True to the Game
Encyclopedia
"True to the Game" is the final single from Ice Cube
's Death Certificate
album.
The song is a condemnation of Uncle Tom
s who sell out
themselves to white communities and audiences: "Stop selling out your race, and wipe that stupid-ass smile off your face. "
In particular, he calls out rappers who switch from hardcore in an attempt to cater to overwhelmingly white audiences at the expense of integrity, those who fail to be in touch with their roots, and especially blacks who align themselves in a white clique at the expense of snobbery towards their own:
"You put on your suit and tie and your big clothes, You don't associate with the NEGROES..
You wanna be just like Jack, But Jack is calling you a nigger behind your back.
So back off genius, I don't need you to correct my broken English."
In the video, Ice Cube is a kidnapper
, and he kidnaps many rappers (Many resembling his former bandmates.) that aren't "true to the game" by referring them as "record sellers".
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
's Death Certificate
Death Certificate (album)
Death Certificate is the second studio album by American rapper Ice Cube, released October 29, 1991 on Priority Records. Highly anticipated with over one million advanced orders, the album was certified platinum in sales on December 20, 1991...
album.
The song is a condemnation of Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom
Uncle Tom is a derogatory term for a person who perceives themselves to be of low status, and is excessively subservient to perceived authority figures; particularly a black person who behaves in a subservient manner to white people....
s who sell out
Sell Out
The first release by Boston hard rock band Halfcocked. It came out in 1998 on Curve of the Earth Records.-Track listing:#"Crash" – 3:24 #"Holly Wood" – #"Return of the Living Dead" – #"Superstar" –...
themselves to white communities and audiences: "Stop selling out your race, and wipe that stupid-ass smile off your face. "
In particular, he calls out rappers who switch from hardcore in an attempt to cater to overwhelmingly white audiences at the expense of integrity, those who fail to be in touch with their roots, and especially blacks who align themselves in a white clique at the expense of snobbery towards their own:
"You put on your suit and tie and your big clothes, You don't associate with the NEGROES..
You wanna be just like Jack, But Jack is calling you a nigger behind your back.
So back off genius, I don't need you to correct my broken English."
In the video, Ice Cube is a kidnapper
Kidnapper
Kidnapper may refer to:* Kidnapper , a film by Kelvin Tong* "Kidnapper" , by American band Blondie on the Plastic Letters album* A person who performs a kidnapping-See also:* Kidnapped * Kidnapping...
, and he kidnaps many rappers (Many resembling his former bandmates.) that aren't "true to the game" by referring them as "record sellers".