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.
Look Who
Ice Cube Lyrics
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Now how bad can a piece of ass be?
Very bad, so I had to make the trip
And thank God, I didn't have the drips
I was there so a hoe couldn't gimme that
Just to get, twenty free jimmy hats
Now look who I see
Ain't that, yeah, that's the bitch from up the street!
Who always told Cube to go to hell
She thought she was wiser
Now she's sittin in the waitin room, burnin like heat-mizer
Yeah I see ya
First Miss Thang, now Miss Gonorrhea
Man it's a trip how the world keeps turnin
It's 1991, and look who's burnin
"Does it get you hot?"
"It's got me hot!"
"This is a girl playin hard to get"
"Burnin up, burnin!"
"What have I, done stuck my duck in?"
"Does it get you hot?"
"It's got me hot!"
"This is a girl playin hard to get"
"Burnin up, burnin!"
"What have I, done stuck my duck in?"
Now everybody is a victim, you can go see 'em
And you'll hear more claps than the Coliseum
Sittin there all quiet and embarrassed
Whup, there go that bitch who was careless
I remember, she wouldn't give the cock
To anybody who lived on the block
Now hoe, look what you got
Bend that big ass over for the shot
Cause somebody is pipin hot
Drippin like a faucet, I'm glad I didn't toss it
Got you a college boy, who was worse than me
And he probably fucked the whole university
Still wanted him to dick you down, kick you down
With some bucks, now who got fucked?
With a nigga for the money he's earnin
But ask for some water bitch, and look who's burnin
"Does it get you hot?"
"Can you get that?"
"This is a girl playin hard to get"
"Burnin up, burnin!"
"Why is my thing-thing burnin like this?"
"Does it get you hot?"
"Can you get that?"
"This is a girl playin hard to get"
"Burnin up, burnin!"
"Why is my thing-thing burnin like this?"
Yo, it ain't my fault you got the heebie-jibbies
But you still try to act like you didn't see me
So I walk over, and say "Hi
Bitch, don't try to act surprised!"
You shoulda put a sock on the pickle
And your pussy wouldn't be blowin smoke signals
Man, this is gonna kill 'em
Guess who got a big fat dose of penicillin?
They'll ask, "Who?", and I tell 'em you
The new leader of the big booty crew
And after the day, I'm sorry to say
You come through the neighborhood, you couldn't give it away
To a nigga, who's out to get major paid
But you'll have him, pissin out razorblades
But a bitch like you'll be returnin with the H-I-V, R.I.P.
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"I'm burning up!"
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"I'm burning up!"
"What have I, done stuck my duck in?"
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"I'm burning up!"
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"You can't trust a big butt and a smile"
"I'm burning up!"
"What have I, done stuck my duck in?"
"Done stuck my duck in?"
"I'm burning up!"
"It's hot, I'm burning up!"
The song "Look Who's Burnin" by Ice Cube speaks about a visit to a free clinic and the sight of a woman in the waiting room he recognizes from the neighborhood. The woman was well known for having a large buttocks and routinely rejecting advances from men in the block. However, now she is sitting in the waiting room, presumably with an STD. The lyrics use explicit language to discuss the consequences of engaging in sexual activity without taking proper precautions. The message of the song is a warning to listeners to practice safe sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases.
The lyrics are quite graphic and use profanity to emphasize the message of the song. The use of "hoe" and "bitch" to refer to the woman is typical of Ice Cube's earlier songs, where he frequently used terms deemed derogatory towards women. However, it is essential to note that his later work has been less controversial, and he has become an advocate for social change.
Line by Line Meaning
I went to the free clinic, it was filled to capacity
Ice Cube went to the free clinic and found it to be full of people.
Now how bad can a piece of ass be?
Ice Cube wonders if sleeping with someone can be so bad.
Very bad, so I had to make the trip
The piece of ass was indeed bad, and Ice Cube had to visit the clinic as a result.
And thank God, I didn't have the drips
Ice Cube was relieved to find out that he didn't have any sexually transmitted diseases.
I was there so a hoe couldn't gimme that
Ice Cube went to the clinic to avoid catching an STI from a promiscuous woman he had been with.
Just to get, twenty free jimmy hats
Ice Cube was given 20 free condoms at the clinic.
Now look who I see
Ice Cube sees someone he knows at the clinic.
Ain't that, yeah, that's the bitch from up the street!
Ice Cube recognizes a woman he knows from his neighborhood.
With the big fat tail
The woman has a very large backside.
Who always told Cube to go to hell
The woman didn't like Ice Cube and would tell him to leave her alone.
She thought she was wiser
The woman believed that she was smarter than Ice Cube.
Now she's sittin in the waitin room, burnin like heat-mizer
The woman now sits in the waiting room, suffering from a sexually transmitted disease.
Yeah I see ya
Ice Cube notices the woman and recognizes her predicament.
Man it's a trip how the world keeps turnin
Ice Cube marvels at the way things keep changing.
It's 1991, and look who's burnin
It's 1991 and the woman who denied him has an STD.
Now everybody is a victim, you can go see'em
Ice Cube notes that everyone is potentially susceptible to STIs.
And you'll hear more claps than the Coliseum
There are many people at the clinic suffering from STIs.
Sittin there all quiet and embarrassed
The people at the clinic feel ashamed and uncomfortable.
Whup, there go that bitch who was careless
Ice Cube sees the woman who was careless with her sexual partners.
I remember, she wouldn't give the cock
The woman refused to have sex with Ice Cube.
To anybody who lived on the block
She wouldn't have sex with anyone from their neighborhood.
Now hoe, look what you got
Now the woman has an STI.
Bend that big ass over for the shot
The woman has to bend over to receive a shot for her STI.
Cause somebody is pipin hot
Someone who is infected with an STI had sex with the woman.
Drippin like a faucet, I'm glad I didn't toss it
The person who was infected was experiencing symptoms, and Ice Cube is happy he didn't continue to have sex with her.
Got you a college boy, who was worse than me
The woman had sex with a college student who was more promiscuous than Ice Cube.
And he probably fucked the whole university
The college student probably had sex with many people at his school.
Still wanted him to dick you down, kick you down
The woman wanted to continue having sex with the college student.
With some bucks, now who got fucked?
The college student had money, and the woman thought she could benefit from being with him, but now she has an STI.
With a nigga for the money he's earnin
The woman had sex with the college student for his money.
But ask for some water bitch, and look who's burnin
Despite being with someone who had money, the woman still contracted an STI.
Yo, it ain't my fault you got the heebie-jibbies
Ice Cube doesn't feel responsible for the woman's STI.
But you still try to act like you didn't see me
The woman is embarrassed to see Ice Cube at the clinic.
So I walk over, and say "Hi
Ice Cube approaches the woman.
Bitch, don't try to act surprised!"
Ice Cube confronts the woman and tells her not to act surprised.
You shoulda put a sock on the pickle
The woman should have used a condom.
And your pussy wouldn't be blowin smoke signals
If the woman had used a condom, she wouldn't have contracted an STI.
Man, this is gonna kill 'em
The news of the woman's STI will be devastating to her reputation.
Guess who got a big fat dose of penicillin?
The woman will be treated with a large dose of penicillin for her STI.
They'll ask, "Who?", and I tell 'em you
People will ask who contracted the STI, and Ice Cube will tell them it was the woman.
The new leader of the big booty crew
The woman was once considered the leader of the neighborhood women with big butts.
And after the day, I'm sorry to say
Ice Cube feels bad about what happened to the woman.
You come through the neighborhood, you couldn't give it away
After contracting an STI, the woman will no longer be desirable to the men in the neighborhood.
To a nigga, who's out to get major paid
The woman won't attract men who have money anymore.
But you'll have him, pissin out razorblades
The college student who gave her the STI will experience painful symptoms.
But a bitch like you'll be returnin with the H-I-V, R.I.P.
Ice Cube warns the woman that if she continues to sleep around and not protect herself, she could contract HIV and die.
You can't trust a big butt and a smile
Ice Cube believes that a woman with a big butt and an attractive smile may not be trustworthy.
Done stuck my duck in?
Ice Cube regrets having sex with the woman.
It's hot, I'm burning up!
Ice Cube is uncomfortable with the experience of having an STI and feels a burning sensation.
What have I, done stuck my duck in?
Ice Cube asks himself what he was thinking when he had sex with the woman.
"Can you get that?"
Ice Cube mentions the possibility of the listener also contracting an STI from a sexual partner.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CURTIS MAYFIELD, O'SHEA JACKSON, GEORGE CLINTON, JR., TONY (US DAVIS, DWAYNE MCKNIGHT, PETER H. BROWN, ROBERT S. RANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ihategoogle6066
This was Cube at his best, early 90's Ice Cube was savage af
@MatthewOhioKettering
Your name is fire! 🔥🔥🔥
@tequitetljaracuaro2094
Yes sir i love him when he went NOI but then went back to the money
@armandonarvaez9732
FOREAL!!!
@karldouroux1491
One of the goats 🐐
@taeshawnwilson6853
30 years later and this song is more relevant today
@southpawi1202
My mom worked at the VD Clinic back then. I played this for her, so hollered. The lyrics were on point.
@robertschleeter3300
Now this is realism and lyricism at its finest. Cube is at the top.
@ultimatemgtow1268
Every young man needs to here this jam
@MTXSHO9732vV8SHO
Ever since I stopped dating... All I have is this house I'm buying, 4 cars, hundreds of thousands in the bank and PEACE OF MIND!!! LOL!!!