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.
Why Me
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why the fuck you wanna murder me?
Your punk ass never heard of me
I never did nothin' to your family
Still you wanna kill a young nigga randomly
You wanna take the life God handed to me
Send it back to him cause you ain't a fan to me
Scary bitch with a gun that ain't a man to me
A fucking cannibal
I'm Duranimo and Hannibal
We international Gangsta bull
I'm bull and Barcelona, with a Corona
You a fake ass nigga, where's ya owner?
I'm real live man, you a persona
Now I'm a goner, call ma momma, in the corner
Mister gun man, your plan is working
Cause niggas is dieing and mommas is hurting
[Chorus]
Why you wanna murder me?
You never ever heard of me
You don't know who I am
I could be part of your family tree
Now
Sent by G.O.D
To save the word you and me
You never know who you facin'
Who ya chasin'
The life you wastin'
[Verse 2]
I was made by the one and only G.O.D
To take my life to the T.O.P
Now here comes a motherfuckin' D.O.G
Who ain't happy til a nigga is R.I.P
Tryin' to be somethin' you saw on BET
Either T.I.P or B.I.G
I don't give a fuck what you saw on TV
But a 187 don't make a O.G.
I'm a O.G
Never had to fake it
God gave me this, how you goin' take it
What you goin' tell 'em, when you get to heaven
When he asks you why did you send back his present.
Who the fuck are you, you motherfucking peasant
Even got the nerve to ask the man for a blessing.
Send his ass to Hades with his big Mercedes
Nigga, hell on earth is being stuck in the 80's
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Before you shoot me man think about it
Lets go have a drink about it
Before you make a stink about it
Man lets talk about it
Maybe we can walk about it.
But just don't be a coward
And take my life 'cause you got the power
Of the white mans gun powder
Cause you might face a gun tower.
And time never run out,
They take the fun out, til your life run out.
So don't pull your gun out,
If you ever want a house, just like Run's house.
It's better than a big house,
Less four-five some woman we can dig out,
Find a place we can dig out,
Party all night til the owner say 'get out'
[Chorus]
Dedicated to all the niggas, that's dead and don't know why.
Who wanna look at the nigga who shot 'em
And ask these questions.
Why me homie? Why me?
In "Why Me" by Ice Cube, he explores the concept of senseless violence and asks why someone would want to murder him. He questions the motivations of individuals who seek to harm him despite not having any personal connections or wrongdoings towards them. Cube mentions his identity as an international gangsta and a real-life man, while his attacker is a fake persona with a gun that he finds cowardly. Cube touches on the fact that he was created by God and has a purpose in life, while his attacker is merely taking away what God has given him. He appeals to the attacker's humanity, hoping that they can discuss the situation or walk it over peacefully, rather than killing him.
The song touches on themes of violence and the impact it has on communities and families. Ice Cube reveals the frustration he feels as a victim of violence and the pain he imagines his family would feel if he were to be killed. The chorus of the song calls for an end to senseless violence and urges attackers to consider the life they are about to take before acting on it.
Line by Line Meaning
Why the fuck you wanna murder me?
Why do you want to take my life without any reason or provocation?
Your punk ass never heard of me
You don't even know who I am, but still want to kill me.
I never did nothin' to your family
I have never done anything to harm your family, so I don't deserve to be harmed by you.
Still you wanna kill a young nigga randomly
Even though I haven't harmed you, you still want to randomly take the life of a young black man.
You wanna take the life God handed to me
You want to take the life that God gave to me.
Send it back to him cause you ain't a fan to me
You want to send me back to God because you are not a fan of me.
Scary bitch with a gun that ain't a man to me
You are a cowardly person with a gun, and I don't consider you a real man.
That's an animal, A fucking cannibal
You are an animal, a savage that wants to satisfy their hunger by killing me.
I'm Duranimo and Hannibal
I am like the great Native American warrior Geronimo and the Carthaginian General Hannibal – both fearless and formidable.
We international Gangsta bull
Our strength and reputation as gangsters is not limited to just one country or region.
I'm bull and Barcelona, with a Corona
I am strong and powerful, like a bull in the city of Barcelona, and I'm drinking a Corona to show my dominance.
You a fake ass nigga, where's ya owner?
You are a fake person, and I'm wondering who put you in charge.
I'm real live man, you a persona
I am a real person, while you are just putting on a fake image or persona.
Now I'm a goner, call ma momma, in the corner
Now that you have killed me, call my mother and let her know I'm dead and buried in a corner somewhere.
Mister gun man, your plan is working
The person with the gun has achieved their goal of killing someone, and their plan is working.
Cause niggas is dieing and mommas is hurting
As a result of this violence, people are dying and their mothers are left with grief and pain.
Why you wanna murder me?
Why do you have the desire to kill me?
You never ever heard of me
You don't even know who I am.
You don't know who I am
You have no idea who I am or what I'm capable of.
I could be part of your family tree
We could be related, and you still want to kill me.
Sent by G.O.D
I was sent by God to fulfill a particular purpose, but now my life has been taken away.
To save the word you and me
My purpose was to make a positive impact on the world, but that opportunity has been taken away.
You never know who you facin'
You never know who you are dealing with or what they can do.
Who ya chasin'
Who are you after, and why are you trying to harm them?
The life you wastin'
You are wasting someone's life, and for what reason?
I was made by the one and only G.O.D
I was created and given a purpose by God, and my life has value because of that.
To take my life to the T.O.P
I was meant to excel and achieve greatness with my life.
Now here comes a motherfuckin' D.O.G
Now, someone is coming after me like a vicious dog.
Who ain't happy til a nigga is R.I.P
This person isn't satisfied until they have killed someone and they are resting in peace.
Tryin' to be somethin' you saw on BET
You're trying to live up to something you saw on TV, and it's leading you to violence and destruction.
Either T.I.P or B.I.G
You are trying to emulate famous rappers like T.I.P or B.I.G, but their lifestyle was full of violence and negativity.
I don't give a fuck what you saw on TV
I don't care what you saw on TV, it doesn't give you the right to take my life.
But a 187 don't make a O.G
Killing someone doesn't make you an original gangster or someone to be looked up to.
I'm a O.G
I am a true original gangster, who leads with respect and honor.
Never had to fake it
I have never had to pretend to be someone or something I'm not.
God gave me this, how you goin' take it
God has given me this life and purpose, and you have no right to take it away.
What you goin' tell 'em, when you get to heaven
When you reach heaven, what will you say to God about the life you took?
When he asks you why did you send back his present.
When God asks you why you took someone's life, what answer will you give?
Who the fuck are you, you motherfucking peasant
You are a nobody, a lowly peasant, but you are taking someone's life without any authority to do so.
Even got the nerve to ask the man for a blessing.
You have the audacity to ask God for a blessing, even after you have taken someone's life?
Send his ass to Hades with his big Mercedes
You will be sent to Hell with your fancy car, as punishment for your actions.
Nigga, hell on earth is being stuck in the 80's
Being stuck in the past and not moving forward is worse than any kind of punishment or suffering.
Before you shoot me man think about it
Consider the consequences of your actions before you take someone's life.
Lets go have a drink about it
Let's talk about the situation and try to come to a resolution like civilized people.
Before you make a stink about it
Before you escalate the situation, think about a better way to handle it.
Man lets talk about it
Let's have a conversation and try to work out our problems.
Maybe we can walk about it.
Perhaps we can take a walk and discuss the issue in a calm and rational manner.
But just don't be a coward
Don't be afraid to confront the issue face-to-face and communicate honestly.
And take my life 'cause you got the power
Don't use your power or ability to take someone's life as a way to solve your problems.
Of the white mans gun powder
Don't use violence and weaponry, which are often associated with white people and their history of oppression.
Cause you might face a gun tower.
Your actions may lead to you being punished for your crimes and put in a prison where you'll be surrounded by guns.
And time never run out,
Don't assume that you have unlimited time to take someone's life and get away with it.
They take the fun out, til your life run out.
The consequences of your actions will eventually catch up to you, and it won't be fun anymore.
So don't pull your gun out,
Don't use a gun as a way to try to solve your problems.
If you ever want a house, just like Run's house.
If you want a good life with a nice house, then learn to solve your problems without resorting to violence.
It's better than a big house,
Having a peaceful and fulfilling life is better than having a big and fancy house.
Less four-five some woman we can dig out,
It's better to have fewer material possessions and enjoy the company of a loving partner.
Find a place we can dig out,
Find a comfortable and peaceful place to live where you can be happy and safe.
Party all night til the owner say 'get out'
Enjoy life and have fun, but never overstay your welcome or take advantage of someone else.
Dedicated to all the niggas, that's dead and don't know why.
This song is dedicated to all the black people who have been killed for no reason, without understanding why.
Who wanna look at the nigga who shot 'em And ask these questions.
The victims of violence want to know why they were killed, and would like to confront their attackers with these questions.
Why me homie? Why me?
Why did you choose to kill me, someone who didn't harm you in any way?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, DE JON LAMONT UNDERDUE, TEAK ALGER UNDERDUE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seandon104
Pause it @ 1:06 biggest picture on the right near the bottom that is my brother Deion jones was murdered in Compton 1990 I was born in 1991 I never got to meet him because of a coward with a gun I have this same picture in my house & I always stop & just think how things would be anyway wake up black people stop destroying our own peace peace.
BossShug
Kursean Jones I'm sorry for your brother's lost. He's in a better place now.
John Mcfirstley
I feel the same lost my friend in 2015 to maybe a drug deal gone bad idk the full story but he got stabbed 30 times
Jimmy Beam
Be strong 💕
Jimmy Beam
Witch one? The little guy ? Or the next ? Just serious asking. Be strong
Patricia Salvatore
Kursean Jones Very sad. Thank you for pointing your brother out to us. Though you didn't get to meet your brother I know his loss is something you can feel, as if you had gotten to know him. I lost a son to homicide by a gunshot 6 years ago, my heart goes out to you and your family.
Big Rob From The V
This isn't just a song it's a message to these "thugs" who are blaating at others with family. Even though he's a multimillionaire he still has a message for everyone. Listen closely and it's like a tribute song to all these good people being killed for nothing. This is poetry to me and he'll always have a heart. Best song ever.
Tony Ryad
+Big Rob Lizarraga Let's practice sports
Big Rob From The V
Muthafuckin T What?
MasterxKush98
In the case of Jamiel Shaw he was a wannabe gangbanger. Don't bang a hood if you're not down with the consequences.