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.
Bad Dope
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope) (There's no prescription to this addiction)
I'm like a bad drug (Just a dope face decision, sleep with the pigeons)
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope) (there's no intervention, just prevention)
I'm like a bad drug (My incision will separate you from your pension)
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope) (takin' you to the E.M.S.)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
If you fuck with me, I'm like some headache weed
I'm like your favorite dope mixed with antifreeze
I'll attack your brains, I'll collapse your veins
Have you actin' strange like a dog with the mange
Worse than cocaine, it's that Kurt Cobain
Make you go insane, make your world go bang
There's no prescription for my encryption
There's only addiction to this non-fiction
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
Bad dope
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up (lay off that)
Bad dope
Don't even start, boy, I'll get you sparked
Make you lose all your shit, now you livin' at the park
Cracks heads are blackheads
Meth heads are left dead
Bitches on that bad dope, heard they give the best head
Oh, shit, bad trip, battery acid
Now you lookin' old as fuck, face made of plastic
I serve you, way towards you, pay for it with face sores
Now you walkin' around skin like alligator
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope, gotta lay off that)
I'm like a bad drug (bad dope)
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up (bad dope, gotta lay off that)
Grip it, hit it
Vomit, shit it
Smoke it, choke it, bitch, poke it
Dirty needle, mosquito, I can fly like a beetle
I'm the Beatles, I am Tito
I am Michael, think I'm psycho
On them pills, in them hills ridin' on that motorcycle
Crazy nigga, let me hit it, gotta have it 'fore I stab it
Silly rabbit, snatch and grab it
I got a fuckin' habit
Steal from momma, pills from momma
If I die, send the bill to momma
I ain't shit, never be Obama
Dope head, nigga, never be Obama
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up (hit me with that fire)
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope, smoke this at your own rist)
I'm like a bad drug (smoke this guaranteed shit)
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
I'm like a bad drug
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up (futuristically hood)
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope, gotta lay off that)
I'm like a bad drug (bad dope)
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up (bad dope, gotta lay off that)
There's intervention, just prevention
My incision will separate you from your pension
I'm takin' you to the abyss
Drag you under, drown you
The song "Bad Dope" by Ice Cube is an intense and graphic description of the effects of drug addiction. The lyrics liken the potential physical and mental damage of the drug to that of a "bad drug," one that is powerful and dangerous. The title is a play on the phrase "good dope," which is a term for high-quality drugs, particularly marijuana. In contrast, "bad dope" is something that is low-quality, often mixed with dangerous chemicals or substances.
The lyrics describe the singer as being like a "bad drug" himself, capable of causing damage and addiction to those who come into contact with him. He alludes to the notion that there is no cure for drug addiction, only prevention, and that once someone is hooked, it's hard to break free. He also draws comparisons between different types of drugs and their effects on the body, asserting that his particular brand of "bad dope" is worse than cocaine and akin to the fatal overdose of Kurt Cobain.
Overall, "Bad Dope" serves as both a cautionary tale and a warning about the dangers of drug addiction. The song takes a stark and honest look at the physical and mental effects of addiction while at the same time issuing a strong message of self-responsibility and accountability.
Line by Line Meaning
Bad dope (bad dope, bad dope)
This drug is dangerous and can ruin lives
I'm like a bad drug
I'm addictive and can cause harm
I'm a bad drug about to fuck you up
I'll destroy your mind and body
If you fuck with me, I'm like some headache weed
I'll give you a headache and make you feel sick
I'm like your favorite dope mixed with antifreeze
I'll give you a high, but it's dangerous
I'll attack your brains, I'll collapse your veins
I'll harm your body and mind
Have you actin' strange like a dog with the mange
You'll be disoriented and act bizarrely
Worse than cocaine, it's that Kurt Cobain
This drug is even more dangerous than cocaine and can lead to death like Kurt Cobain
Make you go insane, make your world go bang
This drug can cause mental illness and ruin your life
There's no prescription for my encryption
This drug is illegal and dangerous
There's only addiction to this non-fiction
The only result of taking this drug is addiction
Don't even start, boy, I'll get you sparked
Don't even try taking this drug, it'll ruin your life
Make you lose all your shit, now you livin' at the park
This drug will take everything from you and ruin your life
Bitches on that bad dope, heard they give the best head
People who take this drug are willing to do anything for it
Now you lookin' old as fuck, face made of plastic
This drug ages you prematurely and ruins your appearance
I got a fuckin' habit
I can't stop taking this drug
Steal from momma, pills from momma
I'll do anything to get this drug, including stealing from family
If I die, send the bill to momma
I don't care what happens to me, even if it's death
I ain't shit, never be Obama
This drug has made me a nobody, I'll never be anything important
Dope head, nigga, never be Obama
This drug has ruined my life and I'll never be successful like Obama
I'm takin' you to the abyss
This drug will take you to a dark place
Drag you under, drown you
This drug will destroy you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: O Odenuga, O'Shea Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joel Martinez
Yes!! Keep on bringing that real rap back to his game!! Let’s kill mumble rap! Thank you ice cube 🔥
Karine Brosseau
You got it
Saif Hasan
💯% agree Joel. This right here is proper hip hop
JOHN Q
Em dropped kamikaze X-Raided got out this year after 26yrs and dropped a fire album Z-Ro dropped a full album Cube dropped a full album and we got Joyner Lucas whos lyrical af droppin jewels i think its safe to say allnthat mumble "rap" feminine ass female clothe wearin rainbow head ass shit is dead cant wait to see what 2019 brings!
TooRealForMost
Real rap never left
Giuseppe
How can this man never disappoint, he really does it for the culture. Just real hip hop
YTE l Yare too Eazy
Mans here to take rap back
Cami The Kiwi
to take hip hop* back
Don Corleone
This song is dope! I’m addicted...
Maniac Minista
Im too