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.
Do Ya Thang
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
I'm in that hot thing, gutter lane
Dippin' with that wood grain
So fuckin' hood, man
They call me The Boogeyman
In that slow lane, what is your whole name?
I forgot this ho's name, I'll call her Louise Lane
Up on that boulevard, 24's rotate
Ice Cube comin' through, gotta make the hoes wait
Roll at my own pace, nigga, don't hate!
Fuck all you fat-fuckers leanin' up against my paint!
Ice Cube, I steal a little paint (Movie star!)
Fuck you! Pour a nigga a lil' drink!
That's how it's goin' down out here in California
Listen to my people, when a nigga hit the corner!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the fliest one of all?
Now pull in the parking lot
Nigga, find a parking spot
Fired up, everyone want to spark a lot
Puff-puff-pass, we out on Ave.
Lookin' for a big fat ass to harass!
Is it you? Uh-huh, I see you lookin'
When we roll by, pussy still cookin'
Freaks get taken when they lookin' for stars
If you don't like my face, bitch, look at my car!
Keep it simple, I told you once befo'
It really don't matter how I get you to the mo'
It really don't matter how I get you in my low
Just hop in, let's go
And let your friends know!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the fliest one of all?
Do ya thang, girl!
Fuck what they lookin' at!
We the dogs gettin' chased by the pussycat
West Coast, baby, with so much gravy
You should call The Navy, ever since the 80's
I've been doin' good, they been doin' bad
When I see you walk by, I'm pursuin' that
But never chase it, my game is so basic
As soon as I lace it - baby, wanna taste it?
Just face it, put me to the test
Ice Cube would ace it, I'm built for success
Fuck a Rock-star! We wanna party like a Rap Star
In the club, in the house, or the backyard (Yay-yay!)
You make it rain with ones, I make it rain with hun's
And we get lap-dance from nuns
They put away they crucifix
And they say, "Ice Cube, boy, you the shit!"
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the fliest one of all?
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the flyest one of all?
I see you lookin' at me
We don't give a fuck!
What you lookin' at?
We gonna give it up!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Who is the fliest one of all?
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Do ya thang, man
Fuck what they lookin' at!
In Ice Cube's song "Do Ya Thang," the rapper encourages listeners to disregard what other people think of them and to focus on doing their own thing. He describes himself driving in his car, in a swaggering, carefree style, and encourages listeners to embrace a similar sense of confidence and individuality. Cube declares that he doesn't care about anyone else's opinions or judgments, and that he's going to continue doing what he wants regardless.
He believes in taking things at his own pace and not worrying about haters. He also references his success and the attention he receives from women, suggesting that he is unbothered by criticism and focused on living his best life. The chorus repeats the phrase "do ya thang" over a catchy beat, encouraging listeners to embrace their own unique style and not pay attention to what other people think.
Overall, the song is about acknowledging your own worth and refusing to let other people's opinions or judgments hold you back. It is a powerful and empowering anthem that encourages people to embrace their own individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
Do ya thang, man
Just do what you do, don't worry about what other people think
Fuck what they lookin' at!
Don't care about the opinions of others
I'm in that hot thing, gutter lane
I'm in a fancy car driving in the street near the curb
Dippin' with that wood grain
Driving a car with wood-colored paneling
So fuckin' hood, man
So street or ghetto
They call me The Boogeyman
People call me scary or intimidating
In that slow lane, what is your whole name?
Asking the person in the car next to him while driving slowly
I forgot this ho's name, I'll call her Louise Lane
Referring to a female acquaintance by a fictional character's last name
Up on that boulevard, 24's rotate
Driving on a main street with spinning 24-inch wheels
Ice Cube comin' through, gotta make the hoes wait
Delaying the women who are waiting to see him
Roll at my own pace, nigga, don't hate!
Driving at his own speed and not caring if people get upset
Fuck all you fat-fuckers leanin' up against my paint!
Disapproving of strangers touching his car
Ice Cube, I steal a little paint (Movie star!)
Jokingly admitting to stealing a little bit of paint
Fuck you! Pour a nigga a lil' drink!
Asking for a drink while expressing disdain for the person he's talking to
That's how it's goin' down out here in California
This is how things are done in California
Listen to my people, when a nigga hit the corner!
Telling listeners to pay attention when he arrives at the corner
Mirror, mirror, on the wall
Referencing Snow White's mirror, asking a rhetorical question
Who is the fliest one of all?
Asking who the best-looking person is
Now pull in the parking lot
Entering a parking lot
Nigga, find a parking spot
Telling his companion to find a parking space
Fired up, everyone want to spark a lot
Everyone wants to smoke marijuana
Puff-puff-pass, we out on Ave.
Sharing weed with his friends while driving
Lookin' for a big fat ass to harass!
Searching for a woman with a large butt to flirt with
Is it you? Uh-huh, I see you lookin'
Asking a woman if she's the one he's looking for
When we roll by, pussy still cookin'
Suggesting that women become aroused when they see him and his friends
Freaks get taken when they lookin' for stars
Women get seduced when they're looking for celebrities
If you don't like my face, bitch, look at my car!
If a woman isn't attracted to him, she should appreciate his car
Keep it simple, I told you once befo'
Don't overcomplicate things, he's said this before
It really don't matter how I get you to the mo'
It doesn't matter how he convinces a woman to have sex with him
It really don't matter how I get you in my low
He doesn't care how a woman ends up in his car
Just hop in, let's go
Inviting a woman to join him
And let your friends know!
Suggesting that a woman tell her friends about him
Do ya thang, girl!
Encouraging a woman to be herself
We the dogs gettin' chased by the pussycat
He and his friends are the underdogs being chased by their rivals
West Coast, baby, with so much gravy
He's proud to be from the West Coast, and there's a lot of money there
You should call The Navy, ever since the 80's
There's been a lot of wealth on the West Coast for a long time, like a Navy fleet
I've been doin' good, they been doin' bad
He's been successful while others haven't
When I see you walk by, I'm pursuin' that
He's interested in a woman he's seen
But never chase it, my game is so basic
He won't pursue a woman who's not interested, he's not complicated
As soon as I lace it - baby, wanna taste it?
As soon as he starts flirting, women want to have sex with him
Just face it, put me to the test
Challenge him, he's ready
Ice Cube would ace it, I'm built for success
He's confident he can handle any challenge, and he's destined for greatness
Fuck a Rock-star! We wanna party like a Rap Star
He prefers the partying lifestyle of a rap star to that of a rock star
In the club, in the house, or the backyard (Yay-yay!)
He's ready to party anywhere
You make it rain with ones, I make it rain with hun's
While a woman makes it rain with one-dollar bills, he does it with one-hundred dollar bills
And we get lap-dance from nuns
He and his friends are so cool that even nuns would give them lap dances
They put away they crucifix
Even the nuns are getting into the party vibe
And they say, 'Ice Cube, boy, you the shit!'
Even the nuns respect him
Who is the flyest one of all?
Asking again who's the best-looking
I see you lookin' at me
He knows someone is admiring him
We don't give a fuck!
He and his friends don't care what people think
What you lookin' at?
Challenging someone who's staring at them
We gonna give it up!
They'll fight if they have to
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL PAUL PALUMBO, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fboi Alert
i wish rappers like eazy e, tupac, and biggie plus all the old school rappers still alive, were still making music. life would be so much better
Jace Baker
Easy e is dead
BabyFace_Jason
This gen z music aint it
yourMom
FboiAlert Gaming they still rollin deep bruh
Really old YouTube account
Mafia Gaming IKR
oh yesh yeah
Mafia Gaming eazy was my fav
Bamamamimia
I love it 🥰
RICH BLACK KID
my favorite ice cube song ever , so nice
Sputz3
If this is your favorite Ice Cube song you must not listen to a lot of Ice Cube music. This is good but very far from his best.
Steven Moraga4
nice song