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.
You Ain't Gonna Take My Life
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With your .357, officer Kevin
Spent 11 years on the force trying to get mine
Head got the flat top, boots got the spit shine
Don't give a fuck about my neighborhood
Just wanna do your eight hours, then hit the showers
Shoot a brother down adn you don't send flowers
Goddamn sherrif, can't wait to tarriff
And get away nigga fast
You ain't gonna have me face down no more
You ain't gonna have a chance to clown no more
To the boys in blue, I got kids too
Ain't going out like a jigaboo, no no no
On my way to the store
You see me in a Range Rover, now you gotta pull me over
But where oh where is the ticket?
You got your hand on your gun cause you're wicked
You don't like the face of the original man
But you gotta treat me like an individual man
Talk right and I'll talk right back
Show some goddamn respect to the black
Cause I gotta get back to my wife
But I'm sorry, you ain't gonna take my life
Just because you got a badge
Did you think Ice Cube was gonna wave the white flag?
Cracker please, you can yell freeze
I'd rather die standing up than die on my knees
You think you can do anything you want to do
To my crew when you come through, man fuck you
Shooting up South Central
Catch your ass slipping at a rent show
Could have popped you off, one dead cop
But I know you got a wife and a dog named Spot
I show a little mercy cause I'm civilized
Looking through a nigga's eyes at a much bigger prize
But when I saw Rodney it got me so hot
Made me wanna go out and pop me a cop
Cause every time you see me sagging
Here comes the Grand Dragon, in the motherfucking patty wagon
Try to play me like a trick
Sometimes you act like a dick, Mr. Nightstick
Back then, I used to throw my Mack-10
But nowadays you got the black skin
Back then you don't like the voice of a nigga named Ice
But you ain't gonna take my life
You man let's get an understanding
I know that your job is demanding
But I only got me one life to live
You only got about six shots to give
And I got a big AK with a 50-round clip
So why should we trip?
You ain't gonna punk me, so what you trying for?
Ain't no job worth dying for, is it?
Might pay a visit to Petey Wheatstraw
When you stop me on the shore, officer of the law
And if I did something wrong, you can lock me up
Never never never gonna sock me up
So next time you have the urge, all of the sudden
To fuck with a nigga for nothing
Think about me, a brother that's 23
I got a son and a J-O-B
So before you pull your gun, you'd better think twice
Pig, cause you ain't gonna take my life
The song "You Ain't Gonna Take My Life" by Ice Cube is a commentary on the systemic oppression and police brutality faced by the Black community. The lyrics describe the fear and anger felt by Black people towards law enforcement, who are often seen as threatening instead of providing protection. The song highlights the paranoia that comes with being Black in predominantly white neighborhoods, where any mistake could potentially lead to a fatal confrontation with police. The song also highlights the hypocrisy and racial bias within law enforcement, with white officers mistreating and killing Black people without remorse.
Ice Cube's use of Mr. Dirty Harry and officer Kevin denotes the fear and intimidation felt by Black people when dealing with law enforcement. The reference to the .357 shows the power and deadly force of the police while also contextualizing the powerlessness felt by the Black community. The mention of Rodney King is seen as a turning point in the song where Ice Cube is filled with rage and wants to retaliate, but ultimately decides not to as the act of violence would only lead to more violence.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Dirty Harry, you look really scary
Addressing an intimidating cop who resembles Clint Eastwood's character, Dirty Harry
With your .357, officer Kevin
Referring to the cop's weapon, a .357 Magnum, and his name, which could be Kevin
Spent 11 years on the force trying to get mine
Suggesting that the cop has been an officer for 11 years but is still trying to 'get his', implying he's corrupt
Head got the flat top, boots got the spit shine
Describing the cop's appearance: a well-polished uniform and a flat-top hairstyle
Don't give a fuck about my neighborhood
Asserting that the cop doesn't care about the community he's policing
Just wanna do your eight hours, then hit the showers
Accusing the cop of just doing his job for the paycheck and privileges, without any real sense of duty
Shoot a brother down and you don't send flowers
Playing with the idiom 'send flowers' to suggest that the cop kills people without remorse or apology
Goddamn sheriff, can't wait to tariff
Calling the cop a 'sheriff', expressing anger towards him, and playing with the word 'tariff' to suggest he wants to 'tax' or punish black people
A chunk of a nigga ass, but watch a nigga blast
Suggesting that if the cop tries to harm him he'll retaliate with violence
And get away nigga fast
Asserting that he'll make a quick escape, hinting at distrust of the justice system
You ain't gonna have me face down no more
Refusing to submit to police brutality
You ain't gonna have a chance to clown no more
Refusing to be humiliated or harassed by the cop
To the boys in blue, I got kids too
Reminding cops that he has a family and therefore deserves respect and protection
Ain't going out like a jigaboo, no no no
Rejecting the racial stereotype of a 'jigaboo', someone who's foolish, uneducated, or subservient
On my way to the store
Giving context for the encounter with the cop
You see me in a Range Rover, now you gotta pull me over
Implying that he's being targeted for driving a fancy car, which the cop assumes he can't afford
But where oh where is the ticket?
Questioning why the cop stopped him if he didn't commit any infraction
You got your hand on your gun cause you're wicked
Suggesting that the cop is inherently evil and aggressive, always ready to use force
You don't like the face of the original man
Claiming that the cop has a bias against black people and their natural features
But you gotta treat me like an individual man
Demanding to be seen as a unique person and not a stereotype
Talk right and I'll talk right back
Stating that he's willing to cooperate, as long as the cop shows respect and professionalism
Show some goddamn respect to the black
Demanding that the cop treats him and other black people with dignity
Cause I gotta get back to my wife
Explaining that he has a personal life to attend to, and shouldn't be detained for no reason
But I'm sorry, you ain't gonna take my life
Asserting that he won't let the cop harm or kill him, even if it means using force or running away
Just because you got a badge
Reminding the cop that he's not above the law, and his badge doesn't give him unlimited power
Did you think Ice Cube was gonna wave the white flag?
Challenging the cop's assumption that he'll give up or surrender easily
Cracker please, you can yell freeze
Using a derogatory term for white people and sarcastically suggesting that the cop will have to shoot him to stop him
I'd rather die standing up than die on my knees
Expressing a preference for resistance and defiance over submission and surrender
You think you can do anything you want to do
Accusing the cop of abusing his power and exploiting his authority
To my crew when you come through, man fuck you
Referring to his friends and associates, and telling the cop to go away and stop bothering them
Shooting up South Central
Highlighting the issue of police violence in South Central Los Angeles, an area known for poverty, crime, and racial tension
Catch your ass slipping at a rent show
Warning the cop that he can be attacked or ambushed at any time, even at a music concert
Could have popped you off, one dead cop
Threatening to kill the cop, but also acknowledging the consequences of such an act
But I know you got a wife and a dog named Spot
Showing some empathy for the cop's personal life, but also reminding him that he's not immune to retaliation
I show a little mercy cause I'm civilized
Explaining that he refrains from violence and aggression because he's a moral and rational person
Looking through a nigga's eyes at a much bigger prize
Imagining what it's like to be a black person in America, facing systemic racism and oppression
But when I saw Rodney it got me so hot
Referring to Rodney King, a black man who was beaten by LAPD officers in 1991, and expressing anger and frustration over police brutality
Made me wanna go out and pop me a cop
Admitting that he has violent thoughts and impulses, but not necessarily acting on them
Cause every time you see me sagging
Referencing the fashion style of sagging pants, which was associated with young black men and deemed disrespectful or criminal by some people
Here comes the Grand Dragon, in the motherfucking patty wagon
Comparing the cops who arrest him to the Ku Klux Klan, a white supremacist group, and their van to a fast food restaurant
Try to play me like a trick
Accusing the cop of trying to manipulate or deceive him, either by framing him for a crime or by using intimidation tactics
Sometimes you act like a dick, Mr. Nightstick
Insulting the cop's behavior and weapon, a nightstick, which is used for striking or subduing suspects
Back then, I used to throw my Mack-10
Recalling his past as a gangster or drug dealer, when he owned a MAC-10 machine gun
But nowadays you got the black skin
Suggesting that the only reason the cop is targeting him is because of his skin color and not his criminal past
Back then you don't like the voice of a nigga named Ice
Imagining how the cop would have treated him in the past, when he was less famous or influential
But you ain't gonna take my life
Repeating the chorus, emphasizing his determination to resist police brutality and stay alive
You man let's get an understanding
Addressing the cop as a fellow human being and suggesting they can compromise or communicate
I know that your job is demanding
Acknowledging the difficulty and danger of being a police officer
But I only got me one life to live
Stating that his own life matters to him and he won't sacrifice it for anyone else, including the police
You only got about six shots to give
Referring to the capacity of typical police handguns and suggesting that the cop can't keep shooting endlessly
And I got a big AK with a 50-round clip
Boasting about his own firepower, which is much more lethal and efficient than the cop's weapon
So why should we trip?
Asking why they should have a conflict or confrontation when they could avoid it
You ain't gonna punk me, so what you trying for?
Asserting that the cop won't intimidate or dominate him, so there's no point in trying
Ain't no job worth dying for, is it?
Asking whether being a cop is worth risking one's life or killing innocent people
Might pay a visit to Petey Wheatstraw
Referencing the movie 'Petey Wheatstraw', which features a hero who defeats evil cops and other villains
When you stop me on the shore, officer of the law
Referring to the cops who patrol the coast or beach, implying that they target black people for no reason
And if I did something wrong, you can lock me up
Being willing to accept the consequences of breaking the law, as long as it's based on evidence and not prejudice
Never never never gonna sock me up
Refusing to be beaten, humiliated, or falsely arrested by the police
So next time you have the urge, all of the sudden
Hinting at the cop's impulsivity or aggression, and warning him to think before acting
To fuck with a nigga for nothing
Accusing the cop of harassing or abusing him without any just cause or provocation
Think about me, a brother that's 23
Appealing to the cop's empathy or compassion, and reminding him that Ice Cube is young and vulnerable
I got a son and a J-O-B
Showing that he's a responsible adult, with a family and a job, and therefore shouldn't be treated like a criminal
So before you pull your gun, you'd better think twice
Warning the cop to use restraint and common sense before resorting to violence
Pig, cause you ain't gonna take my life
Insulting the cop and reaffirming his own will to survive and resist oppression
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: O'SHEA JACKSON, ANTHONY KIEDIS, JOHN ANTHONY FRUSCIANTE, CHAD SMITH, MICHAEL BALZARY, JOSEPH, JR. ARRINGTON, THOMAS MCELROY, DENZIL FOSTER, GEORGE CLINTON, JR., GARRY SHIDER, CORDELL MOSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@willwilliam7171
Powerful stuff!! It’s so relevant and Ice Cube’s anger is so beautifully articulated here.
@TheMelancholicTigah
The hardest track of this classick milestone.
@cpman1987
George Floyd (October 14, 1973 – May 25, 2020) We ain't gonna forget what they did!! NEVER AGAIN!!
@TheMelancholicTigah
@@cpman1987 Yes Sir! Trayvon. Tamir. Eric. Mike. Laquan. Sean. Amado. Ahmad. Botham. Philando. Sandra. Breonna. Old Dirty Bastard. (Although he too was LYNCHED also by the gov'ment but still) And Countless....Countless of OUR Brothas And Sistahs who were LYNCHED by these inADEQUATE punk muthaf*ckas!
Rest In Power....
@paulgabbard6743
OLD SCHOOL HIP-HOP RAP ICE CUBE U AINT GONNA TAKE MY LIFE MUSIC
@westside4life77
Throwin Up the W from the Westside of Chicago!!! Nobody better than Cube and 2Pac!!!
@markusniepmann7189
Ice Cube is the best thanks
@cpryce6436
This is STILL completely relevant. Mores the pity 😢
@LaCheleWallace
Daddy, I wish you'd do this gem live someday. You really put it down on this record. One of my favorite lesser known gems.
@NightWolfe500
Vintage Ice Cube '94