Songfacts®:

• Luniz is a duo from Oakland, California, comprising the rappers Yukmouth and Numskull. Released as the lead single from their debut album, Operation Stackola, "I Got 5 On It" became an internationally successful hit and was further boosted by the remix featuring Bay Area rap stars Dru Down, Shock G, Richie Rich, E-40, and Spice 1.
• The "5" is five dollars, and is a reference to going 50/50 on a $10 dime bag of weed with another person.
  
  I got five on it,
  Partna let's go half on a sack
  
  Rather than rapping about being drug kingpins, Luniz talk about being broke and trying to get hold of some cheap weed. Five dollars is a small enough number to be relatable for anyone who's shared some marijuana with a friend.
• The song features guest vocals by Michael Marshall of the Timex Social Club, who croons the hook.
• The track samples Kool and the Gang's 1973 single "Jungle Boogie" and two 1987 tracks, Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" and Audio Two's "Top Billin'."
• The song's hypnotic instrumentation has been sampled by countless artists, including Puff Daddy for his 1999 hit "Satisfy You," Nas for his 2002 single "I'm Gonna Be Alright" and Meek Mill for his 2013 track "Heaven or Hell." Also the rapper Lecrae recorded in 2014 an updated version of the song titled "Nuthin'."
• A creepy remix of the song was featured in the 2019 horror thriller movie Us. The remix is listed on the film's official soundtrack as the "Tethered Mix."