Straight Up Nigga

Ice T · O.G. Original Gangster [1991]

Damn right I'm a nigga

and I don'T care what you are

Cause I'm a Capitaal N-I double-G-E-R

Black people might get mad

Cause they don'T see

That they're looked upon

As a nigga just like me

I'm a nigga, not a Colored man

Or a Black, or a Negro

Or an Afrom American, I'm all that

Yes I was born in America true

Does South Central

Look like America to you?

I'm a nigga, a straight up nigga

From a hard school

Whatever you are

I dot care, that is you fool

I'm loud and proud

Well endowedd with the big beef

Out on the corner

I hang out like a house thief

So you can call me dumb or crazy

Ignornt, stupid, inferior or lazy

Silly or foolish

But I'm badder and bigger

And most of all

I'm a straight up nigga



I'm a nigga in America

and that much I flaunt

Cause when I see what I like

Yo I take what I want

I'm not the only one

That's why I'm not bitter

Cause everybody is a nigga to a nigga!

America was tole from he Indians

show and prove, what was tht?

A straight up nigga move

A low down shame

Yo it's straight insane

Yet they compalin

When a nigga snatch

Their gold chains

What is nigga suppose to do?

Wait around for a handout

From a nigga like you?

That why a low down nigga gets hyped

But I'm not a nigga of that type

I'm a steak and lobster eatin'

Billionaire meet

Cash money makin', movin' shakin'

Corporate jet glidin'

Limousine ridin'

Writin' hits, filthy rich

Straight up nigga!



Now I'm a write this song

Though the radio won't play this

But I got freedom of speech

So I'm a say it

Straight Up Nigga

Released in 1991 on the album O.G. Original Gangster, "Straight Up Nigga" stands as a defining track in the evolution of East Coast hip-hop. The song showcases Ice T's signature blend of social commentary and street narrative, delivered with his characteristic rhythmic flow and vocal versatility. As a cornerstone of the New Jack Swing era, the recording features a smooth, sample-based beat that bridges the gap between traditional boom-bap and contemporary R&B influences. The track highlights Ice T's ability to address complex themes regarding race, identity, and urban life while maintaining commercial appeal. It remains a pivotal example of how the genre moved beyond pure aggression toward nuanced storytelling, cementing Ice T's legacy as a foundational figure in hip-hop history.