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.
Cave B
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No stringy haired, blonde hair, blue eyed
Pale skinned, buttermilk complexion
Grafted, recessive, depressive, ironing board backside
Straight up, straight down, no frills, no thrills
Miss six o'clock, subject to have the itch
Mutanoid, caucazoid, white cave b***h
[Incomprehensible]
Ease back, white b***h, I don't play that
Just because I got on my L. A. Hat
Stalkin', walkin' in my big black boots
Is my jingle, now you want Mandingo
Big, black and handsome
I should hold your devil a** for ransom
Sorta like Patty Herst but I'll burst first, b***h
And you know what's worse
I'm coming from the land where the choppers roam
So f**k you b***h and your Coppertone
Stringy hair, no derrier, frontin' and fakin' with your silicone pair
Do I wanna f**k? Not hardly
That's kinda like Barbie phuckin' Bob Marley
It ain't gonna happen, I keep rappin' muthaphuck Teniell
But see I'm the captain of this ship and I'm true to the game
Ya, all look the same, standin' by my backstage door
Hopin' that'll switch, spread out you little cave b***h
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
Why everytime we get famous
You wanna play us like Andy and Amos?
The devil sent you to try and tame us
But you can't tame me with no b***h named Amy
Lookin' for the dark meat
But ho, I ain't tryin' to go out like Barkely
'Cause everytime I turn on the tv
I see several brothers with she-devils
Smilin' 'cause you out on a date
But sooner or later, the bitch'll yell, "Rape"
Soon as daddy found out you a jigaboo
He'll kill like he did Emmitt Till
Yah, he tried to kick bass
But the b***h probably threw it in his face
Sargent Bale ain't nothin' but a trick
Nasty as hell, stanky little cave b***h
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
You're goddamn right
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
Now don't think that I hate you
'Cause I won't date you, b***h I gotta stay true
You could be a fan but don't expand
And try to get my d**k in your hand
You better run to the minute man
Pale as snow, so act like y'know
'Cause if I slap it, flip it, and rub it like that
Yeah, it gotta be black
Plus yo a** too flat
I need a butt big enough that can clap
Rat-a-tat-tat, you can't get mine ho
I'd rather f**k an albino
At least I know, she's comin' from the Nubian
And not the Ku Klux Klan that you be in
And I don't give a f**k if your family is rich
You're still a little cave b***h
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
You're goddamn right
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
You're goddamn right
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
The lyrics of Ice Cube's song "Cave B" are a commentary on race relations and sexual politics in America. The song's title is a slur used by Black people to describe White people who have retreated to suburban enclaves to avoid integration with people of color. The opening line, "Give me a Black goddess, sister, I can't resist her," expresses Ice Cube's preference for Black women over White women. He criticizes White women who appropriate Black culture by wearing hairstyles such as micro-braids, while having "ironing board" flat behinds. Ice Cube rejects the ideal of beauty that values White skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes.
The lyrics of "Cave B" also address the issue of interracial dating. Ice Cube rejects the idea of dating a White woman, whom he sees as representing White supremacy and racism. He accuses White women of trying to tame Black men and using their sexuality as a weapon. The lines "Soon as daddy found out you a jigaboo / He'll kill like he did Emmett Till." refer to the lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955, a 14-year-old Black boy who was brutally murdered for allegedly whistling at a White woman.
Through his lyrics, Ice Cube challenges the stereotypes and biases that perpetuate racism and sexism in society. He promotes Black empowerment and self-respect, urging Black people to resist assimilation and maintain their cultural identity.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me a black goddess, sister, I can't resist her
Ice Cube desires a dark-skinned African American woman, as he finds them irresistible and beautiful.
No stringy haired, blonde hair, blue eyed
Pale skinned, buttermilk complexion
Grafted, recessive, depressive, ironing board backside
Ice Cube prefers dark-skinned black women and does not find fair-skinned and blonde-haired women attractive. He also finds them to be lacking in certain physical features.
Straight up, straight down, no frills, no thrills
Miss six o'clock, subject to have the itch
Mutanoid, caucazoid, white cave b***h
[Incomprehensible]
He finds white women to be boring, without curves, and subject to sexually transmitted diseases. He also finds white women to be terribly pale, like they have been living in a cave their whole lives.
Ease back, white b***h, I don't play that
Just because I got on my L. A. Hat
Stalkin', walkin' in my big black boots
Is my jingle, now you want Mandingo
He tells white women to back off, even though he is wearing a Los Angeles hat and walking around in his black boots, which the white women seem to find sexually appealing. He does not appreciate this fetishization of his blackness.
Big, black and handsome
I should hold your devil a** for ransom
Sorta like Patty Herst but I'll burst first, b***h
And you know what's worse
He finds black men to be attractive, and is willing to hold white women ransom to get them to comply with his desires. He makes a reference to Patty Hearst, a woman who was kidnapped and then joined her captors, comparing their situations to his sexual desires.
I'm coming from the land where the choppers roam
So f**k you b***h and your Coppertone
Stringy hair, no derrier, frontin' and fakin' with your silicone pair
Do I wanna f**k? Not hardly
He is from a dangerous neighborhood, and he is not impressed by white women with fair skin and fake breasts. He has no interest in their bodies.
That's kinda like Barbie phuckin' Bob Marley
It ain't gonna happen, I keep rappin' muthaphuck Teniell
But see I'm the captain of this ship and I'm true to the game
Ya, all look the same, standin' by my backstage door
Hopin' that'll switch, spread out you little cave b***h
He does not want to have sex with white women, just as it would be ridiculous for Barbie, a fair-skinned doll, to have sex with Bob Marley, a black man. He is dedicated to his rap career and ignores the white women standing by his backstage door, hoping that he will change his mind.
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
These lines are unclear and cannot be analyzed for meaning.
Why everytime we get famous
You wanna play us like Andy and Amos?
The devil sent you to try and tame us
But you can't tame me with no b***h named Amy
He is frustrated that white women, like Andy Griffith's characters, want to befriend him and change him to their liking. He also believes that the devil sent white women to change black men, but he is not swayed by their efforts.
Lookin' for the dark meat
But ho, I ain't tryin' to go out like Barkely
'Cause everytime I turn on the tv
I see several brothers with she-devils
He is not interested in being featured in the media, like Charles Barkley and other black men, who seem to enjoy relationships with white women. He is displeased that many black men seem to enjoy being with white women despite the issues he raises.
Smilin' 'cause you out on a date
But sooner or later, the bitch'll yell, "Rape"
Soon as daddy found out you a jigaboo
He'll kill like he did Emmitt Till
He is concerned that white women who date black men will later falsely accuse them of rape. This can have dangerous consequences, as fathers might resort to extreme violence, like in the case of Emmett Till.
Yah, he tried to kick bass
But the b***h probably threw it in his face
Sargent Bale ain't nothin' but a trick
Nasty as hell, stanky little cave b***h
Sargent Bale probably tried to show off by playing his bass guitar, but the white woman likely rejected him. Ice Cube considers him to be an inept and nasty trick.
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
You're goddamn right
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
These lines are unclear and cannot be analyzed for meaning.
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
White b*****s have no blood and [Incomprehensible]
These lines are a repeated insult to white women, suggesting that they are not fully human and lack a crucial bodily fluid.
Now don't think that I hate you
'Cause I won't date you, b***h I gotta stay true
You could be a fan but don't expand
And try to get my d**k in your hand
Ice Cube does not hate white women, but he is not interested in dating them. He remains loyal to black women. He warns white women not to try to touch him sexually, even if they are fans of his work.
You better run to the minute man
Pale as snow, so act like y'know
'Cause if I slap it, flip it, and rub it like that
Yeah, it gotta be black
He suggests that white women should have sex with white men who are quick in bed. He implies that the experience of being with a black man is something that white women cannot handle, and that they should not pretend to be knowledgeable about it.
Plus yo a** too flat
I need a butt big enough that can clap
Rat-a-tat-tat, you can't get mine ho
I'd rather f**k an albino
He finds white women to not have enough curves in the rear end. He implies that he prefers black women who have a large butt that can make a clapping sound during sex. He is so uninterested in white women that he would rather have sex with an albino, who is also lacking in pigment.
At least I know, she's comin' from the Nubian
And not the Ku Klux Klan that you be in
And I don't give a f**k if your family is rich
You're still a little cave b***h
He finds dark-skinned black women, who are from the region of Nubia, to be preferable to white women who may have ties to the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group. He is not impressed by wealthy white women and considers them to be insignificant cave b*****s.
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
You're goddamn right
[Incomprehensible] you're goddamn right, oh yeah baby
These lines are unclear and cannot be analyzed for meaning.
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
[Incomprehensible]
These lines are unclear and cannot be analyzed for meaning.
Contributed by Josiah D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dwightlove3704
Ice Cube went straight into MALCOLM X mode!!!!!!!!!
@str8cash113
Yes. What happened to him? Lol
@flykickz7809
2pac was like that in his early years. He despised any n!gga who dated out of the black race.
@TimezOfInfamy
@Business asUsual and then he dated Madonna lol
@cicigilbert3861
@Daniel and then told the white women interviewer to say the n word in his face. Is it true he dated Madonna? Didn’t she want Michael Jackson to cross dress!!.
@TimezOfInfamy
@Cici Gilbert yes he did date her but broke up with her because he realized it was hypocrisy on his behalf I guess and yes she did I despise Madonna for that she took mj to a club a male strip club and wanted him to go in and also cross dress and he didn’t and called her a mean witch
@brothamuhammad7520
Let's go to Starbucks bumping this on blast yall
@e.m.p.3394
Bruh. 🤣🤣🤣
@mrcandid.153
I’m down. Haha
@chrisisrael4201
Y'all too soft these days. In my day we had this on blast