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.
Late Night Hour
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let them motherfuckers no here come the beast
Oh, in the late night hour
Straight out of Compton, a crazy motherfucker named ice cube
And I'm rollin' with the motherfuckin' Neptune's
When I'm caught off, I got a sawed off
A midget bitch that'll suck a niggas balls off
I'm gettin' head in the lane doin' sixty
About to crash like teddy pendergrass
Mama said a hard head make a tender ass
To all the dogs that bark a lot
Who don't give a fuck if it's dark or not
We'll be creepin' in the parking lot
Motherfuckers don't know if I can park or not
'Cause I circle like vultures, la costa nostra
What's yo name, what's yo number and ya culture
You need nuts in yo face like a poster
Bumpin' all the baddest bitches like I'm 'posed to
If you in a club nigga then shit bang
If you on the streets nigga then shit bang
And if it's what ya need boy, do ya thang
If you on the block nigga then shit bang
If you in that 600 then shit bang
If you in a range rov then shit bang
If you on that steel horse then shit bang
But if it's what ya need boy, let it bang
Fuck the police comin' straight from the underground
Fuckin' pig wanna act like he like me now
In 86 same bitch tried to lock me down
And motherfuckers wanna ask why I'm cocky now
To all the bitches that think they bootylicious
I think they nutritious, I think they do dishes
I'm makin' three wishes or takin' they pictures
And spendin' they riches and fuckin' they bitches
Ice cube's an asshole and it ain't a knack
Egomaniac, lil' homies call me brainiac
So take a hit of that and remember that
Where my motherfuckin' niggas and my bitches at
In the late night hour hit the front to back
Check the motherfuckin' rims on the Cadillac
On the ass attack, can you keep it tight
And if the head right, nigga there every night
If you in a club nigga then shit bang
If you on the streets nigga then shit bang
And if it's what ya need boy, do ya thang
If you on the block nigga then shit bang
If you in that 600 then shit bang
If you in a range rov then shit bang
If you on that steel horse then shit bang
But if it's what ya need boy, let it bang
This is for my niggas that's schemin' for cash
And lookin' for ass in the late night hour
This is for my people that's countin' they riches
And pickin' up bitches in the late night hour
This is for my niggas that's countin' they cash
And lookin' for ass in the late night hour
And pickin' up bitches in the late night hour
So check it and everybody get naked
But respect it cause I could do it all night playa
I'm all fight playa, you all spite playa
It's all right playa, a nigga might care
But to catch me you gotta do a light year
Baby go ahead please do the damn thang
Ice cube insane in the membrane
We gonna get chu' high nigga
Our rhymes will get chu' by nigga
Tell me if I qualify nigga
I wanna get that, cop that, buy that, drive that
To bail in like super fly
You want it too but don't know where to start at
Fuckin' with me, nigga better bring his hard hat
Nigga where ya heart at, leave ya on the tarmac
Where my top at and my nigga mack
Ridin' shotgun, with the top gun
Don't catch a hot one soon as he spot one
Westside connection is a doctrine
This ain't another club song
Or love song that y'all can fuck on
So get the fuck on
A nigga rich can't believe the bullshit that I'm stuck on
If you in a club nigga then shit bang
If you on the streets nigga then shit bang
And if it's what ya need boy, do ya thang
If you on the block nigga then shit bang
If you in that 600 then shit bang
If you in a range rov then shit bang
If you on that steel horse then shit bang
But if it's what ya need boy, let it bang
The lyrics to Ice Cube's song Late Night Hour depict a streetwise attitude toward life in the late-night hours. He paints a picture of a dangerous and unpredictable world where he remains aggressive and unafraid. The chorus "If you in a club, nigga then shit bang, If you on the streets, nigga then shit bang" encourages listeners to live life to the fullest, wild and free.
Ice Cube's verse reflects his gangster image, boasting his affiliation with the Neptune's and describing his dangerous environment. He dissects society and their assumptions of him, calling out the police and women, while maintaining his confidence and power. He takes no prisoners, even addressing his haters directly, saying "Ice Cube's an asshole and it ain't a knack, Egomaniac, Lil' homies call me brainiac."
The repetition of "shit bang" in the chorus captures the raw energy of the song and emphasizes its strong message of empowerment to anyone listening to the song. The lyrics of Late Night Hour are an ode to the gritty, unapologetic street culture that defined rap music in the 1990s.
Line by Line Meaning
When you see me on ya block, call the police
I am a danger in this location; please alert the authorities.
Let them motherfuckers no here come the beast
I am a formidable presence that should not be taken lightly.
Oh, in the late night hour
This situation is taking place late at night.
Straight out of Compton, a crazy motherfucker named ice cube
I am a notorious and dangerous figure who comes from Compton.
And I'm rollin' with the motherfuckin' Neptune's
I am affiliated with the musical group The Neptunes.
When I'm caught off, I got a sawed off
I carry a sawed-off shotgun for protection.
A midget bitch that'll suck a niggas balls off
I have a female associate who will perform oral sex on men.
You too girl if ya fuck with me
If you associate with me, you may also be at risk of harm.
I'm gettin' head in the lane doin' sixty
I am driving and receiving oral sex at high speed.
About to crash like teddy pendergrass
I am in a dangerous situation where a crash is imminent.
Mama said a hard head make a tender ass
My mother warned me that being stubborn can lead to trouble.
To all the dogs that bark a lot
This is directed towards those who talk a lot but don't act on it.
Who don't give a fuck if it's dark or not
These individuals have no qualms about doing what they want even in darkness.
We'll be creepin' in the parking lot
We will be quietly approaching and observing in the parking lot.
Motherfuckers don't know if I can park or not
People are uncertain if I am capable of parking a vehicle.
'Cause I circle like vultures, la costa nostra
I move around like a vulture, operating in a clandestine manner.
What's yo name, what's yo number and ya culture
I am inquiring about your identity, contact information, and cultural background.
You need nuts in yo face like a poster
You should be performing oral sex on a man like a poster.
Bumpin' all the baddest bitches like I'm 'posed to
I am engaging in sexual relations with various attractive women, as expected of me.
If you in a club nigga then shit bang
This is a high-energy song to be played in a club setting.
If you on the streets nigga then shit bang
This song is also suitable for street listening.
And if it's what ya need boy, do ya thang
If this music is what you desire, then listen and enjoy it to your heart's content.
If you on the block nigga then shit bang
This song is considered fitting for a neighborhood setting.
If you in that 600 then shit bang
This song is appropriate for listening while driving a Mercedes-Benz S600.
If you in a range rov then shit bang
This song is fitting while driving a Range Rover.
If you on that steel horse then shit bang
This song is fitting while riding a motorcycle.
But if it's what ya need boy, let it bang
If this is the music you desire, then listen to it in its full capacity.
Fuck the police comin' straight from the underground
I have negative feelings towards law enforcement officials.
Fuckin' pig wanna act like he like me now
A police officer who previously wronged me is now attempting to show me kindness.
In 86 same bitch tried to lock me down
The same woman who I had issues with in 1986 is now trying to control me.
And motherfuckers wanna ask why I'm cocky now
People are questioning why I have developed an arrogant attitude.
To all the bitches that think they bootylicious
This is directed towards women who believe themselves to be attractive due to their rear end.
I think they nutritious, I think they do dishes
I view these women as useful for domestic tasks and sexually appealing.
I'm makin' three wishes or takin' they pictures
I am engaging in sexual activities with these women or taking pictures of them.
And spendin' they riches and fuckin' they bitches
I am using their wealth to engage in sexual activities with other women.
Ice cube's an asshole and it ain't a knack
I recognize that I have a negative attitude and personality.
Egomaniac, lil' homies call me brainiac
I have a big ego and think highly of my own intelligence.
So take a hit of that and remember that
Take a moment to fully comprehend and appreciate the message being conveyed.
Where my motherfuckin' niggas and my bitches at
I am inquiring as to the whereabouts of my associates.
In the late night hour hit the front to back
I am engaging in sexual relations in the late hours of the night.
Check the motherfuckin' rims on the Cadillac
Please take note of the expensive rims on my Cadillac vehicle.
On the ass attack, can you keep it tight
I am focusing on the sexual aspect of this encounter and request tightness.
And if the head right, nigga there every night
If the oral sex is satisfactory, I will be returning regularly.
This is for my niggas that's schemin' for cash
This song is for those attempting to gain wealth through various means.
And lookin' for ass in the late night hour
I am searching for sexual relations during the nighttime.
This is for my people that's countin' they riches
This song is also for those keeping track of their wealth.
And pickin' up bitches in the late night hour
I am also picking up women during late-night hours.
So check it and everybody get naked
Strip down and listen to the message being conveyed.
But respect it cause I could do it all night playa
Please approach this situation with respect because I am prepared to continue engaging in sexual activities all night.
I'm all fight playa, you all spite playa
I am ready for conflict while you are engaging in petty and spiteful behavior.
It's all right playa, a nigga might care
I may care about the situation, despite my tough exterior.
But to catch me you gotta do a light year
Catching me will be very difficult and require a great deal of effort.
Baby go ahead please do the damn thang
Please proceed with the sexual activities we have engaged in.
Ice cube insane in the membrane
I am considered crazy by some individuals.
We gonna get chu' high nigga
This music is meant to intensify one's emotions and state of mind.
Our rhymes will get chu' by nigga
Our lyrics will captivate and engage the listener.
Tell me if I qualify nigga
Please let me know if I am considered worthy of your respect.
I wanna get that, cop that, buy that, drive that
I want to possess and acquire various material items.
To bail in like super fly
I want to possess these items and appear stylish and cool like the character in the movie Super Fly.
You want it too but don't know where to start at
You may also want these items but don't know how to obtain them.
Fuckin' with me, nigga better bring his hard hat
Engaging with me can be a dangerous situation and requires protection.
Nigga where ya heart at, leave ya on the tarmac
I question your emotional attachment and may abandon you in a difficult situation.
Where my top at and my nigga mack
Where are my car's convertible top and my associate, Mack?
Ridin' shotgun, with the top gun
I am riding in the passenger seat with a skilled driver.
Don't catch a hot one soon as he spot one
Don't get caught in the crossfire when a dangerous situation arises.
Westside connection is a doctrine
My connection to the Westside is deeply ingrained and important to me.
This ain't another club song
This is not just another song suitable for clubs.
Or love song that y'all can fuck on
This is not a slow love song suitable for sexual activities.
So get the fuck on
Please leave if this content is not suitable for your preferences.
A nigga rich can't believe the bullshit that I'm stuck on
I am wealthy and can't believe the trivial matters that occupy my thoughts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANDRE ROMELL YOUNG, CHAD HUGO, ERIC WRIGHT, LORENZO JERALD PATTERSON, O'SHEA JACKSON, PHARRELL L. WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Mixer Mason
Underrated track. One of the Neptunes hardest beats and Cube came with fire, even if he reused some of his old bars.
Blue Prince
Amen, brother. Shit hits HARD!!!!
The Impeccable
Yo.. I would love to see Cube, Pharrell, & Pusha do this live!!! 💯💯💯
Semaj Samerai
this song is incredible
blaine lantz
Semaj Samerai
ֆђคภภ๏ภ Ꮛɭץรรค
If you're up in the late nite hour to take out your dog 2021, this sh!t still bangs🎶🔥♾💯
Jermaine Robinson Torbert
Cube murdered this song a head banger still bumping this today
The Frederick
This track is awesome. Ice Cubes so dope!
Patrick Dwyer
Fond memories of this song in my youth. Still know the lyrics off heart like I did then
KINGHRU HRU
KILLED this track 💣💣💣💣💣