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
Let The Thugs In The Club )
Mack 10 Lyrics
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Squad up, squad up, fuck that nigga at the do`
Squad up, squad up, fuck that nigga at the back
Squad up, squad up, fuck y'all
[Lil Wayne]
Listen
Now when we slide up in the club, we come in and do things
We likely to have a few drinks, beat up a few lanes
Spitting game at a cute thing, make her get a crew brain
All the Heineken's in mo' if it ain't dro we don't want it
Cut my song on homie, yeah, that squad shit we own it
Droopy high come see the future, we livin' for the moment
Whole sucker on corners, the dance floor up pistols on it
And everybody know you fuck up, we killin' ya
The whole club familiar with my familia
Chicken heads Boriquas goin' follow where I go
I ain't got nothing for them but a dick and a taco skat
And everybody know right where the gat me when they dap
Fuck up I'll put yo eyes right when you lap me
And I ain't come to sign shit, unless it's a bar tappin'
I ain't taking no pictures unless I`m palming an ass
Where the fuck y'all?
[Chorus: Mack 10]
Let the thugs in the club, show us love
Show us love, let the thugs in the club
Let the thugs in the club, show us love
Show us love, let the thugs in the club
[Mack 10]
L.A. let the thugs in the club
A-T-L let the thugs in the club
Chi-town let the thugs in the club
Let the thugs in the club, show us love
[B.G.]
I like shinin' but dog I'm in love with thuggin'
I like clubbin' but I get off when I`m beefin' and bustin'
I got a Bentley, Beamer, Benz, Lex
Got a bullet proof Hummer for just creepin' on sess
I got a roley, matter fact bout three or four
Got a couple of neck pieces that I wear at the show
Niggas know all the trouble that come with me
Niggas know it ain't the bluffet that come from me
Me and my click draw party every week at them crib
For hustlers and convicts, they get it, how they live
I don't need to keep it real for the block and chill
Yeah I'm happy and what cause I got a few mill
Don't thank I won't steal, wrap the K and kill
Don't thank I won't say-uh a bird and crush the pills
When it's time to bling, nigga I bling
When it comes to do the damn thing, I do the damn thing!
[Chorus]
[Mack 10]
Yo, yo
Now it ain't no secret that I'm slangin' and bangin'
And like a sack of dope rocks, my nuts be hangin'
It's Inglewood and Q.S., is the hood I`m claimin'
And I'm in already, so my colors is flamin'
It's for the project bitches who be backin' it up
And all the hardcore hustlers that be stackin' it up
And no matter where you from, represent yo city
If you a ghetto get crunk, if you's a Diddy get chicky
Get yo walk on, rib-riders if you true blue
Get yo bang on, and throw yo hood up, die move
While I buy the whole bar cause you no one know
I got a spotter and a front and a rag top fo'
I keep it ghetto, gutter, gangsta like a West Coast G
The homies trust the dopeman so we got in free
Like a stampede rust through and or we sell
Was let a stoo' bitch and get shot in the head
Ba, ba, ba, ba!
[Chorus]
Miami let the thugs in the club
New Orleans let the thugs in the club
Texas let the thugs in the club
Let the thugs in the club, show us love
Milwauk' let the thugs in the club
The Bay let the thugs in the club
New York let the thugs in the club
Let the thugs in the club, show us love
Carolina let the thugs in the club
Ohio let the thugs in the club
Tennessee let the thugs in the club
Detroit let the thugs in the club
St. Louis let the thugs in the club
DC let the thugs in the club
The song "Thugs in the club" is a collaboration between Mack 10 and Lil Wayne, with additional vocals from B.G. and The Comrades.
The lyrics detail the extravagant lifestyle of gangsters and their experiences inside the club scene. Lil Wayne starts off with a boastful verse about his crew's affinity for luxury cars, alcohol, and women. Mack 10 follows with references to his hometown and the gang that he represents, all while encouraging other thugs to join in on the party.
B.G.'s verse focuses on the dichotomy between his love for material wealth and his willingness to engage in violent acts. The chorus is a repeated call for thugs to be welcomed into the club scene throughout various cities across the United States.
Overall, the song glorifies the dangerous and criminal nature of gang culture while also celebrating the opulence that comes with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Squad up, squad up, fuck that nigga at the do`
We are ready to take on anyone who stands in our way at the entrance of the club.
Squad up, squad up, fuck that nigga at the back
We are prepared to confront and defeat anyone who tries to sneak up on us from the back side of the club.
Squad up, squad up, fuck y'all
We are a united force and we don't care about anyone who is not a part of our group.
Now when we slide up in the club, we come in and do things
When we arrive at the club, we make a strong impression and take control of the situation.
About every car that you name, on twenty-two things
We have expensive cars with large wheels that are easily recognizable by anyone at the club.
We likely to have a few drinks, beat up a few lanes
We enjoy having some drinks and playing bowling, and we are good at it.
Spitting game at a cute thing, make her get a crew brain
We are skilled at flirting with women and convincing them to join our group.
All the Heineken's in mo' if it ain't dro we don't want it
We prefer to drink beer, specifically Heineken, but we don't want anything else if it's not weed.
Cut my song on homie, yeah, that squad shit we own it
When our preferred song comes on, everyone knows that our group is in charge of the dance floor.
Droopy high come see the future, we livin' for the moment
Even though we may be under the influence of drugs, we are focused on enjoying the present and looking forward to the future.
Whole sucker on corners, the dance floor up pistols on it
People who are not a part of our group are standing on the corners, but the dance floor belongs to us and we have our weapons with us.
And everybody know you fuck up, we killin' ya
Everyone knows that if you mess with us or our group members, we will retaliate with deadly force.
The whole club familiar with my familia
Everyone in the club is aware of who we are and who we are affiliated with.
Chicken heads Boriquas goin' follow where I go
Women who are attracted to us will follow us wherever we go, regardless of their ethnicity.
I ain't got nothing for them but a dick and a taco skat
We have nothing to offer these women except for sex and a cheap meal.
And everybody know right where the gat me when they dap
Everyone knows that we have our guns with us at all times, even when we are greeting each other.
Fuck up I'll put yo eyes right when you lap me
If you make a mistake or cross us, we will hit you hard and fast.
And I ain't come to sign shit, unless it's a bar tappin'
We are not interested in signing autographs, just in buying rounds of drinks for our group.
I ain't taking no pictures unless I`m palming an ass
We will only take pictures if we are grabbing a woman's butt in the photo.
L.A. let the thugs in the club
We demand that the city of Los Angeles allows us into the club.
A-T-L let the thugs in the club
We demand that the city of Atlanta allows us into the club.
Chi-town let the thugs in the club
We demand that the city of Chicago allows us into the club.
I like shinin' but dog I'm in love with thuggin'
We enjoy flashing our wealth, but our true passion is being dangerous and intimidating.
I like clubbin' but I get off when I`m beefin' and bustin'
While we enjoy going to clubs, we get the most satisfaction from getting into fights and causing trouble.
I got a Bentley, Beamer, Benz, Lex
We have several expensive cars, including a Bentley, a BMW, a Mercedes, and a Lexus.
Got a bullet proof Hummer for just creepin' on sess
We have a Hummer that is bullet-proof so that we can safely travel while smoking marijuana.
I got a roley, matter fact bout three or four
We have several Rolex watches, about three or four in total.
Got a couple of neck pieces that I wear at the show
We have several expensive necklaces that we wear when we perform on stage.
Niggas know all the trouble that come with me
People are aware that we attract a lot of trouble and drama.
Niggas know it ain't the bluffet that come from me
People know that we are not bluffing when we say that we are dangerous and will fight back.
Me and my click draw party every week at them crib
We host weekly parties at our houses for our close group of friends.
For hustlers and convicts, they get it, how they live
Our parties are for people who live a dangerous lifestyle, such as hustlers and ex-convicts.
I don't need to keep it real for the block and chill
We don't have to pretend to be tough in our own neighborhood, we are already respected there.
Yeah I'm happy and what cause I got a few mill
We are happy and content because we have millions of dollars.
Don't thank I won't steal, wrap the K and kill
Don't underestimate us, we will steal from you and kill you if necessary.
Don't thank I won't say-uh a bird and crush the pills
Don't assume that we won't sell drugs like heroin and crush pills to sell them as well.
When it's time to bling, nigga I bling
When it is time to show off our wealth, we do it in the most flashy way possible.
When it comes to do the damn thing, I do the damn thing!
When we have a task to complete or a job to do, we get it done without hesitation.
Now it ain't no secret that I'm slangin' and bangin'
It is well known that we are selling drugs and carrying weapons.
And like a sack of dope rocks, my nuts be hangin'
Our testicles hang low like a sack of drugs, indicating that we are not afraid of anything.
It's Inglewood and Q.S., is the hood I`m claimin'
We are affiliated with the Inglewood and Queen Street gangs, and that is the neighborhood we represent.
And I'm in already, so my colors is flamin'
We are already a part of the gang, so we wear our colors with pride and swagger.
It's for the project bitches who be backin' it up
We are making music for women who live in the projects and love to dance provocatively.
And all the hardcore hustlers that be stackin' it up
We also make music for people who live a dangerous lifestyle and make a lot of money doing so.
And no matter where you from, represent yo city
No matter where you are from, you should represent and be proud of your city.
If you a ghetto get crunk, if you's a Diddy get chicky
If you are from the ghetto, you should dance aggressively, and if you are wealthy like P. Diddy, you should dance in a more refined, flirtatious way.
Get yo walk on, rib-riders if you true blue
Walk in a confident, swag-filled way, and if you are a true member of our group, you should ride motorcycles with your friends.
Get yo bang on, and throw yo hood up, die move
Be aggressive and fight back when necessary, and represent your neighborhood with pride.
While I buy the whole bar cause you no one know
We have so much money that we can afford to buy drinks for everyone at the bar without it affecting our finances.
I got a spotter and a front and a rag top fo'
We have several different cars, including a convertible with the top down.
I keep it ghetto, gutter, gangsta like a West Coast G
We embody the tough, aggressive, street culture of the West Coast gangster lifestyle.
The homies trust the dopeman so we got in free
Our friends and fellow drug dealers trust us so much that we didn't have to pay to get into the club.
Like a stampede rust through and or we sell
When we enter the club, it is as though a wild and unstoppable force is taking over, and we use it to sell our music and image.
Was let a stoo' bitch and get shot in the head
We do not tolerate anyone who betrays us or causes problems, and they will be punished with violence.
Ba, ba, ba, ba!
This is a sound effect meant to emphasize our aggressive, shoot-first nature.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: B. THOMAS, C. DORSEY, D. CARTER, DEDRICK D'MON ROLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind