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.
Who Got The Camera
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The flyway hey bitch you goin' my way?
Now I got a passenger
I look at the miniskirt now I'm askin' her
Would you like to hit the fat bud
Or perhaps should I run your name through the mud
I mean are you giving up the nappy dugout?
She said no well then get the fuck out
Plus your fat ass got my six deuce leanin'
Bust a U on the avenue
Why oh why there ain't shit to do
But then sir jinx played his mix
And you thought that shit played out in eighty six
Lookin' for my dogs
Looked up in the mirror being followed by the hogs
One time's on my motherfuckin' line
Why the fuck the swine had to get behind a nigga like me
They must think it's a G
They both walk up with the G-L-O-C
Started they investigation
No driver's license no registration
When I stepped out the car they slammed me
Goddamn ya'll who got the camera?
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Who got the camera?
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
No lights no camera no action
And the pigs wouldn't believe that my slave name was Jackson
He said don't lie to me
I'm lookin' for John, Matt, or Spike Lee
The motherfuckers called for back up
I guess they planned to beat the mack up
He called me a silly ass thug
And pulled out his Billy ass club
Tearin' up my coupe lookin' for the chronic
Goddamn nobody got a Panasonic
Found an empty can of old gold
Came around and put my ass in a choke hold
Fucked around and broke my pager
Then they hit a nigga with the taser
The motherfucking pigs were tryin' to hurt me
I fell to the floor and yelled Lord have mercy
Then they hit me in the face ya'll
But to them it ain't nuttin' but (a friendly game of base ball)
Crowd stood around I said goddamn ya
Who got the camera
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Who the fuck got the camera?
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
Oh please, oh please, oh please, just gimme just one more hit
I knew when I saw that deputy smirkin'
That they was gonna put some work in
Mr. Law had to hit me in the jaw
Cause I called them faggots with guns and badges
They played rat-a-tat-tat on me head
But if I had the gatty-gat-gat they'd be dead
A victim of a big fat 187
And little devils don't go to heaven
Last night there were eleven but they wasn't scarin' me
So they tried the flashlight therapy
I looked at the black one and called him a traitor
I don't give a fuck if you got a beta
Just take my fuckin' picture
So I can go downtown and bitch and pitch ya
The one that called me a spook
His name is officer David Duke
If the crowd weren't around they would've shot me
Tried to play me out like my name was Rodney
Fuckin' police gettin' badder
'Cause if I had a camera the shit wouldn't matter
(Bitch), uh who got my nine, who got my nine
Ya'll done did it this time, uh
Who the fuck got my nine?
The song "Who Got The Camera" by Ice Cube is a hard-hitting rap that discusses police brutality and racial profiling. In the first verse, Ice Cube talks about driving down the highway with a female passenger and pondering whether she wants to smoke weed or engage in sexual activity. He then ends up getting pulled over by the police, who search his car and violently arrest him. In the second verse, Ice Cube reflects on the incident and discusses how the police mistreated him and tried to take advantage of his lack of resources and power. He also calls out specific officers and critiques the institution of policing as a whole. The song is meant to shed light on the injustices facing Black Americans in the United States and to encourage listeners to stand up against racism and police brutality.
Line by Line Meaning
Drivin' down the motherfuckin' highway
I was driving down the highway.
The flyway hey bitch you goin' my way?
I saw a woman hitchhiking and asked her if she wanted a ride.
Now I got a passenger
She got into my car.
I look at the miniskirt now I'm askin' her
I noticed her short skirt and started talking to her.
Would you like to hit the fat bud
I offered her marijuana.
Or perhaps should I run your name through the mud
I threatened to ruin her reputation if she didn't have sex with me.
I mean are you giving up the nappy dugout?
I asked her if she was willing to have sex with me.
She said no well then get the fuck out
She declined my offer and I told her to leave my car.
Cause I know where the hoes be feinin'
I know where women who are willing to have sex can be found.
Plus your fat ass got my six deuce leanin'
She made my car lean to one side because she was so heavy.
Bust a you on the avenue
I drove through the street.
Why oh why there ain't shit to do
I was bored and looking for something to do.
But then sir jinx played his mix
I listened to some music by Sir Jinx.
And you thought that shit played out in eighty-six
I was surprised that the music was still popular.
Lookin' for my dogs
I was looking for my friends.
Looked up in the mirror being followed by the hogs
I saw police officers following me.
One time's on my motherfuckin' line
The police were calling me on the phone.
Why the fuck the swine had to get behind a nigga like me
I was upset that the police were targeting me because of my race.
They must thind I'm a gee
The police must think I'm a gangster.
They both walk up with the g. l. o. c.
The police officers had guns.
(Freeze! There was a robbery and the nigger looked just like you Now get out of the car with your hands up and legs spread)
The police accused me of a robbery and ordered me out of my car.
Started they investigation
The police began investigating me.
No driver's liscence no registration
I didn't have a driver's license or car registration.
When I stepped out the car they slammed me Goddamn ya'll who got the camera?
The police roughed me up and I asked if anyone had a camera to record it.
No lights no camera no action
No one was there to film the police abuse.
And the pigs wouldn't believe that my slave name was Jackson
The police didn't believe my name was Jackson.
He said don't lie to me
The police accused me of lying.
I'm lookin' for John, Matt, or Spike Lee
The police were looking for someone named John, Matt, or Spike Lee.
The motherfucker called for back up
The police called for additional officers.
I guess they planned to beat the mack up
The police were planning to beat me up.
He called me a silly ass thug
The police insulted me.
And pulled out his billy ass club
The police officer pulled out his baton.
Tearin' up my coupe lookin' for the chronic
The police searched my car for drugs.
Goddamn nobody got a panasonic
No one had a camera to record the police search.
Found an empty can of old gold
The police found an empty beer can.
Came around and put my ass in a choke hold
The police put me in a chokehold.
Fucked around and broke my pager
The police broke my pager.
Then they hit a nigga with the tazer
The police used a taser on me.
The motherfucking pigs were tryin' to hurt me
The police were intentionally hurting me.
I fell to the floor and yelled lord have mercy
I fell to the ground and prayed for help.
Then they hit me in the face ya'll
The police hit me in the face.
But to them it ain't nuttin' but (a friendly game of base ball)
The police considered their brutality to be a game.
Crowd stood around I said goddamn ya Who got the camera
People watched but no one had a camera to record the police brutality.
I knew when I saw that deputy smirkin'
I noticed a deputy was smirking at my situation.
That they were gonna put some work in
I knew the police were going to hurt me.
Mr. law had to hit me in the jaw
A police officer punched me in the face.
Cause I called them faggots with guns and badges
I insulted the police officers by calling them homophobic names.
They played rat-a-tat-tat on me head
The police hit me repeatedly.
But if I had the gatty-gat-gat they'd be dead
If I had a gun, I could have killed the police officers.
A victim of a big fat 187
I would have been a victim of a murder if I fought back with a gun.
And little devils don't go to heaven
People who commit murder go to hell.
Last night there were eleven but they were'nt scarin me
I wasn't scared of the eleven police officers who were hurting me the night before.
So they tried the flashlight therapy
The police used a flashlight to hurt me.
I looked at the black one and called him a traitor
I accused a Black police officer of betraying his race.
I don't give a fuck if you got a beta
I don't care if you have a better camera.
Just take my fuckin' picture
I want someone to take a picture of my injuries to use as evidence against the police.
So I can go downtown and bitch and pitch ya (?)
I want to show the picture in court to prove police brutality.
The one that called me a spook
The police officer who called me a racial slur.
His name is officer David Duke
The police officer shared a name with a well-known white supremacist.
If the crowd weren't around they would've shot me
The police would have shot me if there weren't any witnesses.
Tried to play me out like my name was rodney
The police tried to frame me like they did to Rodney King.
Fuckin' police gettin' badder
The police are becoming worse over time.
But if I had a camera the shit wouldn't matter
If I had a camera to record the police brutality, I could have used it in court to hold them accountable.
(bitch), uh who got my nine, who got my nine Ya'll done did it this time, uh Who the fuck got my nine
I'm angry and looking for my gun that the police took from me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Clarence Eugene Haskins, O'shea Jackson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Will i am
"For What It's Worth"
Buffalo Springfield
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking' their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "hooray for our side"
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
BMHWDY
Decades later and this song is still just as relevant as it was when it was recorded. The lack of progress is depressing.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT, RTD.
One of the best songs Cube ever did in his 32 years in the rap game. This was one of them songs on this album that if you didn't grow up in the 1990s you won't get a lot of the references in this song: Matty Rich, Spike Lee, John Singleton, Rodney King, David Duke, and Panasonic cameras.
Peter Darryl Slaughter
The beat is still hitting hard 2023 no doubt bang this in the hood.
Tee Dee
Still banging 26 years later. 💯
Peter Darryl Slaughter
2023 still hitting blowing wack rappers away.
Frederick Bowman
Yes sir! Rolled up in Spencer's and copped the T shirt!😁
Larry Green jr
6/7/20
Morpheus Prime
Indeed...
Saif Hussain
Nearly 30 years later this is still relevant. However, cameras don't seem to stop them at all #GeorgeFloyd
Me Only
Devils have one purpose in life and that's Murder