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.
It Is What It Is
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My momma think I'm outta sight, outta sight [Repeat x2]
It is what it is, it is, it is [Repeat x2]
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids [Repeat x2]
(understand me!)
Now homey do you dig, do you dig, do you dig?
It is what it is, it is, is is
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids [Repeat x2]
Now will I ever get it right? get it right?
Even though I'm out at night, livin' life
Girl I'm tryin' to make this money, I ain't even playin'
Course the game I'm in, it ain't even payin'
When I'm on the go, on the go
Everybody wanna know, wanna know
Cube where the fuck you goin', each and every day?
I just turn around, and I say
[Chorus]
It is what it is, it is, it is [Repeat x2]
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids [Repeat x2]
Now homey do you dig, do you dig, do you dig?
It is what it is, it is, is is
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids [Repeat x2]
Even though I'm messin up, messin up (you fuckin up)
Feel the devil catchin up, catchin up
I put it in the lord's hands, he is the man
Please his demands 'fore he turn me into sand (don't do it)
But got to pay the rent, pay the rent
Without the government, government
I do it for the fuck of it, fuck of it [Repeat x2]
[Chorus]
[interlude]
Got to get my swagger up [Repeat x2]
Please get yo' swagger up
Got to get my swagger up
Better get my swagger up
Check this out homey
This business right here, is personal
I would go around you, over you, under you or through you
To make sure none of my family suffer
Do you understand me?!
[Chorus]
Ice Cube's song "It Is What It Is" reflects on the struggles of his life and how he is trying to provide for his family. He questions whether he will ever get things right despite his mother's positive feelings towards him. Despite his mistakes, he emphasizes that he is doing what he can for his children as it is the most important thing to him. The repetition of "it is what it is" shows acceptance of his situation, even if he doesn't necessarily like it.
Throughout the song, Ice Cube describes his hustle to make money, even if it means going out every night. However, he acknowledges that his efforts may not be paying off and that he's not always making the right choices. Although he has made mistakes, he puts his trust in the Lord's hands to help him out of his struggles. Despite obstacles he faces, such as paying rent, he keeps pushing on for the love of his family. He knows he must work hard and maintain his "swagger" at all times.
Line by Line Meaning
Will I ever get it right? get it right?
Questioning whether he will ever succeed
My momma think I'm outta sight, outta sight
My mom thinks highly of me
It is what it is, it is, it is
Accepting reality
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids
Motivated by his children
(understand me!)
Now homey do you dig, do you dig, do you dig?
Asking if they understand his dedication to his family and passion
It is what it is, it is, is is
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids
Repeating his motivations
Even though I'm out at night, livin' life
Acknowledging his lifestyle
Girl I'm tryin' to make this money, I ain't even playin'
Focused on financial success
Course the game I'm in, it ain't even payin'
Industry isn't financially rewarding for him
When I'm on the go, on the go
Everybody wanna know, wanna know
Cube where the fuck you goin', each and every day?
People are curious about his whereabouts
I just turn around, and I say
It is what it is, it is, it is
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids
Repeating his motivations
Even though I'm messin up, messin up (you fuckin up)
Feel the devil catchin up, catchin up
Acknowledging mistakes he has made and the consequences
I put it in the lord's hands, he is the man
Please his demands 'fore he turn me into sand (don't do it)
Turning to religion and hoping to please God
But got to pay the rent, pay the rent
Without the government, government
I do it for the fuck of it, fuck of it
Necessary to pay bills without support, still motivated to succeed
Got to get my swagger up [Repeat x2]
Please get yo' swagger up
Got to get my swagger up
Better get my swagger up
Looking to improve confidence and image
Check this out homey
This business right here, is personal
I would go around you, over you, under you or through you
To make sure none of my family suffer
Do you understand me?!
Protective of his family and willing to do whatever it takes to ensure their wellbeing
It is what it is, it is, it is
I do this for my kids, my kids, my kids [Repeat x2]
Repeating his motivations
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, MONTAY DESMOND HUMPHREY, MALCOLM BRUCE MIDDLETON, KOREY ROBERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@unbiasedtv6525
The owner of a black owned sports league doing an interview with the best and fastest growing sports talk show that is also black owned. 🙏🏿 We need this !!! Gives me hope ✊🏿
@OGGoodieG
You saying all this just go back and sit on the couch
@xxnumcorexx
@@OGGoodieG you vile 😭😂
@MoeshaGreen
Jesus said look up JAY FLY RED - Will You Remember" in the search bar over there >>>??
@shangee2275
Blais meaningless. Don't believe me? Ask them for $1,000.
@ricomadness5924
Them not saying “pause” during the Cube segment shows just how much they respect OG ✊🏽
@mrbojack1399
Instead mase saying that’s crazy 😂😂😂
@kingq4728
That's the only reason I watched this episode was to see if they still did dat wit Cube 😂
@splak305
He said pause early on
@bryce1818
This interview shed so much insight on how hard it is being a black owner. This podcast is crazy informative.