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 Use To It
Ice Cube Lyrics
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Pull a four on the fifty
Fuck yo monkey ass up like Bobby did Whitney
Trigger fingers get itchy
When niggaz get bitchy
And they need they story told on Jerry or Ricki
Well you're green and you're iffy
I'm clean and I'm spiffy
All my niggaz that's wit me
All my bitches are picky
To ride around that's right on time
Bitch you know it's tricky
Take a hit of the sticky
Everybody get tipsy
When we hittin' that whiskey
All my niggaz get pissy
Don't fuck wit no sissy
All we bumpin' is missy
If you know where I am motherfucker come get me
I'm a man out of mickey
All my niggaz love hickies
That don't go away til ya well in your sixties
All I'm wearin' is dickies
Don't try to evict me
When we come to Atlanta we gon' re-open Nickies
I'm a gangsta rap teacher, nigga you better know it
It's the Don Gotti Jr. slash motherfuckin' poet
Sit back and take notes while I spin like hundred spokes
My flow is razor sharp I'm comin' straight for ya throat
With that west coast gang bang
Watch him when his chain hang
East coast down south
Niggaz do the same thang
Throw up ya dubs like Wu-Tang who bang
Harder than that nigga barrelin' thru ya hood wit two chains
Swangin' like he's nuts, 'cuz he don't give a fuck
I know nigga that ain't bangin' in no khaki's or some chucks
It's that westside, connected with that nigga who flow so wreckless
He spent a hundred thousand on his necklace, I bet this
Motherfuckin' coast ain't got shit after me
Ain't have shit before Cube except a Dub C
The mack circle is back with mad purple in fact
I'm 'bout to join the Lynch mob that's me squirtin' the mack
The lyrics of Ice Cube's "Get Use To It" are a showcase of bravado, confidence, and machismo that is typical of his gangster rap style. The song starts with a warning to those who dare to cross him, daring them to try pulling a weapon on him and see what happens. He compares himself to Bobby, who famously beat up his then-wife Whitney Houston, stating that he will similarly "fuck yo monkey ass up." Cube is a man in control; he asserts that he is always ready to defend himself, and his "trigger finger gets itchy" when others challenge him. He also brags about his freedom; even if he were to get arrested, he insists he would be back quickly. Cube refers to himself as "spiffy" while disparaging others as "green and iffy," meaning unsure or unreliable. He emphasizes his toughness and masculinity, referring to his friends as "niggaz" and his female companions as "bitches." They are both picky, meaning they choose only the best, but he asserts that he is in control, making it clear that he does not tolerate weakness or cowardice.
In the second verse, Cube takes the opportunity to emphasize his status as a pioneer of gangster rap, calling himself a "gangsta rap teacher" and warning others to take notes. He boasts about his flow and his razor-sharp lyrics, emphasizing his rap skills and his ability to cut down his enemies. He emphasizes his allegiance to the West Coast, saying that it can hold its own against any other region in the country. He emphasizes his status as a wealthy man with his reference to spending one hundred thousand dollars on his necklace. Cube also references his history with the LA-based rap group Dub C and suggests that he is joining another infamous rap group, Lynch Mob. The song ends with the implication that he will continue to dominate and influence the genre with his hard-edged, aggressive style, warning others that they need to adjust or "get used to it."
Line by Line Meaning
If you try to get wit me
If you attempt to associate or interact with me,
Pull a four on the fifty
Open fire on me or my associates,
Fuck yo monkey ass up like Bobby did Whitney
Defeat or harm you very badly, similar to how Whitney Houston was harmed by Bobby Brown,
Trigger fingers get itchy
When provoked or threatened, people tend to become very aggressive,
When niggaz get bitchy
When individuals become agitated or irritable,
And they need they story told on Jerry or Ricki
When someone seeks attention by exposing their troubles or issues on television programs like Jerry Springer or Ricki Lake,
Well you're green and you're iffy
You are inexperienced and untrustworthy,
I'm clean and I'm spiffy
I am honest and presentable,
If they lock me up today I'll be back in a jiffy
If I am arrested or detained today, I will be out soon,
All my niggaz that's wit me
All my associates who are with me,
All my bitches are picky
All of the women who associate with me are selective and particular,
To ride around that's right on time
To travel in a vehicle and arrive exactly on schedule,
Bitch you know it's tricky
It is difficult and challenging, as you already know,
Take a hit of the sticky
Smoke some marijuana,
Everybody get tipsy
Everyone becomes intoxicated,
When we hittin' that whiskey
When we are drinking whiskey,
All my niggaz get pissy
All of my associates become angry and aggressive,
Don't fuck wit no sissy
Do not associate with or provoke a cowardly person,
All we bumpin' is missy
The only music we listen to is Missy Elliot's,
If you know where I am motherfucker come get me
If you know my location, come and confront me like a man,
I'm a man out of mickey
I am a grown adult, not a child like Mickey Mouse,
All my niggaz love hickies
All of my associates enjoy receiving love bites on their necks,
That don't go away til ya well in your sixties
Those love bites will remain visible on your skin until you are in your sixties,
All I'm wearin' is dickies
I am only wearing Dickies brand clothing,
Don't try to evict me
Do not attempt to remove me from my residence or territory,
When we come to Atlanta we gon' re-open Nickies
When we visit Atlanta, we will revive the closed Nickies nightclub,
I'm a gangsta rap teacher, nigga you better know it
I am a teacher of gangsta rap, and you had better recognize it,
It's the Don Gotti Jr. slash motherfuckin' poet
I go by Don Gotti Jr., but I am also a great poet,
Sit back and take notes while I spin like hundred spokes
Observe and learn as I rap and perform effortlessly, like the spinning of 100 bicycle spokes,
My flow is razor sharp I'm comin' straight for ya throat
My rapping style is intense, precise, and focused, and I am aiming for your vocal cords,
With that west coast gang bang
Representing the culture and lifestyle of West Coast gangsta rap,
Watch him when his chain hang
Remain cautious of individuals and their behavior when they are wearing large chains,
East coast down south
Gang culture and rap music is prevalent and influential in both the eastern and southern regions of the United States,
Niggaz do the same thang
People in these areas engage in the same activities and lifestyle as their West Coast counterparts,
Throw up ya dubs like Wu-Tang who bang
Gesture with your hands to represent the 'W' in 'West Coast,' similar to how the Wu-Tang Clan uses their 'W' symbol,
Harder than that nigga barrelin' thru ya hood wit two chains
Even more intense and intimidating than the person who is recklessly driving through your neighborhood while wearing multiple chains,
Swangin' like he's nuts, 'cuz he don't give a fuck
Driving erratically and recklessly, because he does not care about the potential danger or consequences,
I know nigga that ain't bangin' in no khaki's or some chucks
I am aware of a person who is not representing gang culture by wearing khaki pants or Chuck Taylor shoes,
It's that westside, connected with that nigga who flow so wreckless
I represent the West Side of the United States, and I am associated with another rapper who performs flawlessly and effortlessly,
He spent a hundred thousand on his necklace, I bet this
My associate spent a large amount of money on his necklace, and I am certain of it,
Motherfuckin' coast ain't got shit after me
No one on the coast can compete with me or achieve my level of skill in gangsta rap,
Ain't have shit before Cube except a Dub C
No one in my area had any influence or significance in music culture before I was present, except for the West Side Connection (Dub C), of which I was a member,
The mack circle is back with mad purple in fact
My group The Mack Circle has returned with great enthusiasm and energy, and we have a lot of weed with us,
I'm 'bout to join the Lynch mob that's me squirtin' the mack
I am about to join the rap group Lynch Mob, and my addition to the group will make it much stronger and more successful.
Lyrics Ā© Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WILLIAM CALHOUN, O'SHEA JACKSON, JAYCEON TAYLOR, AUGUSTINE SUMO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind