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.
Record Company Pimpin'
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A nigga told me the record company's the pimp
The artist is the hoe The stage is the corner
And the audience is the trip, god damn
(verse one) {:21}
Incredible young nigga
God damn I've gotten bigger
Intellect superior
Walk in a room and make the whole interior inferior
If you look me in my eyes
You might fuck around and loose control of your mind body and your soul
Grab a hold
Undisputed on the microphone, what you think
If you wink, I'll make you extinct
Did you blink, did you ever drink your own brain matter
Shotgun enema, this ain't no cinema
All praises due to the creator
For this man here, that can't no nigga stand near
True, inventor of the 'W'
What You want to do, I got the red and the blue
Show me one nigga dedicated to raps
I'll show you ten niggas dedicated to snaps
Record company death traps settin' decoys
Just to pimp young b-boys
With a cup full of yak, studio contact
Maniac with a contract
Well turn up the bass and the motherfuckin' treble
About to do a deal with the devil for my vocal level
Bullshit points, plus he want to rub it in
And take all my publishin', god damn
Do i take it up the rectum
Just to rock the spectrum
Give up a right arm, just to do a form
Hell no, all you motherfuckers goin' leave this bitch limpin'
No more, record company pimpin'
No more (No more), record company pimpin'
No more (No more), record company pimpin'
No more (No more), record company pimpin'
No more, no more, no more, no more
You ain't pimpin' me (uh uh, uh uh)
I ain't pimpin' you (uh uh, uh)
I just want to be free (I just want to be free)
So what we gonna do (can i holla at you, holla at you)
You ain't pimpin' me (please listen to my demo)
I ain't pimpin' you (please listen to my demo)
I just want to be free (I just want to be free)
So what we gonna do (can I holla at you, holla at you)
I'ma keep it simple, it went from "please listen to my demo"
To "get your ass out my limo"
Stretch presidential
It's essential 'cause the record company will have your ass in a rental
If you let 'em, You have to behead 'em
Contracts you never read 'em
CEO's you never met 'em
Sent to an attorney, Burnstein and Burney
Nigga that's his lawyer, ain't got nothin' for ya
Treat ya like they employer, I'm a warrior
Bite you in the ass like a Georgetown Hoyas
When they ignore ya cause, you got to hold your balls
Catch a motherfucker slippin' in bathroom stalls
And then you show 'em that you ain't a rookie
Let 'em know that you'd rather have, more points than more pussy
Pimp turned bookie
Now how the fuck I get in so much debt
God damn, we just met
He said, welcome to the rap game
Motherfucker be confused and broke before he know what's happenin'
You can be the star and fuck women
I'm a just play the back and keep pimpin'
No more (no more), record company pimpin'
No more (no more), record company pimpin'
No more (no more), record company pimpin'
No more, no more, no more, no more
You ain't pimpin' me (please listen to my demo)
I ain't pimpin' you (please listen to my demo)
I just want to be free (i just want to be free)
So what we gonna do (i got to holla at you, holla at you)
You ain't pimpin' me (uh uh, uh uh)
I ain't pimpin' you (uh uh, uh uh)
I just want to be free (I just want to be free)
So what we gonna do (can I holla at you, holla at you)
[Repeat: x 4]
It went from please listen to my demo
To get your ass out my limo
[Outro]
Mama's, don't let your kids grow up to be rappers
Unless you tell them if they gonna get in this business
They better learn this business
Or they goan get fucked
Simple as that
Simple as that
In "Record Company Pimpin'," Ice Cube uses the metaphor of the record company as a pimp and the artist as the prostitute to criticize the exploitative practices of the music industry. He starts off by saying that someone told him that the record company is the pimp, the artist is the hoe, the stage is the corner, and the audience is the trip. By saying this, he indicates that the music industry uses artists to make a profit by exploiting their talents, much like a pimp exploits prostitutes to make money.
Throughout the song, Ice Cube boasts of his talents as a rapper but also points out the manipulative tactics that record companies use to take advantage of their artists, emphasizing the importance of reading contracts and understanding the music business to avoid being exploited. He also notes that record labels often use young artists as decoys and lure them with drugs and contracts, leading to debt and confusion. In the end, Ice Cube concludes that he will not be "pimped" by the music industry and urges aspiring rappers to learn the business side of music to avoid being taken advantage of.
Line by Line Meaning
Please listen to my demo [Repeats: x 8]
The singer is starting out by referencing their demo, which is a recording they have made in hopes of getting signed to a record label.
A nigga told me the record company's the pimp
The singer is relaying what they have been told: that the record company is like a pimp in that they control the artist like a prostitute.
The artist is the hoe, The stage is the corner, And the audience is the trip, god damn
The singer is comparing the roles of the different players in the music industry to a sex worker, their place of work, and their clients, respectively.
Incredible young nigga, You can't believe I'm just one nigga, God damn I've gotten bigger, Intellect superior
The artist is asserting their confidence in their skills and abilities.
Walk in a room and make the whole interior inferior, If you look me in my eyes, You might fuck around and loose control of your mind body and your soul, Grab a hold,Undisputed on the microphone, what you think, If you wink, I'll make you extinct
The artist is expressing their dominance and skill in their craft, warning anyone who challenges them that they will be defeated.
Did you blink, did you ever drink your own brain matter, Shotgun enema, this ain't no cinema, All praises due to the creator
The singer is using vivid and violent imagery to emphasize their power and skill, while also acknowledging a higher power.
For this man here, that can't no nigga stand near, True inventor of the 'W', What You want to do, I got the red and the blue, Show me one nigga dedicated to raps, I'll show you ten niggas dedicated to snaps
The singer is boasting about their success and dedication to their craft, while also criticizing others who prioritize superficial success over their art.
Record company death traps settin' decoys, Just to pimp young b-boys, With a cup full of yak, studio contact, Maniac with a contract
The artist is criticizing record companies for taking advantage of young and talented artists by luring them in with money and promises of success, only to exploit them.
Well turn up the bass and the motherfuckin' treble, About to do a deal with the devil for my vocal level, Bullshit points, plus he want to rub it in, And take all my publishin', god damn
The artist is expressing frustration at the pressure to compromise their art and give up their creative control in order to make a deal with a record company, who will take all the credit and profit from their work.
Do i take it up the rectum, Just to rock the spectrum, Give up a right arm, just to do a form, Hell no, all you motherfuckers goin' leave this bitch limpin', No more, record company pimpin', No more (No more), record company pimpin', No more, no more, no more, no more, You ain't pimpin' me (uh uh, uh uh), I ain't pimpin' you (uh uh, uh), I just want to be free (I just want to be free), So what we gonna do (can i holla at you, holla at you), You ain't pimpin' me (please listen to my demo), I ain't pimpin' you (please listen to my demo), So what we gonna do (can I holla at you, holla at you)
The artist refuses to give in to the pressures and exploitation of the music industry, and calls for others to do the same. They want to be free to create their art without being controlled and manipulated by record companies.
I'ma keep it simple, it went from "please listen to my demo", To "get your ass out my limo", Stretch presidential, It's essential 'cause the record company will have your ass in a rental, If you let 'em, You have to behead 'em, Contracts you never read 'em, CEO's you never met 'em, Sent to an attorney, Burnstein and Burney, Nigga that's his lawyer, ain't got nothin' for ya, Treat ya like they employer, I'm a warrior, Bite you in the ass like a Georgetown Hoyas, When they ignore ya cause, you got to hold your balls, Catch a motherfucker slippin' in bathroom stalls, And then you show 'em that you ain't a rookie, Let 'em know that you'd rather have, more points than more pussy, Pimp turned bookie, Now how the fuck I get in so much debt, God damn, we just met, He said, welcome to the rap game, Motherfucker be confused and broke before he know what's happenin', You can be the star and fuck women, I'm a just play the back and keep pimpin'
The singer is sharing their story of being taken advantage of by a record company and realizing the importance of reading contracts and standing up for oneself. They also criticize the idea that success must come at the cost of exploiting or objectifying women, and reject the idea of being pimped by the industry.
Mama's, don't let your kids grow up to be rappers, Unless you tell them if they gonna get in this business, They better learn this business, Or they goan get fucked, Simple as that, Simple as that
The artist ends with a warning to aspiring artists, urging them to educate themselves about the industry so as to avoid being exploited and used by record companies.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TYRONE CRUM, KEITH D. HARRISON, ROBERT JR. NEAL, ROGER PARKER, CLARENCE SATCHELL, RALPH E. AIKENS, STEPHEN ANDERSON, ERICK SERMON, PARRISH JOSEPH SMITH, O'SHEA JACKSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Por favor escucha mi demo Un negro me dijo, la compañía discográfica es el proxeneta El artista es el ho, el escenario es la esquina Y la audiencia es el truco, maldita sea [Verso 1] Increíble joven negro, no puedes creer que soy solo un negro Maldita sea, me he hecho más grande Intelecto superior Entra en una habitación y haz que todo el interior sea inferior. Si me miras a los ojos Podrías joder y perder el control De tu mente, cuerpo y alma, agárrate Indiscutible en el micrófono, ¿qué piensas? Si guiñas, te haré pensar ¿Parpadeaste, alguna vez bebiste tu propia materia cerebral? Enema de escopeta, esto no es cine Todas las alabanzas para el creador.
-para este hombre aquí, que no puede ningún nigga estar cerca-Es cierto, inventor de la W Whatchu quiero hacer, tengo el rojo y el azul Muéstrame un negro dedicado a los raps Te mostraré diez negros dedicados a las instantáneas Trampas mortales de la compañía discográfica colocando señuelos Solo para proxeneta a los jóvenes b-boys Con una taza llena de yak, contacto de estudio. Maniaco con contrato Bueno, sube el bajo y los malditos agudos A punto de hacer un trato con el diablo por mi nivel vocal Puntos de mierda, además de que quiere restregarlo Y toma todas mis publicaciones, maldita sea ¿Lo tomo por el recto? Solo para sacudir el espectro Renunciar a un brazo derecho, solo para hacer la forma Diablos, no, todos ustedes hijos de puta van a dejar a esta perra cojeando No más, compañía discográfica pimpin ' [Coro] No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más, no más, no más, no más No me estás proxeneta (uhn uhh, uhn uhh) No te estoy proponiendo (uhn uhh, uhn uhh) Solo quiero ser libre (solo quiero ser libre) Entonces, ¿qué vamos a hacer? (¿Puedo saludarte, hola?) No me estás proxeneta (por favor escucha mi demo) No te estoy proponiendo (por favor escucha mi demo) Solo quiero ser libre (solo quiero ser libre) Entonces, ¿qué vamos a hacer? (¿Puedo saludarte, hola?) [Verso 2] Lo mantendré simple, pasó de "por favor, escuche mi demostración" Para "sacar tu trasero de mi limusina" Estirar presidencial Es esencial porque la compañía discográfica te pondrá el culo en un alquiler Si los dejas, tienes que decapitarlos Contratos que nunca los lees CEO, nunca los conociste Enviado a un abogado, Burnstein y Burney Nigga, ese es su abogado, no tiene nada para ti Te trata como si te emplearan, soy un guerrero Muerde el culo como un Georgetown Hoya Cuando te ignoran porque tienes que sujetarte las pelotas Atrapa a un hijo de puta resbalando en los baños Y luego les demuestras que no eres un novato Hágales saber que preferiría tener más puntos que más coño Chulo convertido en corredor de apuestas Ahora, ¿cómo diablos me endeudo tanto? Maldita sea, nos acabamos de conocer Dijo: "Bienvenido al juego del rap" Hijo de puta estar confundido y arruinado antes de que sepa lo que está pasando Puedes ser la estrella y follarte a las mujeres Voy a tocar la parte de atrás y seguir pinchando [Coro] No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más (No más), compañía discográfica pimpin ' No más, no más, no más, no más No me estás proxeneta (uhn uhh, uhn uhh) No te estoy proponiendo (uhn uhh, uhn uhh) Solo quiero ser libre (solo quiero ser libre) Entonces, ¿qué vamos a hacer? (¿Puedo saludarte, hola?) No me estás proxeneta (por favor escucha mi demo) No te estoy proponiendo (por favor escucha mi demo) Solo quiero ser libre (solo quiero ser libre) Entonces, ¿qué vamos a hacer? (¿Puedo saludarte, hola?) [Puente] Pasó de por favor escuche mi demo Para sacar tu trasero de mi limusina Pasó de por favor escuche mi demo Para sacar tu trasero de mi limusina Pasó de por favor escuche mi demo Para sacar tu trasero de mi limusina Pasó de por favor escuche mi demo Para sacar tu trasero de mi limusina [Outro] Mamá, no dejes que tus hijos se conviertan en raperos A menos que les digas si van a meterse en este negocio Será mejor que aprendan este negocio O van a ser jodidos Simple como eso Simple como esovolume_up
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A name
Based on Paul in the Bible combined with the history of Rome further combined with our history, it’s the power dynamic that’s the problem; not one social group or another. Who is in power? Capitalists: the pimp. Who’s exploited by them? The ho’s: us. The metaphor broadens. Cube is a deep dude, but some are wrested by people from the truth.
Sorry, I’m ramblin’ and got no one to talk to. May these pimps stop pimpin’ so people can better connect in communities beyond the divisions of capitalist society. It wrests us away from loving our neighbors for who they are; to see eye to eye for an exodus beyond capitalist rule as a pimp-ho relation.
Regardless of the sexuality in question, the dynamic is there: exploitation, in the socioeconomic sense. The gays aren’t all that is there, but a lack of economic justice prevents us all from unity among all peoples to become a people.
I ask: Who owns who? A capitalist own’s his servants in my view of society.
I hope all is well for you and y’all here. Peace!
Jerry Aultman
One of Ice Cube's most under rated songs ever..
AnAwkwardLife
Facts💯💯💯
LaChele
You cannot go wrong with that sample. All aspiring artists need to listen to this song. Maybe rethink or just go head in. He really laid it all out on the line.
Iam Mz juicy
I agree with you 💯%
Stylie
Faze O Ridin High
Joshua Durham
Ice cube is genius
Dom Mcbride
this my shit. ice cube is truly a lyricsist
Scott Squared Media
This is easily my favorite Ice Cube song
Charles B.
Why is this dude so underrated?! My all time favorite rapper
marcojojoba
i love this song ,plus the final ''you aint from LA'' ,i laugh the 1st time and i still laugh now like a mf , i love cube he always talk the truth ,real artist AND real man