I got this 12-inch record in 1987 for the A-side track The Coolest by King Tee. When I got the chance at home to play what was on the B-side, I was blown away by Ya Better Bring A Gun and loved it a lot more than side-A’s track. The Coolest (A-side) was available on King Tee’s debut album Act Like A Fool, whereas the Ya Better Bring A Gun was not on the album but served only as a B-side exclusive to the 12-inch release. Music and sound-wise, Ya Better Bring a Gun makes reference to an even older style of rap’s funky origins — pay special attention to the style of rapping and the bassline riff. However, the lyrics are about modern violence/crime; only few hiphop artists at that time were rapping about stuff like that, such as Public Enemy and The Ghetto Boys.

King Tee & Mixmaster Spade- “Ya Better Bring A Gun” (B-side)…

Artist: King Tee & Mixmaster Spade
Title: Ya Better Bring A Gun
Year: 1987
Media Source: Recorded straight from 12-inch record to enhanced digital.

King Tee & Mixmaster Spade – “Ya Better Bring A Gun” (mp3)

Lyrics…

[ VERSE 1: King Tee ]
They live on the street and they hustle for fame
Some kill for a livin, some sling cocaine
Because it’s now a lifestyle and a full-time job
And if you live in Compton, it’s like at McCobb
From block to block everybody’s bad
And if you don’t know where you’re at, then your life’s been had
Cause they walk in the street with intentions to meet
Some sappy lookin punk with Fila on his feet
And if you try to act tough, well Mr. Tough, you’re through
Cause everybody’s a family, if not, they’re a crew
I’m here to give some advice advice (Run!)
Cause if you’re ever in Compton, you better bring a gun

Yo, here come my homeboy Mixmaster Spade
Man, what’s up, man?
Hey man, ain’t you from Compton, man?
(Ah yeah)
Alright man, tell em what’s up, man
What you used to do

[ VERSE 2: Mixmaster Spade ]
I used to cut up the beat on the two turntables
Now I’m rappin on the mic, cause I’m willin and able
When I’m on the mic I take no slack
And everytime that you see me I’m tearin a gat
I got .380s and .22s
You messs with me, I’m gonna bust on you
I got a .357 and a M-16
They call me Master Spade, and Tee’s the King
Now Compton is the city where the homeboys stay
Rollin in a different car everyday
Can’t roll too hard, gotta watch my back
Cause if I don’t, I just might get jacked
Now Compton is a city of a lotta fun
(Can’t walk down the street
(Can’t walk down the street
Can’t walk down the stree without my gun)

[ female voice ]
Now you know this just don’t make no kinda sense

[ VERSE 3: King Tee ]
Now the next place is kinda risky if you’re walkin with your mother
Y’all can get shot if she wears the wrong color
They’re all from the old school, nobody’s modern
The place I’m talkin ’bout is the Nickerson Gardens
You can get away with murder, cause they murdered the cops
Cause they said they tried to run a bumrush on Watts
But they took control, slingers walk real tall
While real down gangbangers write their set on the wall
If I was you I wouldn’t visit here, it’s like hell
And if you get robbed, who you gonna tell?
I’m only here for advice advice (run!)
And if you’re ever in Watts, you better bring a gun

[ VERSE 4: King Tee ]
Now you got a nice car with a brand-new paintin
Rag top convertable with all-gold Daytons
You decide to take a ride down the Crenshaw strip
You stop at the Fat Burgers to feed your lip
You got your sounds bumpin, playin Zapp and Vibe
A skeezer comes your way, you say, “Let’s take a ride”
So you’re cruisin Crenshaw with her, you’re goin to bail
A brown Cutlass pulls up, they put a gauge to your head
They say, “(Get our your car) if you value your life
(And leave your money) if you love your wife”
Now you’re standin in the street lookin like you’re on crack
And you say to yourself: I can’t believe I got jacked
You call the police because your car they stole
But when you get in touch with them, they put you on hold
Your car is gone, nothin could be done
So next time you cruise Crenshaw, YOU BETTER BRING A GUN!

Alright, I wanna thank Mixmaster Spade for comin out to rock with me
(And Greg Mack) the Mack Attack
And I also wanna thank J-Ro and Sweet Tooth for comin out rockin
(And DJ [Name])
And I wanna thank Scotty D, Cold-Crush Chris
And DJ Pooh, the Hip-Hop Gangster
(When he say beat em up he don’t be bluffin)
Word
And oh yeah, I forgot somebody
Unknown!
(Yo man, who blew up that McDonald’s on Central and Rosecrans, dude?)