I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

Album: I'm Gonna Git You Sucka soundtrack (1988)
Charted: 63
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the theme song to the 1988 movie I'm Gonna Git You Sucka; it played under the opening credits. The film was written and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, who also stars in it along with a cast of familiar faces that includes Isaac Hayes, Jim Brown, Chris Rock and Bernie Casey. A less familiar face in the film is Ja'net Dubois, who sang The Jeffersons theme song.

    The movie is a spoof on blaxploitation films, with many of the stars famous for their work in that genre. The song plays it straight, warning about how crime doesn't pay, even mentioning the crack epidemic. As the movie gets rolling though, we learn that the tough guys in the film are looking to break up a gang selling gold chains, which have become a scourge. The film led to In Living Color, Keenen Ivory Wayans' transgressive sketch comedy show that often skewered musicians in biting parodies.
  • It was Eddie Murphy who came up with the title "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka." He and Keenen Ivory Wayans were kicking around ideas for a blaxploitation spoof years earlier when he suggested it. When Keenen decided to develop the project, he made sure to get Murphy's OK.
  • The Gap Band had their big hits in the early '80s when their unique brand of funk caught on with tracks like "You Dropped A Bomb On Me" and "Burn Rubber On Me (Why You Wanna Hurt Me)." They were a lot less popular by the late '80s but had secured a legacy as musical innovators whose sound evolved into new jack swing, which was just starting to emerge in 1988. That's the sound they used on this track and on a single they released the following year called "All Of My Love," which gave them their last #1 R&B hit.
  • The "Dirty mutha... Don't you say that!" bit is a nod to "Theme From Shaft" by Isaac Hayes. In that song, Hayes sings, "Shaft is a bad mother..." before his backup singers cut him off, saying, "Shut your mouth!"

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Amy Grant

Amy GrantSongwriter Interviews

The top Contemporary Christian artist of all time on song inspirations and what she learned from Johnny Carson.

Bob Dylan Lyric Quiz

Bob Dylan Lyric QuizMusic Quiz

Think you know your Bob Dylan lyrics? Take this quiz to find out.

Adam Duritz of Counting Crows

Adam Duritz of Counting CrowsSongwriter Interviews

"Mr. Jones" took on new meaning when the song about a misguided view of fame made Adam famous.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Melanie

MelanieSongwriter Interviews

The singer-songwriter Melanie talks about her spiritual awakening at Woodstock, "Brand New Key," and why songwriting is an art, not a craft.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).