He has one older brother who is five years older than him. He had a tough childhood growing up with a father who was addicted to crack and a mother who was diagnosed breast cancer. A lot of his struggles are reflected in the lyrics of his music. OnCue graduated from Newington High School and attended Central Connecticut State University and Brooklyn College before dropping out to pursue music full time.
OnCue started rapping at the age of 11 and recording music when he was 13-years-old at local studios in the Hartford area. Throughout his teenage years, OnCue focused on honing his craft and developing his sound. In 2010, OnCue moved to Brooklyn to take his rap career more seriously.
To help earn some money to get by, OnCue would create album covers for producers and other rappers. Two prominent Brooklyn he did work for were MICK and Terry Urban. One day he came up to them and showed them his bars. Impressed, they worked with OnCue, hosting several of his mixtapes including "Cueyfornication" and "Cuey Sings the Blues".
In addition, OnCue started working with producer C.J. Luzi, who he would collaborate with throughout his career. Adam Ross would direct several of his music videos to much acclaim by critics and fans.
In early 2012 after his "Leftovers" and "Can't Wait" mixtapes dropped, OnCue linked up with Just Blaze through AThe Bald God. For the next two years, they would work together and create one mixtape, "Leftovers 2", and his first album, "Angry Young Man".
Common themes in his music are about love and hardships. His family and difficult situation growing up have been a huge inspiration to his lyrics and often get very personal. He raps about the struggles he went through and overcoming them. OnCue constantly mentions his past relationships and how they affected his life. Also, many times in his music, he makes references to his dick.
A Rolling Stone
ONCUE Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say I look like Pete
Muthaf**ka, they ain't ask me, so why bother?
His beak ain't even pack wing
You were just a run playn cops and robbers
There's way too many skeletons hidin in yo parent's closet
For you that conquer, you need to stop it
Supply the 15 eye, the 23
With a fiend neva legged war money tree
I won't drink, even tho the water under me
Can't take place at what's in my brain
I can't maintain this blood in my veins
Can't maintain, sh*t ain't the same
Sometimes beein' hard mean bein' harder than the game
Yeah, but this how it's supposed to be
Even tho this, this how they notice me
God gave me sh*t, workin' at the grocery
Remember the posture whale, no popory(?)
Nah I'm sayn, I'm just like
Kim not evilly, just like me
Cuz I won't pay for his sins
He the only thing in common is we both got pipe dreams
They say, they say apple's not far far from the tree
Then I say, I say, I'd rather be six feet deep
They say, they say they see him in me
And I say, I say, well I'd rather be
A rollin', a rollin' stone
A rollin', a rollin' stone
I'd rather be, I'd rather be
Just a rollin', just a rollin' stone
Oh, oh
I spark js just like my peers but
All the years brought out my fears and
Slowly it's becoming oh so clear
Cause all the dark days give me bright ideas
There goes Joyce son
Display his best, bout the coast he run
In a way I get records second to none
His pops in here, that rocky pile lost a lung
And momma be his keeper (?)
If I always hit him with a message and a beat
Cuz that don't answer too long
For me to be? I don't wanna be the input
I just wish he missin' when I told him
It was neva his fault and I? Moses
Instead of give her roses, he didn't load her
Like it's the only way he respect in her aroused
Is some sh*t that I gotta say
Love my father, but not the messy may
In the shadow he cast I used the shade
With a bad b**ch with ass, barely gettin' pay
Yo, so I'm bound to be a rollin' stone
Look it this way, at least I'm not smokin' stones
sh*t, what you think goin' on?
Why you think I'm rollin' on
Hoppin' a repugnant whore?
They say, they say apple's not far far from the tree
Then I say, I say, I'd rather be six feet deep
They say, they say they see him in me
And I say, I say, well I'd rather be
A rollin', a rollin' stone
A rollin', a rollin' stone
I'd rather be, I'd rather be
Just a rollin', just a rollin' stone
In the song A Rolling Stone, ONCUE explores the idea of familial resemblance and the pressure one faces to follow in the footsteps of their parents. He begins by acknowledging the physical similarities between himself and his father, but he quickly dismisses the notion that it matters. ONCUE is his own person and has his own identity, in contrast to his dad.
Later in the song, ONCUE reflects on the strained relationship he has with his father, suggesting that he feels like an outsider in his own family. He describes avoiding his father's mistakes and not wanting to inherit the negative aspects of his father's behavior. ONCUE recognizes that he is not the only one with flaws, as he reflects on the skeletons hiding in his parents' closet. The song ends with ONCUE embracing his individuality and choosing to be a rolling stone, unafraid of breaking away from the mold and finding his own path in life.
The song is poignant in its exploration of the complexities of family relationships and identity. ONCUE's lyrics are introspective and raw, offering insight into his own personal struggles and questioning the notion of inherent destiny. It serves as a reminder that we are not defined by our genetics or our family's history, but rather by our own choices and actions.
Line by Line Meaning
They say I look like my father
People say I resemble my dad
I say I look like Pete
But I personally think I look more like Pete
Muthaf**ka, they ain't ask me, so why bother?
I don't care what others think, they never even asked me
His beak ain't even pack wing
My dad is nothing special
You were just a run playn cops and robbers
You were simply a kid playing games of cops and robbers
There's way too many skeletons hidin in yo parent's closet
Your parents have too many secrets hidden in their past
For you that conquer, you need to stop it
You should stop trying to conquer me
Supply the 15 eye, the 23
I provide my unique perspective
My momma wear hair-pocrisy
My mother is hypocritical
With a fiend neva legged war money tree
My family has never had an easy life, always struggling for money
I won't drink, even tho the water under me
Despite the difficulties I face, I won't resort to drinking to cope
Can't take place at what's in my brain
I can't have someone take the place of what's inside my head
I can't maintain this blood in my veins
I can't sustain this lifestyle anymore
Can't maintain, sh*t ain't the same
Things have changed and I can't keep going like this
Sometimes beein' hard mean bein' harder than the game
Being tough may mean being tougher than the situation at hand
Yeah, but this how it's supposed to be
This is how it's meant to be
Even tho this, this how they notice me
Even though this isn't what I wanted, this is how people see me
God gave me sh*t, workin' at the grocery
I don't have much, so I work at the grocery store
Remember the posture whale, no popory(?)
I remember the story about the beached whale with no happy ending
Nah I'm sayn, I'm just like
I'm just saying, I am like
Kim not evilly, just like me
Kim wasn't evil, just like how I'm not evil
Cuz I won't pay for his sins
I won't be responsible for my father's mistakes
He the only thing in common is we both got pipe dreams
The only thing we share is our unrealistic dreams
They say, they say apple's not far far from the tree
They say children often resemble their parents
Then I say, I say, I'd rather be six feet deep
But I'd rather be dead
They say, they say they see him in me
They say they see my father in me
And I say, I say, well I'd rather be
But I'd rather be
A rollin', a rollin' stone
A rolling stone, someone who's always moving and changing
I'd rather be, I'd rather be
I'd prefer to be
Just a rollin', just a rollin' stone
Just someone who's always on the move and constantly changing
Oh, oh
I spark js just like my peers but
I smoke weed like my friends
All the years brought out my fears and
Over the years, my fears have been amplified
Slowly it's becoming oh so clear
Now it's becoming clear to me
Cause all the dark days give me bright ideas
My hard times inspire my creativity
There goes Joyce son
There goes the son of Joyce
Display his best, bout the coast he run
Showing the best of himself, running along the coast
In a way I get records second to none
In a way, I make music that's unparalleled
His pops in here, that rocky pile lost a lung
His father is present but has lost a lung
And momma be his keeper (?)
And his mother is always taking care of him
If I always hit him with a message and a beat
If I continuously provide him with my message and music
Cuz that don't answer too long
Because that won't keep him satisfied for long
For me to be? I don't wanna be the input
I don't want to be the one who is constantly inputting ideas into his life
I just wish he missin' when I told him
I wish he would miss me when I'm gone
It was neva his fault and I? Moses
It wasn't his fault, and I feel like Moses
Instead of give her roses, he didn't load her
Instead of giving her flowers, he neglected her
Like it's the only way he respect in her aroused
As if neglect is the only way he can show respect or arousal towards her
Is some sh*t that I gotta say
This is something I have to address
Love my father, but not the messy may
I love my father, but I don't agree with his messy ways
In the shadow he cast I used the shade
I stayed in his shadow instead of shining on my own
With a bad b**ch with ass, barely gettin' pay
I have a girlfriend with a nice body but we both barely make enough money
Yo, so I'm bound to be a rollin' stone
So, I'm destined to be someone who is constantly changing and moving
Look it this way, at least I'm not smokin' stones
At least I'm not smoking crack
sh*t, what you think goin' on?
What do you think is happening?
Why you think I'm rollin' on
Why do you think I'm constantly moving?
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nemo Ibarra
Amazing mixtape. Easily my favorite good job
vStelo
this is my fav fucking song man. when you can relate a song so damn well, shit just gives you goosebumps. "i love my father, but not the mess he made". goddamn. salute to you cuey. i hope you make it big.
adam bergh
hope you make it big man!!! good luck!!
Slpstk
Damn 3 years and still a lit song. Suprised this hasn't blown up yet
MyMagicDust
Good song bro I like the vibe of the chorus.
P3Series
So great!
Joel 3327
OnCue you r one of the best rapper bro!
Awesome
I can't believe that Oncue isn't that big yet...
Christopher Briliott
Easily favorite song and rapper
Kevin UA
Beat sounds like Cameras by Wiz Khalifa, dope