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.
Get Money Spend Money No Money
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Gangsta
Tell me all my children fore I come through is the hood in the buildin'(yes)
You won't believe what I'm dealing this west coast shit, oh what a feelin' (ahhhh)
Niggaz think I'm drug dealin' 'cause I rolled out with no muthafuckin' sealing (none)
Is he worth a hundred million no need to ask Ice Cube how I'm livin' (I'm living loc)
Don't try to tell me what it better be, I have your ass up in physical therapy
I outlaw like a Cherokee, the industry tried to bury me
But if I die on a mike of a leraby I'm so heavy you bitches couldn't carry me
[Chorus:]
Get money spend money no money, lookin' like a dummy (I really don't give a fuck)
Your money ain't my fucking money got a pocket full of money (c'mon homie throw it up)
Get money spend money no money, lookin' like a dummy (I really don't give a fuck)
Your money ain't my fucking money got a pocket full of money (c'mon homie throw it up)
I don't accept no disrespect only thing I expect is self check
Just grin and bare it, got an ass whooping that your ass don't wanna inherit
Most rappers are parrots, they say what they told to say to get a neck fool of carrots
Got your momma embarrassed, how long before they callin' us terrorists nigga-I'm serious (I)
Keep it gangsta but I keeps a job cause it's, hard to sleep when you steal and rob (and ya)
Got to run cause here comes the blob cause, Uncle Sam is like part of the Mobb
Break your self he'll take your wealth don't get it twisted u a muthafuckin' elf
And Santa Claus will go for self all you got is your balls and your health
[Chorus:]
Niggaz brag about what they got, but we don't own a skyscraper, now that's paypa
One generation from slums, happy for these little crumb...you little bums
We saw you pull up but nigga shut up (Shut up), you always talk about a fuckin' car or truck
You always talkin' 'bout some fuckin' rims on terrior, that kinda shit will keep an ass inferior
I'm tryina eat tomorro, not tryina hear bout the little bitty shit u ball
Saw your little bitty house on cribs, where you fuck your wife and feed your kids (uhuhh)
Nigga be quiet ain't shit private, everything for sail you can buy it
All this self snitchin', all this self tellin' muthafuckas going back to the watermelon
[Chorus: Repeat 3X]
Ice Cube's song "Get Money Spend Money No Money" is a critique of the rap industry's culture of consumerism and materialism. The chorus speaks to this theme, with Ice Cube rapping, "Get money spend money no money, lookin' like a dummy / Your money ain't my fucking money got a pocket full of money." He sees the industry's obsession with wealth and possessions as a form of idiocy, a willingness to look foolish for the sake of appearing rich.
The verses in the song expand on these themes, with Ice Cube lambasting rappers who are only interested in money and fame, rather than trying to create meaningful art. He also raps about his own success, challenging those who would accuse him of drug dealing or question his legitimacy. He sees himself as a successful artist from South Central LA, with a pedigree that comes from growing up in that neighborhood.
Overall, "Get Money Spend Money No Money" is a sharp critique of rap industry culture, calling out those who prioritize material possessions over artistic integrity. It is a powerful statement from one of the most influential rappers of all time.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me all my children fore I come through is the hood in the buildin'(yes)
Before I arrive in the hood, let my people know I'm coming
You won't believe what I'm dealing this west coast shit, oh what a feelin' (ahhhh)
I'm proud of what I've achieved on the West Coast
Niggaz think I'm drug dealin' 'cause I rolled out with no muthafuckin' sealing (none)
People assume I'm a drug dealer because I drive around without tinted windows
Is he worth a hundred million no need to ask Ice Cube how I'm livin' (I'm living loc)
I'm worth a lot of money, no need to ask me about my lifestyle
I still got the recipe, South Central L.A. is the pedigree
I still have the skills to make great music, and they come from my upbringing in South Central L.A.
Don't try to tell me what it better be, I have your ass up in physical therapy
I won't listen to anyone telling me what the right way to do things is, and if you cross me, you'll regret it
I outlaw like a Cherokee, the industry tried to bury me
I feel like an outlaw, and the industry has tried to silence me
But if I die on a mike of a leraby I'm so heavy you bitches couldn't carry me
If I die making music, my legacy would be too great for others to handle
Get money spend money no money, lookin' like a dummy (I really don't give a fuck)
I don't care how I look to others when it comes to my money
Your money ain't my fucking money got a pocket full of money (c'mon homie throw it up)
My money is mine, and I have a lot of it
I don't accept no disrespect only thing I expect is self check
I won't tolerate disrespect, but I expect myself to be accountable
Most rappers are parrots, they say what they told to say to get a neck fool of carrots
Most rappers are unoriginal and just repeat what they're told to say for money
Got your momma embarrassed, how long before they callin' us terrorists nigga-I'm serious (I)
We're making our families look bad, and it won't be long before they label us terrorists
Keep it gangsta but I keeps a job cause it's, hard to sleep when you steal and rob (and ya)
I maintain my gangsta image, but I also have a job because stealing and robbing isn't sustainable
Got to run cause here comes the blob cause, Uncle Sam is like part of the Mobb
I have to be careful because the government is always watching and trying to get a piece of my success
Break your self he'll take your wealth don't get it twisted u a muthafuckin' elf
The government will take your money if you're not careful, and they won't hesitate to do so
And Santa Claus will go for self all you got is your balls and your health
Nobody cares about you except for yourself, so you need to look out for your own well-being
Niggaz brag about what they got, but we don't own a skyscraper, now that's paypa
People boast about their wealth, but we don't even own a skyscraper
One generation from slums, happy for these little crumb...you little bums
We come from poverty, so we're grateful for the little bit we have, unlike those who have never struggled
You always talkin' 'bout some fuckin' rims on terrior, that kinda shit will keep an ass inferior
Talking about expensive things like rims is a trap that keeps people down
I'm tryina eat tomorro, not tryina hear bout the little bitty shit u ball
I'm trying to plan for a better future, not listen to people bragging about their small accomplishments
Saw your little bitty house on cribs, where you fuck your wife and feed your kids (uhuhh)
I saw your small house on a TV show, where you have sex with your spouse and raise your children
Nigga be quiet ain't shit private, everything for sail you can buy it
Nothing is truly private anymore, and everything is for sale to the highest bidder
All this self snitchin', all this self tellin' muthafuckas going back to the watermelon
People are too open about their own illegal activities, and it's going to lead to trouble and shame
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EMILE HAYNIE, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Plan Billionaire
U don't need to been in prison to be a thug...that's why I respect Ice Cube
joe ghosn
They got it twisted kids these days. Being an outlaw is doing your thing without being affected by the system and thats what ice cube did he s easily one of the smartest rapper ever
kratos9312
"I'm so heavy, you bitches couldn't carry me." is the sickest line I've heared in a while.
lamzan93
💯🔥
rexxar12345
Ice cube rappin' really quiet in this song, but the words come out blastin'!!
Lee Dryden
Raw footage album is a masterpiece
Jesse Nokka
"get money spend money no money"....story of my life
Sasoriza
looking like a dummy i really dont give a fuck
Builder and the Gamer
Me toooooo!
Алексей Суханов
grab money - burn money - no money - no freedom