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.
Maniac In The Brainiac
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In every game, we gotta have the brains and the muscle
The game and the hustle... to be real on these streets
So here you have it, the Brainiac
Ice Cube
With the Maniac
Mack 10
Verse One
Ice Cube:
While ya`ll niggas think about the pap¨¦
I think about which Titanic I`mma sink
The iceberg, with the nice words
I slice verbs and predicets, ghetto etiquette
Y`all better get, this dime-mega shit
The Braniac, the theory be conspiracy
Keep my eye on the birdie, but never get my hands dirty
Verbally call the Maniac and his attack dogs
Signing contracts with automatic jack clause
Mack 10:
I get full of their shit and take flight on these niggas
`Bout to show these so-called
Wig-splitters and nigg-hitters
Who the man be, and what the number one clique is
Let my nuts hang on these busts
And hoes see how big my dick is
Maniac Mack 10 always keep the heat toted
And teflon tips keep the .44 loaded
Straight quoted in nine-trey, by the dime
Now we connected
He said, "Mack, when you westsidin` and ridin` is expected"
So I...
Chorus
Cube: Maniac with Brainiac, Mack 10!
Mack: You do the drivin`, while I do the jackin`
Cube: Maniac with Brainiac, Mack 10!
Mack: My nigga if you plot it, best believe I got it
Mack: And it`s on... feel the chrome
Verse 2
Ice Cube:
You in the Stargate, trying t`escape, it`s not an option
Got torture techniques for them lies, don`t ever lie
Just put the car in drive, we can go ride- get this money
Determined as the Energized Bunny, make a left
Underground parking, guns start sparkin`
ATF enemies all around start chargin`
Tryin` to fuck up my new suit and my weekend
Ask me what you want, you bitch! I ain`t speakin`
Mack 10:
Shit, I gives a fuck what the next nigga think
(?) gives a fuck how much bitch you say you ain`t
It`s like this on mine, potna
By all means, I got the ball
So it`s your life, not mine nigga, so you make the call
Now, I can blow your brains out, punk and act the fuckin` fool
Or you can hand your guns over, and let everything be cool
But know this: I won`t hesitate to peel your wig back
I`m off that wet-bomb and the whole fifty yak
It`s Mack the Maniac, nigga
Chorus
Verse 3
Ice Cube:
What`s the plan? Everything thought out
Everything bought out, like Bill Gates
My niggas love steel weights
I`m still great, after 12 muthafuckin` years
I (?) your ass after 12 muthafuckin` beers
I act kind to my peers and everybody that listen
They know when the Brainiac`s missin`
The big fish, hanging with the chicken hawk
Got all the haters, claimin` that they want to talk
Mack 10:
You argue wit `em and negotiate, and I really want to kill `em
I`m tired of the bullshit, man I really want to peel `em
Dog, I knew they were scareless
`Cause my brother Snoop told us
So fuck the money and the dope that they punk-ass owe us
Now when I see `em, it ain`t no question it`s all the way on
But I`mma wait in front of they momma house
For that one nigga to get home
And when I gun, watch his body jump
And it`s all going to amaze me
To see his own self
Layin` there with his own brains on the pavement
Chorus
Outro: Mack 10
And it`s on... keep takin` `til it`s gone
And it`s on... feel the wrath of the chrome
Wessiiide!
Ice Cube the Brainiac
Mack 10 the Maniac
The song "Maniac in the Brainiac" by Ice Cube featuring Mack 10 is a rap song about their life on the streets and how they use their smarts and skills to stay on top of the game. The intro explains that to survive on the streets, one needs both brains and muscle. Cube is the Brainiac and Mack is the Maniac. In the first verse, Ice Cube talks about how he thinks about sinking icebergs instead of obsessing over money. He is focused on ghetto etiquette and making deals with an automatic jack clause. Mack 10's verse highlights his toughness and how he is not afraid to take on anyone who crosses his path. He talks about how he keeps his heat loaded with Teflon tips and how he is always ready to act.
The chorus has Cube and Mack together, asserting their dominance in the game. Mack declares that he will do the jacking while Cube does the driving. In verse two, Cube talks about how he has torture techniques to get the truth out of liars. He is focused on getting money and his team is determined. Mack 10's verse has a more confrontational tone as he talks about how he doesn't care what others think and is ready to shoot anyone who opposes him. In the final verse, Cube talks about how his team is planned out and bought out, like Bill Gates. Mack 10 is more intent on killing his enemies and getting revenge for what is owed. The outro has Mack 10 telling his enemies that they better keep running or feel the wrath of his chrome.
Line by Line Meaning
While ya`ll niggas think about the pap¨¦
While others focus on superficial things, I concentrate on sinking Titanic-like competition
I think about which Titanic I`mma sink
I think about which competition to harm
The Braniac, the theory be conspiracy
I, the Brainiac, am into conspiracy theories
Verbally call the Maniac and his attack dogs
I call upon Mack 10, the Maniac and his attack dogs, for backup verbally
Maniac with Brainiac, Mack 10!
Mack 10 and I, the Brainiac, form a deadly combo
You do the drivin`, while I do the jackin`
You drive while I steal
My nigga if you plot it, best believe I got it
If you plan something, know that I have it
Shit, I gives a fuck what the next nigga think
I don't care about what others think of me
Or you can hand your guns over, and let everything be cool
You can surrender you weapons and avoid trouble
What`s the plan? Everything thought out
Do we have a solid plan and have contingency measures in place?
Everything bought out, like Bill Gates
We have secured everything we need like Bill Gates buying out companies
My niggas love steel weights
My comrades love lifting weights
They know when the Brainiac`s missin`
They realize when I, the Brainiac, am absent
And when I gun, watch his body jump
When I use my weapon, his body will react
To see his own self
Layin` there with his own brains on the pavement
It would be satisfying to see him dead with his brain on the ground
Lyrics © FOX MUSIC, INC.
Written by: DEDRICK ROLISON, O'SHEA JACKSON, RYAN ("BINKY") GARDNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
C Snodgers
Ice Cube and Mack 10 had great chemistry. To bad the don't make music together anymore. 😞
Deejay Afreeka
Ice got the flow !!!!
DevanteTheDCGuy Reacts too
Lol good memories high school days riding around with my homie blasting this song with beers in my lap
Ricardo Espírito Santo
Ice cube greatest hit!
Timothy Meade
Lava flow hot heat ice flow raw
DANTANA 773
This Is Hard Body right 1998 memories
George Vasquez
YAY YAY!
Kenton Dickerson
Ha ha ha!!!
Skye
I was looking for pvz
Sayhan'ın Dünyası
Oh you're searching for the Final boss for Plants vs. Zombies music?