You know that feeling when a bassline hits and the whole room just shifts? That's the power of the 1995 Oakland anthem I Got 5 On It.
Most people think it’s just a catchy tune about weed. Honestly, it’s so much more than that. It’s a story of survival, tight budgets, and a weirdly complex web of musical theft and redemption that spans decades.
Whether you first heard it on a fuzzy cassette tape in a Honda Civic or got chills watching the Tethered version in Jordan Peele’s Us, this track has staying power that most modern hits would kill for.
The Actual Meaning Behind the Five Dollars
Let’s be real for a second. If you grew up in the 90s, you knew exactly what Yukmouth and Numskull were talking about.
The phrase "I got five on it" literally means chipping in five bucks for a "dime bag"—a ten-dollar bag of marijuana. It’s the ultimate broke-man’s anthem. You’re basically saying, "I want to get high, but I can’t afford the whole thing, so let’s split it."
It’s basically about weed etiquette
The song is kind of a manual on how to be a social smoker. The lyrics mention grabbing Tanqueray gin, Carlo Rossi wine, and Arizona soft drinks. They even talk about buying a Swisher Sweets cigar to break down into a blunt.
It’s hyper-specific. It’s gritty. It’s undeniably Bay Area.
But there’s a darker side to the "five on it" line that most people miss. In the reprised version of the track, the "five" actually refers to a man who had prepaid Numskull for some cocaine that never got delivered.
Talk about a different vibe.
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The Secret History of the World's Most Famous Sample
Here is where things get truly messy. You probably think the producer, Tone Capone, just sampled Club Nouveau’s 1987 hit "Why You Treat Me So Bad."
You’d be half right.
The melody—that haunting, keyboard-heavy riff—actually goes back even further. It started with a group called Timex Social Club (famous for "Rumors") on a song called "Thinkin’ About Ya" in 1986.
A case of musical revenge
The singer on the I Got 5 On It hook is Michael Marshall. He was the original lead singer for Timex Social Club.
When that group fell apart, their producer Jay King started Club Nouveau and essentially took the music with him to create "Why You Treat Me So Bad." Michael Marshall felt like his melody had been stolen.
So, when Luniz asked Tone Capone to remake a beat based on that melody, Tone brought in Michael Marshall to sing the hook.
Marshall has said in interviews that he saw it as a chance to reclaim the beat that was originally his. It wasn't just a guest feature; it was a decades-long "checkmate" move.
Why the Song is Actually Terrifying (Thanks, Jordan Peele)
For years, this was just a "smoke out" song. Then 2019 happened.
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Jordan Peele used a deconstructed, orchestral version of the track for his horror movie Us. He called it the "Tethered Mix."
Why did it work so well?
Peele noted that the beat has an "inherent cryptic energy." When you slow down that synth line and add screeching violins, it stops being a party anthem and starts sounding like a nightmare.
The foreshadowing in the snapping
In one of the early scenes of the movie, Adelaide (Lupita Nyong'o) is snapping along to the song in the car. She’s famously off-beat.
Most viewers thought, "Oh, she just can't keep rhythm."
But in the world of Us, that was a massive clue. The song became a bridge between the "real" world and the "tethered" world below. It transformed a piece of 90s nostalgia into a symbol of duality and social class struggle.
The Numbers Don't Lie: The 2026 Resurgence
If you think this song is a relic, look at the royalties.
In recent years, the song’s streaming income has seen a compound annual growth rate of nearly 28%. That’s insane for a track that’s over 30 years old.
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Streaming now accounts for about 75% of the song’s total earnings. It’s not just "old heads" listening; Gen Z has discovered the track through TikTok and horror cinema.
- Released: May 23, 1995
- Peak Position: #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
- International Hits: It actually hit #1 in the Netherlands and #3 in the UK.
- Certifications: Platinum (over 1 million copies sold in the first year alone).
Common Misconceptions About the Luniz
People often label Luniz as "one-hit wonders."
While it's true they never had another global smash like I Got 5 On It, Yukmouth became a massive legend in the West Coast independent scene. He’s a pillar of Oakland hip-hop.
Also, many people forget that the song actually samples Kool & The Gang’s "Jungle Boogie" and Audio Two’s "Top Billin’." It’s a masterclass in 90s production. It wasn't just one lucky sample; it was a collage of the best sounds of the era.
The legacy of the Bay Area sound
This song helped put the "Mob Music" sound of Northern California on the map. It was different from the G-Funk happening in Los Angeles. It was darker, more bass-heavy, and focused on the "hustle" rather than just the "party."
How to Appreciate the Track Today
If you want to really hear the song again for the first time, try this:
Listen to the original 1986 Timex Social Club version of "Thinkin' About Ya." Then, listen to the Club Nouveau version. Finally, put on the Luniz track.
You’ll hear how Tone Capone boosted the bass and doubled it with an electric piano to give it that "heavy" feel that defines the track.
It’s a piece of history that refuses to die.
To dive deeper into the world of 90s hip-hop, you should look into the history of the "Bay Area Remix" of this song, which features legends like E-40 and Richie Rich. It’s arguably just as influential as the original. Also, check out the "Tethered Mix" by Michael Abels to see how music theory can turn a major-key feeling into a minor-key horror show.