousand 187's
Everybody that was so real they were now phony
And the nigga that used to be my homie, shit he turned on me
I got a 45 that spit hot lead that'll drill him
The nigga know too much about me, so it's a must that I kill him
If it's time available at the shrink, man I need to spend it
'cause now I see the chair rockin, but ain't nobody in it
I'm psycho like Norman Bates in the fresh side of my mind and
All I think about is comittin redrums like The Shining
So Lord please help me and forgive me for my sins
And tell me, why do I deserve the twilight zone that I'm in?
Somebody ease the pain I need a shot of novacaine
Or angel dust smoke circulatin through my brain
So who got the slaughter water, la la the brain killer
I got five on it, four stick, to the first dealer
With no screws left it's like my head is now hollow
I'm so crazy seems like my own shadow's scared to follow
Ain't that a bitch, 1-O caught up in the horror show
But ain't no popcorn or bon bons, it's all teflons nigga
[Hook:] X 2
I keep a 44 everywhere I go
It's 1-O in the ghetto horror show
[Jayo Felony]
I'm slangin ?nocous? on the boulders
Keys, O-Z's and quarters
Come along, get up, stand up, and come and get your sack
I'm bustin nigga's hearts with this motherfuckin crack
I'm sayin please oh please oh please give me just one more hit
Now I'm surrounded by skinny motherfuckers with glass dicks
I'll jack Jack and Jill, smack Bill Clinton and his bitch
Tell po po they can't fade me I'll kill him and his snitch
I'm a bad influence, I'm a bad influence
And motherfuckers don't want to know what I'll tell these fuckin kids
Fuck school nigga, bang with me
Why you gotta get a job nigga, slang with me
Listen, my 44 protects ya if any nigga tries to test ya
Nigga who the fuck is you? I'm Peer Pressure
Took the last bit of the thorazine, I'm at the end of the rainbow
There ain't no fuckin pot of gold, just the ghetto horror show
There we go
[Hook:] X 2
I keep a AK everywhere I go
It's Jayo in the ghetto horror show
[Ice Cube]
I got to testify, I grew up in this ghetto horror
?Justaora? got me spittin from the ghetto Torah
Ghetto bible survival I'm hittin rivals in their vitals
Tryin to rob titles, from livin idols
I give recitals on the drugs to sex to county checks to Lex
Your respect from the hot techs
And it's the same for me 'cause the fame don't wipe away the black
Westside can't react
Braniac with this maniac, get to losin 'fore the schools get to oozin
And your bitch get to ?twosin?
The niggas at 600 pools and like the Pope
Get on the fuckin city F niggas like to vote
It's the horror, no tomorrow in your eyes
But look at me nigga I believe I can fly
You believe you can die, well shit it might happen
I believe I can rhyme and look, I start rappin nigga
[Hook:] X 2
I keep a tech nine everywhere I go
It's Ice Cube in the ghetto horror show
[Mack 10 talking]
What is time? Huh, time is divded by two.
Before it happens, and after it happens.
Right now, we callin it the ghetto horrow show.
[some guy]
Only a fool would go there at night!
The lyrics to Mack 10's "Ghetto Horror Show" involve the reality of living in the ghetto as a "show". Mack 10 starts off the first verse by describing his nightmares that haunt him when he's asleep, leading him to wake up in the middle of the night to write down lyrics. He's seen so much violence, betrayal, and deception in his life that his only way of dealing with it is through his music. Mack 10 talks about how his good times have turned bad and how everyone he thought was real has now become phony. He talks about turning on his former homie who knows too much about him, leading him to consider ending the homie's life. In the second verse, Jayo Felony is introduced, rapping about drugs and violence. He slangs on the street and talks about how he's a bad influence on people, leading them astray to join his destructive lifestyle. Ice Cube raps the final verse and talks about growing up in the ghetto horror, dealing with violence and death as a reality of life. The song ends with Mack 10 describing time as divided into two parts: before something happens and after it happens, and that right now, they're living in the ghetto horror show.
The lyrics to "Ghetto Horror Show" are a portrayal of the reality of life in the ghetto. They depict the violence, deception, and betrayal that exists in that kind of environment. It's clear that Mack 10, Jayo Felony, and Ice Cube have all experienced these things themselves, making their lyrics all the more poignant. The song serves as a reminder that even though life can be tough, we must find a way to deal with these difficult times and that music can be an escape from the horrors of reality.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm screamin as I'm dreamin I see evil bad spirits
Mack 10 is tormented by nightmares of bad spirits.
So I wake up in the middle of the night to write lyrics
Mack 10 turns to writing lyrics to cope with his nightmares.
In a cold sweat heard magnums in my dreams my ears ring
Mack 10 wakes up from his nightmare in a cold sweat hearing gunshots.
So this time on the mic I bring horror like Stephen King
Mack 10 channels his nightmares into his music by creating horror rap songs.
All my good times are turned bad like the Evan's
Mack 10's good moments are ruined like the events in the TV show Good Times.
Seen hundreds get wounded but like a thousand 187's
Mack 10 has witnessed countless deaths and violent crimes like murder cases 187.
Everybody that was so real they were now phony
Mack 10's friends turned fake, and he cannot trust anyone.
And the nigga that used to be my homie, shit he turned on me
Mack 10's close friend betrayed him and turned against him.
I got a 45 that spit hot lead that'll drill him
Mack 10 owns a 45 gun that can shoot deadly bullets and kill his enemy.
If it's time available at the shrink, man I need to spend it
Mack 10 realizes he has mental health issues and needs professional treatment.
'cause now I see the chair rockin, but ain't nobody in it
Mack 10 hallucinates seeing a rocking chair move even though no one's sitting on it.
All I think about is comittin redrums like The Shining
Mack 10 thinks about committing gruesome murders like in The Shining.
So Lord please help me and forgive me for my sins
Mack 10 seeks forgiveness from God for his mental and emotional struggles.
And tell me, why do I deserve the twilight zone that I'm in?
Mack 10 questions why he is experiencing these nightmarish situations and mental struggles.
I keep a 44 everywhere I go
Mack 10 carries a gun, 44, for his safety wherever he goes.
It's 1-O in the ghetto horror show
Mack 10 is part of a horror show with his experiences in the ghetto.
I'm slingin 'nocous' on the boulders
Jayo Felony sells harmful drugs on the streets.
Keys, O-Z's and quarters
Jayo Felony sells drugs in various quantities, including ounces and quarters.
I'm bustin nigga's hearts with this motherfuckin crack
Jayo Felony is killing people with the drugs he's selling, specifically mentioning crack.
Now I'm surrounded by skinny motherfuckers with glass dicks
Jayo Felony finds himself surrounded by people who are addicted to drugs.
Listen, my 44 protects ya if any nigga tries to test ya
Jayo Felony's gun, 44, is for protection against enemies and anyone who treats him unjustly.
I keep a AK everywhere I go
Jayo Felony has a bigger gun called AK, which he carries for his safety.
It's Jayo in the ghetto horror show
Jayo Felony is part of the horror show in the ghetto with his criminal activities and drug sales.
I got to testify, I grew up in this ghetto horror
Ice Cube reflects on his own experiences growing up in urban poverty and violence.
Ghetto bible survival I'm hittin rivals in their vitals
Ice Cube has learned how to survive in the ghetto and will fight his adversaries in their most vulnerable spots.
It's the horror, no tomorrow in your eyes
In the ghetto, people live in fear, feeling like they have no future, considering their violent surroundings.
I keep a tech nine everywhere I go
Ice Cube owns and carries a Tech 9 gun everywhere he goes for his protection.
It's Ice Cube in the ghetto horror show
Ice Cube is also part of the horror show within the ghetto as he's seen and experienced the same struggling situations.
Only a fool would go there at night!
Some guy cautions people not to visit the ghetto at night as it's dangerous and risky.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Royalty Network
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, J SAVAGE, TIM PKA "DJ UNEEK" MIDDLETON, DEDRICK ROLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind