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 Can't Fade Me
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the date and time it don't matter
Had a pocket full of phone numbers I was trying to sort
To make a long story short
Ran into this girl named Carla
Knew her from the back seat of my homie's Impala
She said what's up yeah what's the deal
Check the hairdo of course it ain't real
I asked how long, well about seven months
Oh how time flies when you're having fun
She said yeah but the damage is done
Where you been, on a little vacation
Oh by the way congratulations
Who's the lucky man? I don't have a clue
Then she said the lucky man is you
I dropped my brew
And everything looked fuzzy
Not a baby by you the neighborhood hussy
She said yeah remember that date
I thought back and tried to calculate
Then I said damn are you sure it's mine
Cause I know you been tossed plenty of times
She said that day no I wasn't whoring
Your ass is mine that's when the sweat started pouring
Cause all I saw was Ice Cube in court
Paying a gang on child support
Then I thought deep about giving up the money
What I need to do is kick the bitch in the tummy
Naw cause then I'd really get faded
That's murder one cause it was premeditated
So what I'm a do
I don't have a clue
How many months left damn only two
I'm gettin' faded
No cigar, G
Ay yo homey man I'm getting faded
It's crazy cause before I could sleep with her
I had to duck and dodge and try to creep with her
See the booty and the front was all in place
But the girl had the pitbull face
So we ran jumped drove swam crawled hid
Oh lord god forbid
My homies see me at the motel
Cause those fools would love to just go tell
Everybody in the hood that knows your rep
So jump in the back seat and quiet is kept
And hold your big fat butt steady
Cause yo hoe I got the paper bag ready
She started moaning and gobbling like a turkey
I knocked the boots from here to Albuquerque
I dropped her off man and I'm knowing
That I'm a hate myself in the morning
I got drunk to help me forget
Yo another day another hit shit
I'm gettin' faded
Ay yo you know what time it is
Nine months later she's ready to drop the load
And everybody in the hood already knows
It's supposed to be mine so they laughing at me
You know Ice Cube can't be having that G
I'm thinking to myself why did I bang her
Now I'm in the closet looking for the hanger
JD and Jinx and T-Bone won't let up they won't shut up
I'm gettin' fed up bitch
Cause I know you're tryin' to break me
But if I find out your tryin' to fake me
I'm a buff that duff for a hoot
Beat ya down and leave a crown or two
That night she went into labor
And the shit is getting kinda major
The baby came out damn it was a lifesaver
Looking like my next-door neighbor
She said it was mine that was her best guess
But let's check the results of the blood test
I started smiling yeah cause it read negative
Damn why did I let her live
After that I should've got the gat
And bust and rushed and illed and peeled the cap
But no I just told the hoe who laid me
Excuse me bitch it's a switch
You can't fade me
Naw baby not this way
Yo you ain't playing Ice Cube out like no booger
I don't fall for the okey-doke
And before I fall for the okey-doke
I let the pistol smoke
Now sing it
Yeah baby you can't fade me
Naw unfadable baby
"You Can't Fade Me" by Ice Cube is a narrative about a man who, after a night of heavy drinking with a pocket full of phone numbers, meets an old acquaintance named Carla whom he knew from the back seat of his friend's Impala. As they catch up, he realizes she is seven months pregnant and claims he is the father. He seeks advice on what to do next and considers violent options before deciding he should take responsibility and deal with the consequences of his actions.
The song explores themes of promiscuity, unprotected sex, and responsibility. The singer realizes too late that his actions have consequences and must deal with the emotional and financial burdens of having a child. Ice Cube's storytelling style captures the scenario and vividly portrays the character's vulnerability.
The track features a sample of The Fatback Band's "Goin' to See My Baby" and was produced by Sir Jinx. The track's stylized storytelling akin to films such as Menace II Society became a signature of Ice Cube's music. The song appeared on his debut solo album "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," which was released in 1990.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the taste of alcohol is filling up my bladder
I am drunk and my urine has become alcoholic
What's the date and time it don't matter
I am too drunk to care about the date and time
Had a pocket full of phone numbers I was trying to sort
I have a lot of women's phone numbers that I was trying to organize
To make a long story short
In summary,
Ran into this girl named Carla
I bumped into a woman named Carla
Knew her from the back seat of my homie's Impala
I knew her from having sex with her in the back of my friend's car
She said what's up yeah what's the deal
She greeted me and asked what was going on
Check the hairdo of course it ain't real
I noticed her hairstyle was fake
Then I looked down she was fat in the front
I realized she was pregnant
I asked how long, well about seven months
I asked how far along she was and she replied seven months
Oh how time flies when you're having fun
She remarked on how quickly time passes
She said yeah but the damage is done
She acknowledged that the pregnancy was already happening
Where you been, on a little vacation
I asked where she had been and she replied 'on a little vacation'
Oh by the way congratulations
I congratulated her on her pregnancy
Who's the lucky man? I don't have a clue
I asked who the father was and she replied that it was me, but I didn't believe her
Then she said the lucky man is you
She insisted that I was the father of her child
I dropped my brew
I was shocked and dropped my drink
And everything looked fuzzy
I was so overwhelmed with the news that everything around me looked blurry
Not a baby by you the neighborhood hussy
I tried to convince myself that the baby wasn't mine and that she was a promiscuous woman
She said yeah remember that date
She reminded me of the night we had sex
I thought back and tried to calculate
I tried to remember that night and calculate the likelihood of being the father
Then I said damn are you sure it's mine
I questioned if I was really the father
Cause I know you been tossed plenty of times
I suggested that she had slept with many other men
She said that day no I wasn't whoring
She denied that she had slept with anyone else on that day
Your ass is mine that's when the sweat started pouring
She insisted that I was the father and I started to panic
Cause all I saw was Ice Cube in court
I pictured myself in a court battle over child support
Paying a gang on child support
I imagined myself paying a lot of money in child support
Then I thought deep about giving up the money
I considered just paying the child support without fighting it
What I need to do is kick the bitch in the tummy
I had a violent thought of harming her and her unborn child
Naw cause then I'd really get faded
I realized that harming her or her child would only cause me more trouble
That's murder one cause it was premeditated
I realized that harming her or her child would be premeditated murder
So what I'm a do
I contemplated what to do next
I don't have a clue
I admitted that I didn't know what to do
How many months left damn only two
I realized that there were only two months left until she gave birth
I'm gettin' faded
I continued to drink heavily
No cigar, G
I didn't succeed in getting out of the situation
Ay yo homey man I'm getting faded
I told my friend that I was getting drunk
It's crazy cause before I could sleep with her
I realized that I had to be careful when having sex with her
I had to duck and dodge and try to creep with her
I had to sneak around to have sex with her without getting caught
See the booty and the front was all in place
Her body looked good from behind and in the front
But the girl had the pitbull face
Her face was unattractive, like that of a pitbull dog
So we ran jumped drove swam crawled hid
We had to be very sneaky and maneuver around obstacles to have sex without getting caught
Oh lord god forbid
I prayed that we wouldn't get caught
My homies see me at the motel
I was afraid my friends would see me going into a motel with her
Cause those fools would love to just go tell
My friends would have enjoyed spreading gossip about me
Everybody in the hood that knows your rep
Everyone in our neighborhood would have known about it and added to my reputation
So jump in the back seat and quiet is kept
We had to be secretive and quiet about our sexual encounter
And hold your big fat butt steady
I asked her to hold still during sex
Cause yo hoe I got the paper bag ready
I was embarrassed to be seen with her and brought a paper bag to cover her face
She started moaning and gobbling like a turkey
She made loud sexual noises during our encounter
I knocked the boots from here to Albuquerque
We had an intense sexual encounter
I dropped her off man and I'm knowing
I drove her home afterwards, knowing what I had done was wrong
That I'm a hate myself in the morning
I knew I would regret what I did the next day
I got drunk to help me forget
I drank alcohol to try and forget what I had done
Yo another day another hit shit
I acknowledged my tendency to make bad decisions
Nine months later she's ready to drop the load
Nine months later, she was ready to give birth
And everybody in the hood already knows
Everyone in our neighborhood was aware of her pregnancy
It's supposed to be mine so they laughing at me
People were laughing at me, since I was rumored to be the father
You know Ice Cube can't be having that G
I didn't like being laughed at and wanted to do something about it
I'm thinking to myself why did I bang her
I regretted having sex with her
Now I'm in the closet looking for the hanger
I thought about getting an abortion for her
JD and Jinx and T-Bone won't let up they won't shut up
My friends kept talking and teasing me about the situation
I'm gettin' fed up bitch
I was getting angry with her
Cause I know you're tryin' to break me
I felt like she was trying to harm me or take advantage of me
But if I find out your tryin' to fake me
I threatened to retaliate if I found out she was lying about the paternity
I'm a buff that duff for a hoot
I threatened to physically harm her
Beat ya down and leave a crown or two
I threatened to seriously injure her
That night she went into labor
The night she went into labor
And the shit is getting kinda major
It was a serious and intense situation
The baby came out damn it was a lifesaver
The baby was born and was healthy
Looking like my next-door neighbor
The baby looked like someone else, not me
She said it was mine that was her best guess
She still claimed that the baby was mine, but wasn't completely sure
But let's check the results of the blood test
We decided to take a paternity test to determine if the baby was mine
I started smiling yeah cause it read negative
The paternity test came back negative, meaning the baby wasn't mine
Damn why did I let her live
I regretted not harming her earlier, once I found out the baby wasn't mine
After that I should've got the gat
I believed I should have gotten a gun
And bust and rushed and illed and peeled the cap
I thought about using the gun to harm her
But no I just told the hoe who laid me
I didn't actually harm her, I just told her off
Excuse me bitch it's a switch
I didn't believe her claims anymore
You can't fade me
I won't let her take advantage of me
Naw baby not this way
I wasn't going to fall for her lies
Yo you ain't playing Ice Cube out like no booger
I didn't want her to embarrass me or take advantage of me
I don't fall for the okey-doke
I wasn't going to be fooled by her tricks
And before I fall for the okey-doke
I wasn't going to let myself be fooled
I let the pistol smoke
I threatened to use a gun if necessary
Now sing it
I wanted to emphasize my point and make sure she understood
Yeah baby you can't fade me
I won't let her take advantage of me
Naw unfadable baby
I am not gullible and won't be taken advantage of
Lyrics © A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: WILLIAM(BOOTSY) EARL COLLINS, GEORGE CLINTON, JACKSON O'SHEA, ERIC SADLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Maddygurl12304996
Ice Cube always makes you feel like you were there
@eugeneburks9140
The story is VIVID!!!
@kennymossiii183
Foshow
@shanettacane7101
Yea with the taste of Alcohol
@argentokaos2629
Ready or not...
@DaKiidDmoney
The best story teller all time
@jasonstaton4075
I was in 9th grade when this came out on cassette. I played this so, so much in my Sony walkman that I almost wore the lettering off both sides of the tape from turning it over and over after listening to both sides. People over their late 30's will probably know what I'm talking about with the tape and the walkman. LoL. But I remember the hype leading up to this release. Ice Cube leaving NWA about a year before and this being his 1st solo release. It was more than anyone expected!! I still hold this and Death Certificate (His 2nd Release) as Cube's best works.
@DjTIMEJD
Yep, came out at the end of my 9th grade year. 1990 was a great year, friend.
@wecountingmoneyoverhere2517
Bro you gotta put scotch tape over the song titles on both sides 😂. Forever new
@user-wy3gs4yq3v
Love ones life