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.
Fuck Dying
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Join the party, I can provide the army
Come and hear the voice of the man they call the Trojan Horse
Ride on the outside, with inner force
Throw you off course, of course, you missed the runway
We mash, like the first kickoff, on a Sunday
Collisions, divisions of niggaz, down to listen
And when we on the mission, call your mortician
Join the party, I can provide the army!!
First we flank em then we spank em I outrank em!
You can call me Citizen Kane, for my reign
Tenure's great, one of the ten great
Mr. Media, look inside your encyclopedia
2002, see Ice Cube
Fuck a five-star, I'm a live star
What you got to die for? Who you want to ride for?
Fuck dying! (Fuck dying!)
Don Mega!
It's the suspect king of the roughnecks, bonafide
Worldwide, your highness, the finest
Big as China, nigga rhymer, chart climber
Quick to send a first-timer back to his Aunt Jamimah
Physi-cal, ? roll with the winners
After these ?, go out and represent us
We got antennas, scanners and satellites
To see if you battle right, we got to bite
Hold on tight, shake, and pump venom
Some haters don't learn til you leave lead in em
See the dead in em, rigarmortis spread in em
Keep your mouth shut, motherfuckin mouth slug
See these crossed legs, quick to cross Feds
Foe to mighty one, it's the mighty son
Fuck dying!
Yeah
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Fuck dying! I can provide the army
Join the party!
In the ghetto, in the ghetto
In the city, the suburbs penetentiary!
Join the party!
In the county
Fuck dying, fuck dying!
Join the party, I can provide the army
I can provide the army
Eternal life baby
Eternal life
Hear ye, hear ye!
All connect gang members and powers
Are to meet at the West Wing
To be led into battle by the one and only
Ice Cube the Great!
In "Fuck Dying," Ice Cube asserts his dislike for the concept of death, expressing a desire to live forever. Cube boasts of his lyrical ability and leadership qualities, positioning himself as the "Trojan Horse," leading a powerful "army" of like-minded individuals. Cube uses vivid imagery to describe his gangster lifestyle, proclaiming his victory over other rappers and authority figures. He mentions his "antennas, scanners, and satellites," invoking the image of a surveillance state monitoring his every move. Cube ends the song with a call-to-arms for his fellow gang members, urging them to unite under his leadership and defy death by achieving "eternal life."
The lyrics of "Fuck Dying" are emblematic of Ice Cube's larger body of work, emphasizing themes of gangsterism, street violence, and a fierce individualism that values personal success at all costs. The song features a hard-hitting beat and rough, brash lyrics that reflect the intense energy and political anger associated with West Coast gangsta rap. "Fuck Dying" is ultimately a message of resilience and determination, encouraging listeners to pursue their dreams with the same ferocity and intensity that Ice Cube brings to his own music.
Line by Line Meaning
Don Mega!
Ice Cube is asserting himself as a dominant and powerful figure, referred to as Don Mega.
Join the party, I can provide the army
Ice Cube is inviting others to join him and emphasizing his ability to assemble a powerful group to fight alongside him.
Come and hear the voice of the man they call the Trojan Horse
Ice Cube is showcasing himself as a deceptive and strategic force to be reckoned with.
Ride on the outside, with inner force
Ice Cube advocates for striking with brute strength and cunning strategy, rather than maintaining a more passive approach.
Throw you off course, of course, you missed the runway
Ice Cube is emphasizing his ability to cause chaos and disrupt his opponent's plans.
We mash, like the first kickoff, on a Sunday
Ice Cube is highlighting his aggressive, dominant personality and willingness to attack head-on.
Collisions, divisions of niggaz, down to listen
Ice Cube asserts his leadership and power over a large group of followers who are willing to listen to him.
And when we on the mission, call your mortician
Ice Cube warns that when he goes on a mission, there are likely to be casualties and fatalities.
First we flank em then we spank em I outrank em!
Ice Cube is outlining his strategic plan of attack, emphasizing his superior rank and power.
You can call me Citizen Kane, for my reign
Ice Cube compares himself to the successful and powerful character Charles Kane from the movie Citizen Kane.
Tenure's great, one of the ten great
Ice Cube asserts that his power and reign are among the greatest in history.
Mr. Media, look inside your encyclopedia
Ice Cube challenges anyone to research him in a reputable source and discover his legacy of power and influence.
2002, see Ice Cube
Ice Cube is announcing his continued prominence in the music industry in 2002.
Fuck a five-star, I'm a live star
Ice Cube believes that he is more relevant and powerful than any established, mainstream celebrity.
What you got to die for? Who you want to ride for?
Ice Cube questions why anyone would be willing to die for a cause and asks who others choose to support and fight alongside.
Fuck dying! (Fuck dying!)
Ice Cube is rejecting the idea of dying for a cause and promoting the idea of living and fighting for what you believe in.
It's the suspect king of the roughnecks, bonafide
Ice Cube is promoting himself as the legitimate ruler of a violent and dangerous group of people.
Worldwide, your highness, the finest
Ice Cube is emphasizing his global reach and superiority over all others.
Big as China, nigga rhymer, chart climber
Ice Cube is highlighting his massive influence and success as a rapper.
Quick to send a first-timer back to his Aunt Jamimah
Ice Cube is warning newcomers or inexperienced people to stay out of his way or risk defeat and embarrassment.
Physi-cal, ? roll with the winners
Ice Cube affirms his physical strength and aligns himself only with successful people.
After these ?, go out and represent us
Ice Cube is telling his followers to imitate him and carry on his legacy and ideas, even after he's gone.
We got antennas, scanners and satellites
Ice Cube boasts his advanced technology and ability to monitor his enemies and maintain the upper hand.
To see if you battle right, we got to bite
Ice Cube implies that in order to truly know if someone can fight, they must enter into combat against him and his followers.
Hold on tight, shake, and pump venom
Ice Cube advocates for aggressive, violent action and the use of venom, or poison, as a weapon.
Some haters don't learn til you leave lead in em
Ice Cube warns that some people only learn their lesson after they've been killed or seriously injured.
See the dead in em, rigarmortis spread in em
Ice Cube is proud of his power and influence, even in death, over his defeated enemies.
Keep your mouth shut, motherfuckin mouth slug
Ice Cube is warning his enemies to keep quiet and stay out of his way, or risk being killed or seriously hurt.
See these crossed legs, quick to cross Feds
Ice Cube is warning that he will do whatever it takes, even cross the government or law enforcement, to maintain his power and influence.
Foe to mighty one, it's the mighty son
Ice Cube is portraying himself as both a powerful adversary and the future, mighty replacement for those he has defeated.
Fuck dying!
Ice Cube again promotes the idea of living and fighting for what you believe in, rather than dying for a cause.
Yeah
Interjection expressing approval, agreement or confirmation
Don Mega!
Repetition of Ice Cube's powerful moniker, Don Mega.
Join the party, I can provide the army
Repetition of Ice Cube's invitation to join him and his powerful group of followers.
Fuck dying! I can provide the army
Reiteration of Ice Cube's central message of rejecting death for a cause and joining Ice Cube's army to fight alongside him.
Join the party!
Repetition of Ice Cube's invitation to join him and his followers.
In the ghetto, in the ghetto
Ice Cube is highlighting his connection to and influence in the impoverished urban areas, or ghettos, of America.
In the city, the suburbs penetentiary!
Ice Cube's power and influence stretches from the city to the suburbs, and even inside prisons.
Join the party!
Reiteration of Ice Cube's invitation to join him and his followers.
In the county
Ice Cube is emphasizing his regional power and abundant followers, perhaps within a specific county of a state.
Fuck dying, fuck dying!
Repetition of Ice Cube's central message and rejection of the notion of dying for a cause.
I can provide the army
Reiteration of Ice Cube's ability to provide a powerful group of followers to fight alongside him.
Eternal life baby
Ice Cube emphasizes his belief in the lasting legacy and influence of his ideas and actions, suggesting his immortality.
Hear ye, hear ye!
Interjection used formally to get people's attention and introduce something important.
All connect gang members and powers
Ice Cube is addressing all members and allies of gangs and other organizations, extending his invitation to join his cause.
Are to meet at the West Wing
Ice Cube is specifying a location for his followers and allies to gather and plan for an upcoming battle or mission.
To be led into battle by the one and only
Ice Cube is emphasizing his dominant leadership and positioning himself as the only person fit to lead this important mission.
Ice Cube the Great!
Ice Cube refers to himself with a grandiose title, underlining his overall power and influence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN ANDERSON, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
NickTheTrixter
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Come and hear the voice of the man they call the Trojan Horse
Ride on the outside, with inner force
Throw you off course, of course, you missed the runway
We mash, like the first kickoff, on a Sunday
Collisions, divisions of niggaz, down to listen
And when we on the mission, call your mortician
Join the party, I can provide the army!!
First we flank em then we spank em I outrank em!
You can call me Citizen Kane, for my reign
Tenure's great, one of the ten great
Mr. Media, look inside your encyclopedia
2002, see Ice Cube
Fuck a five-star, I'm a live star
What you got to die for? Who you want to ride for?
Fuck dying! (Fuck dying!)
Don Mega!
It's the suspect king of the roughnecks, bonafide
Worldwide, your highness, the finest
Big as China, nigga rhymer, chart climber
Quick to send a first-timer back to his Aunt Jamimah
Physi-cal, ? roll with the winners
After these ?, go out and represent us
We got antennas, scanners and satellites
To see if you battle right, we got to bite
Hold on tight, shake, and pump venom
Some haters don't learn til you leave lead in em
See the dead in em, rigarmortis spread in em
Keep your mouth shut, motherfuckin mouth slug
See these crossed legs, quick to cross Feds
Foe to mighty one, it's the mighty son
Fuck dying!
Yeah
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Fuck dying! I can provide the army
Join the party!
In the ghetto, in the ghetto
In the city, the suburbs penetentiary!
Join the party!
In the county
Fuck dying, fuck dying!
Join the party, I can provide the army
I can provide the army
Eternal life baby
Eternal life
Hear ye, hear ye!
All connect gang members and powers
Are to meet at the West Wing
To be led into battle by the one and only
Ice Cube the Great!
kaki plsr
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Come and hear the voice of the man they call the Trojan Horse
Ride on the outside, with inner force
Throw you off course, of course, you missed the runway
We mash, like the first kickoff, on a Sunday
Collisions, divisions of niggaz, down to listen
And when we on the mission, call your mortician
Join the party, I can provide the army!!
First we flank em then we spank em I outrank em!
You can call me Citizen Kane, for my reign
Tenure's great, one of the ten great
Mr. Media, look inside your encyclopedia
2002, see Ice Cube
Fuck a five-star, I'm a live star
What you got to die for? Who you want to ride for?
Fuck dying! (Fuck dying!)
Don Mega!
It's the suspect king of the roughnecks, bonafide
Worldwide, your highness, the finest
Big as China, nigga rhymer, chart climber
Quick to send a first-timer back to his Aunt Jamimah
Physi-cal, ? roll with the winners
After these ?, go out and represent us
We got antennas, scanners and satellites
To see if you battle right, we got to bite
Hold on tight, shake, and pump venom
Some haters don't learn til you leave lead in em
See the dead in em, rigarmortis spread in em
Keep your mouth shut, motherfuckin mouth slug
See these crossed legs, quick to cross Feds
Foe to mighty one, it's the mighty son
Fuck dying!
Yeah
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Fuck dying! I can provide the army
Join the party!
In the ghetto, in the ghetto
In the city, the suburbs penetentiary!
Join the party!
In the county
Fuck dying, fuck dying!
Join the party, I can provide the army
I can provide the army
Eternal life baby
Eternal life
Hear ye, hear ye!
All connect gang members and powers
Are to meet at the West Wing
To be led into battle by the one and only
Ice Cube the Great!
Traduire en français
Your_Alfaaz
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Come and hear the voice of the man they call the Trojan Horse
Ride on the outside, with inner force
Throw you off course, of course, you missed the runway
We mash, like the first kickoff, on a Sunday
Collisions, divisions of niggaz, down to listen
And when we on the mission, call your mortician
Join the party, I can provide the army!!
First we flank em then we spank em I outrank em!
You can call me Citizen Kane, for my reign
Tenure's great, one of the ten great
Mr. Media, look inside your encyclopedia
2002, see Ice Cube
Fuck a five-star, I'm a live star
What you got to die for? Who you want to ride for?
Fuck dying! (Fuck dying!)
Don Mega!
It's the suspect king of the roughnecks, bonafide
Worldwide, your highness, the finest
Big as China, nigga rhymer, chart climber
Quick to send a first-timer back to his Aunt Jamimah
Physi-cal, ? roll with the winners
After these ?, go out and represent us
We got antennas, scanners and satellites
To see if you battle right, we got to bite
Hold on tight, shake, and pump venom
Some haters don't learn til you leave lead in em
See the dead in em, rigarmortis spread in em
Keep your mouth shut, motherfuckin mouth slug
See these crossed legs, quick to cross Feds
Foe to mighty one, it's the mighty son
Fuck dying!
Yeah
Don Mega!
Join the party, I can provide the army
Fuck dying! I can provide the army
Join the party!
In the ghetto, in the ghetto
In the city, the suburbs penetentiary!
Join the party!
In the county
Fuck dying, fuck dying!
Join the party, I can provide the army
I can provide the army
Eternal life baby
Eternal life
Hear ye, hear ye!
All connect gang members and powers
Are to meet at the West Wing
To be led into battle by the one and only
Ice Cube the Great!
Eric_Grant_Swisher
I love how well rap and metal has always gone together
J-MAREE Official
How he blended hip hop with rock.... GENIUS
Owen Quinn
thank Korn
PopeTheRevXXVIII
He wasn't the first to do this.
Bam Bam
If u like that type of shit RATM and cypress hill has got some rock mix with rap
Brian Whorton
GlitchByte that's ice t
Sameer M. Raza
They don't call him the Don Mega for nothing!
HugeHaloFanboy3463
Ice cube and Korn is one of the best combinations of rock and hip hop
Max4Million
Metal and hip hop is not an easy combination, this is why ice cube is one of the few rappers I actually like.
Orlanzo
Probably his most overlooked and underrated album. One of my favorites of his man.