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.
California
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm from the murder side
Long Beach, certified Rollin' 20 Crip
You heard it right? (Boy)
No place you can hide
Throwing up the C, but got homies from the other side (boy)
I hooked up with Mo Hall, Cube, 40 and Show Dog
Mount Westmore, put a stamp on it (boy)
We smack on your boy
Blowin' smoke through the ozone
Hit the block and get my roll on, money lookin' so long
All my niggas on the same shit
Pick one, you can't go wrong
Yep, for sure, boy, we do it and sip the fluid
Dip it and moving
Smoking the best weed, dub-E-S-T
Just look to the left, live in the flesh
Four niggas throwing up the West
Out of the dark alleys of Californ-I-A
Bow wow wow, yippie yo, yippie yay
Where the G's play, home of the cougars and the falcons
Oh yeah, that's The Bay
But out in LA, we prefer the four, the deuce, or the trey
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Whoop whoop
That's the blood call
(Ooh-ooh)
Make you wanna crip walk
Southern California from L.A. to The Bay
I'm from northern Cali-fool-ya where the hustler's play
Survival, still relevant like the bible, tribal
Prayin' for all of my enemy
Continue rewriting the history, doing it all over again
Bitch, we gon' finish up what we started
This slap right here is sick, might make your speakers vomit
I be still gettin' carded, found the fountain youth
Lookin' the same way that I look way back in nineteen-ninety-deuce
Nigga, we livin' proof, stood the test of time
If a fucker disagree, he must be deaf, dumb and blind
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho (yeah, Oakland niggas in this motherfucker, now)
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore
California
We from the East Side
Oakland, California, that's how we ride
We don't know you, nigga, where you from?
You looking over here, but y'all don't want none
We make the homicide break go up every year
If you a bad motherfucker, you can make it here
And we ain't throwing no signs, just a clip and a .9
One bullet to the head, put some shit on your mind
Get busy, California grizzly
I'm rollin' hunnids, who rollin' with me?
Yellow's the color of sun rays
Harley Davidsons on Sundays
So don't hate, I'm from the Golden Dtate
Do a half pike off the Golden Gate
Will I live or die? Ain't no tellin'
'Fore I hit the water, you know what I'm yellin'
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
California
California
In Ice Cube's song "California," he embraces and represents his hometown of Long Beach, California. The lyrics reflect his affiliation with the Rollin' 20 Crip gang and his pride in his West Coast roots. The first verse highlights his connection with fellow Californian rappers such as Mo Hall, Cube, 40, and Show Dog, emphasizing their collective representation of California. They form the group Mount Westmore, symbolizing their stamp and dominance in the rap game. Ice Cube asserts his loyalty to his gang by throwing up the C sign, despite having friends from different sides, indicating the complex nature of gang affiliations.
Ice Cube also touches on the lifestyle and culture of California. He mentions smoking the best weed (dub-E-S-T), showcasing the state's reputation for marijuana culture. The lyrics also reference the G-funk style of West Coast rap, with Ice Cube and his crew embodying the essence of the genre. He emphasizes the unity and camaraderie among his crew and asserts that they are all living proof of the West Coast's enduring influence.
The song also acknowledges other iconic areas of California, such as The Bay and cities like Oakland. Ice Cube contrasts the different regions, highlighting the pride and unique styles that exist throughout the state. The lyrics speak to the rich history of California and its place in hip-hop culture.
Overall, "California" is a celebration of Ice Cube's hometown and the West Coast rap scene. It is an anthem that exudes pride, loyalty, and cultural significance.
Line by Line Meaning
Boy, do it
Hey, go ahead and do it
I'm from the murder side
I come from a violent neighborhood
Long Beach, certified Rollin' 20 Crip
I represent the Rollin' 20 Crip gang from Long Beach
You heard it right? (Boy)
Did you hear me correctly? (Hey)
No place you can hide
There's nowhere to hide from our gang
Throwing up the C, but got homies from the other side (boy)
I flash gang signs for my Crip affiliation, but I also have friends from rival gangs
I hooked up with Mo Hall, Cube, 40 and Show Dog
I collaborated with Mo Hall, Cube, 40, and Show Dog
Representing Cali, we back on it (boy)
We're representing California and making a comeback
Mount Westmore, put a stamp on it (boy)
Mount Westmore has made its mark on the music industry
We smack on your boy
We dominate our opponents
Blowin' smoke through the ozone
We're smoking marijuana and releasing the smoke into the atmosphere
Hit the block and get my roll on, money lookin' so long
I go to the neighborhood and hustle, making a lot of money
All my niggas on the same shit
All my friends have the same mindset
Pick one, you can't go wrong
Choose any of my friends, they're all reliable
Yep, for sure, boy, we do it and sip the fluid
Yes, that's definite, we do it and drink alcohol
Dip it and moving
We're smoothly navigating through life
Smoking the best weed, dub-E-S-T
We're smoking the highest quality marijuana
Just look to the left, live in the flesh
Just turn your head to the left and see us in person
Four niggas throwing up the West
The four of us are proudly showing our West Coast affiliation
Out of the dark alleys of Californ-I-A
Emerging from the dangerous streets of California
Bow wow wow, yippie yo, yippie yay
Expressing excitement or enthusiasm
Where the G's play, home of the cougars and the falcons
Where gangsters live, and where cougars and falcons (representing different cities) are found
Oh yeah, that's The Bay
Referring to the San Francisco Bay Area
But out in LA, we prefer the four, the deuce, or the trey
In Los Angeles, we like to use hand signs for the numbers four, two, and three to represent our neighborhoods
Whoop whoop
The sound of a police siren
That's the blood call
Referring to the gang called Bloods
(Ooh-ooh) Make you wanna crip walk
The crip walk is a dance related to the Crip gang
Southern California from L.A. to The Bay
Referring to the region spanning from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area
I'm from northern Cali-fool-ya where the hustler's play
I come from Northern California where people engage in hustling
Survival, still relevant like the bible, tribal
We're still surviving and staying important, just like the Bible and tribal cultures
Prayin' for all of my enemy
I'm praying for my enemies
Continue rewriting the history, doing it all over again
We're persistently changing the course of history, starting anew
Bitch, we gon' finish up what we started
We're determined to complete what we initially began
This slap right here is sick, might make your speakers vomit
This music track is exceptionally good, it might overwhelm your speakers
I be still gettin' carded, found the fountain youth
I'm still being mistaken for someone younger, I've discovered the fountain of youth
Lookin' the same way that I look way back in nineteen-ninety-deuce
I still resemble how I looked back in the year 1992
Nigga, we livin' proof, stood the test of time
I and my friends are living evidence that we have endured and remained relevant
If a fucker disagree, he must be deaf, dumb and blind
If someone disagrees with us, they must be completely ignorant or oblivious
We from the East Side
We come from the eastern side of California
Oakland, California, that's how we ride
We represent the city of Oakland, California
We don't know you, nigga, where you from?
We're not familiar with you, where are you from?
You looking over here, but y'all don't want none
You're paying attention to us, but you don't want any trouble
We make the homicide rate go up every year
Our actions contribute to an increase in the number of homicides annually
If you a bad motherfucker, you can make it here
If you're tough and fearless, you can thrive in this environment
And we ain't throwing no signs, just a clip and a .9
We're not using hand signs, just guns and bullets
One bullet to the head, put some shit on your mind
A single gunshot to the head will make you think twice
Get busy, California grizzly
Get active and aggressive, just like a grizzly bear found in California
I'm rollin' hunnids, who rollin' with me?
I'm carrying and using one hundred dollar bills, who's with me?
Yellow's the color of sun rays
Yellow represents the color of sunlight
Harley Davidsons on Sundays
We ride motorcycles, specifically Harley Davidsons, on Sundays
So don't hate, I'm from the Golden Dtate
Don't be jealous or envious, I'm from the Golden State (California)
Do a half pike off the Golden Gate
Perform a diving maneuver called a half pike from the Golden Gate Bridge
Will I live or die? Ain't no tellin'
I don't know if I'll survive or die, it's unpredictable
'Fore I hit the water, you know what I'm yellin'
Before I hit the water, you know what I'll shout
California
Referring to the state of California
Yeah, fo sho, fo sho
Yes, for sure, for sure
Tell the people this is Mount Westmore (woo, woo)
Inform everyone that this song represents the group Mount Westmore
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Snoop Dogg, E-40, Too Short, Ice Cube
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Nisha Sanchez
OG music never gets old !
Yovry
Meanwhile all the new shit gets old during your first time listening to it
ROCME1UNIT ENTERTAINMENT
ICE CUBE IS SUCH A ENORMOUS TALENT SO AMAZING , NEVER SEIZES TO AMAZE US
Shiroyasha
I love WC's style, he sounds so unique and crisp
Matei T
WC is one of the best featuring rappers. I like especially his work with Ice Cube. And on this song I thinks he has one of his best verses ever.
MBS 94
WCs flow is so sick 😱😱
balWC
Always 💯👌
Joshua Durham
Especially he said that put on wax
Cody Evans
Cold verse by Cube, 100% true.
"If Jay Z can rap about the NYC, why can't I talk about the shit I see?
Without Alicia Keys, without goin R&B"
Lastonesleft7
From NWA till now Ice Cube stayed real ! Respect !!