The Dayton Family originally formed in the early 1990's. The group consisted of Bootleg ( Ira Dorsey ), Shoestring ( Raheen Peterson ), and Backstabber ( Matt Hinkle ). They decided to name the group after one of Flint's most infamous hustling streets, none other than Dayton Avenue. Immediately after the group's formation they began writing rhymes together, resulting in their first song "Dope Dayton Ave". They teamed up with local producer Steve Pitts and recorded their first full album "What's On My Mind?". It was released locally in 1993, and then again nationally on April 27, 1995. Soon after, they also contributed the song "Stick N' Move", to No Limit's "Down South Hustlers" compilation album, which helped them to gain fans in the American south.
After much touring and word of mouth promotion, TDF had begun to develop quite a reputation in the hardcore "gangsta rap" underground scene, mainly across the MidWest and South. They then entered the studio to create their second album, "F.B.I." (Fuck Being Indicted). The group was now a duo consisting of Bootleg and Shoestring since Backstabber had been arrested on drug charges and sentenced to a ten year prison term between "What's on My Mind?" and "F.B.I.". The album was released on September 24, 1996. It soon went gold and managed to make it's way into the billboard R&B/rap top ten chart in late 1996. But unfortunately, just as the Dayton Family were on their way to mass recognition in the hardcore rap underground, the law intervened. But if this wan't enough hard luck, Bootleg was indicted soon after the release of F.B.I.
All through the remainder of the 90's the group's members, (especially Bootleg) dealt with legal issues and jail time. Amidst this, Bootleg still managed to release his first solo album: "Death Before Dishonesty" on March 23, 1999. Shoestring also released his first solo album, "Representin' Til' the World Ends" this same year. Then in 2001 Bootleg and Shoestring both released their second solo albums "Hated By Many, Loved By Few" (Bootleg) and "Cross Addicted" (Shoestring), also Bootleg's brother Ghetto E released his first solo album "Ghetto Theater" in this same year.
Finally, in 2002 the group released their first LP in five years: "Welcome to the Dopehouse", with the addition of Ghetto E as the third member. The group then waited until July 26, 2005 to release their fourth LP "Family Feud" once again as the duo of Bootleg and Shoestring. The album was well received by fans and featured appearances from Capone, Cormega and Kurupt. Bootleg then proceeded to release his third solo album "The Product" on October 25, 2005. TDF recently released a 9 track EP entitled "Back on Dayton Ave." in April 2006, featuring long time staple of the "Flint Town" rap scene and collaborator, Jake the Flake as the group's third member. The Dayton Family is now signed to U Be U Records based in Saginaw, Michigan.
On July 14th, 2010 it was announced on the official website of the Insane Clown Posse and through all Psychopathic Records outlets that The Dayton Family had been signed to their sub-label, Hatchet House.
Posse Is Dayton Ave.
The Dayton Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All the hoes are outside summertime
(shoestring)
I be that gangsta like? ? ? steadily hittin you with doble barrel
See shit like a sparrow and shoot you like a bow and arrow
Shoestring is the terror, squeeze the bloody massacara
40 heads is in the window and my shadow's in the mirror
Searchin you up and down, no f**kin around I want that raw shit
? ? ? up under my shoes, we jackin you jewels cause it's my way
Nice as rice slick as ice meltin in your driveway
Thicker than the boochies ? ? ? than a snakebite
Leave you drippin blood like a pussy in a pt fight
Shoestring's out to damage ya aimin this at your temple
Bustin you like a pimple, takin your shit is so simple
Cruisin down your block in my big suburbian blazer
Boxin like joe frazier, leavin cuts on niggas faces like a razor
But that was the old days, now I bok with a f**kin luger
No slippin no trippin I stack my victims like freddy krueger
He lays in the cemetary, the grim reaper took his lfe
No shorts on them ? ? hoes, I fronted you's a f**kin dyke
You ridin on these, buster freeze, got you niggas beggin please
Reachin for them g's, fingers squeezed, blew off his knees
I grabbed his wallet, now I got myself a caddie coup
Bought me a suit and the 1200 dollar gator boots
Smokin on gizzy, the toxic got me feelin dizzy
So much wait in my trunk, it makes me pops a willie
Ridin down on strip, now watch me dip like a f**kin sniper
Quick like a viper, motherf**kers and my engines hyper
My boys be flippin money grippin, so f**k your crew
My posse's who, my posse is dayton avenue
Chorus: (repeat 3x)
My posse's what, my posse is dayton avenue
My posse's who, my posse is dayton avenue
(bootleg)
Come squeeze the triggers niggas, bootleg he's prepard to die
It'll be a gangsta's paradise to shoot dice in the sky
In institutions drug abutions since my younger days
Motherf**k a 9 to 5 my gangsta's told me crime pays
I was 17 back in them days, I couldn't spell diploma
But I could tell you bout the weed and crack cocaine aroma
Niggas my age not gettin paid, I thought they was dumb as f**k
Why y'all in school, I'm stealin bags of shit off pepsi trucks
Rockin the dope, it got advanced and cooked in different ways
You want a stove, I'm rockin grams and shit up microwaves
Why I done rose, lifted hoes ? ? ? begin
Bitch spend the night, I'm takin pussy from my sister's friends
My moms evict me cause she feel she couldn't control her baby
I'm just tellin mom, I'm using all the game you gave me
Nothin but poverty inside of me please understand
The sky's the limit ain't shit timid bout this young black man
The rap capone came up strugglin to make his pay
And f**k all those who oppose, they don't live my way
Never knew my daddy, bought a caddy from another dealer
Lady on the reala, coup deville I'm ridin down on niggas
Back in the hood, situation all good, gettin nothin but gangsta love
Little shorty let me hit that 40, f**kin around with straight up thugs
My boys be flippin money grippin, so f**k your crew
My posse's who, my posse is dayton avenue
Chorus:
Motherf**k your posse, my posse is the shit
Steppin up in the club, all these hoes is on our dick
These niggas are gettin jealous, cause everywhere we go
We got a pound of weed and about a half of ? ? blow, to let you know
Thinkin you can come in my hood with the disrespect
F**k around get shot with the ak, bitch bootleg broke her neck
That goes for any motherf**kers who wanna f**k with this
My killers like a sniper flick, when we shoot we never miss
And to my niggas that's like down to represent the ave
The feds and cops get so damn jealous when they see a nigga stackin that cash
Them hoes done took 2 and they lookin to take 3 or 4
But it's gone be a scarface scene, bitch when I'm off that blow
That means I'm leavin them dead, 2 to the head that ass gone stank
Better take your bank and gank smoke that dank, better watch that shank
Watchin his movement pull the shank it's time to stick his ass
Turn around tried to look ? ? ? but bitch I move to fast
Backstabber, bootleg, alleycat and also jodie to
Moneydimes and young t, they also from the avenue
And to my other dayton niggas you know who you be
My posse good for runnin this hood f-l-i-n-t
My boys be flippin money grippin, so f**k your crew
My posse's who, my posse is dayton avenue
The Dayton Family's song "Posse Is Dayton Ave" is a track that talks about power, crime, and living on Dayton Ave. It's a song that is expressed with rough street-sounding beats and lyrics that tell the listener a story they may not be accustomed to hearing. The song features Shoestring and Bootleg with both of them embodying characters that are ruthless, willing to take on any opposition, and are always ready for action. They talk about how they deal with the law, the streets, and their enemies in a manner that is cold and calculated. Shoestring, in his verse, talks about how he has his sights on his enemies and is not afraid to take them out while Bootleg talks about how he came up struggling, started his life of crime at a young age, and has always navigated the criminal underworld with an "us vs them" mentality.
The chorus of the song, "My posse's what, my posse is Dayton Avenue, my posse's who, my posse is Dayton Avenue," is repeated throughout the song, cementing the song's location-based theme. The song's theme speaks to unity in the face of oppression and adversity, with both members of The Dayton Family highlighting the strength of their posse.
Line by Line Meaning
Another day, lil esham in the streets summertime
Summer days are filled with people like Lil Esham out in the streets
All the hoes are outside summertime
People are out and about and socializing during the summer
I be that gangsta like? ? ? steadily hittin you with doble barrel
I'm a gangster who hits hard with two guns
See shit like a sparrow and shoot you like a bow and arrow
I have great eyesight and can hit my target like an arrow
Shoestring is the terror, squeeze the bloody massacara
Shoestring is terrifying and can cause bloody violence
40 heads is in the window and my shadow's in the mirror
My gang is watching and we're everywhere you look
Scopin you like the one time, but bitch this ain't no law shit
We're keeping an eye on you, but we're not here to enforce the law
Searchin you up and down, no f**kin around I want that raw shit
I'm checking you thoroughly, I don't want any surprises
? ? ? up under my shoes, we jackin you jewels cause it's my way
I have something special up my sleeve that helps me steal your jewelry
Nice as rice slick as ice meltin in your driveway
I'm smooth and stealthy, like ice melting on your driveway
Thicker than the boochies ? ? ? than a snakebite
I'm tougher than most and can handle a lot of pain
Leave you drippin blood like a pussy in a pt fight
I'll leave you bleeding and in pain like a boxer after a fight
Shoestring's out to damage ya aimin this at your temple
Shoestring wants to hurt you and is targeting your head
Bustin you like a pimple, takin your shit is so simple
Harming and robbing you is easy for us
Cruisin down your block in my big suburbian blazer
We're driving around in a large SUV on your block
Boxin like joe frazier, leavin cuts on niggas faces like a razor
We're tough fighters and can leave you with cuts like a razor
But that was the old days, now I bok with a f**kin luger
We've upgraded our guns and now use a Luger
No slippin no trippin I stack my victims like freddy krueger
We don't make mistakes and are like Freddy Krueger in our efficiency
He lays in the cemetary, the grim reaper took his lfe
We killed someone and they're now buried in a cemetery
No shorts on them ? ? hoes, I fronted you's a f**kin dyke
I refuse to give money to those women who aren't dressed appropriately and insulted one for being a lesbian
You ridin on these, buster freeze, got you niggas beggin please
We're intimidating you and making you beg for mercy
Reachin for them g's, fingers squeezed, blew off his knees
You tried to grab your gun, but we shot you in the knees
I grabbed his wallet, now I got myself a caddie coup
I robbed someone and now have a Cadillac coupe
Bought me a suit and the 1200 dollar gator boots
I used my stolen money to buy expensive clothes and shoes
Smokin on gizzy, the toxic got me feelin dizzy
I'm smoking a powerful drug and feeling the effects
So much wait in my trunk, it makes me pops a willie
I have a lot of weight in my trunk and it causes my car to lift up
Ridin down on strip, now watch me dip like a f**kin sniper
I'm driving down the street and quickly getting away
Quick like a viper, motherf**kers and my engines hyper
I'm driving quickly and my car is powerful
My boys be flippin money grippin, so f**k your crew
My gang is making money and we don't care about other crews
My posse's who, my posse is dayton avenue
My gang is from Dayton Avenue and that's who we are
Come squeeze the triggers niggas, bootleg he's prepard to die
Bootleg is ready to die and wants people to shoot their guns
It'll be a gangsta's paradise to shoot dice in the sky
It's a great feeling to be a gangster and gamble
In institutions drug abutions since my younger days
I've been involved with drugs since I was young and have been in trouble with the law
Motherf**k a 9 to 5 my gangsta's told me crime pays
I don't want a regular job because my gang says that crime is profitable
I was 17 back in them days, I couldn't spell diploma
I'm not well-educated and didn't even know how to spell 'diploma' when I was 17
But I could tell you bout the weed and crack cocaine aroma
I might not be smart, but I know a lot about drugs
Niggas my age not gettin paid, I thought they was dumb as f**k
People my age who don't make money seemed stupid to me
Why y'all in school, I'm stealin bags of shit off pepsi trucks
While other people were in school, I was stealing from Pepsi trucks
Rockin the dope, it got advanced and cooked in different ways
We're selling more advanced drugs that are cooked differently
You want a stove, I'm rockin grams and shit up microwaves
We're cooking drugs in unconventional ways, like in a microwave
Why I done rose, lifted hoes ? ? ? begin
I've moved up in the world and now have sex with many women
Bitch spend the night, I'm takin pussy from my sister's friends
I'm sleeping with my sister's friends, who spend the night at our house
My moms evict me cause she feel she couldn't control her baby
My mother kicked me out because she couldn't control me
I'm just tellin mom, I'm using all the game you gave me
I'm using the lessons and skills my mother taught me to succeed in life
Nothin but poverty inside of me please understand
I grew up poor and that's who I am inside
The sky's the limit ain't shit timid bout this young black man
I'm confident and there's no limit to what I can achieve
The rap capone came up strugglin to make his pay
I became successful after a lot of hard work and struggle
And f**k all those who oppose, they don't live my way
I don't care about people who don't agree with me or my lifestyle
Never knew my daddy, bought a caddy from another dealer
I never knew my father and bought a Cadillac from someone else
Lady on the reala, coup deville I'm ridin down on niggas
I'm riding around in a Cadillac and intimidating people
Back in the hood, situation all good, gettin nothin but gangsta love
I'm back in my neighborhood and everything is good, I feel respected
Little shorty let me hit that 40, f**kin around with straight up thugs
I had sex with a young woman, who hung around with tough guys
Motherf**k your posse, my posse is the shit
I don't care about your gang, my gang is better
Steppin up in the club, all these hoes is on our dick
Women are attracted to us and want to be with us
These niggas are gettin jealous, cause everywhere we go
Other men are envious of our success and lifestyle
We got a pound of weed and about a half of ? ? blow, to let you know
We have a lot of drugs and want people to know that
Thinkin you can come in my hood with the disrespect
People who come into our neighborhood with no respect are not welcome
F**k around get shot with the ak, bitch bootleg broke her neck
We use guns to enforce respect and will hurt you if we have to
That goes for any motherf**kers who wanna f**k with this
Anyone who messes with us will regret it
My killers like a sniper flick, when we shoot we never miss
We're great shots and never miss
And to my niggas that's like down to represent the ave
I have friends who are dedicated to representing Dayton Avenue
The feds and cops get so damn jealous when they see a nigga stackin that cash
Law enforcement is envious when they see us making money
Them hoes done took 2 and they lookin to take 3 or 4
Women are trying to take advantage of us and get more than they deserve
But it's gone be a scarface scene, bitch when I'm off that blow
If someone messes with us, there will be violence like in the movie Scarface
That means I'm leavin them dead, 2 to the head that ass gone stank
I'm not afraid to kill and will shoot people in the head
Better take your bank and gank smoke that dank, better watch that shank
Be careful with your money and drugs, and watch out for people with weapons
Watchin his movement pull the shank it's time to stick his ass
We're always monitoring people and will attack if necessary
Turn around tried to look ? ? ? but bitch I move to fast
People can't keep up with us and we're too fast and smart
Backstabber, bootleg, alleycat and also jodie to
These are the names of members of our gang
Moneydimes and young t, they also from the avenue
These are two more people from Dayton Avenue who are in our gang
And to my other dayton niggas you know who you be
I have more friends in Dayton who are part of our gang
My posse good for runnin this hood f-l-i-n-t
My gang runs this neighborhood in Flint, Michigan
Contributed by Arianna J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Patrick Reid
i was bumpin this shit in the middle of NV. in them days. LOVE this album for life
Gratis Media
Still in heavy rotation..
Justin Time
All day....
Ryan Barker
Love this beat and the riff.
Jake blasdel
Been steady rockin this shit since high school. Dayton family is definitely slept on.
Marcus Shelby
i was 17 back in the days i couldn't spell diploma. bootleg part shoestring part i grab his wallet now i got myself a caddy coupe bought me a suit and a 12 hundred dollar gator boots. & ghetto e part my killers like a snyper foot when we shoot we never miss dayton family tag team hard as hell
Stacey Frank
DAYTON FAMILY 4 LIFE!!!!!! EVERYTHING THEY CAME OUT WITH WAS THE SHIT
Brityany Harris
2nd verse love it that boy went off
Slavick
I miss the old days...
Phillip Ellis
Real G s***, with the raw flow, my favorite album by the Dayton family.