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.
Jack N The Box
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The Grand Wizard,
Ice Cube,
Motherfuckers head so big they call him jack in the box
[Verse 1]
I'm a superhero, like Lou Ferrigno,
Made by the Nero, look like a zero,
Get your cameras ready, let it rain confetti,
I'm a champion, I do what can't be done,
In the real league nerd, not the fantasy one
Throw your hands up, you can cheer for your boy,
When I hit the stage get an ear full of noise,
When I bring the noise from here to Illinois,
Motherfuckers love when I do what it does,
A all-star, superstar entertainer,
World class, first ballot hall-of-famer,
Some rappers claim that they got a heart full of anger,
How when your lyrics weren't written by a stranger,
Fool I'm the greatest, you just the latest,
I'm loved by your grand mama, and your baby
[Chorus]
See my head is so big they call me jack in the box,
You can't impress me, so fuck what you got,
I said my head is so big they call me jack in the box,
Don't talk about money cause I'm stacking a lot,
[Bridge]
Shine that light on me, put that light on me,
Cause I was sent to the world, by G-O-D,
Shine that light on me, put that light on me,
Cause I was sent to the world, by G-O-D,
[Verse 2]
I was a born loser, I was a born sinner,
Now I am a winner, in a convincing sinner,
I got to take a bow, cause I still wonder how,
The system didn't get me when I was a juvenile,
Just think if I had got locked up,
No Boyz in da Hood thanks to America,
No Eazy, NWA, no 'Friday',
Don't let your motherfucking talent go to waste,
Don't catch a case cause these people got a place,
To throw your life away and take you right out the waste,
Throw your hands up, you got to man up,
I had to show the world, what I was made of,
What you say Blood, I was a slad cause,
Now I'm V.I.P., up in Vegas,
I'm up in Nike-town, so how you like me now,
See the whole industry had to bite my style,
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Now mama don't be mad I got to show my ass,
And thanks these motherfuckers for my past,
I got to let them know I never break like glass,
What you looking at it's top notch world class,
Mama don't be mad I got to show my ass,
And thanks these motherfuckers for my past,
I got to let them know I never break like glass,
What you looking at it's top notch world class,
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
Ice Cube's song Jack N The Box is an anthem to celebrate the rapper's legacy and success in the music industry. In the first verse, Ice Cube draws comparisons between himself and Lou Ferrigno, citing himself as a superhero in the rap game. He boasts about his accomplishments and the fact that he has created a lane for himself in the industry. He believes that people love him for what he does and his lyrical abilities. He refers to himself as "Jack in the box" due to the comparison of his head size to that of the big-headed fast-food chain mascot. In the second verse, Ice Cube acknowledges his past mistakes and how he could have easily ended up in prison but didn't. He encourages others not to waste their talent and end up incarcerated. He ultimately attributes his success to his hard work, talent, and not succumbing to distractions that could have derailed his career.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a superhero, like Lou Ferrigno,
I am very strong and powerful like a superhero, such as Lou Ferrigno.
Made by the Nero, look like a zero,
I was created by Nero, but before then, people might have thought of me as a nobody or unimportant.
Shine the spotlight, this is my night,
I want to be the center of attention and it is my moment to shine.
Get your cameras ready, let it rain confetti,
Prepare to take a lot of photos and celebrate with me when I succeed.
I'm a champion, I do what can't be done,
I always win and achieve things that others thought were impossible.
Throw your hands up, you can cheer for your boy,
Put your hands in the air and support me, because I am doing something amazing.
When I hit the stage get an ear full of noise,
When I perform on stage, be prepared to hear a lot of loud sounds and music.
Motherfuckers love when I do what it does,
People really enjoy my work and what I create.
A all-star, superstar entertainer,
I am a very talented and popular entertainer who shines brighter than any other performer.
Some rappers claim that they got a heart full of anger,
Some other rappers say they are angry and tough, but they didn't write their own lyrics.
Fool I'm the greatest, you just the latest,
I am the best and most talented, and other rappers won't last as long as I have.
I'm loved by your grand mama, and your baby
My music is popular among people of all ages, from babies to grandmothers.
See my head is so big they call me jack in the box,
My head is large, and people make fun of me by comparing me to the toy Jack in the Box.
You can't impress me, so fuck what you got,
I am not easily impressed, so your accomplishments and possessions mean nothing to me.
Don't talk about money cause I'm stacking a lot,
Stop talking about money because I already have a lot of it.
Shine that light on me, put that light on me,
Direct the spotlight towards me, so I can be the center of attention.
Cause I was sent to the world, by G-O-D,
I believe that God sent me to this world for a special purpose.
I was a born loser, I was a born sinner,
I used to be a failure and have done wrong, but now I have turned my life around.
Now I am a winner, in a convincing sinner,
Now, I am successful and influential, while still having a past filled with mistakes.
Just think if I had got locked up,
Imagine what my life would have been like if I had gotten arrested and put in jail.
No Boyz in da Hood thanks to America,
Without my success, movies like Boyz n the Hood might never have been made, all because of America's opportunities.
No Eazy, NWA, no 'Friday',
Many great works, such as Eazy-E's music, NWA's music, and the movie 'Friday', might never have existed if I had not succeeded.
Don't let your motherfucking talent go to waste,
Don't let the good things you are capable of doing, such as talents, be wasted by not using them or by getting into trouble.
Don't catch a case cause these people got a place,
Don't get arrested because there are places that put people away whenever possible.
To throw your life away and take you right out the waste,
Some of these places will throw away someone's life, just like throwing away trash.
Throw your hands up, you got to man up,
Put your hands in the air and be strong, because that is what is required to succeed.
I had to show the world, what I was made of,
I had to prove myself to everyone and show them what I am really capable of.
What you say Blood, I was a slad cause,
To a fellow African American, I was considered a 'slad' or coward before I became successful.
Now I'm V.I.P., up in Vegas,
Now I am a very important and successful person, and I am recognized as such in great places, such as Las Vegas.
I'm up in Nike-town, so how you like me now,
I am successful and popular enough to be endorsed by Nike and have my own merchandise, is anyone still doubting me?
See the whole industry had to bite my style,
By being so groundbreaking and successful, the entire industry has had to copy what I do.
Now mama don't be mad I got to show my ass,
Mom, don't be upset, I need to show my daring and confident side to the world.
And thanks these motherfuckers for my past,
Thank you to all of the people who doubted me in the past, because your motivation helped me become successful.
I got to let them know I never break like glass,
I want people to know that I am strong and unbreakable, like something made of tougher material than glass.
What you looking at it's top notch world class,
What you see is that I am the best of the best and nothing can compare.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN WHITACRE, JUSTIN KEITH HENDERSON, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind