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
Mack 10's the Name
Mack 10 Lyrics
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Usually always down for the come up, late night to sun up
365 look out, I took out niggaz foe they loot
When I drive-by I shoot
Blast their ass, smoke the spot like a genie
Many niggaz want to be one, but they don't want to see me
MACK the renegade rap rebel, ghetto livin unforgivin
I've been driven psycho, I just might go BUCK BUCK BUCK
So I sight busters in the scope, no hope
Cut short by the cutthroat, I make heads flaot
Cause I'm dope as caviar, by far nigagz from the Inglewood
to the Compton car
In my click crooked legit SHIT you can't FUCK wit
Fool like B.G. I'm brung up down
To kick dust hit you up then I bust nigga
MACK 10's THE NAME
(I heard the name in 99 different places)
MACK 10's THE NAME
(The name's Mack 10, and I live Inglewood)
Up jumped the boogie bang bang, when I dump give ya hell
When the shells kick out the riot pump
When I jerk it, klack klack work it
Easy if it's greasy
One time had to pull they straps to freeze me
Elite on my feet, if I don't see heat
I slang boulder, I soldiers, the west side streets
Down for the do low know, crazy that as gets
The gangsta SHIT don't quit
Much more bounc to the ounce, slippedy slide
Let Me Ride on these niggaz, check em nine double-m fully tech em
Straight up gun play one way, rat-a-tat-tat em
Buck red hot ones at em, aim at em, flame at pop-um
Till me drop em kill or be killed so I keep my clip filled
When I ball, whatta HELL, it's my everyday behavior
Khakis, Slingshot, and Chuck Taylors
MACK 10's THE NAME
(I heard the name in 99 different places)
MACK 10's THE NAME
(The name's MACK 10 and I live Inglewood)
The lyrics to Mack 10's "Mack 10's the Name" are explicit and full of aggression that echoes the gangsta rap style of the 90s. The chorus repeats "Mack 10's the Name," an affirmation of the rapper's identity and reputation as a gangsta. The first verse contains lines like "Gangsta's don't dance we boogie," emphasizing the serious and violent nature of gangsta life. The chorus then follows with, "I heard the name in 99 different places," highlighting the widespread recognition of Mack 10's reputation in the streets.
Mack 10 proceeds to describe his violent lifestyle, including shooting and killing for money and protecting his territory. The lines "Many niggaz want to be one, but they don't want to see me" convey the idea that many people seek to emulate the gangsta lifestyle, but they cannot handle the realities that come with it. Mack 10 sees himself as uncontrollable, erratic, and a "renegade rap rebel," with nothing to lose since he is already entrenched in the gang life.
The second verse is just as aggressive as the first, and Mack 10 uses slang and hyperbole to describe his power and influence in his community. He feels like he is unstoppable, using different weapons to keep his enemies at bay. The lyrics highlight the high-risk lifestyle he leads as a gangsta, with the importance of being prepared and having a filled clip at all times. The chorus repeats again, emphasizing that Mack 10's name is known throughout the streets.
Overall, "Mack 10's the Name" is a typical gangsta rap song that glorifies violence, aggression, and criminal activity. It is a reflection of the harsh reality of life on the streets, conveying the desperate situations of those who have no other options but to turn to crime.
Line by Line Meaning
Gangsta's don't dance we boogie
Gangsters don't dance, they move in a cool, relaxed manner
Usually always down for the come up, late night to sun up
I am always on the lookout for money-making opportunities, and I work hard all day and night to make them happen
365 look out, I took out n***** foe they loot
I am always alert and ready for action. I have killed people who tried to take my money in the past
When I drive-by I shoot
When I do drive-by shootings, I always kill my targets
Blast their ass, smoke the spot like a genie
I shoot my enemies and leave quickly, leaving no trace behind
Many n*****z want to be one, but they don't want to see me
Many people want to be gangsters like me, but they don't want to face the dangers that come with it
MACK the renegade rap rebel, ghetto livin unforgivin
I am a fearless rapper who doesn't care about fitting in with society's norms. I live in the ghetto, which is an unforgiving place
I've been driven psycho, I just might go BUCK BUCK BUCK
The environment I live in has driven me insane, and I may resort to violence at any moment
Wild do it right, keep it tight
I do things my own way, but I do them well and make sure they're done right
So I sight busters in the scope, no hope
I always have my enemies in my sights, and they have no chance of escaping me
Cut short by the cutthroat, I make heads flaot
My victims are cut down quickly by my violent behavior, and their heads are left floating in the aftermath
Cause I'm dope as caviar, by far n*****z from the Inglewood to the Compton car
I am as great as caviar, and everyone in the Inglewood and Compton areas knows it
In my click crooked legit SHIT you can't FUCK wit
My gang is full of dangerous and legitimate people, so you should stay away from us
Fool like B.G. I'm brung up down
I rose up from nothing like B.G. did
To kick dust hit you up then I bust n****
I intimidate and threaten people before I shoot them
Up jumped the boogie bang bang, when I dump give ya hell
I start shooting quickly and aggressively, and my enemies are in a lot of trouble
When the shells kick out the riot pump
When I shoot, it causes chaos and violence
When I jerk it, klack klack work it
When I pull the trigger, the gun makes a clicking noise, which means it's working
Easy if it's greasy
It's easy to get what I want if I'm willing to do dirty work to get it
One time had to pull they straps to freeze me
The police had to use guns to stop me once
Elite on my feet, if I don't see heat
I'm always ready and prepared for the worst
I slang boulder, I soldiers, the west side streets
I sell drugs and run the dangerous streets of the west side
Down for the do low know, crazy that as gets
I'm willing to do whatever it takes to survive, even if it's crazy or dangerous
The gangsta SHIT don't quit
Being a gangster is a lifestyle that never ends
Much more bounc to the ounce, slippedy slide
I have more energy and life in me than most people do, and it's reflected in my movements and attitude
Let Me Ride on these n*****z, check em nine double-m fully tech em
I'm going to drive around and shoot people with my powerful guns
Straight up gun play one way, rat-a-tat-tat em
I'm going to shoot people with my guns, and there's no other way around it
Buck red hot ones at em, aim at em, flame at pop-um
I'm going to shoot at my enemies until there's nothing left of them
Till me drop em kill or be killed so I keep my clip filled
I'm going to keep shooting until either I die or my enemies are all dead. I always keep my guns loaded and ready to go
When I ball, whatta HELL, it's my everyday behavior
I am always doing crazy things and acting out of control, even when I'm rich and successful
Khakis, Slingshot, and Chuck Taylors
These are the clothes and shoes that I wear
Mack 10's the name
My name is Mack 10
(I heard the name in 99 different places)
People seem to know my name and reputation all over the place
The name's MACK 10 and I live Inglewood
I live in Inglewood, and my name is Mack 10
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Dedrick Rolison, Mychael Simmons, Victor Taylor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind