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.
Ghetto Vet
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Niggas used to come and get me
When it was time to disagree with an enemy
Pass the Hennessy it gives me energy
Packed the gat in the small of my back
Where these niggas at I clear the whole pack
Talkin' shit 'cause I'm down for my set I'm a vet
Smokin' on a wet cigarette
(wishin' on a ghetto star I represent my tar)
I start bustin' and they scatter like water bugs
'cause these westside niggas is harder thugs
Enslave us but nothin' can save us from sportin' Ben Davis
Shootin' at your neighbors
(cause sometimes I feel like a nut don't give a fuck when I open ya up)
Hot rocks fly from the back seat and
Busta ass niggas run like a track meet
An if you crawl in the middle bleed mo' dinner little (what)
Killer king is the hospital
Feelin' numb from the bullets I hum
And when they hit black mothers have fits I don't give a shit
Fool I'm a vet you can bet that
I could dance underwater and not get wet (check it)
Its rainin' bullets and I'm still there
(For life) I'm still there
My house shoes get wet from the dew on the grass
Up early in the morning takin' out the trash
Feelin' like a loser alcohol abuser
Two youngsters roll up on a beach cruiser
One on the peddles the other on the handle bars (what)
Tryin' be ghetto stars they said:
Are you from the west side is it so?
I said hell yea and who want to to know (me)
In slow mo fo' fo' slugs face down in the mud
Puddle full of blood left for dead
The pain starts to spread now I can't feel my legs
I meet doctor who at King Drew medical center
As I enter I see you
He said the bullet hit a nerve that was vital
I said I can't move my legs he said don't try to
Now this ain't the end my friend but you'll probably never walk again
I sit there motionless holdin' this pain inside contemplating suicide
At night I jerk and jerk
But my dick don't work it don't even hurt (damn)
Now who'd ever thought a nigga rude as Ice Cube
I be pissin' through a tube fool I'm a vet
Fool I'm a vet you can bet that
I could dance underwater and not get wet (check it)
Its rainin' bullets and I'm still there
Young ghetto nigga in a wheelchair
Fuck a V-A they need G-A
Gang hospital for a crippal now I'm drinkin' rippal
Same corner same hood I'm still there
With bandannas tied to my wheel chair
To all the hood rat hoes I'm fine
They mad 'cause my tongue get tired
Now everybody want to put they dope on me
Sayin' I won't get searched by the LAPD
I'm sitting on a doorway duece five
Dependin' on neck to keep my ass alive
I don't got folks but my arms about a one six
My fuckin' legs lookin' like tooth picks
Some times I can't deal got to beg the be G's to roll me up the hill
Put me on the porch now I'm on the torch smokin' cocaine
Just to maintain nothin' to gain nutin' to lose
And last night I couldn't make it to the bathroom
Feelin' like a two year old you can't get a sip from the brew I hold
Nigga its the only friend to a stranger AKA handicap gang banger
There's a lot in my life I regret becomin' a ghetto vet
Fool I'm a Vet
[Repeat: x2]
Fool I'm a vet you can bet that
I could dance underwater and not get wet (check it)
Its rainin' bullets and I'm still there
Young ghetto nigga in a wheelchair
Life
Yea
Life
Yea
Life
Life
Dedicated to all the ghetto vets
For every nigga that done took one for the hood
The lyrics to Ice Cube's song Ghetto Vet depict the harsh realities of gang life in inner-city neighborhoods. The first verse starts with Cube describing how his gang members would come to him when it was time to take on enemies. He also mentions how Hennessey used to give him the energy to fight. Cube is known to be a member of the Westside, and he portrays his loyalty to his set as he talks about how he is always ready to defend it, no matter what. Cube is a "vet" in the game of gang-banging, which he refers to when he talks about smoking a "wet" cigarette (PCP) while the song's enemies try to match his intensity.
The second verse of the song is particularly dark. Cube is an alcoholic who wakes up early to take out the trash. Then, two young gang members roll up on him, and after some back-and-forth, they shoot him. He wakes up at King Drew Medical Center, paralyzed from the waist down. As a crippled gang member, Cube becomes a professional alcoholic, resorting to drinking "rippal" and smoking cocaine to numb the pain. The song's final lines are dedicated to all the "ghetto vets" who have been similarly victimized by a system that keeps them trapped in their own misery.
Line by Line Meaning
Niggas used to come and get me
I was called upon frequently to engage in conflicts with enemies.
Pass the Hennessy it gives me energy
Drinking alcohol gives me the courage and energy to fight.
Packed the gat in the small of my back
I carried a gun in the small of my back for protection.
Where these niggas at I clear the whole pack
I am not afraid to fight and eliminate all the enemies.
Talkin' shit 'cause I'm down for my set I'm a vet
I am a veteran of the ghetto, and I am not afraid to fight for my set or gang.
Smokin' on a wet cigarette
I am smoking a cigarette that is dipped in PCP, a powerful drug.
(who these niggas think they are) (wishin' on a ghetto star I represent my tar)
These enemies do not know who they are dealing with, and I am representing my hood or gang.
I start bustin' and they scatter like water bugs 'cause these westside niggas is harder thugs
When I start firing my gun, the enemies quickly run away since the westside niggas are hard to defeat.
Enslave us but nothin' can save us from sportin' Ben Davis
We are enslaved by the system, but we still wear Ben Davis clothing, a brand that represents the ghetto lifestyle.
Shootin' at your neighbors (cause sometimes I feel like a nut don't give a fuck when I open ya up)
In moments of anger, I may shoot at anyone in the neighborhood as I do not care.
Hot rocks fly from the back seat and Busta ass niggas run like a track meet
I throw hot rocks at people from my car, and they run away quickly like in a track competition.
An if you crawl in the middle bleed mo' dinner little (what) Killer king is the hospital
If someone tries to hide or run, I shoot them even more, and they end up in the hospital with serious injuries.
Feelin' numb from the bullets I hum
I am numb from gunshot wounds, so I hum in pain.
And when they hit black mothers have fits I don't give a shit
When the bullets hit innocent black mothers, I do not care about their suffering and pain.
Fool I'm a vet you can bet that I could dance underwater and not get wet (check it) Its rainin' bullets and I'm still there (For life) I'm still there
I am a veteran of the ghetto, and no matter how dangerous and violent it gets, I am still there and will not back down.
My house shoes get wet from the dew on the grass Up early in the morning takin' out the trash
Despite my status as a veteran, I still perform menial tasks like taking out the trash and get my house shoes wet in the process.
Feelin' like a loser alcohol abuser Two youngsters roll up on a beach cruiser
I feel like I am losing and have become an alcoholic. Two young kids arrive on a beach cruiser bike.
One on the peddles the other on the handle bars (what) Tryin' be ghetto stars they said: Are you from the west side is it so?
The kids are trying to act like cool ghetto stars and ask if I am from the west side.
I said hell yea and who want to to know (me) In slow mo fo' fo' slugs face down in the mud
I confirm that I am from the west side, and suddenly, the kids shoot their guns and I fall face down in the mud.
Puddle full of blood left for dead The pain starts to spread now I can't feel my legs
The kids leave me to die in a pool of blood, and I am now in excruciating pain and unable to feel my legs.
I meet doctor who at King Drew medical center As I enter I see you
I am taken to the King Drew Medical Center, where I meet my doctor.
He said the bullet hit a nerve that was vital I said I can't move my legs he said don't try to
The doctor tells me that the bullet has severed an essential nerve, which means that I cannot move my legs.
Now this ain't the end my friend but you'll probably never walk again
The doctor consoles me by telling me that it's not the end, but I will likely never walk again.
I sit there motionless holdin' this pain inside contemplating suicide
I sit in my wheelchair, unable to move my legs and in incredible pain. I consider suicide as an option.
At night I jerk and jerk But my dick don't work it don't even hurt (damn)
I have erectile dysfunction due to my condition, and it does not even hurt when I try to do anything about it.
Now who'd ever thought a nigga rude as Ice Cube I be pissin' through a tube fool I'm a vet
Despite being a tough rapper like Ice Cube, I am now reduced to using a catheter since I cannot even pee normally anymore. But I am still a battle-hardened veteran.
Fuck a V-A they need G-A Gang hospital for a crippal now I'm drinkin' rippal
I despise VA hospitals, and instead, we need special gang hospitals for the disabled gang members like myself. I am now resorting to drinking Ripple wine to numb my pain.
Same corner same hood I'm still there With bandannas tied to my wheel chair
Despite my injury, I am still in the same hood, on the same corner as before, and I still represent my gang by tying bandanas to my wheelchair.
To all the hood rat hoes I'm fine They mad 'cause my tongue get tired
All the females in the hood are concerned about how I am doing, but they also want to have sex with me, which makes them jealous of my condition.
Now everybody want to put they dope on me Sayin' I won't get searched by the LAPD
Everyone now offers me their drugs, knowing that I will not be searched by the LAPD due to my condition.
I'm sitting on a doorway duece five Dependin' on neck to keep my ass alive
I am sitting on the doorstep trying to keep my sanity and relying on my gang to keep me safe.
I don't got folks but my arms about a one six My fuckin' legs lookin' like tooth picks
I do not have any family around but have a one-sixth of a kilo of cocaine in my arms, and my legs have deteriorated to look like toothpicks.
Some times I can't deal got to beg the be G's to roll me up the hill Put me on the porch now I'm on the torch smokin' cocaine
Sometimes, I cannot move my wheelchair and need other gang members' help to push me up the hill. Once they have done that, I sit on the porch, smoking cocaine.
Just to maintain nothin' to gain nutin' to lose And last night I couldn't make it to the bathroom
I am smoking cocaine just to keep my mind off the pain as I have nothing to gain or lose. Plus, last night, I could not even make it to the bathroom by myself.
Feelin' like a two-year-old you can't get a sip from the brew I hold Nigga it's the only friend to a stranger AKA handicap gang banger
I feel like a helpless, vulnerable two-year-old who cannot even drink his own booze that has become my only friend. I am a gang banger who is also handicapped.
There's a lot in my life I regret becoming a ghetto vet
I regret many moments of my life that have led me to become a veteran of the ghetto.
For every nigga that done took one for the hood
This song is dedicated to all the people who have sacrificed themselves for their hood or gang.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN ANDERSON, LIONEL JR HUNT, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Fernando
Folks don’t understand how sad this song is.. This the realest shit he ever wrote
Wil A
In 94
vincent bazinet
Yup, makes me think about scarface's "street life" wich talks about a gang member which cant walk after getting shot, and his gang wants him out but the only way out is death....
adeep187
for real real
Bobby G
💯
IsHeHigh
He frames it like a hard song, like a big stomp out type thing... but really it's a sad look back
Mike Mann
simply one of the best ever story tellers in rap music, this song is so powerful you can feel it
Mandi Hamm
Oh I do
waylon severson
Can’t beat the old school songs from the OG’s. Best of the best, new guys won’t hold a candle to this kinda art
Hierba Mala
Bass be knockin like a muthafucka