“Ever heard the catchy 90s anthem ‘I Wish’?

That’s Skee-Lo for you—a one-hit wonder who made a big splash in hip-hop!”

Skee-Lo is an American rapper and singer best known for his 1995 hit single “I Wish,” which topped charts worldwide and earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance.

His fun, relatable lyrics, and upbeat style made him a standout artist of his time.

About the Song

“I Wish” by Skee-Lo is a fun and catchy 90s hip-hop song about dreaming big and wishing for a better life. Its upbeat vibe and relatable lyrics made it a huge hit.

I Wish Lyrics by Skee-Lo

Intro

Hey, this is radio station WSKEE
We’re taking calls on the wish line
Making your wacky wishes come true…
Hello?

Chorus

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala

Verse 1

I wish I was like six-foot-nine
So I can get with Leoshi
‘Cause she don’t know me
But, yo, she’s really fine
You know I see her all the time
Everywhere I go
And even in my dreams
I can scheme of ways to make her mine
‘Cause I know she’s livin’ phat
Her boyfriend’s tall and he plays ball,
So how am I gonna compete with that?
‘Cause when it comes to playing basketball
I’m always last to be picked
And in some cases never picked at all
So I just lean up on the wall
Or sit up in the bleachers with the rest of the girls
Who came to watch their man ball
Dag, y’all! I never understood, black
Why the jocks get the fly girls
And me, I get the hood rats
I tell ’em, “Scat, skittle, sca-bobble”
Got hit with a bottle
And put in a hospital for talkin’ that mess
I confess it’s a shame
When you livin’ in a city that’s the size of a box
And nobody knows yo’ name
Glad I came, to my senses
Like quick-quick, got sick-sick to my stomach
Overcometh by thoughts
Of me and her together, right?
So when I asked her out, she said I wasn’t her type

Chorus

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
I wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala

Verse 2

I wish I had a brand new car so far, I got this hatchback
And everywhere I go, yo, I gets laughed at
And when I’m in my car I’m laid back
I got an 8-track, and a spare tire in the backseat, but that’s flat
And do you really wanna know what’s really wack?
See, I can’t even get a date, so what do you think of that?
I heard that prom night is a bomb night
With a hood rat you can hold tight
But really though, I’m Figaro
When in my car, I can’t even get a hello
Well, so many people wanna cruise Crenshaw on Sunday
One day I’ma have to get in my car and go
You know I take the 110 until the 105
Get off at Crenshaw, tell my homies, “Look alive!”
‘Cause it’s hard to survive
When you’re living in a concrete jungle
And these girls keep Passin’ Me By
She looks fly, she looks fly
Make me say, “my, my, my”

Chorus

I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
Wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
Wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala

Bridge

I wish I was a little bit taller (I wish I was a little bit taller)
I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)
I wish I was a little bit taller, y’all (I wish I was a little bit taller, y’all)
I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)
I wish I was a little bit taller, y’all (I wish I was a little bit taller, y’all)
I wish I was a baller (Wish I was a baller)
I wish I was a little bit taller (I wish I was a little bit taller, y’all)
I wish I was a baller (Yeah)

Verse 3

Hey, I wish I had my way
‘Cause every day would be a Friday,
And you could even speed on the highway
I would play ghetto games
Name my kids ghetto names:
Little Mookie, Big Al, Lorraine
Yo, you know that’s on the real
So if you’re down on your luck
Then you should know just how I feel
‘Cause if you don’t want me around
See, I go simple, I go easy, I go Greyhound
Hey, you, what’s that sound?
Everybody look what’s goin’ down
Ah, yes, ain’t that fresh?
Everybody wants to get down like that

Chorus

Wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
Wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala
I wish I was a little bit taller, I wish I was a baller
I wish I had a girl who looked good, I would call her
Wish I had a rabbit in a hat with a bat
And a six-four Impala

Outro

I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish
I wish, I wish
Fades

Similar Songs Like I Wish

Skee-Lo does not have a large discography, but here are some of his significant songs that share similarities with “I Wish”:

• “Superman“: This song combines hip-hop with catchy hooks and storytelling, much like “I Wish.” It’s fun, upbeat, and easy to sing along to, making it a favorite for fans of 90s hip-hop.

• “The Tale of Mr. Morton“: Known for its unique narrative style and laid-back flow, this song tells a story in a way that’s similar to “I Wish.” It’s creative, engaging, and perfect for listeners who enjoy storytelling in music.

• “Top of the Stairs“: This track mixes hip-hop with personal storytelling, focusing on life experiences and struggles. Its relatable lyrics and smooth vibe make it a great choice for fans of Skee-Lo’s style.

Similar Artists Like Skee-Lo

These artists made a big impact on hip-hop and rap in the 1990s, creating music with catchy hooks and storytelling.

• Kris Kross
  Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  Top Song: “Jump”
• Naughty By Nature
  Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  Top Song: “Hip Hop Hooray”
• The Pharcyde
  Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  Top Song: “Passing Me By”
• Slick Rick
  Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  Top Song: “La Di Da Di”
• Coolio
  Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
  Top Song: “Gangsta’s Paradise”

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rabbit in a Hat with a Bat Mean?

The phrase “rabbit in a hat with a bat” is a clever rhyme by Skee-Lo. “Rabbit in a hat” refers to a “trick” (slang for a promiscuous woman), and “bat” symbolizes Bacardi rum. It’s a playful way of saying he wishes for a wild night with drinks and company.

What Ever Happened to Skee-Lo?

After “I Wish,” Skee-Lo Continued Making Music but Didn’t Replicate Its Success. He Remains a Beloved One-Hit Wonder from The 90s.

What Song Do I Wish Sample?

Most of the Song’s Instruments Are Sampled from “Spinnin'” by Bernard Wright, Giving it a funky, upbeat vibe. It also includes a vocal sample of crowd shouts from “Buffalo Gals” by Malcolm McLaren, adding energy to the track.