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.
Child Support
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll beat your badass
Ain't no other kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
Ain't no kings in this rap thing
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
Bitch niggas
Still wanna check my urine
Still can't believe
What you see and what you're hearin'
You motha fuckas
Thought you knew the whole story
Until your mama
Took a nigga on *Mori**??
Read your test results
Are you the father
I looked at his bitch ass told him don't bother
I'm the father of this gangsta shit
Never thought that I have a bunch of bastard kids
Lil' badass kids
I whoop they ass every night
Send the paramedics bitch
And the black and white
I brought you in this world
I'll take you out
Do you ugly
So mamma can't make you out
You know my style a colt
File a report
I'm a deadbeat daddy
No child support
*you get fooled**? like the last trick
Get it out your ass bitch
You niggas know my pyroclastic flow
C'mon
Ain't no other kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
Ain't no kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
You want child support
Get it out your ass bitch
X4
Ya'll niggas know
Ya'll bitches know
Where you get it from
Who's the original
You got your daddy's mouth
Talk like a criminal
Keep it gangsta son
Never get pigeon holed
Rap bastards tryin' to make a classic
Keep your dumbass out of the casket
'cause in the *scope**? and spend your money
They don't give a fuck
About a dead rapper
Nigga they'll chop it up
Keep it movin' ya'll
They'll come mop it up
Corrupt LAPD cover up
Everyday nigga we know drama
They ain't lookin' for Osama
Ask Big E's mamma
Thank God that the gangsta's back
We ain't got to put up with this brainless rap
May your lungs collapse in seas of funny
All you can rap about is pussy and money
C'mon
Ain't no other kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
Ain't no kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
You want child support
Get it out your ass bitch
X4
All ya'll rappers should kiss and make up
Take your bullshit jewlry back to Jacob
Get your mind right nigga
And start to wake up
'cause the whole rap industry needs to shake up
You got million dollar niggas killin' million dollar niggas
Bustin' outta Bentleys
Wearin' chinchillas
There you go again rollin in your limo
Comin' from the Grammy's shootin' out the window
I know the scripture
But there's something wrong with this picture
What you mad about
Diamonds all in your mouth
No car note nigga house paid off
I never heard of a rapper gettin' laid off
Boy you a fool
Or you just act crazy
Or you a grown crack baby born in the 80's
To all you motha fuckas say I went Hollywood
I'm gangsta
I know when I got it good
Ain't no other kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
Ain't no kings in this rap thing
They siblings
Nothin' but my chil'ren
One shot they disappearin'
You want child support
Get it out your ass bitch
X4
Young rappers lookin' for pocket change
With boo boo lyrics
Go get your diaper changed
X2
Smell like shit
Hey baby change this motha fucker
You smell like shit
The song "Child Support" by Ice Cube is a commentary on the rap industry, delving deeply into the business aspect of the genre while also highlighting the importance of being a responsible father. The opening lines, "Bucka/I'll beat your badass" sets the tone for the rest of the song, showing Ice Cube's aggressive nature and willingness to fight back against anyone who dares to challenge him. He emphasizes that there are no other "kings" in the rap game, only "siblings", and stresses that he sees all of his rivals as nothing more than "children" in the grand scheme of things.
The second verse deals with the issue of fatherhood, with Ice Cube stating that he is the father of "gangsta shit", and that he whoops his kids' asses every night. He goes on to say that he will "do [them] ugly" so that their mothers won't recognize them. Finally, he calls himself a "deadbeat daddy" and boasts about not paying child support. The chorus repeats the notion that there are no other "kings" in the rap game, only Ice Cube and his "chil'ren", who are likely his fans.
The third and final verse takes aim at the rap industry as a whole, criticizing the tendency to focus on materialism and stating that million-dollar rappers are killing each other while wearing expensive jewelery. He goes on to say that the whole industry needs to "shake up" and calls out rappers with "boo boo lyrics" who are only looking for pocket change. The song ends with a humorous reference to changing a baby's diaper, perhaps indicating that the industry needs to be cleaned up and made more responsible.
Line by Line Meaning
Bucka / I'll beat your badass
Ice Cube starts the song off with a threat aimed at someone who's acting up.
Ain't no other kings in this rap thing / They siblings / Nothin' but my chil'ren / One shot they disappearin'
Ice Cube states that there are no true kings in the rap game, only people he sees as his siblings. He then warns anybody who comes after him and his 'children'.
Bitch niggas / Still wanna check my urine / Still can't believe / What you see and what you're hearin'
Ice Cube is directing the lyrics to the people who still won't believe him, even after he's passed the necessary tests. He's saying that people refuse to believe a truth even if they are given the evidence of that belief.
You motha fuckas / Thought you knew the whole story / Until your mama / Took a nigga on Mori??
Ice Cube is telling the people that thought they had the whole story about him that they got it wrong. The namecheck of Maury (Povich) show implies that these people may have gotten paternity tests done and that the results possibly weren't in their favour.
Read your test results / Are you the father / I looked at his bitch ass told him don't bother / I'm the father of this gangsta shit / Never thought that I have a bunch of bastard kids
Ice Cube seems to be addressing people who he shares musical styles with, by telling them that he is the father of gangsta rap. He then adds that he acknowledges his musical offspring and considers them to be his bastard children.
Lil' badass kids / I whoop they ass every night / Send the paramedics bitch / And the black and white / I brought you in this world / I'll take you out / Do you ugly / So mamma can't make you out / You know my style a colt / File a report / I'm a deadbeat daddy / No child support
Ice Cube makes clear how he treats his 'bastard children', unapologetically beating them up, and demanding paramedics come to the scene of the punishment. He threatens to kill them if he doesn't like what he sees when he's done, so the children's mothers can't recognise their injuries. He brags about his bad parenting skills, calling himself a 'deadbeat daddy' with no intention of paying child support.
*you get fooled**? like the last trick / Get it out your ass bitch / You niggas know my pyroclastic flow / C'mon
Ice Cube is addressing someone he feels has been fooled by false information, implying that the situation should be rectified. He tells the listener to stop being fooled and listen to his (Ice Cube's) impressive rapping style.
You want child support / Get it out your ass bitch / X4
Ice Cube makes clear that he will not pay child support and tells anyone who is expecting this to get over it.
Ya'll niggas know / Ya'll bitches know / Where you get it from / Who's the original / You got your daddy's mouth / Talk like a criminal / Keep it gangsta son / Never get pigeon holed
Ice Cube is calling on people to acknowledge where the roots of gangsta rap come from, and what it means to 'keep it gangsta'. He's encouraging the next generation to talk tough like him and not to be pigeonholed into easy, shallow lyrical themes.
Rap bastards tryin' to make a classic / Keep your dumbass out of the casket / 'cause in the *scope**? and spend your money / They don't give a fuck / About a dead rapper / Nigga they'll chop it up / Keep it movin' ya'll / They'll come mop it up / Corrupt LAPD cover up / Everyday nigga we know drama / They ain't lookin' for Osama / Ask Big E's mamma
Ice Cube is criticising those rappers he sees as being concerned only with making a classic album to further their career, without being aware of them putting themselves in mortal danger. He believes corrupt law enforcement will cover up genocidal crimes and allow crime to continue. He also references going on the run from the law, which could result in death, and heavy drug use, that could also lead to death. He tells audiences to keep moving and not to get stuck in drama. Finally, he references the murder of The Notorious B.I.G. and his mother's plea for justice.
Thank God that the gangsta's back / We ain't got to put up with this brainless rap / May your lungs collapse in seas of funny / All you can rap about is pussy and money
Ice Cube is satisfied with how gangsta rap has returned to the mainstream, making it unnecessary to tolerate brainless commercial rap. The latter provides no substance to the genre, and Ice Cube wishes for these types of rappers to quit or face the consequences of their lack of talent, symbolised by the image of their lungs collapsing in a sea of laughter.
Young rappers lookin' for pocket change / With boo boo lyrics / Go get your diaper changed / X2
Ice Cube advises the new generation of rappers with weak lyrics, and are only in it for the money, to go pick between two unfavourable options: either keep working until they're of rightful talent or expose themselves as being unprepared for the industry and fetch a new nappy.
Smell like shit / Hey baby change this motha fucker / You smell like shit
Ice Cube is ending the song with a vivid insult, comparing the lyrical imaginings rappers have to the smell of excrement. He tells these rappers to clean up their act by changing their lyrics, and disassociating themselves from the industry he loathes.
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DE JON LAMONT UNDERDUE, O'SHEA JACKSON, TEAK ALGER UNDERDUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GRAYFOX-by2oc
I have heard this song in '' Waist Deep'' move since those days till now its one of my favert
@RenegadeGunn
Yeah the part where Lucky gets pulled over by Big Meat
@streetzupt
On Netflix
@trentyates418
Me too!
@jerryfuentes3497
Yes sir
@Lo-bf6vj
@Justin Gunn on god ππΎ
@silverback2668
I always come back to ice cube's songs a couple months later and understand them a lot more
@queenbsmith3472
Silver Back
@ErickReyesRomeroBanks
K
@void330__
Man we gotum the first time...