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.
Make It Ruff
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Make it ruff
(cube check it out)
Whats up?
(yo this bitch was suckin' my dick, you know what I told her?)
What?
(make the music with ya mouth biatch!)
Ha ha ha ha, baby baby!
Make it ruff
(now, make it smooth)
I make niggas say 'woof' 'cause I'm in the coupe with no roof
(ya smell like somethin' 90-proof)
'cause I'm ruff, and nigga you can buck these nuts
If you comin' with that smooth shit, hard core rules shit
(i make the hoes say 'hay' each and every day
Bitch 'cause I'm the k-dee, no I'm not a g)
Motherfuckin' wannabe mack
(but I'm smooth like that)
I gots ta buck, you, right on up, punk you lucky that cha livin'
'cause I'm the unforgiven, I like power, ain't a damn thing funny
(i like pussy and money
And I won't slam like onyx or never ever stutter
But I'm B-B-butter,
Leader of the new school, you hard core fool!)
Nigga make it ruff! (make it smooth!)
Make it ruff (no, make it smooth.)
You can lick me up and down till I yell stop!
Damn bitch ya missed a drop, cause I don't play when I sway
It's the quicker picker upper,
A pro that moves slow before this hoe I'm quick
To dump her, so eeny-meeny-miney-mo, where's my dough?
I gots ta make a livin', I out ta get mo,
Money, and got more nuts for ya honey, so
Come and break me off, this nigga's walkin' soft,
It's the smoothness that make niggas move to this,
For you ruff necks, I'll check you with my tool and shit,
Don't sweat 'em, just let 'em play that hardcore
Role, we still cool, but just make it smooth
You know what, it's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder
How I keep from goin' under, I'm chocolate thunder,
Ruff as sin, cuts on ya skin
And I blend with the tracks, see I'm black
K-dee is the mack, matter fact
Niggas hit me up with the see's and be 's
But you don't want to fuck wit these
'cause I'll put 'em on ya
And we'll have to wake ya motherfuckin' ass up with ammonia
'cause hardcore rap is always on the map and it don't stop
Devoid of pop, and if I drop another smooth hit
It'll still be hard, 'cause I helped start this shit,
So make it ruff (now make it smooth!)
Make it ruff! (make it smooth!!)
Make it ruff! (make it smooth!!)
Make it ruff
(now, make it smooth.)
Make it, make it ruff
(now, make it smooth.)
I hate when niggas get too fuckin' sexy on the track, I'm pro black.
(well I'm a pro-mack.)
I like hittin' switches.
(i love hittin' bitches, 'cause I'm a player.)
Hard rhyme sayer!
(i thought you knew, but ain't no thing, you knew the way I swing,
Creepin', ain't no sleepin', ain't a damn thing changed, I hit hoe after
Hoe with this laid-back shit.)
Fool, I kill at will and still can fade that shit, 'cause it's the
Predator, I edit her, so nigga watch yo step!
(you in a gang like star, tryina get a rep!)
It ain't no sweat for me to buck buck nigga don't give a fuck, you
Better duck duck or get your ass stuck stuck!
(don't let the smooth shit fool ya, 'cause I can get it on, 'cause I be
Breakin' bones like dragonfly Jones, quick to put em on ya.)
Don't make me act a fool! nigga, make it ruff!
(make it smooth!)
Make it ruff
Make it ruff (make it smooth)
Make make it make it ruff
make it ruff (make it smooth!)
Make it ruff
Ice cube's up in this motherfucker
(k-dee's up in this motherfucker)
Make it ruff (now make it smooth.)
Make it ruff (now, make it smooth!)
Make, make it ruff ruff
Make, make it ruff (now make it smooth.)
Make it ruff, ruff (now, make it smooth.)
(now, now, make it smooth)
(now, make it smooth)
The lyrics to Ice Cube's song "Make It Ruff" are a playful mix of sexual boasts, street smarts, and rhyming wordplay. Throughout the song, Ice Cube challenges his listeners to make their rap "ruff" before switching to a smoother style. The opening lines of the song describe a sexual encounter before transitioning to Cube's signature hard-hitting rhymes. He boasts of being rough and bucking the smooth, calling out other rappers for their soft style. Cube makes references to his love of power, money, and women, all while showcasing his ability to blend fluidly with a beat. He pays homage to the pioneers of hardcore rap and warns his adversaries to watch their step because he's always ready to get rough.
Overall, the song is a bold statement of Ice Cube's place within the rap world. He raps with confidence and bravado, mixing tough streetwise lyrics with moments of humor and playfulness. His ability to switch between rough and smooth styles highlights his versatility and confirms his place as one of the most important figures in hip hop.
Line by Line Meaning
Make it ruff
Start the music rough and gritty
Whats up?
Asking the person what's going on
Make the music with ya mouth biatch!
Asking the woman to give oral sex instead of talking
I make niggas say 'woof' 'cause I'm in the coupe with no roof
My car and I are so cool that it makes men bark like dogs with excitement
'cause I'm ruff, and nigga you can buck these nuts
I'm tough and you can't mess with me
If you comin' with that smooth shit, hard core rules shit
If you come with smooth talk, it won't work because only rough and tough language rules
I make the hoes say 'hay' each and every day Bitch 'cause I'm the k-dee, no I'm not a g
I'm the man all the women want and I'm not just any gangster, I'm K-Dee
Motherfuckin' wannabe mack
Insulting someone who thinks they're a ladies' man
But I'm smooth like that
But I'm still charming and cool
I gots ta buck, you, right on up, punk you lucky that cha livin'
I have to act tough, and you better watch out, you're lucky you're still alive
'cause I'm the unforgiven, I like power, ain't a damn thing funny
I'm dangerous and powerful, and nothing's amusing to me
I like pussy and money and I won't slam like onyx or never ever stutter But I'm B-B-butter,
I enjoy sex and money, and I won't hesitate to speak my mind, but I'm smooth and charming
Leader of the new school, you hard core fool!
I'm the new leader of the rough language and music movement, and you are a fool for not recognizing it
You can lick me up and down till I yell stop!
You can provide oral sex to me as long as you want
Damn bitch ya missed a drop, cause I don't play when I sway It's the quicker picker upper,
You missed a spot, and I don't like it when my moves are interrupted. I'm the faster picker-up of the two of us
A pro that moves slow before this hoe I'm quick To dump her, so eeny-meeny-miney-mo, where's my dough?
I'm a pro at making moves and games with women. I can switch it up quickly, but before I do, where's my money?
I gots ta make a livin', I out ta get mo, Money, and got more nuts for ya honey, so
I need to make money and get more, and I have more money and sex to offer
Come and break me off, this nigga's walkin' soft, It's the smoothness that make niggas move to this,
Come and pay me for my services. I'm so smooth that people can't help but move to my music
For you ruff necks, I'll check you with my tool and shit, Don't sweat 'em, just let 'em play that hardcore
For those who use rough language and music, I'll put them in their place with my own roughness. Don't worry about them, just let them do their thing
Role, we still cool, but just make it smooth
We're still friends, but stick to the smooth music
You know what, it's like a jungle sometimes it makes me wonder How I keep from goin' under, I'm chocolate thunder,
Life is like a jungle, and it's tough. But I manage to stay on top with my strength and aggression
Ruff as sin, cuts on ya skin And I blend with the tracks, see I'm black
I'm rough and can hurt you. But I'm also skilled at blending my music with the beats, and my blackness is important to me
K-dee is the mack, matter fact Niggas hit me up with the see's and be's
I'm K-Dee, and I'm the ladies' man. In fact, men hit me up to see how I get the women
But you don't want to fuck wit these 'cause I'll put 'em on ya And we'll have to wake ya motherfuckin' ass up with ammonia
But you don't want to mess with me, or I'll put my people on you. And then you'll wake up from being unconscious with a strong chemical
'cause hardcore rap is always on the map and it don't stop Devoid of pop, and if I drop another smooth hit It'll still be hard, 'cause I helped start this shit,
Hardcore rap is always around and can't be ignored. It's not pop music, and if I make another smooth song, it'll still be rough and tough because I helped create this movement
I hate when niggas get too fuckin' sexy on the track, I'm pro black.
I don't like it when people get overly sexual in their raps. I'm all about black power
I like hittin' switches.
I like to change things up often
Hard rhyme sayer!
I'm someone who rhymes aggressively
I thought you knew, but ain't no thing, you knew the way I swing, Creepin', ain't no sleepin', ain't a damn thing changed, I hit hoe after Hoe with this laid-back shit.
I thought you already knew, but here it is again: I'm smooth and charming. I'm always working and don't sleep much, but nothing's changed. Women love me and my laid-back personality
Fool, I kill at will and still can fade that shit, 'cause it's the Predator, I edit her, so nigga watch yo step!
I can destroy anyone and still keep going. I'm a predator who controls women and my opponents should be careful
It ain't no sweat for me to buck buck nigga don't give a fuck, you Better duck duck or get your ass stuck stuck!
It's easy for me to become aggressive and I don't care about others. You should duck or you'll get hurt
Don't let the smooth shit fool ya, 'cause I can get it on, 'cause I be Breakin' bones like dragonfly Jones, quick to put em on ya.
Don't be fooled by my charm, I'm still rough and can fight. I'm quick to hurt you like Dragonfly Jones
Don't make me act a fool! nigga, make it ruff!
Don't get me upset, just start the music rough and aggressive
Ice cube's up in this motherfucker K-dee's up in this motherfucker
Ice Cube and K-Dee are both here
Make it ruff (now make it smooth.)
Switching back and forth between rough and smooth styles of music
Make make it make it ruff
Stressing the importance of making the music rough
make it ruff (make it smooth!)
Another call to switch between rough and smooth music
(now make it smooth.)
Now it's time to switch to smooth music
Make it ruff, ruff (now, make it smooth.)
Switching back to rough music and then back again to smooth
(now, now, make it smooth)
Emphasizing that it's time to switch to smooth music
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, DARRELL (P/K/A K-DEE) JOHNSON, QUINCY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike B
1994 maybe the best year in rap Albums
Lethel injection cube
Illmatic Nas
Hard to Earn Gangstar
Creeping on the come up Bone
Ready to Die Big
The Diary Scareface
Super tight UGK
Street Level Beatnuts
Amerika nightmare spice 1
Fella Be Fella
Been on a cube binge recently. This is definitely some of his best work, as well as the album as a whole.
Gr33k Fr3ak
One of the better albums of his solo artistry. It goes Death Certificate, AmeriKKKas Most Wanted, The Predator, then Lethal Injection. Then he sort of went downhill with War and Peace.
Gloria Steele
"Make it ROUGH!"
JoJoWorld
me 2
JoJoWorld
@Gr33k Fr3ak yea wat and peace still went platinum but i agree, that’s when his albums started to lower in quality, he still had a couple of gold albums and hit singles after that tho
Kevin Kibble
He fully embraced the West Coast sound that was popular at the time, and popularised by Dr Dre. "A yo Dre, stick to producing"
LaChele
Oooh, Daddy! I just love this record. We often credit yo' first, second and third albums as classics, but people never mention this gem of an album. I love it through and through. This is always gon be my jam. Just some g-funk flavors.
Jeffrey Vences
Underrated Gem. Makes you feel many ways. 😜
Jay Wad
It's d'O'pe just like THAT!
Zonne Doggy
🔥📀