3 Strikes You In Lyrics

[Verse 3]
They want a nigga to run and get hung
High strung, so this pig can win the Cy Young
I'mma hit this mothafucka a mile
In the batter's box, high as Steve Howe
You can't salary cap my gat
No strike, cuz gangsta-rap is on the map
I'm like Satchel Paige wit a gauge
Or Jackie Robinson, when I'm robbing one
Of you Cracker Jacks fool I'm a mothafucking vet
And fuck yo seventh-inning stretch, so
Take me out to the ballgame
And see my neighborhood name
In your Ghetto Hall of Fame

Chorus x 3

Yea (It ain't right)
Playing people like a game (It ain't right)
Human beings, putting em in a jar (It ain't right)
For double life, triple life (It ain't right)


[Hook #2]
You know my name (wha what, wha what) x 4

[Outro]
If I die tonight, you know who did it (you know)
If I ride tonight, you know who did it (you know)
If they sheck me up, you know who did it (don't guess)
If they check my nuts, you know who did it (get 'em)
If they break my bank, you know who did it (yea)
If they pull my rank, you know who did it (get 'em)
If they sock me up, you know who did it (yea)
If they lock me up, you know who did it (get 'em)
If they smear my name, you know who did it
If they kill my game, you know who did it
Remember me (you know who did it)
Wha what, wha what (you know who did it)

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About

Genius Annotation

Ice Cube raps about his dislike of the habitual offender laws of the state of California. The intent of these laws (implemented at the state level) is to deter repeat offenders of serious crimes by imposing harsher sentences on offenders that have two previous convictions of serious crimes. California’s implementation, however, has been criticized for what crimes were deemed “strike worthy” (such as drug possession). Over the years the California laws have been amended that scaled back the punishment of some of these lesser crimes.

The lyrics heavily play on baseball metaphors as the “three strikes your out” nickname of the habitual defender laws originated in the baseball anthem Take Me out to the Ball Game.

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Credits
Produced By
Written By
Mastering Engineer
Mixing Engineer
Backing Vocals
Release Date
November 17, 1998
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