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
Wanted Dead
Mack 10 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wanted for a 187 in three states
Got my glock cock, mind is ill mental
Blastin' at one time through my back window, shit
Sick individual, murder was my ritual
Mashin' in a hard top four, all original
Bout a dozen of cops all behind me
Mad as fuck cause Ice Cube is my crimey
Jumpin' hills like the streets of San Francisco
Hard tryin' to stump him, reload my dumper
Hit the ground, lost my hubcaps and my back bumper
A hundred and ten, Westbound on the freeway
Bo guardin' traffic cause I do shit the G way
Hard to survive, lit up a 45
No alive instead Mack 10 wanted dead
And it's on, stick to the fire, loop get me high
Drop the four in low, as I smoke the back tires
Peddle to the floor in a bucket low low
One time trailin', hittin' corners, fish tailin'
I continue to cap as the gap starts to pull again
Mashin' through Fullerton, a all points bulletin
Wigs get pilled, nigga, runnin' from the kill
Bugs flyin' into my grill and windshield
Never see trial, say fck tryin' to stretch me
Mack 10 a fuckin' dead man if they catch me
Stompin' through red lights, no headlights on my vehicle
5150 is my penal code
I empty the clips when I carry'em, aimin' to bury'em
Nigga fresh out the sanitarium
LAPD tryin' to blow off my beanie
Want the whole world to see me
Put my face on TV, for real
Fuck this shit, if they catch me I'ma goner
Runnin' for my life, I continue to hit corners
With my heat, 50 rounds deep
Nigga, goin' down, holdin' trial in the street, fuck it
If it's on like that
It's about who's nuts is fat
And who's straightest with they gat, for real
That's how it be, livin' like a G
It's better them than me facin' strike number three
Heel no, I can't fuck with the lock down
Mack 10'll grab the Mack 10
And set the glock down and I'm runnin'
Freeze was my order, cappin' at they ass
As I hit the border and I'm gone
The lyrics to Mack 10's song "Wanted Dead" tell the story of a criminal on the run from the law. The opening lines reveal that the singer is being chased by police who recognize his license plate because he is wanted for killing someone in three different states. He is fully prepared for this high-speed chase and has a glock and a disturbed mindset. He begins shooting at the police through his back window as he speeds away from them. The use of violent lyrics and the chaotic nature of the story paints a vivid picture of a criminal who is willing to do anything to escape the law. The lyrics reveal how the character is a "sick individual" and he sees "murder as his ritual". He seems unfazed by the dozen cops chasing him, driving his hard top four by jumping hills like it's the streets of San Francisco. As the song continues, he takes increasingly risky moves and never seems to care if he loses his bumper or not.
The second paragraph starts with the police still chasing him and yet he is smoking back-up tires in his bucket low low. The adrenaline is high as the chase continues through Fullerton, causing an all-points bulletin. The cops are ready to kill him, so he doesn't plan to go down without a fight. He compares himself to a 5150 and is focused only on burying whoever questions him. He's fresh out of the sanitorium and mentally prepared to take on the police so that he can avoid incarceration. He's become numb to the fact that the world is out to get him and even talks about how the LAPD is trying to blow off his beanie. He wants to be seen as a celebrity, and he's ready to face the consequences of his actions, but he does not want to end up in prison.
Line by Line Meaning
On a high speed chase they recognize my plates
While evading the law, my license plates were identified by the police in the midst of a high-speed chase.
Wanted for a 187 in three states
I am a fugitive accused of committing murder in multiple states.
Got my glock cock, mind is ill mental
I am mentally unstable and prepared for a violent confrontation with law enforcement, as I have cocked my Glock.
Blastin' at one time through my back window, shit
I have fired my gun through my back window in the hopes of injuring or killing my pursuers.
Sick individual, murder was my ritual
I have a perverse and twisted desire to commit murder, and have done so before.
Mashin' in a hard top four, all original
I am driving a powerful, classic automobile as I attempt to evade law enforcement.
Bout a dozen of cops all behind me
There are roughly 12 police officers pursuing me as I flee in my vehicle.
Mad as fuck cause Ice Cube is my crimey
The police officers are angry with me because I am affiliated with rapper Ice Cube, who they likely view as a negative influence.
Like a missile launch led from my pistol
My gunshots are like rockets, aimed at incapacitating or taking out the police cars behind me.
Jumpin' hills like the streets of San Francisco
I am driving so recklessly that my vehicle is jumping over hills, reminiscent of the hills of San Francisco.
Hard tryin' to stump him, reload my dumper
Despite their best efforts, the police have failed to stop me, so I reload my gun.
Hit the ground, lost my hubcaps and my back bumper
In the process of evading law enforcement, I have damaged my car, losing both my hubcaps and my back bumper.
A hundred and ten, Westbound on the freeway
I am driving at a dangerously high speed of 110 mph, heading west on the freeway.
Bo guardin' traffic cause I do shit the G way
I am disregarding traffic laws and putting other motorists in danger because I follow the code of a gangster.
Hard to survive, lit up a 45
As I continue to flee, I light up a .45 caliber gun, which will hopefully help me survive the encounter with the police.
No alive instead Mack 10 wanted dead
Rather than being captured alive and brought to trial, I prefer to die, as I know I am wanted by law enforcement and will likely face severe punishment.
And it's on, stick to the fire, loop get me high
The tension and adrenaline of evading law enforcement is high, and I try to calm myself by smoking marijuana.
Drop the four in low, as I smoke the back tires
I shift my car into a lower gear, causing my tires to produce smoke as I continue to flee from the police.
Peddle to the floor in a bucket low low
I push the gas pedal to the floor, driving a cheap, low-riding car.
One time trailin', hittin' corners, fish tailin'
The police are following me closely, and I try to evade them by taking sharp turns at high speeds, causing my car to fishtail.
I continue to cap as the gap starts to pull again
I continue firing my gun at the police as the distance between us begins to grow again.
Mashin' through Fullerton, a all points bulletin
I am dangerously driving through the city of Fullerton, and the police have issued an all points bulletin, alerting other officers to my location.
Wigs get pilled, nigga, runnin' from the kill
People are getting scared and running for cover as I continue to flee from the police, who want to capture or kill me.
Bugs flyin' into my grill and windshield
As I drive at high speeds, insects are flying into and sticking to my car's grill and windshield.
Never see trial, say fck tryin' to stretch me
I have no intention of being captured and facing trial, as I know the police will try to extend my punishment as long as possible.
Mack 10 a fuckin' dead man if they catch me
If I am caught by law enforcement, I know that's the end for me.
Stompin' through red lights, no headlights on my vehicle
As I race through the city, I am running red lights and turning off my headlights to make it harder for the police to locate me.
5150 is my penal code
The 5150 section of the California Welfare and Institutions Code describes procedures for dealing with individuals who are deemed to be dangerous to themselves or others due to a mental disorder - this code may be applicable to me.
I empty the clips when I carry'em, aimin' to bury'em
I carry a large amount of ammunition and my intention is to use it to injure or kill any police officers who come after me.
Nigga fresh out the sanitarium
I have been recently released from a mental institution.
LAPD tryin' to blow off my beanie
The Los Angeles Police Department is attempting to shoot my beanie off of my head.
Want the whole world to see me
I want to be famous, and would rather be dead than face a life rotting away in a cell.
Put my face on TV, for real
I want the world to know my name and to see what I'm capable of - even if it means dying in the process.
Fuck this shit, if they catch me I'ma goner
I consider myself hopeless and doomed if the police are able to capture me.
Runnin' for my life, I continue to hit corners
I am desperately fleeing and trying to stay alive while driving through tight turns and corners.
With my heat, 50 rounds deep
I am carrying a large amount of ammunition in my gun.
Nigga, goin' down, holdin' trial in the street, fuck it
I am prepared to go down fighting, and even if it means holding a trial in the street, I will not go down without a fight.
If it's on like that
If violence is unavoidable.
It's about who's nuts is fat
The victor will be determined by who is most daring and fearless.
And who's straightest with they gat, for real
The winner will also be the person who is most accurate with their gun.
That's how it be, livin' like a G
This is the harsh reality of what it means to live as a gangster.
It's better them than me facin' strike number three
I would rather the law enforcement officers chasing me be killed than myself, as I have already been convicted twice and a third conviction would end my life sentence.
Heel no, I can't fuck with the lock down
I cannot handle being locked up in jail again.
Mack 10'll grab the Mack 10
I will use my own namesake weapon, the Mack 10, in order to defend myself.
And set the glock down and I'm runnin'
I will drop my Glock pistol for the more personal weapon of the Mack 10, and I will continue to run from the police.
Freeze was my order, cappin' at they ass
My order to the police officers to freeze is meaningless, as I am willing and ready to shoot them.
As I hit the border and I'm gone
I will continue to flee until I have crossed the border and am out of harm's reach.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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