This song is by a Houston native and musical pioneer who goes by the stage name “Lil Keke”. Born Marcus Lakee Edwards, Lil Keke grew up on the streets of Houston, Texas, which for a long time has been a center for inspiration and influence on the genre of hip hop. A lot of his way of life and upbringing can be heard through his music and makes his music what it is. The song “Don’t Mess with Texas” is a great example of Texas culture and more specifically inner-city Houston. He is known to be one of the pioneers of the subgenre called chopped and screwed. His music career started working with the legendary producer DJ Screw, who is credited with being the inventor of chopped and screwed music. He released the song “Don’t Mess with Texas” back in 1997, so the song is a couple decades old now, but to me sounds like something that could have been released in the past few years.
I mentioned before that Lil Keke worked the DJ Screw who had invented the subgenre of chopped and screwed. This style of genre is certainly an interesting one. The genre gets its name by how the music actually sounds; which is chopped and screwed. Dj Screw was known for using a tape machine to playback pre recorded songs at a slower speed as well as splicing tape to create these chops and stops in the music. This style became very popular in Texas, especially Houston. Lil Keke and Dj Screw were known to work with each other a lot and Lil Keke even had his own songs remixed in the chopped and screwed style.
Right off the bat from the title of the song you can get a little insight into Texas pride and culture. This song really highlights some of the ideas and culture that we covered in class so far. This song’s theme is centralized around living and surviving in rough parts of Houston. The song starts off with the lyrics, “Put your stones in dust and worn, South coast raised and born”. This line alone can speak for the people of Texas. We see that he has great pride in where he is from. Another thing to note about that line is that he mentions the southside of Houston. Historically, this area was populated predominantly by black Texans starting back when slavery was abolished. Let’s just say that it was not always the nicest part of the city mostly because of the resources the area recieved. Because of the areas history, the south side is still a predominantly black area and still has some rough neighborhoods. Another notable line from the first verse is “If you’re lookin’ for an exit, cause Houston on the wreck shit”, which highlights the tough mind state that many Texans share. Like we learned in class many Texans feel like they are tougher, smarter, and better than others who aren’t from there.
Another theme we cover that is present in this song is the gun culture in Texas. Many of the lines throughout the song tie into that idea of second amendment rights and carrying guns. For example, “Cock the TECs quick, and check shit, the best Well respected from north to east” this line is referring to a specific type of short barrel semi-automatic pistol called a TEC-9. This line is stood out to me because it speaks on how Texans are known for having lots of guns and being proud of it hence the “well respected from north to east”. Other lines like, “Bailin’ through the Texas streets with my hand on my strap”. Lil Keke talks about keeping his gun on him even when traveling around the city. While every state in America has the right to carry firearms. Texas is notorious for their loose laws when it comes to carrying guns. Many Americans own guns, but Texas is known for their carrying laws, and this topic has been in the news recently following their new bill regarding carrying a handgun without a lisence. Lil Keke talks about keeping his gun on him even when traveling around the city. A study conducted by the World Population Review in shows that Texas has the mosts guns per capita than any other state in the country.
This part of Texas Culture is also shown in the chorus of the song which states, “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust/Texas, that’s us, and in Glocks we trust, cause, uh/Ashes to ashes, dust to dust/Glock 9s we bust and there’s no fucking wit us, cause, uh/Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me/Lil’ Keke representin’ Texas, so try to feel me”. You can see how the culture of the state and his upbringing influences his lyrics. Again, we hear about carrying Glocks and how he feels protected from danger when carrying it. This speaks on the dangers of living in inner city of Houston. Like I mentioned before, a lot of American own guns, but we see how Lil Keke feels like he needs his gun at all times to survive, which is not very common among most Americans. He feels safe and respected when carrying his gun, which is a feeling shared by many in Texas. We hear him shout out the southside of Houston, where he is from showing pride of where he came from.
Some other notable lyrics that reference some of the smaller cultural ideas of Texas in the song are “Rockin’ birds, sippin’ syrup, puffin’ marijuana” and “Cowboys and neeyas, gangbangers and dope slangers”. The first lyrics is referring to the drink called “lean” where you mix prescription cough syrup with soda and ice. You might not think it’s a big part of the culture, but Houston is known for creating and popularizing the drink through the genre of hip hop. Lastly, I want to touch the line that says, “Cowboys and neeyas, gangbangers and dope slangers”, which encapsulates a more general theme of the state, not just the culture of inner-city Houston. He shouts out Cowboys and the gangsters of Houston. In my research I tried to find the definition to the word “neeya, which I’m guessing is a slang word from that region of Texas. Overall, this song encapsulates the mindset and culture of Texans, and it was especially interesting to learn about it through listening to music.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Put your stones in dust and worn, South coast raised and born
Having plex, you get broke loose and catch that Texas longhorn
Up that ass, when I blast, claimin’ Southeast H-Town
Stackin’ cakes stackin’ paper makin’ playahaters break down
If you’re lookin’ for an exit, cause Houston on the wreck shit
T-E-X-A-S is the state you don’t mess with
Cock the TECs quick, and check shit, the best
Well respected from north to east
But connected with the west
It’s the 3rd Coast creepin’ ’round the corner
Rockin’ birds, sippin’ syrup, puffin’ marijuana
Screwed Up Click roll deep and we kick it down south
Pop the lip, try to trip, hit you with the sawed off
Botany Boys bring the noise, Cloverland on the map
Bailin’ through the Texas streets with my hand on my strap
Every hour on the hour pourin powder in Pyrexes
Leaving you chestless if you’re vestless, don’t mess wit Texas
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Texas, that’s us, and in Glocks we trust, cause, uh
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Glock 9s we bust and there’s no fucking wit us, cause, uh
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Lil’ Keke representin’ Texas, so try to feel me
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Southside Houston, Texas, so try to feel me
[Verse 2]
Cross the line at the border to this Lone Star State
And create drastic scenes Billy The Kid can’t make
Bustin’ sounds out in the Talon to this world-wide tower
Take myself and then I bust, the other 9 don’t matter
Ain’t no wustle in Calies I used to think that was slow
It’s automatics that’ll catch you at this Texan’s front door
Lifestyles like Frank White, facin’ Kapone
Stackin’ cheese, takin’ my keys, when you went through the zone
Tell your colleagues you won’t want this
North sides took over
9 times out of 10 I’m makin’ it out, I doubt it
Fairy tales and riddles, cut you sweet down the middle
Fill in with weed to succeed how I’m plottin’ to kill ya
Cowboys and neeyas, gangbangers and dope slangers
Pull the Southern angle Glock 2-1 in the chamber
So Lisa Lee, to the publicist who not try test us
You find yourself restless tryin’ to fuck with Texas
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Texas, that’s us, and in Glocks we trust, cause uh
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Glock 9’s we bust and there’s no fucking wit us, cause uh
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Lil’ Keke representin’ Texas, so try to feel me
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Southside Houston, Texas, so try to feel me
Feel the ill, yield the yield, Texas has no fear
Strapped with full metal gear, makin’ it loud and clear
Takin’ advantage, you can’t manage, I’m a Southside ambassador
So lay it down, or be found, as the chains of massacre
I’m askin’ ya to chill, better yet try to feel
Stackin’ mills down the kilo, gang related for real
Here’s the deal, 9 to 10, everythang I want even
If I’m in then you spin, here’s the key to the Benz
Fuck a friend in this game, cause it’s all about greed
Tech 9, red beam, and a murderin’ team
Yeah we’re close to the border so won’t you put in your order
Pound of weed, jug of water, half a chicken or quarter
Puffin’ harder at the bottom cause we gainin’ respect
Might check, I select, soly Texas connected
You respected Ke to hate, but I set it all straight
Brain or chest plate, it’s the lonestar state
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Texas, that’s us, and in Glocks we trust, cause uh
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Glock 9’s we bust and there’s no fucking wit us, cause uh
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Lil’ Keke representin’ Texas, so try to feel me
Mark shit don’t thrill me, haters wanna kill me
Southside Houston, Texas, so try to feel me
Source:
Guns per Capita. World Population Review
Web. 2021 https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/guns-per-capita
Don’t Mess Wit Texas. Genius.com
Web. 2021 https://genius.com/Lil-keke-dont-mess-wit-texas-lyrics
Lil’ Keke Biography. AllMusic.com
Web. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-keke-mn0000826354/biography? 1631125476807
Don’t Mess With Texas. Lil’ Keke. Ingrooves. Nov 27, 2017.
