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.
Westside Slaughterhouse
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Microphone check i.o. from the west coast beller and tella
I cuss like a sella when you see her she's a gonna
Moved to California blew the bitch up put the gangsta twist on
Her sunny southern cal it never snows
Niggas yelling ha's and ho's we dumping out of 64's
When it comes to the gun play we vets
It's west coast foe life no crew only sets
[Ice Cube]
It's the dog breathing through the smog
I'm a hog of this gangster shit
Don of the click
All you suckers want to dis the pacific
But you buster niggas never get specific
Used to love her mad cause we fucked
Her pussy whipped bitch with no common sense
Hip hop started in the west
Ice cube bailing through the east without a vest
[W.C]
Now as I look to my riznight and to my left
I see motherfuckers staring like they wanna step
So I'm grabbing my rusty screw driver
In case I got to cut ya deeper than Vanessa Del Rio's vagina
Find another crew of niggas that can fuck with this
Lyrical bully given verbal bruises to crews fool
You must be on dick dope and dynamite
How you figure speed on before you get peed on nigga
[Mack 10]
Fool what side is you
Red or the blue
While as the l.a. zoo it's round two
I ignite grab the mic tight strike like a rattle bring
Rhymes and nines to the motherfucking battle
So sun down to sun up run up with my gun up
All brakes get to pumping
They know a nigga dumping
You dred like a rasta when I lock like a terrier
Mack 10 the nigga with the heat that I'll berry ya
[Ice Cube]
Oh ah,oh ah, do a walk by and watch everybody die
Niggas into gangs things and narcotics
Freak bitches riches and hydrolics
Pull heat knock you off yo feet
Clear the whole block both sides of the street
Even crips and bloods hear my thuds
Fee fy foe fum a nigga where you from west side
[W.C.]
Fuck all you niggas I'm yelling
This is mad circle to the fullest everybody 187um
Toons play the piano fuck a battle
I'm socking rappers like mad man Santiago
Cause you niggas ain't impressing me plus you singing big red records
So nigga fuck what you telling me
Sit down jr. you couldn't see me if you wanted to
Look y?all it Mack 10, cube and the double you
[Mack 10]
I just had a scrap fo the neighborhood Inglewood stereotype
Got to deal with the hype
Known to kick back with the fat sack fuck that
Where my gat at nigga tripping off my bulls hat
About to let loose with the chrome tray dude 5 shots
And I put holes in yo bandanna
I push a Benz you still rolling gs
So nigga miss me with the set trip
And start slanging keys
[Ice Cube]
When I say itchy citchy
Niggas get bitchy bitchy cause they heard of ah
Natural born murder-ah
I'm like Frankenstein is spanking time
Laying in the sunshine
With only one nine
Now who wants to bust with the never rust
Going platinum plus every time I cuss
So fuck the whole world black niggas
Better hope I don?t grow my Jeri Curl back
[W.C.]
Stepper murder-a stepping out a Chevrolet
Sporting a beanie like Marvin Gaye
Stalking walking in my big black chuck's
Standing tall in your freestyle session holding my balls
I'm peeping game like a ref in '95
Cause niggas be foul and biten other niggas styles
But if you're biten this you better bring a dentist
Cause sucking these balls ah give yo ass lock jaws
[Mack 10]
Which way shall I go nigga what should I do
Should I bang with the red should I truce with the blue
Should I rock dope beats grab the mic and stay down
Or should I shoot out of town and flip this pound
Shit I never knew that my nuts ah get bigger
Checking major figures I'm hanging with platinum niggas
It's Mack 10 and I'm Inglewood swinging
No time for banging
But still got my cackeys hanging
[Ice cube]
Fuck one love it's the bloody glove killing honkey hoes
Leaving blood stains on broncos
In a hertz rental I drive on the 405
Is he dead or alive
Motherfucking court took another snort
Jumping over chairs as I run through the airport
So I can catch a flight away from the drama
Number 32 chilling in the Bahamas
[W.C.]
Sucky ducky quack niggas ain't knowing how to act
Sucker ducks play the back
Nigga use to dis now it's turning around and like brandy
Motherfuckers wanna be down
With this west coast rap game I can give a fuck
If you wasn't down at first you can buck these nuts
Transformers get stole on boom (boom)
Get the picture killer cali home of the body bags nigga
Westside [Repeat: x2]
The lyrics to Ice Cube/Mack 10/WC’s song “Westside Slaughterhouse” are a depiction of life on the west coast, with each rapper sharing their stories of the gangster lifestyle, gunplay, and living on the edge. Mack 10 starts with a reference to moving to California and adding a “gangsta twist” to sunny Southern Cal, where niggas yell “ha’s and ho’s” while dumping out of 64’s. Ice Cube follows with his signature flow, boasting of being the don of the rap game and taking shots at anybody who wants to diss the Pacific, the birthplace of hip hop. W.C. adds his flair to the mix, grabbing his rusty screwdriver in case he has to cut somebody deeper than Vanessa Del Rio's vagina. The lyrics are all explicit and raw, capturing the essence of west coast gangster rap.
Line by Line Meaning
Microphone check i.o. from the west coast beller and tella
Testing the microphone, representing the West Coast loud and clear
I cuss like a sella when you see her she's a gonna
I curse like a sailor, and when you encounter her, it's trouble
Moved to California blew the bitch up put the gangsta twist on
Relocated to California and made a huge impact with a gangster flair
Her sunny southern cal it never snows
In the sunny Southern California, it never snows
Niggas yelling ha's and ho's we dumping out of 64's
Men shouting with excitement, shooting out of classic 1964 cars
When it comes to the gun play we vets
When it involves guns, we are experienced veterans
It's west coast foe life no crew only sets
We are loyal to the West Coast for life, representing individual neighborhoods rather than larger groups
It's the dog breathing through the smog
I, Ice Cube, am the dominant force persevering through challenges
I'm a hog of this gangster shit
I excel and dominate in this gangster lifestyle
Don of the click
I am the leader and influential figure of my group
All you suckers want to dis the pacific
All the haters want to disrespect the West Coast
But you buster niggas never get specific
However, you cowards never provide clear details or evidence
Used to love her mad cause we fucked
I used to have intense feelings for a woman because we had a sexual relationship
Her pussy whipped bitch with no common sense
She was heavily influenced by sexual activity and lacked intelligence
Hip hop started in the west
Hip hop originated in the West Coast
Ice cube bailing through the east without a vest
I, Ice Cube, am venturing into the East Coast without any protection
Now as I look to my riznight and to my left
As I glance to my right and my left
I see motherfuckers staring like they wanna step
I notice individuals looking at me with apparent intent to engage in conflict
So I'm grabbing my rusty screw driver
Therefore, I'm reaching for my old, worn-out screwdriver
In case I got to cut ya deeper than Vanessa Del Rio's vagina
In case I need to harm you severely, beyond the depths of Vanessa Del Rio's vagina
Find another crew of niggas that can fuck with this
Try to locate a different group of individuals who can match our skills and abilities
Lyrical bully given verbal bruises to crews fool
I am a lyrical bully inflicting verbal damage on other rap groups
You must be on dick dope and dynamite
You must be under the influence of drugs and extreme aggression
How you figure speed on before you get peed on nigga
How do you assume superiority before getting completely dominated and humiliated?
Fool what side is you
Which side do you belong to?
Red or the blue
Are you affiliated with the red or blue side?
While as the l.a. zoo it's round two
In the chaotic environment of Los Angeles, it's another intense round
I ignite grab the mic tight strike like a rattle bring
I confidently seize the mic, striking with force similar to a rattlesnake's bite
Rhymes and nines to the motherfucking battle
I bring both lyrical prowess and firearms to confrontations
So sun down to sun up run up with my gun up
From dusk till dawn, I am prepared to confront any situation with my firearm ready
All brakes get to pumping
Everyone becomes alert and ready for action
They know a nigga dumping
They are aware that I will open fire
You dred like a rasta when I lock like a terrier
You become anxious and fearful when I focus on you like a determined dog
Mack 10 the nigga with the heat that I'll berry ya
Mack 10, the guy with the firearm, will bury you
Oh ah,oh ah, do a walk by and watch everybody die
Watch as I casually stroll past, witnessing the death of multiple individuals
Niggas into gangs things and narcotics
People are involved in gang activities, material possessions, and drug dealing
Freak bitches riches and hydrolics
They are also obsessed with promiscuous women, wealth, and hydraulic car systems
Pull heat knock you off yo feet
I draw firearms and knock you down
Clear the whole block both sides of the street
We cause chaos and evacuate the entire neighborhood
Even crips and bloods hear my thuds
Even members of rival gangs recognize and respect my impact
Fee fy foe fum a nigga where you from west side
I use a playful rhyme while intimidating individuals, asserting my affiliation with the West Side
Fuck all you niggas I'm yelling
I disrespect and disregard all of you individuals while expressing frustration
This is mad circle to the fullest everybody 187um
I am representing my crew, Mad Circle, completely, and everyone is ready to murder (slang for killing)
Toons play the piano fuck a battle
My associates skillfully handle musical matters, disregarding any confrontations
I'm socking rappers like mad man Santiago
I aggressively attack and defeat other rappers, similar to Mad Man Santiago
Cause you niggas ain't impressing me plus you singing big red records
You individuals don't impress me, and you're associated with a record label I regard as insignificant
So nigga fuck what you telling me
I don't care about your opinions or what you try to tell me
Sit down jr. you couldn't see me if you wanted to
Calm down, junior. You have no chance of matching me or my abilities
Look y?all it Mack 10, cube and the double you
Pay attention, everyone. It's Mack 10, Cube, and W.C. (Westside Connection)
I just had a scrap fo the neighborhood Inglewood stereotype
I recently had a minor skirmish, reinforcing the stereotype associated with Inglewood
Got to deal with the hype
I have to face all the attention and expectations
Known to kick back with the fat sack fuck that
I'm famous for relaxing with a large quantity of marijuana, but I don't care about that
Where my gat at nigga tripping off my bulls hat
I'm concerned about the location of my firearm, while other individuals focus on my Chicago Bulls hat
About to let loose with the chrome tray dude 5 shots
I am about to fire my chrome-plated firearm, releasing five shots
And I put holes in yo bandanna
I shoot and create bullet holes in your bandanna
I push a Benz you still rolling gs
I drive a luxury Mercedes-Benz while you are still driving inexpensive GS model cars
So nigga miss me with the set trip
Don't involve me in any neighborhood rivalry or conflict
And start slanging keys
Instead, start selling drugs
When I say itchy citchy
When I mention feeling irritated or agitated
Niggas get bitchy bitchy cause they heard of ah
People become hostile, scared, or worried because of my reputation
Natural born murder-ah
I am naturally inclined to kill and cause harm
I'm like Frankenstein is spanking time
I am comparable to Frankenstein's monster, punishing individuals
Laying in the sunshine
Relaxing in a relaxed, carefree manner
With only one nine
With just a single 9mm firearm
Now who wants to bust with the never rust
Now, who wants to challenge someone who never becomes rusty or weak?
Going platinum plus every time I cuss
I achieve tremendous success every time I release vulgar, explicit content
So fuck the whole world black niggas
I have a disrespectful attitude towards everyone, especially black people
Better hope I don?t grow my Jeri Curl back
They should pray that I don't revert to my previous Jeri Curl hairstyle
Stepper murder-a stepping out a Chevrolet
I, W.C., a murderer, step out of a Chevrolet vehicle
Sporting a beanie like Marvin Gaye
Wearing a hat similar to Marvin Gaye's style
Stalking walking in my big black chuck's
Moving around confidently in my black Chuck Taylor sneakers
Standing tall in your freestyle session holding my balls
Asserting dominance in freestyle rap contests while confidently grabbing my genitals
I'm peeping game like a ref in '95
I am carefully observing and analyzing the situation, similar to a referee in 1995
Cause niggas be foul and biten other niggas styles
Because individuals are disrespectful and unoriginal, copying others' styles
But if you're biten this you better bring a dentist
But if you're copying this style, be prepared for the consequences
Cause sucking these balls ah give yo ass lock jaws
Because pleasuring me orally will leave your mouth unable to open due to extreme tightness
Which way shall I go nigga what should I do
I am undecided on which path to follow or what actions to take
Should I bang with the red should I truce with the blue
Should I engage in conflict with the red side or establish peace with the blue side
Should I rock dope beats grab the mic and stay down
Should I produce great music, take command of the microphone, and remain committed
Or should I shoot out of town and flip this pound
Or should I leave this city quickly and sell a significant amount of drugs
Shit I never knew that my nuts ah get bigger
I didn't expect that my influence and power would continue to grow
Checking major figures I'm hanging with platinum niggas
Connecting with influential people and spending time with highly successful individuals
It's Mack 10 and I'm Inglewood swinging
I, Mack 10, represent Inglewood with style and confidence
No time for banging
I don't have time for engaging in conflicts
But still got my cackeys hanging
However, I continue to proudly display my large, baggy pants
Fuck one love it's the bloody glove killing honkey hoes
I reject the concept of universal love, and instead embrace violence against white women
Leaving blood stains on broncos
Leaving physical evidence of bloodshed on Ford Broncos
In a hertz rental I drive on the 405
I drive a rental car from Hertz on the 405 freeway
Is he dead or alive
The question arises whether an individual is deceased or alive
Motherfucking court took another snort
A drug-addicted individual takes another line of cocaine
Jumping over chairs as I run through the airport
Running through the airport, leaping over obstacles like chairs
So I can catch a flight away from the drama
In order to escape from all the conflict and chaos
Number 32 chilling in the Bahamas
Referring to a person or themselves as number 32, relaxing in the Bahamas
Sucky ducky quack niggas ain't knowing how to act
Incompetent individuals don't know how to behave or handle themselves
Sucker ducks play the back
Inadequate people remain in the background
Nigga use to dis now it's turning around and like brandy
People used to disrespect me, but now the situation has reversed, just like the singer Brandy
Motherfuckers wanna be down
Certain individuals suddenly want to associate themselves with me
With this west coast rap game I can give a fuck
I am uninterested and don't care about this West Coast rap industry
If you wasn't down at first you can buck these nuts
If you weren't supportive from the beginning, you can disregard my opinions or actions
Transformers get stole on boom (boom)
Individuals who pretend or act differently are swiftly dealt with
Get the picture killer cali home of the body bags nigga
Understand the situation, California is where people get killed and put into body bags
Westside [Repeat: x2]
Acknowledging the West Side multiple times
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, WILLIAM CALHOUN, HENRIK (DR. JAM) RASMUSSEN, RASMUS BERG, JESPER DAHL, NICHOLAS KVARAN, DEDRICK ROLISON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind