It’s On
Intro
Today's a good day to die (*Screaming*)Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yaySuck on these nuts, nigga, suck on these nutsI tell 'em bow-wow-wow yippie-yo yippie-yaySuck on these nuts, nigga, suck on these nutsIt ain't nothin' but Eazy, babyHere to smoke two niggas 'cause they crazyTalk a gang of shit but it don't faze meThat punk nigga Dre still pays meRefrain
Well, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GNow if it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GVerse 1
Hey mister prankster, prankster, story book gangstaBack in '86, you wore the pumps and mascaraDown with the motherfuckin' Wreckin' Cru, bitchBut once a bitch is always a bitch and now the fuckin' switchFag, with the stethoscope, now you sagBody slammin' bitches makes a Dre a bigger manKhaki sportin' Locs in a G rideWhat set you from, punk? What set you from, right?Rip Van Winkle sleepin', nigga woke up and became a GBut you still don't impress the EazySmoke a lil' sherm, now you call that shit The ChronicNiggas on the Westside call it bionicI make a mill' here, make a mill' thereFuck a bitch here, fuck a bitch there, yeahChorus
Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onVerse 2
Old nigga Eazy-E went to the cupboardTo get Snoop Doggy Dogg a bone, motherfuckerHere's another GOr should I say a H, a I, a J, a K, a L-M-N-O-P?P for the pussy wussy wuffin' nigga brokeAs a motherfuckin' joke, talkin' about you wanna smokeThe E to the A-Z-Y, nigga, this is E's sideSnoop Doggy Doggy Dogg, you wanna try?1-8-7 on the E that you singBut you cling on my balls when I swing my ding-a-lingYeah, you got more juice like a plant of puppy waterFirst, I'm gonna choke ya, then I smoke ya, then I'm gonnaToss you in the back of my trunk, with the other punkSmokin' Death Row like I smoke a Phillie bluntRefrain
If it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GNow if it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GChorus
Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell your motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on motherfucker then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onVerse 3
Still a nigga, once a nigga, always a nigga, down from the get-goNever let go, never flossin'Never slippin', never trippin', stickin'Dick and my balls down your throat, doggy, listenNiggas from the LBC, they never heard of ya, GAnd niggas from the CPT ain't down with D-R-EBut you gave it up still, like a trooperLet 'em play your jam, shake your hand and then they shoot yaYou can fool the people on the East Coast and the MidwestBut in L.A., you still ain't pass the testSee, I can tell a pussy when I see oneDre wearing lipstick, that mean ya have to be oneYou need to change your sex and your occupationYou try to fuck with E, nigga, run, run, runRefrain
'Cause if it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GNow if it's on, motherfucker, then it's on, GChorus
Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuck—Well, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfucker—Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on motherfucker, then it's onOutro
Whip-whip-whip itTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyTell you motherfuck—Tell you motherfucker—Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfucker—Well, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onTell you motherfucker—Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfuckers who you fuckin' withTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWell, if it's on, motherfucker, then it's onWhip-whip-whip itTell you motherfucker—Tell you motherfuck—Tell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyTell you motherfuckers who you fuckin' with, EazyWhat the song means
"It's On" is a diss track and a bragging anthem in which Eazy-E attacks Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, who had left his Ruthless Records label for Death Row. The song is a direct challenge: Eazy presents himself as the toughest and most authentic figure in the rivalry, and he treats the other two as fakes, sellouts and jokes. The aggression is personal and loud, and the tone is more mocking than thoughtful.
The song opens with a boastful intro and then moves into insults. Verse one ridicules Dre's earlier image and his new hard-guy persona, suggesting he is out of date and pretending. Verse two turns to Snoop, using wordplay, alphabet jokes and taunts about his rap style. Verse three returns to Dre, mocking his West Coast credibility and claiming that Eazy is the one people really respect in Los Angeles. Each verse piles on another insult, so the energy keeps rising toward the end.
The repeated chorus and refrain are the key to the song. The phrase "if it's on" is an invitation to a fight, meaning that if the other side wants a war, they can have one. The chant-like repetition makes this feel like a crowd call-and-response, which is why the outro fades into an endless, almost ritual, chant. Many images, such as the old fairy tale of a long sleeper and the references to smoking, are used as put-downs, showing that Eazy sees his rivals as out of touch and not truly street.
Key phrases explained
- who you fuckin' with
- who you're messing with, or whom you're challenging — The core challenge of the chorus, telling rivals they are picking the wrong target.
- if it's on
- if a fight or confrontation is happening, let's go — Slang for accepting a challenge; the refrain repeats it to dare the opponent.
- smoke ya
- shoot or kill you — Street slang with a double meaning, since "smoke" also refers to smoking drugs elsewhere in the song.
- Rip Van Winkle sleepin'
- someone who has been asleep for years and is out of touch — A mocking reference used to say Dre was late to the streets and only recently became "hard."
- set you from
- what neighborhood or gang you represent — A street question used to challenge someone's identity and loyalty.
- pumps and mascara
- flashy, effeminate style — An insult pointing to Dre's past image, meant to suggest he was not tough.
Song info
- Release date
- 1993-10-19
- Album
- It’s On (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa
- Written by
- Rhythm D, Tha Dogg Catcher
- Produced by
- Rhythm D
- Samples
- N.W.A – Gangsta Gangsta, Dr. Dre – Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang, Eazy-E – Eazy-Duz-It
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