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.
Fat Cat
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Countin money, eatin rats, gettin pussy all day
All I do is lean back, still makin greenbacks
[Chorus 1 (4X) for the first 30 seconds]
[Chorus 2: repeat "That's all I do!" 4X over]
All I do is lean back, still makin greenbacks
All I do is lean back, still makin greenbacks
Haters get mad cause I'm still makin greenbacks
I'm a fat cat, look at me, stomach like a Volkswagen
Still I can handle my, business got these hoes braggin
Ice Cube put it down (bitch I am the dragon)
I am a fuckin clown (yo look how I'm actin)
They wanna throw me out - but they bet' not touch me
Is this nigga fuckin crazy, or is he just lucky?
Actin like he own the place, y'all niggaz best to rendezvous
This nigga ain't no pussy y'all, this kind of cat all he came to do is
[Chorus 1 (2X) + Chorus 2]
People wanna know how I make that money
Momma Ice Cube didn't raise no dummy
This fat cat don't chase no mice
Hoodrats think they can live off Ice
Enemies think I'm finicky, nigga be
walkin 'round here like a Kennedy
Tend to be, movin like a centipede
Y'all muh'fuckers still just Little League
Now I know when the haters get mad, I'm doin my job
Some niggaz can't dunk 'til you throw them a lob
Better go find, another one to rob
You just a role player this my squad
You get Lenched, this my Mob
Ain't that I, you a facade
All in the alley, lookin through the trash
I'm a fat cat, lookin through the glass
[Chorus 1 (2X) + Chorus 2]
In Ice Cube's song Fat Cat, he discusses his experience as a successful and wealthy individual. The chorus mainly talks about how all he does is lean back and make money while also indulging in other pleasures such as eating rats and getting intimate with women. Cube sees himself as a "fat cat" whose stomach is described as a Volkswagen but still handles his business well, which makes people brag about him. He acknowledges that his behavior might seem crazy to others, but it is his way of showing that he is a boss in his own lane. Cube talks about how people have criticized him for his way of living, but he claims that he won't chase after anyone or anything, nor will he let hoodrats use him for a meal ticket.
Cube details how some of his enemies think he is too finicky and tends to walk around like a king or like a Kennedy, but he knows he is moving like a centipede, making the right moves at the right time. He is aware that haters will always be present, and their anger towards him only shows that he is doing his job right. Lastly, Cube warns anyone who intends to cross him or his squad, stating that he is the boss, and they are the role players. In conclusion, Ice Cube sees himself as a powerful individual who refuses to let anyone take advantage of him or destroy his success.
Line by Line Meaning
Countin money, eatin rats, gettin pussy all day
I am living the high life, enjoying my success by counting my money, enjoying the finest women, and indulging in whatever I want including vermin.
All I do is lean back, still makin greenbacks
I can afford to sit idle because my business is still making me money.
That's all I do!
My life revolves around making more money and living luxuriously.
Still makin green, still still makin greenbacks
I am making money consistently and continuously.
Haters get mad cause I'm still makin greenbacks
My success is causing envy and criticism from those who wish they could experience the same level of success.
I'm a fat cat, look at me, stomach like a Volkswagen
I am living a life of luxury, and although I am overweight, it adds to my success because I can afford to indulge.
Still I can handle my, business got these hoes braggin
Despite my appearance, I am a successful businessman and my success attracts women.
Ice Cube put it down (bitch I am the dragon)
I am a powerful force and will not tolerate any disrespect.
I am a fuckin clown (yo look how I'm actin)
I am enjoying my success and acting out my desires without any concern for what others think.
They wanna throw me out - but they bet' not touch me
Although some may not agree with my behavior, no one can deny my success and power.
Is this nigga fuckin crazy, or is he just lucky?
Some see me as reckless, but my success proves that I am not just lucky.
Actin like he own the place, y'all niggaz best to rendezvous
My success has given me a sense of confidence and ownership, and anyone who wants to challenge that should be prepared for confrontation.
This nigga ain't no pussy y'all, this kind of cat all he came to do is
I am not weak, and I have worked hard to achieve my success.
People wanna know how I make that money
Many are curious about how I am so successful and wealthy.
Momma Ice Cube didn't raise no dummy
I come from a smart and successful background.
This fat cat don't chase no mice
I am not someone who will settle for mediocre success.
Hoodrats think they can live off Ice
Some women believe they can benefit from my success by using me for financial gain.
Enemies think I'm finicky, nigga be
My enemies criticize me as being unstable or irrational.
walkin 'round here like a Kennedy
I am powerful and confident in the way I carry myself.
Tend to be, movin like a centipede
I am constantly moving and progressing with my success.
Y'all muh'fuckers still just Little League
Others are not on my level and are not capable of achieving the same level of success.
Now I know when the haters get mad, I'm doin my job
The criticism and envy from others only proves that I am successful and doing my job.
Some niggaz can't dunk 'til you throw them a lob
Some people cannot succeed without someone else's help.
Better go find, another one to rob
Those who do not have the skillset to succeed are better off looking for opportunities elsewhere.
You just a role player this my squad
Others are not as successful or important as me.
You get Lenched, this my Mob
Those who challenge me will be punished.
Ain't that I, you a facade
Others are not as real or authentic as me.
All in the alley, lookin through the trash
Others are searching for success in all the wrong places.
I'm a fat cat, lookin through the glass
I am successful, powerful, and living a life of luxury.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: AMIR RASHON PERRY, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind