Ice Cube is one of the founding artists of gangsta rap, and much of his musical output has contained harsh socio-political commentary. He was ranked number 8 on MTV's list of the 10 Greatest MCs of All Time, while fellow rapper Snoop Dogg ranked Ice Cube as one of the greatest MC of all time. AllMusic has called him one of hip-hop's best and most controversial artists, as well as "one of rap's greatest storytellers". In 2012, The Source ranked him number 14 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time. In 2014, About.com ranked him number 11 on their list of the "50 Greatest MCs of All Time"
He released his solo debut album, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," in 1990 to critical and commercial success, although upon its release he was accused of racism and misogyny. He has since released 1991's "Death Certificate", 1992's "The Predator", 1993's "Lethal Injection", 1998's "War & Peace Vol 1 (The War Disc)", 2000's "War & Peace Vol 2 (The Peace Disc)", 2006's "Laugh Now, Cry Later", 2008's "Raw Footage", and 2010's "I Am the West."
Ice Cube was raised in South Central by his parents, both of whom were employed at UCLA. He began writing raps while attending George Washington Preparatory High School in Westmont, California, most notably "Boyz 'N Tha Hood", which later became famous when done by N.W.A in 1986. Cube finished his schooling at William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills, a predominately white neighborhood in San Fernando Valley, some 40 miles from the high-crime neighborhood where his family stayed.
Cube and a friend, Sir Jinx, rapped as a partnership called C.I.A. at parties hosted by Dr. Dre. After a brief stint in a group called "HBO", Cube showed Eazy-E "Boyz 'N Da Hood," and the pair, plus Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, The Arabian Prince and MC Ren, formed N.W.A.
Cube took one year off to earn a degree in architectural drafting in Phoenix in 1987 but returned in time to participate in N.W.A's debut album, Straight Outta Compton. The album attracted much notoriety for the group, from the FBI and concerned citizen and parent groups. Cube did the lead verse for the album's infamous track "Fuck tha Police."
Ice Cube left N.W.A due to financial and personality conflicts in 1989. With Da Lench Mob and the Bomb Squad (Public Enemy's producers), Cube recorded his debut album in New York City. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was released in 1990 and was an instantaneous hit as rap's popularity increased in mainstream society.
His 1991 follow-up, Death Certificate, was even more controversial. A few songs in the album featured Cube's hate of Uncle Sam and his politics, and a bonus track named "No Vaseline" was a diss to his former N.W.A bandmates. Also that year, he converted to the Nation of Islam. The album was re-released in 2003 with the bonus track "How to Survive in South Central," originally from the 1991 "Boyz N the Hood" soundtrack.
Controversy stirred about racist lyrics in his material: "Black Korea" (a song against Korean shopowners), referring to a former boss as "white Jew" in "No Vaseline", and songs such as "Enemy and Cave Bitch" (songs against "devils", a popular derogatory term at the time for white people). Partially to help deflect criticisms, Cube appointed a female rapper named Yo-Yo (who guested on AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted) to the head of his own record label and helped produce her debut album, Make Way for the Motherlode.
That was followed by Cube's acting breakout as the grown-up version of Darrin "Doughboy" Baker in the 1991 coming of age crime drama "Boyz in the Hood." Writer and director John Singleton, another LA native, penned the role specifically Cube. Ice Cube was later named "Most Promising Actor" at the 4th Chicago Film Critics Association Awards in 1992, beating out his co-star Cuba Gooding Jr. and newcomer Brad Pitt from "Thelma and Louise."
Cube toured on Lollapalooza in 1992 and widened his fan base. He released The Predator in November (1992) which debuted at #1 on both the pop and rnb charts, the first album in history to do so. For that album, Cube decided to load some G-funk style beats which at that time was the big thing and some remix tunes which brought a new style to Cube, in which previously he had released some hardcore and extreme work. Singles from The Predator included "Today was a Good Day" and "Check Yo Self (remix)" which all had a 2 part music video.
After The Predator, Cube's audience began to diminish. Lethal Injection (1993) was not very well-liked by critics, and Dr. Dre and the West Coast G-Funk sound was dominating hip-hop. It wasn't until later that the album became popular. Taking a break from his own albums, Cube assisted on debuts from Da Lench Mob (Guerillas in the Mist) and Kam (Neva Again). He later dueted with Dr. Dre on "Natural Born Killaz."
Around this time in 1993, Ice Cube also worked with soon-to-be-acclaimed rapper Tupac Shakur with his album Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. and appeared on a track with 2pac.
In 1994 Ice Cube released Bootlegs & B-Sides.
During this time, hip-hop started making a transition from the West Coast Funk Hip-Hop to a more gritty East Coast hip-hop. With Mack 10 and WC, Cube formed the Westside Connection in 1996, releasing their debut album Bow Down later that year. This album was in due to Ice Cube's theory that the East Coast lacked respect for West Coast hip-hop. Songs like "Bow Down", and "Gangstas Make The World Go 'Round" make reference to this. Sales were brisk, but it did not establish a large audience. This album was later perceived as a classic, especially on the West Coast. Cube released several more solo albums; however, he is now known more for his movies than his music.
In 1998 Ice Cube released War & Peace Vol 1: The War Disc
In 2000 Ice Cube released War & Peace Vol 2: The Peace Disc
In 2003 Ice Cube along with W.C. & Mack 10 released Terrorist Threats as the West Side Connection.
In December 2004, after a long break from recording, he reached #2 in the UK singles chart with the club favourite, "You Can Do It" (featuring Mack 10 and Ms Toi), released as a single 5 years after it was first included on movie soundtracks such as
Ice Cube was influenced by and took his name from African American pimp-turned-author Iceberg Slim, who published his autobiography Pimp in 1969. At one point, Ice Cube was scheduled to play the lead role in a movie adaptation of Pimp, but the project appears to be halted.
Cube's oldest son, O'Shea Jackson Jr., made his feature film debut in the 2015 N.W.A biopic "Straight Outta Compton," portraying his father.
$100 Bill Y'all
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thick dames
Headhunters get brains
Big thangs
Give niggas shitstains
The shit, man
And don't you forget, man.
The best of CG
Greedy
Abduct the PD
See me?
Nigga, not in 3D.
Be me?
Hah, it's not easy.
I'm breezy
And off the Heezy
Me and my woman's like George & Wheezy
Movin' on up, niggas use to tease me
See me on top
It makes you queasy.
Sick with it
Bitch, I'm Bruce Lee
Seduce me
You're nice and juicy
In the parking lot, I gots to get mine
Why the fuck we goin' in when there's bitches in line?
I spend my time watchin' bitches' behinds
Thinkin' bad shit in the back of my mind
I bump and grind with nothing less than a dime
Making movie money, you still investin' in rhymes.
[Chorus]
And I'm in this bitch
With a hundred dollar bill, y'all
About to spend this bitch
I'm in this bitch
I got a hundred dollar bill, y'all
About to spend this bitch
I'm in this bitch
Who got a hundred dollar bill, y'all?
About to spend this bitch
I'm in this bitch
I got a hundred dollar bill, y'all
About to spend this bitch.
I'm in here
Got all you freaks lookin'
When we walk by, pussy start cookin'
Rookies start tookin'
Get your ass up, V.I.P. section's gettin' tooken
Might dance, might not
might spend enough
Cool as hell, but still pipin' hot
Soon as I find a spot
All my people gather 'round
The nigga with the shiny watch--me
Ice Cube, motherfucker
Next to me, you a test tube motherfucker
We kinda rude, motherfucker
Get too close and bucka! Bucka! Bucka!
Don't want no problems, y'all
Fuck around, I'll pull out the problem-solv'
and watch E pills dissolve
nine times out of ten, you hoes involved.
[Chorus]
Get numbers, get names
Thick dames
Headhunters get brains
Big thangs
Give niggas shitstains
The shit, man
And don't you forget, man.
Security pat downs
I'm a star, motherfucker
I been put' the gat down
I been put' the mack down
But check the people that I'm with
'Cause they'll lay you flat down
And they'll do it right now
Yeah, you scared of the phone numbers that a nigga might dial
Club-hop, car shows, picnics
Big cars, big jewels, big dicks
Rush doors
Or gotta hop the fence
Blow this door
Gotta blow my rent
Gotta show my ass, then go repent
Gotta call in sick
And tell 'em where I went.
[Chorus]
The opening verse of Ice Cube's "$100 Dolla Bill Y'all" conveys the rapper's pursuit of wealth, reflected in his desire to "get numbers, get names" and "big thangs," and his willingness to engage in violent behavior to do so, as exemplified by his warning to "give niggas shitstains." Moreover, the verse illustrates Cube's sense of entitlement to material wealth, as he proclaims "the shit, man" and insists that listeners not forget it.
The remainder of the song features numerous boasts and claims of superiority, including that Cube is part of "the best of CG" and implies they can easily "abduct the PD." He also suggests he rises above typical 3D reality and that others find his success enviable or "queasy." While Cube may have made a lot of money, his persistence in discussing gaining wealth highlight the struggles of the time when the album was published. "Rookies start tookin'" suggests that the rappers may have been showing off their talents to other rappers trying to come up at the time.
Line by Line Meaning
Get numbers, get names
We are focused on making connections and building relationships with people who have power and wealth.
Thick dames
We like our women curvy and sexy.
Headhunters get brains
We hire people who are smart and can help us achieve our goals.
Big thangs
We set our sights on ambitious goals and go after them with all our resources.
Give niggas shitstains
We humiliate and outdo our competition, leaving them feeling inferior and defeated.
The shit, man
We are the best and everything we do is amazing.
And don't you forget, man.
Never forget that we are the best and always on top.
We be
We are confident in ourselves and our abilities.
The best of CG
We are the best in our city or part of town.
Greedy
We are driven to accumulate wealth and power.
Abduct the PD
We take control of the police department and make them work for us.
See me?
Do you see how great I am?
Nigga, not in 3D.
Seeing me in person is even better than seeing me on a screen.
Be me?
Do you wish you were me?
Hah, it's not easy.
Being me is difficult and requires a lot of hard work.
I'm breezy
I'm cool and relaxed, despite my success and fame.
And off the Heezy
I'm wild and unpredictable, but also fun and exciting.
Me and my woman's like George & Wheezy
My partner and I are like the characters from the TV show The Jeffersons - we've come a long way and are now living a luxurious lifestyle.
Movin' on up, niggas use to tease me
We used to be poor and looked down upon, but now we are rich and powerful and those who teased us are beneath us.
See me on top
I've made it to the top of my field and am now a celebrated success.
It makes you queasy.
My success and fame make you jealous and uncomfortable.
Sick with it
I'm incredibly talented and skilled in my craft.
Bitch, I'm Bruce Lee
I'm tough and undefeatable, like the famous martial artist Bruce Lee.
Seduce me
Try to win my affections.
You're nice and juicy
You're attractive and desirable.
In the parking lot, I gots to get mine
I need to make money and am willing to do whatever it takes, even if it's illegal or immoral.
Why the fuck we goin' in when there's bitches in line?
Why are we wasting our time and energy pursuing something that's not as good as what's right in front of us?
I spend my time watchin' bitches' behinds
I enjoy looking at women's bodies and am sexually attracted to them.
Thinkin' bad shit in the back of my mind
I have sexual fantasies about women and think about them often.
I bump and grind with nothing less than a dime
I only have sex with women who are considered very attractive.
Making movie money, you still investin' in rhymes.
I'm making a lot of money through other ventures, while my competitors are still struggling to make money from their music.
And I'm in this bitch
I'm in this place, making money and causing a stir.
With a hundred dollar bill, y'all
I have a lot of money and am not afraid to flaunt it.
About to spend this bitch
I'm going to use my money to get what I want and live the life I want.
I'm in here
I'm present and accounted for in this place.
Got all you freaks lookin'
I'm attractive and interesting, and everyone wants to know me.
When we walk by, pussy start cookin'
I have a sexual energy that turns women on.
Rookies start tookin'
Inexperienced people are impressed with us and want to be around us.
Get your ass up, V.I.P. section's gettin' tooken
We are taking over the most exclusive section of the club and making it our own.
Might dance, might not
I might dance, or I might stand back and watch everyone else.
might spend enough
I'll spend enough money to have a good time, but not necessarily go overboard.
Cool as hell, but still pipin' hot
I'm laid back and under control, but also very attractive and desirable.
Soon as I find a spot
Once I've found a good spot in the club, I'm going to settle in and make it my own.
All my people gather 'round
My friends and associates all come together to be near me, and to share in my success and fame.
The nigga with the shiny watch--me
I'm the one with the most gleaming and expensive watch in the place, and everyone notices me because of it.
Ice Cube, motherfucker
My name is Ice Cube, and I'm a badass.
Next to me, you a test tube motherfucker
Compared to me, you're a nobody - a worthless test tube experiment.
We kinda rude, motherfucker
We can be mean and insulting, but that's just part of our personality.
Get too close and bucka! Bucka! Bucka!
If you don't give us enough space, we'll shoot you.
Don't want no problems, y'all
We don't want to get into any fights or confrontations.
Fuck around, I'll pull out the problem-solv'
If you mess with us, we'll quickly and efficiently solve the problem by whatever means necessary.
and watch E pills dissolve
We'll use drugs to make our problems go away.
nine times out of ten, you hoes involved.
Most of the time when there's trouble, it's caused by women.
Security pat downs
We're not afraid of security, because we have connections and power.
I'm a star, motherfucker
We're famous and celebrated, and everyone knows who we are.
I been put' the gat down
We're no longer carrying guns, because we're above that now.
I been put' the mack down
We're no longer playing games or being deceptive, because we're above that now.
But check the people that I'm with
Don't be fooled by my current image - I still have powerful and dangerous associates.
'Cause they'll lay you flat down
If you mess with us, we'll get our associates to take you out.
And they'll do it right now
We have the power and the resources to handle any threat immediately.
Yeah, you scared of the phone numbers that a nigga might dial
You're afraid of the powerful people I can call on if I need help or protection.
Club-hop, car shows, picnics
We go everywhere and do everything, because we can and we're always looking for the next big thing.
Big cars, big jewels, big dicks
We have the most expensive and impressive possessions and physical attributes.
Rush doors
We go through doors quickly and with great purpose.
Or gotta hop the fence
If necessary, we'll jump over a fence to get where we need to be.
Blow this door
We'll use explosives or other means to get through a locked door.
Gotta blow my rent
We're so successful that we don't worry about spending all our money on frivolous things.
Gotta show my ass, then go repent
We'll do whatever it takes to get what we want, even if it's immoral or sinful - but then we'll repent and ask for forgiveness.
Gotta call in sick
We'll skip work or other commitments to pursue our own goals and desires.
And tell 'em where I went.
We're not afraid to let people know exactly what we're up to.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@breezyc78
HE SOUNDS SO GOOD IN CONCERT ๐๐ค๐๐ฅฐ๐ค๐ฉท
@michaelcrosby8643
Whatโs up cutie letโs kick it Iโll send my info
@NsikakUdoh-cz4ud
Still got this CD in my collections.Nice compilation of great hits.
@suddenlysummerr
what a underrated song
@josesandoval3030
-ceyhunn that 2 is never 1. always goes 3
@cringedon7440
Nop it is not that much
@shaunstewart7834
Is there a video for this
@KLTachikawa
I agree and the part that's always gets stuck in my head is the perfect bucka bucka bucka
@Slamdog500
I made a Top 10 Ice Cube Verses video :) Check it out! I included 100 Dollar Bill Yall of course :)) Love it!
@jocelynfresh4390
love ice cube never gets old