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 Know I'm A Ho
Ice Cube Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(feat. Ice Cube)
[Master P (Cube)]
I'm ready
(Ay yo P What's crackin' nigga?)
I'm tryin' to get my roll on Cube.
(So where we headed?)
(I'm 'Bout It nigga I heard it was hoes at The Player's Club.)
Oh yeah like that big booty girl that you know
yo' boy was tryin' to holler at her uh she be out there too
(Oh yeah yeah)
let's go get our bump on You ready?
[Cube]
Now which one of why'all freaks want to get down
with the biggest nigga in town the world renowned
You can meet me downtown in the lobby
walkin' past niggas that's dry as the Mojave (unnnngh)
step into the elevator push the Penthouse (what)
Smell the smoke in the hall we gettin' bent out
we just sent out for room service
Why you actin' cool & yo' cousin lookin' nervous
Bullshit conversation 'bout yo' occupation
here we go with this mandantory time wastin'
My nigga Master P is in Suite 23 doin' hella shit (unnnnngh)
to ya relative
In the ghetto we turnin' fine hoes into petals
hands on our metals never have to fetch hoes
they come runnin' with they fans & they best clothes
to get stuck by the nigga with the million bucks
I won't lie and say I had a million fucks
I tell you what 'cause I get 'em then I share 'em
I get my ham fucked up then I ? 'em
Cause I'm a hoe you know I'm a hoe
I fuck three different bitches after every show
Cause I'm a hoe you know I'm a hoe
How do you know because I told ya so
[Master P]
If it don't make dollars then it don't make sense (no)
Cube & Master P goin' half on a wench (biotch)
I ain't Whodini I'm the nigga with the beanie (yeah)
'bout to hit the Player Club lookin' for a genie
36-24-36 a hoochie with a big butt & some tits
she gotta be rowdy I mean be 'Bout It
share the nana with my boys or ya outtie
My El Do ride up with the 20 inch wheel
wood grain in the slamp for the sex appeal
got 'em bumpin' jumpin' sayin' somethin'
How ya do dat there the hoes keep comin'
There dey go there dey go there dey go
no matter how much ya give 'em
they gon' want some more
So I'm a ho you know I'm a ho
make 'em say Unnnngh
then I let them go
See I'm a ho you know I'm a ho
make 'em say Unnnngh
then I let them go
See he's a ho you know he's a ho
How do ya know 'cause I told ya so
Yeah Westside hoes say Unnnnnngh (Westside)
Down South hoes say Unnnnngh
East Coast hoes say Unnnnngh
Midwest hoes say Unnnnnngh
You's a ho you know you's a ho
How do we know because yo pussy is sore
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick one
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick two
What huh what huh huh huh
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick one
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick two
[C:] Ay yo P man with all the hoes I see you with
man I know you's a ho.
[P:] Shit nigga you the ho nigga all the bitches I
done seen you with.
[C:] Naw man homey you the biggest ho in town homey
[P:] Nigga but when I say ho though Cube you know I
that didn't mean nuthin' bad it just mean that you got a
lot of hoes that's real, so probably when yo' son grow up
he gon' be a ho. When my son grow up he gon' be a ho.
But ho mean good though (fa sho) yeah nigga. Ha haa
My fuckin' grandchildren probably gon' be hoes (Damn)
[C:] That mean my great great great great grandchildren
gon' have bitches (& they gon' have hoes) fa sho
[P:] They probably gon' be hoes. The niggas gon' be hoes
& oh I don't know how it go but uhh what the bitches
gon' be then if the niggas gon' be hoes?
[C:] Hoettes Bitches Hoes nigga (oh OK)
Well what hoes you talkin' 'bout?
[P:] Don't make me call yo baby mama
[C:] Don't make me call yo baby mama
[P:] Chill out chill out nigga chill out
[laughter]
The song "You Know I'm a Hoe" by Ice Cube featuring Master P is a song about their wild party lifestyle and how they treat women as disposables. The song is essentially about bragging about being promiscuous, with lyrics like "I fuck three different bitches after every show." It can be argued that this song celebrates misogyny and exhibits toxic masculinity, as there is no empathy or respect shown towards women. Instead, they are objectified and reduced to their physical appearance and sexual availability.
Throughout the song, both Cube and Master P seem to take pride in being sexually active with multiple women while calling them derogatory terms such as "hoes" and "bitches." They boast about their access to money, power, and fame, which allows them to treat women as disposable objects. The lyrics showcase a lack of empathy and disrespect towards women as they are used purely for their pleasure.
Overall, while the song itself may not be taken seriously, its toxicity towards women and objectification are a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm ready
Master P is ready to go to The Player's Club with Ice Cube.
Ay yo P What's crackin' nigga?
Ice Cube asks Master P what's going on.
I'm tryin' to get my roll on Cube.
Master P wants to go to The Player's Club with Ice Cube.
So where we headed?
Ice Cube asks where they are going.
The Player's Club fool. You 'Bout It?
Master P confirms that they are going to The Player's Club and asks if Ice Cube is ready for it.
Oh yeah like that big booty girl that you know
yo' boy was tryin' to holler at her uh she be out there too
(Oh yeah yeah)
let's go get our bump on You ready?
Master P mentions a girl with a big butt that one of Cube's friends was trying to talk to and asks if Cube is ready to go to The Player's Club and party with them.
Now which one of why'all freaks want to get down
with the biggest nigga in town the world renowned
Ice Cube boasts about his status and asks which one of the women wants to be with him.
You can meet me downtown in the lobby
Ice Cube tells the women where they can meet him.
walkin' past niggas that's dry as the Mojave (unnnngh)
step into the elevator push the Penthouse (what)
Smell the smoke in the hall we gettin' bent out
we just sent out for room service
Ice Cube describes the scene as they enter the hotel and head to their room. They pass by boring people, go up to the penthouse and get high while calling for room service.
Why you actin' cool & yo' cousin lookin' nervous
Bullshit conversation 'bout yo' occupation
here we go with this mandantory time wastin'
Ice Cube notices that one of the women is acting cool while her cousin looks nervous. They start talking about their occupations and Ice Cube finds it to be a waste of time.
My nigga Master P is in Suite 23 doin' hella shit (unnnnngh)
to ya relative
Ice Cube tells the women that Master P is in Suite 23 doing things with one of their relatives.
In the ghetto we turnin' fine hoes into petals
hands on our metals never have to fetch hoes
they come runnin' with they fans & they best clothes
to get stuck by the nigga with the million bucks
Ice Cube brags about turning beautiful women into followers and how they come to him. He's got a lot of money and can take his pick.
I won't lie and say I had a million fucks
I tell you what 'cause I get 'em then I share 'em
I get my ham fucked up then I ? 'em
Cause I'm a hoe you know I'm a hoe
I fuck three different bitches after every show
How do you know because I told ya so
Ice Cube admits to being promiscuous and sleeping with multiple women after concerts. He says he's a hoe and doesn't try to hide it.
If it don't make dollars then it don't make sense (no)
Cube & Master P goin' half on a wench (biotch)
Master P says that if something doesn't make money, it's not worth it. Cube and Master P are going halves on a woman.
I ain't Whodini I'm the nigga with the beanie (yeah)
'bout to hit the Player Club lookin' for a genie
36-24-36 a hoochie with a big butt & some tits
she gotta be rowdy I mean be 'Bout It
Master P identifies himself as a different kind of man and puts on his beanie hat before heading to The Player's Club. He's looking for a woman with specific physical attributes and a strong personality.
share the nana with my boys or ya outtie
My El Do ride up with the 20 inch wheel
wood grain in the slamp for the sex appeal
got 'em bumpin' jumpin' sayin' somethin'
Master P shares the woman with his friends or she can leave. He boasts about his car and how he has it modified to attract women. Women are attracted to him because of his status.
How ya do dat there the hoes keep comin'
Master P asks how he does it as he attracts and keeps attracting women.
There dey go there dey go there dey go
no matter how much ya give 'em
they gon' want some more
So I'm a ho you know I'm a ho
make 'em say Unnnngh
then I let them go
See I'm a ho you know I'm a ho
See he's a ho you know he's a ho
How do ya know 'cause I told ya so
Master P and Ice Cube embrace their promiscuous sides and let women come and go. They repeat that they are hoes and keep repeating it so everyone knows.
Yeah Westside hoes say Unnnnnngh (Westside)
Down South hoes say Unnnnngh
East Coast hoes say Unnnnngh
Midwest hoes say Unnnnnngh
Master P tells where different types of women hail from and how they respond to sex.
You's a ho you know you's a ho
How do we know because yo pussy is sore
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick one
A diggi diggi diggi diggi diggi dick two
What huh what huh huh huh
Master P confronts a woman about being a hoe and tells her how they know. He describes the act of sex with crude language.
Shit nigga you the ho nigga all the bitches I
done seen you with.
Naw man homey you the biggest ho in town homey
Nigga but when I say ho though Cube you know I
that didn't mean nuthin' bad it just mean that you got a
lot of hoes that's real, so probably when yo' son grow up
he gon' be a ho. When my son grow up he gon' be a ho.
But ho mean good though (fa sho) yeah nigga. Ha haa
My fuckin' grandchildren probably gon' be hoes (Damn)
That mean my great great great great grandchildren
gon' have bitches (& they gon' have hoes) fa sho
They probably gon' be hoes. The niggas gon' be hoes
& oh I don't know how it go but uhh what the bitches
gon' be then if the niggas gon' be hoes?
Hoettes Bitches Hoes nigga (oh OK)
Well what hoes you talkin' 'bout?
Don't make me call yo baby mama
Don't make me call yo baby mama
Chill out chill out nigga chill out
[laughter]
Master P and Ice Cube joke about being hoes and how they come from a long line of hoes. They argue over who is the bigger hoe. They use language that is objectifying towards women and refer to them as hoes and bitches. They laugh about it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JALIL HUTCHINS, JOHN FLETCHER, LAWRENCE SMITH, O'SHEA JACKSON, PERCY MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vdubthefoxx6808
2023 and it still slaps!
@hetzi123
Hard
@Andre-sk8tm
What you said!
@TLG-pb5sn
Memories of the strip and the clubs Old school
@angellyons2127
Facts
@travistucker4067
I concur!💪🏿💯🔥
@callumbrowns
TWO LEGENDS WHO KEEP IT REAL !
@anthonygause8082
Yessir
@jaceontruman9659
I WANT THIS TO BE PLAYED AT MY FUNERAL ⚰🕊🙏🏻🌹💯💯💯
@billylangston6971
I want this to be played at my wedding?