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.
Really Doe
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And like Smith told Wesson
I'm shady with the .380 old school diploma
I'll leave that ass in a coma, so
If you got a herringbone, Welcome to the Terrordome
Two-eleven, sorry Reverend
Oh my god, gettin' robbed
Reach for the smog, "Atomic Dog"
Count to ten, and don't try to follow
'Cause just like Waco, I can take fo'
ATF, to they death
Bust a left on Western, go and get a room
Don't want to be a felon like Stacey Koon
Get the right bitch, hit the light switch, here we go
Tap that ass like this really doe
(You gotta believe in somethin')
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
Thirty in a holdin' tank, catch the vapors
Make me a pillow out of toilet paper
Concrete bench kickin' off the hemorrhoids
Eses deep, don't fuck with dem boys
Phone check, collect call from the baller
Her mama said please don't call her
Do-Wah-Diddy, far from New Jack City
Seen one of my peers, "What the fuck you doin' in here?"
He said, "One-eighty-seven on the enemy
And they treat me like I just shot a Kennedy!"
Deputy bitch thinks she's the Queen Bee
Ink on my thumb, index, and pinky
"Sir, what set you from?" Play dumb
"General popu-la-tion"
Mama put your house up, and I can bounce up
Out this motherfucker, that's why I love ya
Out like a boss, with a half-pint of sauce
Got the shit sewed up like Betsy Ross
What a friend know? Buy some indo
Never fuck with a silly ho really doe
(You gotta believe in somethin')
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
Knock you out like NyQuil, I'll kill you quick
You sucker-for-love-ass trick
So don't run up, wit ya gun up
'Cause I got the back breaker, double pump rump shaker
'Cause we can play hookie in the Aqua Boogie
With concrete Nikes, ya gets no stripes
Livin' unforgiven with the mic on
And punks runnin' like roaches with the light on
And that's all the shit I'm startin'
Bust a cap (ka-kow-POW) like Jerome on Martin
You lookin' for a punk with benefits
'Cause you got a baby, that take many shits
And you know I got a grip like a baby on a tit
Scopin', hopin', thighs open
But I kick back, six-pack, and hit the Phillie slow
Hooker ho really doe
(You gotta believe in somethin')
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
(You gotta believe in somethin')
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
In Ice Cube's song Really Doe, the lyrics speak about being a gangster and the life that comes with it. The first verse refers to the choice of being a "G," as it is ultimately up to the individual to choose whether or not to live life as a gangster. The line "I'm shady with the .380 old school diploma" references the 380 handgun, which is often associated with gang violence. Ice Cube then warns those who challenge him that he will leave them in a coma. He mentions the Terrordome, which is a reference to Public Enemy's song of the same name, and also refers to a 211, which is police code for a robbery.
In the second verse, Ice Cube reflects on life in jail, mentioning the holding tank and making a pillow out of toilet paper. He talks about how he is considered a "baller" on the outside but is treated like a criminal on the inside. He also references the movie New Jack City, where a character is sent to jail. Ice Cube then refers to a deputy who thinks she is in charge and tries to ask him what gang he is from, to which he plays dumb. He mentions his love for his mother and how she puts her house up to bail him out. The final verse ends with him talking about his sexual prowess and how he kicks back and enjoys life as a gangster.
Overall, Really Doe is a song that glamorizes gang life and reflects Ice Cube's reputation as a gangster rapper.
Line by Line Meaning
To G or not to G, is the question
Deciding whether to be a gangster or not
And like Smith told Wesson
As Smith said to his gun Wesson
I'm shady with the .380 old school diploma
I have a degree in being dangerous
I'll leave that ass in a coma, so
I'll leave you unconscious
If you got a herringbone, Welcome to the Terrordome
If you have a herringbone necklace, you're in danger
Two-eleven, sorry Reverend
Robbery in progress, sorry Reverend if you're there
Oh my god, gettin' robbed
Expressing surprise at being robbed
Reach for the smog, 'Atomic Dog'
Referencing the song Atomic Dog by George Clinton
Hard to swallow, janky as Rollo
Difficult to accept, fake like the character Rollo
Count to ten, and don't try to follow
Take a moment and don't try to pursue me
'Cause just like Waco, I can take fo'
I can take out a group like what happened in Waco
ATF, to they death
ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) agents are willing to die
Bust a left on Western, go and get a room
Turn left on Western and go rent a room
Don't want to be a felon like Stacey Koon
Don't want to be a criminal like Stacey Koon
Get the right bitch, hit the light switch, here we go
Find the right woman, turn off the lights, and let's get started
Tap that ass like this really doe
Have sex just like this really doe
(You gotta believe in somethin')
You need to have something to believe in
West Side Lynch Mob
A gang associated with Ice Cube
(Why not believe in me)
Why not believe in Ice Cube?
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
Because Ice Cube is a gangster
Thirty in a holdin' tank, catch the vapors
Being arrested and experiencing panic
Make me a pillow out of toilet paper
Using toilet paper as a pillow due to lack of comfort
Concrete bench kickin' off the hemorrhoids
The concrete bench is hard and uncomfortable
Eses deep, don't fuck with dem boys
Mexican gang members are deep and shouldn't be messed with
Phone check, collect call from the baller
A phone call to check in, a collect call from a rich person
Her mama said please don't call her
Someone's mother asked not to be called
Do-Wah-Diddy, far from New Jack City
Referencing the song Diddy Wa Diddy, and saying that the situation is not like New Jack City
Seen one of my peers, 'What the fuck you doin' in here?'
Surprised to see someone he knows in jail
He said, 'One-eighty-seven on the enemy
Saying he killed an enemy
And they treat me like I just shot a Kennedy!'
Treated harshly like the assassinator of John F. Kennedy
Deputy bitch thinks she's the Queen Bee
A female officer thinks she's in charge
Ink on my thumb, index, and pinky
Fingerprints
'Sir, what set you from?' Play dumb
Asked what gang he is affiliated with, pretending to not know
'General popu-la-tion'
In the general jail population
Mama put your house up, and I can bounce up
If someone's mother puts their house as bail, they can leave
Out this motherfucker, that's why I love ya
Leaving jail and loving freedom
Out like a boss, with a half-pint of sauce
Leaving like a boss, with a little bit of alcohol
Got the shit sewed up like Betsy Ross
Having everything under control like Betsy Ross sewing the American flag
What a friend know? Buy some indo
A friend suggests buying marijuana
Never fuck with a silly ho really doe
Don't mess with a promiscuous woman
Knock you out like NyQuil, I'll kill you quick
Putting someone to sleep like NyQuil, but also threatening to kill
You sucker-for-love-ass trick
A pejorative term for a foolish person in love
So don't run up, wit ya gun up
Don't approach with a gun
'Cause I got the back breaker, double pump rump shaker
Because I have a powerful punch
'Cause we can play hookie in the Aqua Boogie
We can have sex in the ocean
With concrete Nikes, ya gets no stripes
You won't gain any respect by being tough in jail
Livin' unforgiven with the mic on
Continuing to make music despite being criticized
And punks runnin' like roaches with the light on
Scared people running away
And that's all the shit I'm startin'
That's all the trouble I'm causing
Bust a cap (ka-kow-POW) like Jerome on Martin
Shooting a gun, like the character on the show Martin
You lookin' for a punk with benefits
Looking for a person who provides for you
'Cause you got a baby, that take many shits
Because you have a baby who needs frequent diaper changes
And you know I got a grip like a baby on a tit
I have a firm grip on things
Scopin', hopin', thighs open
Trying to seduce and have sex
But I kick back, six-pack, and hit the Phillie slow
I relax with beer and marijuana
Hooker ho really doe
A prostitute who you shouldn't mess with
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: George Clinton Jr., William Bootsy Collins, Larry Goodman, O'Shea Jackson, Gregory Jacobs, Derrick McDowell, Walter Morrison Jr., Normanjesse Whitfield
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ErickReyesRomeroBanks
To G or not to G, is the question
And like Smith told Wesson
I'm shady with the .380 old school diploma
I'll leave that ass in a coma, so
If you got a herringbone, Welcome to the Terrordome
Two-eleven, sorry Reverend
Oh my god, gettin' robbed
Reach for the smog, "Atomic Dog"
Hard to swallow, janky as Rollo
Count to ten, and don't try to follow
'Cause just like Waco, I can take fo'
ATF, to they death
Bust a left on Western, go and get a room
Don't want to be a felon like Stacey Koon
Get the right bitch, hit the light switch, here we go
Tap that ass like this really doe
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
Thirty in a holdin' tank, catch the vapors
Make me a pillow out of toilet paper
Concrete bench kickin' off the hemorrhoids
Eses deep, don't fuck with dem boys
Phone check, collect call from the baller
Her mama said please don't call her
Do-Wah-Diddy, far from New Jack City
Seen one of my peers, "What the fuck you doin' in here?"
He said, "One-eighty-seven on the enemy
And they treat me like I just shot a Kennedy!"
Deputy bitch thinks she's the Queen Bee
Ink on my thumb, index, and pinky
"Sir, what set you from?" Play dumb
"General popu-la-tion"
Mama put your house up, and I can bounce up
Out this motherfucker, that's why I love ya
Out like a boss, with a half-pint of sauce
Got the shit sewed up like Betsy Ross
What a friend know? Buy some indo
Never fuck with a silly ho really doe
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
Knock you out like NyQuil, I'll kill you quick
You sucker-for-love-ass trick
So don't run up, wit ya gun up
'Cause I got the back breaker, double pump rump shaker
'Cause we can play hookie in the Aqua Boogie
With concrete Nikes, ya gets no stripes
Livin' unforgiven with the mic on
And punks runnin' like roaches with the light on
And that's all the shit I'm startin'
Bust a cap (ka-kow-POW) like Jerome on Martin
You lookin' for a punk with benefits
'Cause you got a baby, that take many shits
And you know I got a grip like a baby on a tit
Scopin', hopin', thighs open
But I kick back, six-pack, and hit the Phillie slow
Hooker ho really doe
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
West Side Lynch Mob
(Why not believe in me)
'Cause I'm a motherfuckin' G
'Cause I'm a mother-fuckin'
Source: LyricFind
@RolandBishop1671
Whoever made this beat and mixed this track needs to be inducted into somebody's Hall of Fame. 🔥🔥🔥💯
@soulseeker970
Qd3 Quincy Jones son
@d5078
One of the greatest tracks ever made...EVERRRR!
@RJones-mr8he
Happy Belated Birthday Claudia Uua Assoc Ky BLM SayNoToDrugs Ky Nataliea Atlas La. AD San Diego, CA. NWA 😢
@nathaniellowry3861
Goes hard!!!
I remember listening to this in 96, thinking…yep! This is DOPE!!!!
@Chris_T_3rd_Ward_504
@@soulseeker970This was actually Laylaw. QD3 did the other two singles though
@RolandBishop1671
I can literally just let this sit on repeat. It gets fresher after every replay... I miss this era of rap
@derricknash1794
The beat is off the chain. One of Cubes best albums.
@typurnell5872
Yea dude this is my shit my favorite rapper
@artificialintelligence6107
This album was underrated.