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 a
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come sit on the lap of I-see-E
And let me tell ya a story or two
About a punk-ass nigga I knew
Named Jack, he wasn't that nimble, wasn't that quick
Jumped over the candlestick and burnt his dick
Ran up the street cause he was piping hot
Met a bitch named Jill on the bus stop
At that type of shit he's a pro
So Jack and Jill ran up the hill to catch a lil' nap
Dumb bitch, gave him the claps
Then he had to go see Dr. Bombay
Got a shot in the ass, and he was on his way
To make some money, why not?
Down on Sesame Street, the dope spot
There he saw the lady who lived in a shoe
Sold dope out the front, but in back, marijuana grew
For the man that was really important
Who lived down the street in a Air Jordan
Ride to the fellow Mister Rogers and hoes
Drove a 500 sittin on Lorenzoes
He broke out, Little Bo Peep, smoked out
Saw, her and her friends sellin' sheepskins
Yo yo I got them sheepskins
Yo, my empty sheepskins
Yo baby, what's up with that?
Hickory dickory dock, it was twelve o'clock
Cinderella ain't home must be givin up the cock
I don't doubt it, she is kind of freaky of course
Had a fight with Snow White, she was fuckin her dwarfs
Saw a fight over colors, too
Red Riding Hood, and Little Boy Blue
A bad influence? Yo I don't know
But Ice Cube'll tell the kids how the story should go
Yeah money, that's it, yeah money, that's it
This is Little Russ in the house
Rock that shit homey, rock that shit!
[Well, you know the rest]
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
With a joint, drinkin' some 8-ball
Three little pigs in a Coup de Ville
Lookin' for, the wolf to kill
They're fucked up and they want revenge
Them and Humpty used to be friends
Now they're enemies cause he's a traitor
Pulled out the Uzi cruised by and sprayed him
Cinderella hoeing for the fellas
And Mister Rogers is gettin' mighty jealous
Of the cash that the pigs were makin'
Time for the pigs to get turned to bacon
Cause Mister Rogers found out quick
That Humpty Dumpty was blown to bits
They said that the motherfuckin' wolf was next
So Mister Rogers better watch his step
So he let the wolf know
We're gonna fuck up the pigs, and take their ho
Cause Cinderella is much too fast
Before twelve, givin' up ass
Double barrels all loaded and cocked
As soon as they show, they gonna get popped
They bailed down Sesame Street and caught em
Little Boy Blue is up front givin' orders
Little did they know Cinderella was a fink
She called the cops and got thrown in the clink
A bad influence? Yo, I don't know
But Ice Cube'll tell the kids how the stories should go
Ice Cube's Gangsta's Fairytale is a satirical take on classic children's tales that twists them into tales of violence, drugs, and sex. The lyrics are full of profanity and stereotypes, but it is clear that Ice Cube is satirizing street life rather than glorifying it. The first verse tells a story of Jack and Jill, who run up a hill to catch a nap but end up contracting an STD from each other. Jack then visits Dr. Bombay, presumably to get treatment, before heading to Sesame Street to sell drugs. Ice Cube continues to flip the script on nursery rhymes throughout the song, detailing violent conflicts between Little Bo Peep and Red Riding Hood or the pigs and the wolf - all while still emphasizing the importance of money in these fairy tales.
Overall, this song is a commentary on modern-day society and the nature of capitalism in the face of poverty and crime. Ice Cube takes the innocent world of fairy tales and twists them into a gritty reality that exposes the harsh conditions and prejudices that exist in inner-city life. The lyrics, while extreme, are meant to be a critique of societal failures rather than a glorification of street life culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Little boys and girls, they all love me
I am popular amongst children
Come sit on the lap of I-see-E
I am inviting you to listen to my story
And let me tell ya a story or two
I am about to narrate a tale
About a punk-ass nigga I knew
This story is about a cowardly and weak man
Named Jack, he wasn't that nimble, wasn't that quick
Jack was not agile
Jumped over the candlestick and burnt his dick
He hurt himself during his attempt
Ran up the street cause he was piping hot
Jack was in pain and ran away quickly
Met a bitch named Jill on the bus stop
He met a woman named Jill at a bus stop
Dropped a line or two, and he had the hoe
Jack tricked Jill into being with him
At that type of shit he's a pro
Jack is skilled in deceiving women
So Jack and Jill ran up the hill to catch a lil' nap
They went up the hill to rest
Dumb bitch, gave him the claps
Jill gave Jack an STD
Then he had to go see Dr. Bombay
He had to get medical treatment
Got a shot in the ass, and he was on his way
He received an injection and moved on
To make some money, why not?
Jack decides to earn some cash
Down on Sesame Street, the dope spot
The place to sell drugs is Sesame Street
There he saw the lady who lived in a shoe
He saw a woman who lived in a shoe
Sold dope out the front, but in back, marijuana grew
Drugs are sold out in the open, but there is a hidden marijuana farm
For the man that was really important
A prominent man in the area
Who lived down the street in a Air Jordan
He owned expensive sneakers
Ride to the fellow Mister Rogers and hoes
He drove past Mister Rogers and his prostitutes
Drove a 500 sittin on Lorenzoes
He drove a luxurious car
He broke out, Little Bo Peep, smoked out
He met Little Bo Peep and they smoked
Saw, her and her friends sellin' sheepskins
Bo Peep and her friends were selling illegal goods
Yo yo I got them sheepskins
I am selling illegal goods
Yo, my empty sheepskins
I am out of stock
Yo baby, what's up with that?
What is the deal with that?
Hickory dickory dock, it was twelve o'clock
It was midnight
Cinderella ain't home must be givin up the cock
Cinderella is probably having sex with someone else
I don't doubt it, she is kind of freaky of course
It is not surprising as Cinderella is promiscuous
Had a fight with Snow White, she was fuckin her dwarfs
Cinderella had a conflict with Snow White who was sexually involved with the seven dwarfs
Saw a fight over colors, too
There was a fight over gang colors
Red Riding Hood, and Little Boy Blue
Red Riding Hood and Little Boy Blue were involved in the conflict
A bad influence? Yo I don't know
I am not sure if this is a bad influence
But Ice Cube'll tell the kids how the story should go
I am going to narrate the story the way I see it
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall
Humpty Dumpty was sitting on a wall
With a joint, drinkin' some 8-ball
He was smoking weed and drinking 8-ball liquor
Three little pigs in a Coup de Ville
Three pigs were in a luxurious car
Lookin' for, the wolf to kill
They wanted to murder the wolf
They're fucked up and they want revenge
They are under the influence and want revenge
Them and Humpty used to be friends
They were once friends with Humpty Dumpty
Now they're enemies cause he's a traitor
They are no longer friends because he betrayed them
Pulled out the Uzi cruised by and sprayed him
They shoot Humpty Dumpty with a submachine gun
Cinderella hoeing for the fellas
Cinderella is prostituting herself
And Mister Rogers is gettin' mighty jealous
Mister Rogers is becoming envious
Of the cash that the pigs were makin'
Mister Rogers is jealous of their profits
Time for the pigs to get turned to bacon
The pigs must be killed
Cause Mister Rogers found out quick
Mister Rogers discovered something important
That Humpty Dumpty was blown to bits
He found out that Humpty Dumpty was dead
They said that the motherfuckin' wolf was next
The wolf was next in line to be killed
So Mister Rogers better watch his step
Mister Rogers should be careful
So he let the wolf know
He informed the wolf
We're gonna fuck up the pigs, and take their ho
They will harm the pigs and take Cinderella
Cause Cinderella is much too fast
Cinderella is difficult to catch
Before twelve, givin' up ass
Cinderella has sex before midnight
Double barrels all loaded and cocked
They have loaded guns
As soon as they show, they gonna get popped
They will shoot the pigs immediately
They bailed down Sesame Street and caught em
They ran down Sesame Street and caught the pigs
Little Boy Blue is up front givin' orders
Little Boy Blue is giving orders
Little did they know Cinderella was a fink
They did not know that Cinderella was a snitch
She called the cops and got thrown in the clink
She called the police and got arrested
A bad influence? Yo, I don't know
I am not certain if this is a bad influence
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC SADLER, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Drunken Slob
Now this is rap, actual lyrical skill and rhymes, beats that aren’t generic and in every song you hear. Also liked how some songs had some comedy to them
COPYWRITE
Del 🔥
Fiddin It
Ice Cube is such a talented artist. The lyrics, the beats. Nobody in todays rap can come close to him.
1999
@Fiddin It Cube didn’t write this song tho
o_o
@1999 no wonder, whoever wrote this was trippin talking bout humpty dumpty and shi
Marcus Majors
Cube is truly the west coast King
Dicky Suratman
What a masterpiece....Ice is a poet, no doubt.
killahjoker
Del The Funky Homosapien wrote this song for cube
Fink Ployd
@killahjoker Wait really? That's crazy. Del is a genius in his own right though.
Kobe12 1999
@Fink Ployd that Dr. Bombay reference always flew over my head until now