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.
Bop Gun
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So low you can't get under it
So high you can't get over it
Can't get over it
Ready or not here we come
Getting down for the one which we believe in
Ice Cube comin' with the half ounce
Not just knee deep jeep fulla' smog
Atomic dog
Like your behind heard it through the grapevine
How much longer will you be mine?
And I'ma tell ya, I don't like drama
So do I have to put my handcuffs on your mama?
'cause nothin' but did her damn boogie with my crew
But I'd rather be with you, boo
And make you say humdrum, Tweedledee dumb
Humdrum don't succumb when I'm done, fuckin' hicks
One nation under a groove gettin' down for the funk of it
Tear the roof of this mother like we did last night son
And hit you with the bop gun
Here's my chance to dance my way
Out of my constriction
Gonna be freakin' up and down
Hang up really late
The groove I only got
Wish you all be moved
Ready or not, here we come
Gettin' down for the one which we believe in
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
If you hear any noise, it's just me and the boys
Playin' with our toys
M-1, 'cause everybody's gotta have fun
Under the sun, under the sun
So rough, so tough when I get down
The disco fiend with the monster sound
I wants to get (whistle) when I'm chillin'
The bigger the headache, the bigger the pill-in
You let her funk me 'cause my funk is the best
Comin' from the west
Kickin' them hits
We occupied, dedicated to the preservation motion of hips
Hittin' them dips, cd skips but I'm straight
As I bounce, rock, skate
Now I'll toast to that
If it's rough, make the girls say "Do that stuff! Aw do that
Stuff!"
But ya got to be, you got to be a freak of the week
For the top gun, hit you with the bop gun
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Do not attempt to adjust your radio
There ain't nothin' wrong, so hit the bong
Waitin' on the double dutch bus for a ride
As the buffalo girl go round the outside
Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip
Got Dayton's on the mother ship
And you can ring my bell if you need me to pass
The doja on the left hand side for the sale
'cause nobody knows where the nose goes
When the ? dog child got the
Lookin' for the theme from the Black Hole
Now I'll big bang you with my black pole
A flashlight, red light, we don't like cops on the bike
Just made bail tonight
So whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail?
I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
Ready or not, here we come
Getting down for the one which we believe in
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Ice Cube's song Bop Gun is a call to the people to get down and immerse themselves in the funk. The lyric "so wide you can't get around it, so low you can't get under it, so high you can't get over it" speaks to the power of the funk, which is all-encompassing and irresistible. The phrase "getting down for the one which we believe in" suggests that the funk is more than just music, it's a way of life, a belief system.
There are several references to funk legends in the lyrics, including "knee deep jeep fulla' smog," which is a nod to George Clinton's song "Knee Deep," and "Atomic Dog," which is a reference to Clinton's song of the same name. This indicates that Ice Cube is paying homage to the roots of funk music and its pioneers. The lyric "how much longer will you be mine?" suggests that Ice Cube is courting someone, perhaps the listener, and wants them to stick around for the funk.
The line "ready or not here we come" is a play on the children's game hide and seek, suggesting that the funk is not something to be hidden from but something to be embraced. Overall, the song is a celebration of the power of funk music to bring people together and get them moving.
Line by Line Meaning
So wide you can't get around it
The problem is so big that it cannot be avoided or ignored.
So low you can't get under it
The problem is on such a basic level that it cannot be bypassed.
So high you can't get over it
The problem is so complex that it cannot be solved easily.
Can't get over it
The problem cannot be ignored or avoided.
Ready or not here we come
The artist and their group are prepared to take on any challenge.
Getting down for the one which we believe in
The group is dedicated to fighting for their beliefs and values.
One nation under a groove gettin' down for the funk of it
Everyone is coming together to enjoy the music and dance.
Tear the roof of this mother like we did last night son
The group is going to party hard and have a good time.
And hit you with the bop gun
The music will be so powerful that it will hit listeners like a stun gun.
Here's my chance to dance my way out of my constriction
The artist sees dancing as a way to break free from their limitations.
Gonna be freakin' up and down
The singer plans on dancing energetically and wildly.
Hang up really late
The group plans to party until the early hours of the morning.
The groove I only got
The singer only has the music to rely on.
Wish you all be moved
The singer wants everyone to enjoy the music and be moved by it.
Nothin' can stop us now
The singer is confident that they and their group can overcome any obstacle.
If you hear any noise, it's just me and the boys playin' with our toys
The artist is referring to the music as a 'toy' and playfully teasing their audience.
M-1, 'cause everybody's gotta have fun
The artist believes that fun is a necessary part of life.
Comin' from the west kickin' them hits
The singer is proud of their music and where they come from.
But ya got to be, you got to be a freak of the week
The singer is implying that in order to fully enjoy the music, one must be open-minded and free-spirited.
Whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail? I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
The artist is lightheartedly joking about being in jail and looking forward to enjoying the music once free.
Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip
The artist is encouraging the audience to move and dance fluidly.
And you can ring my bell if you need me to pass the doja on the left hand side for the sale
The artist is offering to share their drugs (doja) and wants the listener to signal them if interested.
So whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail? I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
The singer is repeating the earlier line to emphasize the message of having fun and enjoying the music.
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEORGE CLINTON, WILLIAM BOOTSY COLLINS, GARRY MARSHALL SHIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
world nature
And in these uptight times
Hardcore funkateers deploy the bop gun
The unleasher of positive light
The bop gun can do no harm
It frees yo mind, so your behind can follow (Yeah)
So wide you can't get around it
So low you can't get under it
So high you can't get over it
I can't get over it
Ah ya, di-dit-dit-dit-dit
Ah ya, di-dit-dit-dit-dit
Ah ya, di-dit-dit-dit-dit
Ah ya, di-dit-dit-dit-dit
Well alright!
Attention all radio station jocks
Uh huh, got to be groovin', jammin' on yo box
The Mothership Connection is upon you again
Yeah, workin' up a sweat, is it wet yet?
Ready or not, here we come
Getting down on the one which we believe in
1993, much more bounce
Ice Cube comin' with the half ounce
Not Just Knee Deep, Jeep fulla smog
Atomic dog
Like your behind, heard it through the grapevine
How much longer will you be mine?
And I'ma tell ya, I don't like drama
So, do I have to put my handcuffs on your mama?
'Cause Bertha Butt did her fuckin' boogie with her crew
But I'd rather fuck you, boo
And make you say humdrum, Tweedledee dum
Humdrum don't succumb when I'm done, buckin' shit
One nation under a groove gettin' down for the fuck of it
Tear the roof of this motherfucker like we did last night, son
And hit you with the bop gun
Here's my chance to dance my way
Out of my constriction
Gonna be freakin' up and down
The hang-up alleyway
With the groove I only got
We shall all be moved
(Ready or not, here we come
Getting down on the one which we believe in)
One nation under a groove (Can I get it on my good foot? Good God!)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it ('Bout time I got down one time)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now (Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha)
Dance, sucka, dance!
(Yeah, heh, heh. And it don't stop. Sheeeit)
Givin' you more of what you're funkin' for
Aw, feet don't fail me now! Ha ha!
Do you promise the funk (Yep), the whole funk?
Nothin' but the funk?
Hit you with the bop gun, heh
Bust a cap with my bop gun
Gotta hit you with the bop gun
Bust a cap with the bop gun, hit you with the bop gun
Bust a cap with the bop gun, heh, 'cause I'm the top gun
Ready? (Yep) Ready? (Yep) Ready? (Yep, come on)
Ready or not, here we come
Getting down on the one which we believe in
If you hear any noise, it's just me and the boys
Playin' with our toys
M-1, 'cause everybody's gotta have fun
Under the sun, under the sun
So rough, so tough when I get down
The disco fiend with the monster sound
I wants to get fucked up when I'm chillin', whoa
The bigger the headache, the bigger the pill-in
You let her funk me 'cause my funk is the best
Comin' from the West
Kickin' that shit be occupied, dedicated to the preservation motion of hips
Hittin' them dips, CD skips but I'm straight
As I bounce, rock, skate, now I'll toast to that
If it's rough, make the girls say, "Do that stuff! Aw, do that stuff!"
But ya got to be, you got to be a freak of the week
For the top gun, hit you with the bop gun
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
(Trick! Yeah!) Just hit 'em with the bop gun!
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now (Get 'em with the bop gun. Good God!)
One nation under a groove ('Bout time we got down, one time)
Gettin' down just for (The fuck of it, yeah)
(One nation)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove (Now everybody say)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Here's my chance to dance my way (Out of my constriction)
Feet don't fail me now! Ha, ha!
Get 'em with the bop gun
I'ma blast with the bop gun, heh, heh
On yo ass with the bop gun
I'm talkin' trash with the bop gun, yeah
And it don't stop
And it won't stop
Here's my chance to dance my way
Out of my constriction
(Yeah, I feel the shit now!)
(Oh shit)
Hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Let me hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Let me hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Let me hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Let me hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Let me hear ya say, "Party over here. Fuck you over there!"
Givin' you more of what you're funkin' for
Feet don't fail me now
(That's right!)
Do you promise the funk?
Givin' you more of what you're funkin' for
Ooh, feet don't fail me now
Can I get it on my good foot? Good God
'Bout time I got down one time
(Can I get down one time?)
Do not attempt to adjust your radio
There ain't nothin' wrong, so hit the bong
Waitin' on the double dutch bus for a ride
As the buffalo bitch go round the outside
Put a glide in your stride and a dip in your hip
Got Daytons on the mothership
And you can ring my bell if you need me to pass
The dutchie on the left-hand side for the sale
And nobody knows where the nose goes when the doors close
Dog chow got the hoes
Lookin' for the theme of the Black Hole
May I big bang you with the black pole?
Flashlight, red light, we don't like cops on the bike
Just made bail tonight
So whatcha gonna do when you get outta jail?
I'm gonna have some fun with the bop gun
(Ready or not, here we come
Getting down on the one which we believe in)
One nation under a groove (Here is my chance to dance my way)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it (One Nation)
One nation and we're on the move (Get it on my good foot)
Nothin' can stop us now (Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha)
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
(Now I want everybody to put together this time, hit me!)
One nation under a groove (Can I get it on my good foot?)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it ('Bout time I got down one time)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now (Uh huh, uh huh, one nation)
One nation under a groove (Can I get it on my good foot?)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it ('Bout time I got down one time)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
One nation under a groove (Ooh yeah)
Gettin' down just for the funk of it (Ooh yeah)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now (Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha)
One nation under a groove
Gettin' down just for the funk of it ('Bout time I got down one time)
One nation and we're on the move
Nothin' can stop us now
Zenny the Laserman
Can't believe it's been nearly 30 years since this was released. RIP to all the trunk and window seals blown.
Dan
Life is short
Vincente’
😆
Fast Donny 316
I know. Right!? Good shit, these lyrics!
Pinky rose heart
@Vincente’ what’s so funny about that huh?
Marie
@Pinky rose heart cuz it sounds like a fun time
Ladyy Greedyy
This is one of my favorite songs it never gets old
Li Jo
That cd is the bomb 👍🏻
Randy Boisa
I hear ya sis!
BBCSherlockFan1967
Love this song!