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
What You Need
Mack 10 Lyrics
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Plant indo seeds and watch em sprout in yo yard
And if dope money ain't good, well how come it spends
I give a fuck dolla please or yens ends is ends
It ain't hard to tell, thanks to my clientele
What you call the root of evil
Got a nigga livin' swell
I keep the spot rollin'
But until then fuck it my green thumb keep me paid
Nigga what you want? What you need?
I got plenty pound zone half of zone dime or a twenty
Bullshit walks money talks
It's all about the dough
Don't be mad at me foe hustlin'
That's all a nigga know
Chorus:
(Mista Dopeman can I get a hit please)
Well tell me what you need, cavi water weed or speed
(Mista Dopeman don't make me beg on my knees)
Well tell me what you need, cavi water weed or speed
I got the streets sewed up, from yo hood to my block
I cook powder cocaine and serve it when it rock
I done came up dog, I got a big body coupe
Cause I take my caviar and I scretch it with woop
Ballin' beyond and above from a key to a dove
Nigga get yo work from me cause I give the hommie love
On tripple beam skales you name it I sells
I got the baddest bitches plus the bombay jewels
And if it ever get short it won't take long to pop back
Doin' about a buck fifteen up the coast with my top back
I got a show to do, the kitchen is my stage
And since I'm headed O.T.
Pick me on my sky page
Chorus
Smoke until you fry, you say depression is yo alibi
Water get you so high niggas think they can fly
I got a bombay batch of that shit, makin' a meant
Leave you crazy kinda bent with super natural strengh
So I keep the tech ready do blast cause I will
And extra jug to embombthe first nigga that I kill
So miss me with that bullshit fool don't even trip
My jugs already full and my sticks already diped
So come trough the spot if not spend money when you can
Cause when it comes to narcotics call Mack the dopeman
Now woop woop look at me all in the S coupe
Ballin' like I'm playin' hoop and I'm straight sellin loop
Chorus:
(Mista Dopeman can I get a hit please)
Well tell me what you need, cavi water weed or speed
(Mista Dopeman don't make me beg on my knees)
Well tell me what you need, cavi water weed or speed
(Mista Dopeman can I get a hit please)
Well tell me what you need, cavi water weed or speed
(Mista Dopeman don't make me beg on my knees)
Bitch tell me what you need, tell me what you need
(Mista Dopeman can I get a hit please)
Mack 10 to the rescue (X3)
Bitch you ain't get no motherfuck...
not a motherfuckin thang from me
Now get
The song What You Need by Mack 10 is a gritty, straightforward portrayal of the life of a drug dealer. The lyrics are written in a raw, unapologetic manner referencing the sale of marijuana, cocaine, and various other drugs. The opening lines speak of hard times and the planting of marijuana seeds to generate income. Mack 10 then goes on to talk about the profitability of drug trade and the lifestyle it affords him. He boasts about having the streets sewn up and speaks about his possessions, including the baddest bitches and the finest jewels. He also references violence and the use of weapons when necessary.
The chorus is a constant plea for "Mista Dopeman" to supply drugs such as caviar, water, weed, or speed. The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is desperately seeking an escape from the realities of life and will resort to any means necessary, including begging on their knees.
Overall, the song shows the harsh reality of life in inner-city areas where poverty and crime often go hand in hand. The lyrics are not something that glorifies drug use, but rather represent a need that is born of desperation.
Line by Line Meaning
When ever you short, and times get hard
If you fall short of money during tough times,
Plant indo seeds and watch em sprout in yo yard
you can grow marijuana in your backyard and earn money.
And if dope money ain't good, well how come it spends
You can use the money earned from selling drugs just like any other money.
I give a fuck dolla please or yens ends is ends
As long as you have money, I don't care what currency you pay me with.
It ain't hard to tell, thanks to my clientele
My loyal customers are the ones who made me successful, and it's not hard to see that.
What you call the root of evil
Money, which can be used for both good and bad purposes.
Got a nigga livin' swell
The money from selling drugs has made my life luxurious and comfortable.
I keep the spot rollin'
I always have drugs available for sale to keep my business going.
Unless I can't up in a raid
Unless the police bust me and take away all my drugs.
But until then fuck it my green thumb keep me paid
As long as I can continue growing and selling drugs, I'll keep making money.
Nigga what you want? What you need?
What drugs are you looking to buy?
I got plenty pound zone half of zone dime or a twenty
I have various quantities of marijuana available for sale, ranging from a large pound to small amounts like a dime or a twenty dollar bag.
Bullshit walks money talks
People who talk nonsense are not important, but those with money have power.
It's all about the dough
Making money is the most important thing.
Don't be mad at me foe hustlin'
Don't be angry with me for my drug dealing business and making money.
That's all a nigga know
That's the only way I know how to make a living.
I got the streets sewed up, from yo hood to my block
My drug dealing business has a stronghold on the streets, from your neighborhood to mine.
I cook powder cocaine and serve it when it rock
I process powder cocaine and sell it when it's at its strongest and most addictive.
I done came up dog, I got a big body coupe
I've become successful, and now I can afford a luxury car.
Cause I take my caviar and I scretch it with woop
I mix expensive caviar with cheap mashed potatoes to make it last longer.
Ballin' beyond and above from a key to a dove
My wealth has grown exponentially from selling a kilogram of drugs to selling illegal drugs to powerful people.
Nigga get yo work from me cause I give the hommie love
Other drug dealers should buy their drugs from me because I will give them a good deal.
On tripple beam skales you name it I sells
I sell drugs in various quantities, and I can weigh them accurately using a scale.
I got the baddest bitches plus the bombay jewels
I have the most attractive women and expensive jewelry as a sign of my wealth.
And if it ever get short it won't take long to pop back
If I ever run out of drugs, I can easily buy more to refill my inventory.
Doin' about a buck fifteen up the coast with my top back
I'm driving 115mph on the coast with my convertible top down to enjoy my success.
I got a show to do, the kitchen is my stage
I have to cook drugs in my kitchen to prepare them for sale.
And since I'm headed O.T. Pick me on my sky page
Since I'm heading out of town to sell drugs, you can reach me through my pager.
Smoke until you fry, you say depression is yo alibi
Smoking so much marijuana that it negatively impacts your mental health is not a valid excuse for being depressed.
Water get you so high niggas think they can fly
Drinking too much alcohol can make you feel invincible and cause you to make irrational decisions.
I got a bombay batch of that shit, makin' a meant
I have a high-quality batch of drugs that will make you feel incredible.
Leave you crazy kinda bent with super natural strengh
These drugs will make you feel incredibly high with unprecedented strength.
So I keep the tech ready do blast cause I will
I keep a gun nearby in case I need to use it for protection or violence.
And extra jug to embombthe first nigga that I kill
I have a spare container ready to dispose of the first person I kill with that gun.
So miss me with that bullshit fool don't even trip
Don't bother me with foolishness, and don't worry or stress about me.
My jugs already full and my sticks already diped
I already have enough drugs and weapons to keep my business going, so I don't need any more right now.
So come trough the spot if not spend money when you can
If you're not going to buy drugs from me, don't bother coming to my place of business.
Cause when it comes to narcotics call Mack the dopeman
If you need drugs, I'm the go-to guy to call.
Now woop woop look at me all in the S coupe
Look at me driving my Mercedes S-class convertible!
Ballin' like I'm playin' hoop and I'm straight sellin loop
I'm living a luxurious life, like a basketball player, and making money by selling drugs.
Bitch you ain't get no motherfuck...
I'm not giving you anything, you can leave now!
Contributed by Maria Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.