O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, … Read Full Bio ↴O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the seminal rap group N.W.A (Niggaz Wit Attitudes). After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he began both a successful solo music career and an acting career which included roles in films such as Boyz n the Hood (1991), Friday (1995), for which he also co-wrote the screenplay, and Barbershop (2002). Additionally, he has served as one of the producers of the Showtime television series Barbershop and the TBS series Are We There Yet?, both of which are based upon films in which he portrayed the main character.

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.

The Wolrld Is Mine
Ice Cube Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Repeat: x 4]
The world is mine (*whispered* the world is mine)

The world, belongs to me
Niggaz don't know my pedigree, W-S to the see
We be them hogs, that make it rain cats and dogs
We got the "Bud" just like them frogs

Now everybody on the West, show some love
And everybody on the East, respect the Corniche, it's not on lease
Breakin laws, swimmin through the water like Jaws
Gumby's pause, and take they drawers, no balls

God damnit, niggaz take my planet for granted I can't stand it
Catch a flight across the Atlantic
Step off the plane, nuttin but expense of the game
Bitch I'm rich you know my name, show me the cane

Now are you sure? One hundred percent pure
'Cause if it's not, believe me the shit gettin hot
I got a plot to make your whole family deaf dumb and blind
(tell em one more time) the world is mine

[Chorus: x 2]
The world is mine nigga, back up
I got's to get mine before I act up

It's a quarter to eight, I'm not finished my plate
I got a phone call to make, my niggaz tell me it's fake
Oh what a mistake, here's what I want you to break
Tie his feet with some weight, throw his ass in a lake

And then set up a date, between me and his mate
Tell her lobster and steak, and bitch don't be late
Oh the pussy was great, I'm still sealin your fate
'Cause you can't imitate, the nigga you love to hate

[Chorus]

Can I grin, show my fin, I'm down with mack 10
Dub-see, K-Dee, and Kausion
It don't stop, niggaz get to bowin a lot
When we enter the spot, look all the niggaz we got

Worldwide, nigga take a look outside
Got a brother named Clyde, he's like Jekyll and Hyde
Ice Cube is the lick, Westside is the click
(Can't get enough of this gangsta shit)

You want to check our cajones we got the feds up on us
We gotta roll on Daytonas because we know that they want us
And if they catch us in rap, it's a reasonable doubt
My niggaz pointin me out, my momma scream and she shout

But we got enough green, from our triple beam
To hire the prosecution, and the dream team
This world ain't nuttin but a dollar sign (ching ching)
I'm a partner in crime, the world is mine

[Chorus]

[Mack 10]
Yeah, you punk ass niggaz know the side, so check it
When you meet us, you better bring your heaters
Cause the only way you could beat us, is if you cheat us nigga

Chorus
[Mack 10]
We tight, ha hah
Where you from nigga?
Where you from nigga?

(tell them one mo' time)

[Repeat: x 4]
The world is mine

Ha ha ha, Westside

Overall Meaning

In "The World Is Mine," Ice Cube and Mack 10 assert their dominance over the rap world and beyond. The opening stanza sets the tone for the song, with Ice Cube boasting that he "owns" the world. He then goes on to say that people don't know his pedigree, but he is from W-S to the C, which stands for West Side to the Compton district in Los Angeles. The following lines affirm his gangsta status, indicating that he and his crew are the ones who make it rain ("Bud") like frogs and intimidate others, even Gumby, leaving them without any courage.

In the chorus, Ice Cube repeats that the world is his and warns anyone who tries to challenge him to back up. Mack 10 later comes in with a verse, rapping about the need to come equipped with guns if anyone wants to take them down. He also references Ice Cube's well-known feud with former N.W.A. member Eazy-E by using "Eazy does it" as a line in the song.

Line by Line Meaning

The world is mine (*whispered* the world is mine)
I own the world and all its riches

The world, belongs to me
I have a sense of entitlement over everything

Niggaz don't know my pedigree, W-S to the see
People underestimate me and my background

We be them hogs, that make it rain cats and dogs
We are wealthy and powerful

We got the "Bud" just like them frogs
We have access to marijuana

Now everybody on the West, show some love
People from the West need to respect me

And everybody on the East, respect the Corniche, it's not on lease
People from the East need to acknowledge my ownership of the world

Breakin laws, swimmin through the water like Jaws
I am able to break the law and get away with it

Gumby's pause, and take they drawers, no balls
Even weak people fear me

God damnit, niggaz take my planet for granted I can't stand it
I have a strong grip on the world and its people, and I won't tolerate anyone undermining that

Catch a flight across the Atlantic
I am wealthy enough to travel anytime, anywhere I want

Step off the plane, nuttin but expense of the game
I am willing to pay whatever it takes to get what I want

Bitch I'm rich you know my name, show me the cane
I am a rich, powerful person who demands respect

Now are you sure? One hundred percent pure
I will question anyone who tries to sell me drugs

'Cause if it's not, believe me the shit gettin hot
If someone tries to pull a scam on me, they will face severe consequences

I got a plot to make your whole family deaf dumb and blind
If someone crosses me, I will destroy them and everyone close to them

(tell em one more time) the world is mine
I own everything in the world

[Chorus: x 2]
Refrain/chant that emphasizes my claim to the world

Can I grin, show my fin, I'm down with mack 10
I am happy to show my teeth and my connection with my associates

Dub-see, K-Dee, and Kausion
Refers to Mack 10's associates

It don't stop, niggaz get to bowin a lot
People who know us bow down to us

When we enter the spot, look all the niggaz we got
We have a lot of people who follow us wherever we go

Worldwide, nigga take a look outside
Our influence and power is global

Got a brother named Clyde, he's like Jekyll and Hyde
We have some associates who are unpredictable and dangerous

Ice Cube is the lick, Westside is the click
Ice Cube is the leader of the Westside gang

(Can't get enough of this gangsta shit)
I am really into the life and culture of gang violence

You want to check our cajones we got the feds up on us
Even the government is aware of us and our power

We gotta roll on Daytonas because we know that they want us
We need to keep moving fast and frequently because the police are after us

And if they catch us in rap, it's a reasonable doubt
We are confident that we can defend ourselves in court if we get caught

My niggaz pointin me out, my momma scream and she shout
Even my friends and family are scared of me

But we got enough green, from our triple beam
We have plenty of money from selling drugs

To hire the prosecution, and the dream team
We have the resources to hire the best lawyers for our defense

This world ain't nuttin but a dollar sign (ching ching)
The only thing that matters in this world is money

I'm a partner in crime, the world is mine
I am a powerful criminal who has complete control over the world

[Chorus]
Refrain/chant that emphasizes my claim to the world

[Mack 10]
Mack 10's voice

Yeah, you punk ass niggaz know the side, so check it
You should know better than to mess with us

When you meet us, you better bring your heaters
You need to come prepared to fight us

Cause the only way you could beat us, is if you cheat us nigga
We are unbeatable unless our opponents cheat

Chorus
Refrain/chant that emphasizes my claim to the world

[Mack 10]
Mack 10's voice

We tight, ha hah
We are a close-knit group

Where you from nigga?
Where are you from?

(tell them one mo' time)
Repeat of the chorus

[Repeat: x 4]
Repeats the fact that the world is mine

Ha ha ha, Westside
The Westside gang is laughing at the world they own

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANTRON SINGLETON, MARVIN SELMON, O'SHEA JACKSON, RICARDO THOMAS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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