I Must Stand
Ice-T
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Nobody ever said life was gon' be easy But damn.. [ VERSE 1 ] Just a kid, moms died when I was seven Pops died, eleven, what's up with heaven? It's hell when you're an orphan at a early age This impressionable stage, no love breeds rage In the heart of a child who never knew his roots Looked up to pimps and to hustlers in the eel-skin boots Parkin Caddies on the sidewalk, gangsta talk Truckin diamonds and gold Rubberbands around the bankrolls Fly girls to make your head spin Seemed they partied all night long I was like, "Put me on" But they said, "Little fellow, run and go play Take your butt to school or else you'll have to be like us one day" I didn't understand, but I tried to get a job While all the players got the girls cause they'd hustle and rob I was like makin 'bout 1-50 a week And after taxes, you know what that is - lunch meat And I know I can be better than this I gotta get me a car, man I gotta get a girl I know I can do it out there, man I'm finna go for it, man I gotta get some money Word [ VERSE 2 ] Streets of anger, trouble and crime I had it hard, had to sleep in my car sometime But I never let another player see me down I kept my front up, my gear clean Even when checkin minor green Brothers knew my game was true So I hooked up with the real crew That knew excactly what to do Bank jobs and jewels, quick to flex with tools Pimpin hoes on the block Checkin cash non-stop Crack spots, armor with interior bars No lie, I used to own 'bout 15 cars Every piece Fila made Drape my women in suede Pavet Piaget, Cesar's Palace holidays It was on, crazy out of control We made up the word 'ballin', that was how we rolled But the FBI had a-whole-nother idea It's called multiple indictments for hundreds of years What Daff is dead? Carter got 25 years? Nah.. Spike 35 to life? Nah, don't tell me B.O.'s dead, man I don't want to hear that, man I was just with him [ VERSE 3 ] The game is vicious, no retirement, you die young Listen to a fake, he might tell you to grab a gun I get phone calls from condemned row Brothers I ran with, brothers I really know They tell me, "Ice you got much love in the pen You're the one that got away, don't want to see you in" They tell me, "Tell the little homies the deal Don't let em come up in this hellish habitat of shanks and steel" I marched two million strong in D.C. Lookin eye to eye with brothers that I used to think below me Damn, my mind was twisted in my hustlin days But God spared me, I got a baby son to raise And bein black ain't easy, prejudice is real But health and liberty is all we need for us to build We gotta come together, unseparated Check yourself like I did, blackman, because we're all related
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Written by: ADRIAN FRANCIS UTLEY, BETH GIBBONS, GEOFF BARROW, SANDY SANGUILLEN SANTIAGO, TRACY LAUREN MARROW
Lyrics © COHEN AND COHEN, BMG Rights Management, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Release Year"I Must Stand" was released in 1996 as part of Ice-T's sixth studio album titled "VI: Return of the Real".
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Genre classificationThis song falls under the genre of Gangsta Rap, characterized by themes and lyrics based on the violent lifestyles and tough attitudes of urban street gangs.
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Video Game Appearance"I Must Stand" was featured in the video game called Scarface: The World is Yours which was released in 2006.
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Chart PerformanceAlthough not a top charting song, "I Must Stand" helped solidify Ice-T's status as one of the pioneering voices in gangsta rap.
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Controversial CareerIce-T, well-known for controversy, released "I Must Stand" during a time when he was increasingly facing criticism from political figures and law enforcement due to his explicit lyrics and themes.
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Song ThemeThe song is seen as a response to his critics, with Ice-T asserting his right to express his views and experiences in his music. Its title, "I Must Stand" underscores Ice-T's unyielding stance amid controversy.
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Album SalesThe album "VI: Return of the Real" featuring "I Must Stand" peaked at number 89 on Billboard 200 and number 16 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
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CollaborationIce-T's backing group, Rhyme $yndicate also featured on the song.
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Relevant LinesSome of the most known lines from "I Must Stand" are, "So long as the streets breed death certain individuals will feel the need to protect and serve themselves."
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Artist InfluenceIce-T is considered an influential figure in gangsta rap and "I Must Stand" is one of his songs that reflects his impact on the genre.
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Citation
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"I Must Stand Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/14675020/Ice-T/I+Must+Stand>.
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