Dedrick Rolison, (born August 9, 1971), better known by his stage name Mack… Read Full Bio ↴Dedrick Rolison, (born August 9, 1971), better known by his stage name Mack 10 is an American rapper and actor. He was a member of hip hop trio Westside Connection, along with Ice Cube and WC. When the West Coast first rose atop the rap industry in the mid-'90s, Mack 10 emerged as one of the coast's most promising talents alongside his longtime associate Ice Cube. The two Los Angeles rappers co-wrote "Foe Life," Mack 10's 1995 breakthrough hit, and united a year later with WC to form the trio Westside Connection, a West Coast gangsta rap supergroup. The Westside Connection album became a sizable hit, rocketing to number two on the Billboard album chart and boasting the anthemic "Bow Down." Mack 10 continued his affiliation with Ice Cube on each successive album while at the same time launching a label of his own, Hoo Bangin' Records. As the '90s came to a close, the rapper's popularity dipped a bit, and he signed with leading Dirty South label Cash Money Records in 2001, where his career underwent some unlikely twists.

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

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Mack 10 Lyrics

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Yo when the rain comes
I like it a lot
This cemetery lit
I drank by your burial plot
The more I focus on myself
I'm separated from god
I ain't disrespectful
I just know what I'm not

I keep it chill complicated
Yup always on the latest buzz
They always want to say what's up
But fuck what the up say
I'm always on the latest drugs
Designer
I'm a major plug
Take a pill sip a the cup
But fuck what the cup says
I ain't been home but I'm good love
know Im going to air it out
Whenever I do feel shuge
Never shied away from confrontation
On the real dog
trying to find my patients
I'm good until the build up
I be red just like Clifford
All this dirt that I kick up
All this shit that I mix up
Know my worth and I
People change
People change season change
Know I'm good
Know I'm
People change
People change season change
Know I'm good
Know I'm
This sound like Friday when you're money up
Brown soul like a Henny cup
Don't fold for anyone
Only fold These Benjamin's
Said it's something like a medicine
Guess somewhere in my roots is shaman I mean I am Mexican
I am testament
To those prejudice
Guess I did better than statistics
Thought I could right
More ends
More skins
That's a good night
More juice and control
Thats a suge knight
Before the goodbyes
I do most foo
Get money
Spread love
Like I should right
Right right here where I wanna be
Some things you just gotta see
What you know bout being free
What you know bout finding peace within you
People change
People change season change
Know I'm good
Know I'm
People change
People change season change

Know I'm good
Know I'm

Overall Meaning

The song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by Mack 10 is a rap song that discusses the inner conflict of the singer's relationship with his partner. He asks whether he should stay or leave, exploring ideas of infidelity and temptation. The song's hook is taken from the punk rock band The Clash's song of the same name, which was released in 1982. Mack 10's interpretation offers a unique perspective on the question of whether to stay in a relationship, highlighting the pressures and difficulties that come with being a man in a certain kind of lifestyle.

Mack 10 uses vivid language to depict the tension in his relationship, calling his partner a "ho" and a "tease" while also expressing his own desire for her. He describes a scene where he meets up with a woman in a hotel room for sex, only to question whether he should stay with his current partner or go. Throughout the song, Mack 10 uses clever wordplay and metaphors to create a vivid portrait of his struggles with temptation and commitment.

Overall, "Should I Stay or Should I Go" is an insightful and introspective song that explores themes and ideas that are often ignored in rap music. It's a powerful reminder that even the most confident and assertive men can struggle with their relationships.

Line by Line Meaning

Mack, you got everything on here except some damn rock'n'roll
You have everything, but you do not have rock music.

Shit, don't speak too soon
Be careful with your words.

I got to know, baby
I need to understand what you want.

Girl, do you still wanna be a ho? (Huh?)
Do you still want to be a promiscuous woman?

I got to know, baby, should I stay or should I go? (What?)
I need to understand if you want me to stay or leave.

Do you want this nigga in a 6-double O?
Do you want me in a Mercedes 600?

Fuck this condo and with John Doe
I do not care about this apartment, or anyone unknown.

You a bomb ho, black enchicando
You are a beautiful woman, well-dressed and well-spoken.

You must think I'm soprano, you better trun the channel
You think I am a singer, but you should change the subject.

I wanna grab you like a handle
I want to hold you tight.

You ill scream "Book him Dano!", here come the crack commando wit his guns and his ammo
You will scream for help.

Tryin to blow out my candle
You want to destabilize me.

I'ma stop fuckin wit you for your cousin in Orlando (fo' sho', fo' sho')
I will leave you alone because of your cousin in Orlando.

Will I end up with strike number four?
Will I end up in jail again?

Should I stay or should I go take a hit or say "no"? (No)
Should I refuse drugs?

Shoot the jumpshot, run the rock or sell blow?
Should I play basketball, run drugs, or sell drugs?

Get a whole gallon of loot, do a show
Make a lot of money and put on a performance.

Keep the square bitch or should I bust me a ho?
Should I stay with my current girlfriend or find a promiscuous woman?

You got the green light, break grass so I can write
You have my permission.

We gonna stock all big heads, I recite hella types (right)
We will get a lot of attention because I am great at what I do.

Always mashin like pedals, packin fully heavy metals
I am always moving forward, carrying a gun.

To the new school leader with the big rebels
To the new leader with the strong followers.

See the shinin sea, Westside is the thang (westsiiiide!)
Look at the shiny ocean, we represent the Westside.

We're down to Hoo Bang with the ghetto slang
We speak the language of the ghetto.

Heads boppin and frownin like it's nasty
People are dancing and making faces like it is weird.

The class crackin, hard rockin like the cavi, ask me
The show is amazing, ask me about it.

I never lie, I keep it to the real
I always tell the truth.

Rollin like a big wheel ever since I had a deal
I have been successful since I signed my record deal.

Mack move the crowd like an automatic Uza (BRRRRW!)
I get the audience excited.

That three time loser's wreckin lotta polluters
I am making a lot of trouble for my enemies.

Should I stay or should I go?
Should I stay or leave?

Do you wanna see Mack 1-0?
Do you want me to perform?

You a tease (fuck a tease)
You are playing games.

Bitch please (catch these)
Stop playing games.

You wanna leave, girl, no way
You cannot leave.

My forte is to flip it like O.J.
I am skilled at flipping situations.

You gots ta obey O'Shea
You must follow my lead.

Like your ass was an ol fade and nothin but a trophy
Like your body was a trophy from the past.

Give my nigga Mack a 40, maintain orders
Give me a beer and follow my commands.

Strandin orders, walkin target, stalkin chargers
I am giving orders while being careful of my enemies.

Walk the hardest, you should move the force
Be strong and lead the way.

Cos I'ma fight, it's love, I'm right behind ya
I will support you all the way.

Over-protective, you shouldnt've gave it to me (never)
I am too protective, you should not have trusted me.

Said it was mine and handed a baby to me
You gave me a responsibility.

Now I'm on it, like I own it
I am taking charge of the situation.

I better go, ho, before I end up on death row
I need to leave before I get into serious trouble.

Mack 10 be the G with the color bandana
I am a gangsta who wears a colorful bandana.

I fiend for the mic with a jonez like Indiana
I have a strong desire to perform like Indiana Jones.

Never fuck a broad white as Vanna, I like em tanner
I prefer women with darker skin.

Always lookin for pussy, detect a freak like a scanner
I am always looking for sexual partners, and can find them easily.

I say "Beeyatch! My name is Mack 1-0 and you the baddest ho at the show in the front row
I introduce myself and compliment you on being the best looking woman at the concert.

You give head? If so, I wanna blow
Do you perform oral sex? I want to experience it.

Meet me at the Nico in room 3-0-4"
Come to room 304 at the Nico hotel.

I heard a knock (what?), there's somebody at the do'
Someone is knocking on the door.

Baby came in, sucked me down like a pro
We had sexual relations.

"What else ya wanna do?" I replied "I don't know"
She asked what else I wanted to do, and I did not know.

She said "Mack 1-0, well should I stay or should I go?" Yo
She asked if she should stay or leave.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO, YO?
Should I stay or leave?

I'MA GO, YO! I'MA GO, YO!
I am leaving.

Handle me this chick, get the fuck outta here
Take care of this woman and leave.

Huh, real quick, real quick
Hurry up.

Bitch, you crazy, you crazy
You are insane.

I'm gone, I'm gone
I left.