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.
Gangsta's Fairytale 2
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You didn't kick the rest of that Gangsta Fairytale shit!
Why don't you kick it one good time?
Niggas on the playground wanna know what's happenin', you left em hangin' man, what the fuck?
Little Boy Blue is outta Folsom
Now them three little pigs gotta roast him
Driving down Sesame Street and I bet
Ain't saw the wolf yet, but it's no doubt
They'll catch his ass slipping at his grandma house
They got the Mac-10 pointed out the coupe
'Cause they gotta follow they nose like Fruit Loops
Peeped out Little Miss Muffet on her tuffet eating grits
She saw the MAC-10 and the bitch had the shits
Ran into her house, called up her crew
'Cause Red Riding Hood wants to kill Little Boy Blue
And the wolf too, what is Mister Rogers doing?
Moved out his Jordan, bought him a Ewing
Him, Little Boy Blue and the wolf in the cellar
Planning on getting Cinderella
'Cause Cinderella still works for the pigs
Through with the dwarfs, fucking Bebe's kids
Now Snow White got the horny ass fever
Fucking the Beauty's Beast like Jungle Fever
Now the word's on the street
When the crews meet, you better make some fucking room
'Cause it's on with the pigs and them other nigs
When the cow jump over the moon, everybody jump!
Jump, jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump, jump (everybody)
Jump, jump, jump, jump
Jump, jump, jump, jump
Now Little Boy Blue is up front
With the nine millimeter, ready for the hunt
Little Red Riding Hood caught his ass slipping
Drew down on the boy 'cause the bitch is set-tripping
About to get loose with the deuce, deuce
That's when the boy said, "What about the gang truce?"
The little hoe had no words
The wolf came around and the bitch got served
Three little pigs bought wigs
Dressed like sheep, Cinderella is Little Bo Peep
Trying to creep, on the crew
The wolf, the Rogers, the Blue, they through
'Cause the pigs did the buck, buck, bang, ping
Now you hear the fat lady sing
Cinderella ran like a bitch
To the payphone 'cause the bitch is still a snitch
Now the pigs are caught by the pigs and taken
In the pen to get fried like bacon
You still can't trust no hoe
And Ice Cube'll tell the kids how the stories should go
Yeah Cube, man that shit was dope, nigga!
You all that and a bowl of grits, nigga, that shit was on props, nigga!
Yeah, that's how you kick that shit for the ninety-deuce, nigga!
What's happening, nigga?
Yeah, nigga, that's Gangsta Fairytale part 2 nigga!
Y'all trick-ass niggas can't fuck with it!
The lyrics to Ice Cube's "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" involve the retelling of classic fairytales with a gritty and violent twist. In the first verse, Little Boy Blue is now a criminal on the run from the police and other storybook characters. Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs are out to get him, and Mr. Rogers has become involved too. Snow White is now sexually active, and Cinderella is working with the pigs. The second verse continues this storyline with Little Boy Blue being hunted down by Red Riding Hood, but ultimately saved by reminding her of a gang truce. The pigs end up capturing their enemies, and Cinderella is revealed to be a snitch.
Overall, the song uses the familiar characters of fairytales to comment on gang violence and the harsh realities of inner-city life. Cube's blunt and explicit language is used to shock and unsettle the listener while also providing a commentary on the state of society in the "90s".
Line by Line Meaning
Little boy blue is outta folsome
Little boy blue is out of prison in Folsom
Now them three little pigs gotta roast him
The three little pigs have to kill him now
Drivin down sesame street and I bet
Driving down Sesame Street and I'm willing to bet
That little motherfucker's out fuckin smurfette
He's probably having sex with Smurfette
Ain't saw the wolf yet, but it's no doubt
Haven't seen the wolf yet, but it's certain
They'll catch his ass slippin at his grandma house
They'll catch him off guard at his grandma's house
They got the mac-10 pointed out the coop
They have a MAC-10 pointed at his hiding place
Cause they gotta follow they nose like fruit loops
They have to use their instincts to find him
Peeped out little miss muffet on her tuffet eatin grits
Saw Little Miss Muffet eating grits on her stool
She saw the mac-10 and the bitch had the shits
She was so scared from seeing the MAC-10 that she defecated
Ran into her house, called up her crew
She ran into her house and called her friends
Cause red riding hood wants to kill little boy blue
Red Riding Hood wants to murder Little Boy Blue
And the wolf too, what is mister rogers doing?
They also want to kill the wolf and are wondering where Mr. Rogers is in all of this
Moved out his jordan, bought him a ewing
He moved out of his Jordan's and bought Ewing's
Him, little boy blue and the wolf in the cellar
He, Little Boy Blue, and the wolf are in the basement
Planning on gettin cinderella
Planning to get Cinderella
Cause cinderella still works for the pigs
Cinderella still works for the three little pigs
Through with the dwarfs, fuckin bebe's kids
They're finished with the dwarfs and now messing with other people's children
Now snow white got the horny ass fever
Now Snow White has a strong sexual desire
Fuckin the beauty's beast like jungle fever
Having sex with Beast from 'Beauty and the Beast' like it's a jungle fever
Now the word's on the street
Now everyone is talking about it
When the crews meet
When the groups meet up
You better make some fuckin room
You better make some space for them
Cause it's on with the pigs and them other nigs
Because it's on with the pigs and other people
When the cow jump over the moon, everybody jump
When something surprising happens, everyone will react
Now little boy blue is up front
Little Boy Blue is now in the lead
With the nine millimeter, ready for the hunt
He has a nine-millimeter gun and is ready to hunt
Little red riding hood caught his ass slippin
Little Red Riding Hood caught him off guard
Drew down on the boy cause the bitch is steady trippin
Pulled a gun on him because she's acting crazy
About to get loose with the deuce deuce
About to shoot him with a .22 caliber gun
That's when the boy said, "what about the gang truce?
That's when he asked about the gang truce
The little hoe had no words
She didn't have a response to that
The wolf came around and the bitch got served
The wolf appeared and got revenge on her
Three little pigs bought wigs
The three little pigs bought wigs
Dressed like sheep, cinderella is little bo peep
Dressed up like sheep and Cinderella is Little Bo Peep
Tryin to creep, on the crew
Trying to sneak up on the group
The wolf, the rogers, the blue, they through
The wolf, Rogers, and Blue are finished
Cause the pigs did the buck buck bang, ping
The pigs did a drive-by shooting
Now you hear the fat lady sing
Now everything is over
Cinderella, ran like a bitch
Cinderella ran away quickly
To the pay phone cause the bitch is still a snitch
She went to the payphone because she's still a snitch
Now the pigs are caught by the pigs and taken
Now the pigs have been caught by the police
In the pen to get fried like bacon
They will be punished, maybe even executed
You still can't trust no hoe
You still can't trust any woman
And ice cube'll tell the kids how the stories, should go
Ice Cube will educate children on how the stories should be
Yeah cube, man that shit was dope nigga
Yeah Ice Cube, that was great
You all that and a bowl of grits
You're really great
Nigga that shit was on props, nigga!
Dude, that was really good!
Yeah that's how you kick that shit for the ninety-deuce, nigga
That's how you do it for the 1990s
What's happenin nigga? !
What's up?
Yeah nigga that's gangsta fairytale part 2 nigga
That's Gangsta Fairytale Part 2
All you trick-ass niggaz can't fuck with it
No one can do it as well as Ice Cube
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: William(bootsy) Earl Collins, George Clinton, O'shea Jackson, Janice Marie Johnson, Perry Kibble, Sylvester Stewart, Bernie Worrell, Bootsy Collins, Bernard Worrell, George Clinton, Jr., George Jr Clinton
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LaRon Rosser
Cube this beat is just ridiculous. And how many years later. Still fire.
CemeteryBluntz
DJ Muggs magic.
Jay Cameron
Fkn oath bruh, this beat is sick... scratches are hectic. From Australia 🇦🇺
Jay Cameron
Yeah I got this album on tape in 1992 used to jump on school bus every morning with my walk man and run it hard
itwontcomeout5678
Literally the most gangsta fairytale of all time
Kronos Battlemaps
What an absolute banger. Fucking love this song
Greg Campbell
Ice cube is the best story teller on the history of music
Daniël Slagter
Legend Ice Cube. I remember Yo MTV Raps and the mixtapes decade as if IT was yesterday. Not only he learned me love for hip hop, but alsof the love the music he sampled.
Rondell Lee
That laughing sample is actually the laughing hyena from a old toy that I used to have back in the day. It was a big circle toy that had a list of different animals and when you point the clicker to it and pull the string it would make the noise of the animal lol. Back when I heard this song when I was about 11.I thought that was brilliant!!!
Thom Thorne
But this one still tight as hell.