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
Like This
Mack 10 Lyrics
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(Yeah)
Say what?
(Oh yeah)
Yeah
(Yeah)
(Yeah)
Well this must be the hustlas anthem
Hoo' bangin'
(Oh yeah)
If it start off soft,I can turn it to hard,
Then hit the boulevard in a drop top with a broad,
I walk the green import and push fast cars,
With a fetish for bank wads and Cuban cigars,
Yo, peep the way I do it,
I'm young,fly and flashy,
I'm so L.A, so hood and so classy,
Lookin' for that good stuff?
Don't hesitate to ask me,
Bet I got what you need,
So be sure to run it past me,
And just in case it's on,
Keep the blue steel and chrome,
The homies hop in and roam,
With khaki suits on,
And we real with it homes,
These rap dudes is clones,
Mess around with Mack Dime,
And foe' sho it be on,
As for my resume respect it,
Or be sure to check it,
I got a batch of that aquatic sure to get you naked,
So play your cards right and win before you deck it,
When I heard this beat knockin' foe' sho I had to wreck it,
C'mon!
Disrespect, get checked,
Snatch you up by your neck,
Young money tryin'a be the man too quick,
Homie this ain't checkers this a game of chess,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this.
Talk a lot of mess 'cause I do it the best,
Some of y'all don't like me but ya gimme respect
When I'm lying in the grave I guess I'll give it a rest,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this
I got a large clientele for whatever I sell,
I don't guess the weight I tell with a digital scale,
I got money cut for bail,
But before I see a jail,
I'ma change clothes and roll like Jay and Pharrell,
I like to switch up my game and rotate my pros,
Park the GT Bentley and pull out the Phantom Rolls,
And I pack the kinda heat that you can't expose,
So my stash box enclosed with Fo'Fo's and calicos,
Cause your boy One-0 is ever so gun-ho,
No scope,I get up close my vision tunnel
Got that white by the bricks and green by the bundle,
With a crew of broads workin' its never just One-0 oh,
Disrespect, get checked,
Snatch you up by your neck,
Young money tryin'a be the man too quick,
Homie this ain't checkers this a game of chess,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this.
Talk a lot of mess 'cause I do it the best,
Some of y'all don't like me but ya gimme respect
When I'm lying in the grave I guess I'll give it a rest,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this
I know you like it like this,
Like I said if it ain't ready I can rock it like this,
Foe' Sho I'm'a have the hood poppin' like this,
Mack 10 got that bomb beat drop it like this
I know you like it like this,
Like I said if it ain't ready I can rock it like this,
Foe' Sho I'm'a have the hood poppin' like this,
Mack 10 got that bomb beat drop it like this
Disrespect, get checked,
Snatch you up by your neck,
Young money tryin'a be the man too quick,
Homie this ain't checkers this a game of chess,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this.
Talk a lot of mess 'cause I do it the best,
Some of y'all don't like me but ya gimme respect
When I'm lying in the grave I guess I'll give it a rest,
Why do I do it like this?
Cause you like it like this
(Yeah)
Am I a hustla?
(Yeah)
Am I a hustla?
(Yeah)
Hahaha
(Oh yeah)
Nate Dogg
(Yeah)
Rucka,you still there homie?
(Yeah)
Mack One-0
(Yeah)
(Oh yeah!)
In the opening lines of "Like This," the rapper declares his status as a hustler, ready to turn anything soft into something lucrative. He boasts about his ability to drive fast cars, enjoy the finer things in life, and have a stash of weapons that keep him safe. He talks about his clientele of people looking for drugs, and how he's always sure to have what they need. He repeats the phrase "cause you like it like this," indicating that he knows his fans are enamored by the dangerous, flashy lifestyle he portrays.
The second verse is delivered by Nate Dogg, who lends his smooth, melodic voice to contrast with Mack 10's rougher, more aggressive style. He takes a slightly different angle, questioning the motives of the constantly hustling lifestyle, and suggests that it will eventually lead to one's downfall. However, he also acknowledges that he's respected for his skills and reputation within the industry. He repeats the phrase "Why do I do it like this? Cause you like it like this" as a nod to the supposed symbiotic relationship between the hustler and those who support their lifestyle.
The overall theme of the song seems to be that the flashy, high-risk lifestyle of a hustler may be glorified, but ultimately comes with a price. However, the rapper and his associates are willing to pay that price in order to keep the game going.
Line by Line Meaning
Am I A Hustla?
Do I hustle? Yes.
Say what?
What did you say?
Yeah
Yes.
(Yeah)
Yes.
(Yeah)
Yes.
Well this must be the hustlas anthem
This song must be the anthem for hustlers.
(Yeah)
Yes.
Hoo' bangin'
Representing record label Hoo-Bangin.
If it start off soft,I can turn it to hard,
If the business starts off slow, I can turn it around.
Then hit the boulevard in a drop top with a broad,
Then ride down the boulevard in a convertible with a woman.
I walk the green import and push fast cars,
I deal drugs and drive fast cars.
With a fetish for bank wads and Cuban cigars,
I have an obsession with money and smoking Cuban cigars.
Yo, peep the way I do it,
Check out how I do it.
I'm young,fly and flashy,
I'm young, stylish, and showy.
I'm so L.A, so hood and so classy,
I epitomize the urban style of Los Angeles, while also having a touch of sophistication.
Lookin' for that good stuff?
Looking for drugs?
Don't hesitate to ask me,
Don't be afraid to ask me.
Bet I got what you need,
I'm confident that I have what you're looking for.
So be sure to run it past me,
Tell me what you need so I can provide it.
And just in case it's on,
And if things get violent,
Keep the blue steel and chrome,
Use guns to protect yourself.
The homies hop in and roam,
My friends get in the car and come with me.
With khaki suits on,
Wearing khaki-colored clothing, a style associated with gang culture.
And we real with it homes,
We're authentic and genuine, my friend.
These rap dudes is clones,
Many rappers are imitators of the same style.
Mess around with Mack Dime,
Don't mess with me.
And foe' sho it be on,
If someone tries to mess with me, it will end in a fight.
As for my resume respect it,
You should respect my accomplishments.
Or be sure to check it,
Take a closer look at my accomplishments.
I got a batch of that aquatic sure to get you naked,
I have a batch of drugs that will make you feel sexually aroused.
So play your cards right and win before you deck it,
Make smart decisions and succeed before you fall too deep into the lifestyle of the streets.
When I heard this beat knockin' foe' sho I had to wreck it,
When I heard this music, I knew I had to create a great song.
Disrespect, get checked,
If you disrespect me, you'll pay the consequences.
Snatch you up by your neck,
I'll grab you by the neck if you disrespect me.
Young money tryin'a be the man too quick,
Young people are trying to become successful too quickly.
Homie this ain't checkers this a game of chess,
This is a complex game that requires careful strategy.
Why do I do it like this?
Why do I behave this way?
Cause you like it like this.
Because you enjoy it when I act like this.
Talk a lot of mess 'cause I do it the best,
People criticize me a lot because I'm the best at what I do.
Some of y'all don't like me but ya gimme respect
Even if you don't like me, you'll still acknowledge my accomplishments.
When I'm lying in the grave I guess I'll give it a rest,
I'll stop hustling when I'm dead.
I got a large clientele for whatever I sell,
I have a large group of customers who buy whatever I sell.
I don't guess the weight I tell with a digital scale,
I use a digital scale to measure the weight of whatever I'm selling.
I got money cut for bail,
I have money saved up in case I need to pay bail.
But before I see a jail,
But I'll do everything I can to avoid going to jail.
I'ma change clothes and roll like Jay and Pharrell,
I'll change my clothes and act like successful musicians Jay-Z and Pharrell.
I like to switch up my game and rotate my pros,
I like to change my habits and the people I work with.
Park the GT Bentley and pull out the Phantom Rolls,
I'll park my high-end car and replace it with an even fancier one.
And I pack the kinda heat that you can't expose,
I have weapons that I can't show anyone without risking arrest.
So my stash box enclosed with Fo'Fo's and calicos,
I keep my weapons hidden and safe in a box with specialized guns.
Cause your boy One-0 is ever so gun-ho,
I'm enthusiastic about using guns.
No scope,I get up close my vision tunnel
I don't need a scope on my gun because I can aim without it.
Got that white by the bricks and green by the bundle,
I have large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.
With a crew of broads workin' its never just One-0, oh,
With a group of women helping me, I'm never alone.
I know you like it like this,
I know you enjoy this lifestyle.
Like I said if it ain't ready I can rock it like this,
If I'm not prepared for something, I can handle it anyway.
Foe' Sho I'm'a have the hood poppin' like this,
I'll make the entire neighborhood go crazy like this.
Mack 10 got that bomb beat drop it like this
I have an excellent song that people will love.
Nate Dogg
Nate Dogg is here.
Rucka,you still there homie?
Rucka, are you still here, my friend?
(Yeah)
Yes.
Mack One-0
Mack 10 is here.
(Yeah)
Yes.
(Oh yeah!)
Oh yeah!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: RICHARD TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind