AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (song)
Encyclopedia
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is the debut album by rapper Ice Cube
. It was released after his acrimonious split from his former group N.W.A. It was originally released on May 16, 1990. Primarily produced by The Bomb Squad
(Public Enemy's production team), the album was an unexpectedly large critical, and commercial success, and remains one of the defining hip hop albums of the 1990s.
, Ice Cube immediately moved to record his own album. Cube maintains that originally, he and N.W.A. producer Dr. Dre
still wanted to collaborate for Cube's debut solo, but the move was nixed by label powers:
Linking up with Sir Jinx
, Dr. Dre's cousin, Cube made use of pre-written notebooks of songs meant for N.W.A. member/Ruthless co-founder Eazy-E
. After relocating to New York, they worked on the songs, which included "Once Upon a Time in the Projects," "Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo' Bitch to Come Here" and "Gangsta's Fairytale," among others. Under fire from his former group with the song "100 Miles and Runnin'," from the EP of the same name, he also recorded the song "Jackin' For Beats," using beats allegedly planned for use on the next N.W.A. album, though he would use this several months later on the Kill at Will
EP.
After contacting Public Enemy's production team The Bomb Squad
, they completed the album. The album received a fair share of production credited to various Bomb Squad members, with an appearance by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D
, despite Jinx's claims that the only Bomb Squad member fully present was Eric Sadler. Hank Shocklee spoke on meeting and working with Ice Cube in a Cooleh Magazine interview:
, wherein real-life crimes are reenacted and viewers are asked to call in with any information about the alleged perpetrators, it is a broader commentary on the state of race relations in the United States. The intentional misspelling of "America" with three K's alludes to the oldest terrorist organization in the U.S., Ku Klux Klan
, and the inextricable role that white supremacy historically played in the federal, state and local laws in the U.S.
content, its songs delve into the issues of ghetto
life, drug addiction, racism
and poverty
. Throughout the album, Ice Cube incessantly attacks institutions for perceived or actual racist
tendencies, as well as social norms which directly or indirectly allowed the oppression of those living in the ghettos of Los Angeles
to continue. On "Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
," he predicts that his neighborhood would become a flash point for violence before 1992's scandal over the beating of Rodney King
, and takes police to task for the policies that would later lead to the L.A. riots that resulted.
Throughout the album, Cube takes some controversial stands, referring to certain types of African-Americans as "oreo cookies", an epithet
implying that they appear black on the outside, but have, internally, negative white tendencies. Arsenio Hall
is specifically mentioned as being a "sell-out." Cube also heavily criticizes R&B and hip hop radio stations for watered-down broadcasting. The title song directly parodies the television show, America's Most Wanted, alleging bias and glee the program displays in arresting Afro-American men.
A later song, "Get Off My Dick, and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here," returns to the same theme at the end, with newscaster Tom Brokaw
reporting on rioting, stating: "Outside the south central
area, few cared about the violence because it didn't affect them." He also addressed gender relations on "It's a Man's World", a duet between Cube and female rapper Yo-Yo
. Cube and Yo-Yo verbally spar and trade sexist barbs back and forth in an expose of sexism between men and women. Amidst critics' accusing Ice Cube of sexism, Peter Watrous of The New York Times
wrote, in review of a live show at New York's Apollo Theater
:
, "There It Is" by James Brown
, "Let the Music Take Your Mind" by Kool and the Gang and "Advice" by Sly and the Family Stone. The B-side for the song was "Once Upon a Time in the Projects". The next single released for the album was "Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
" featuring Chuck D. of Public Enemy. The title comes from an excerpt in the beginning of the song, in which a reporter talks about the alarming death rate of black males in America, and the song's lyrics focus on this as well.
sixteen months later.
Upon release, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted received mostly positive reviews from music critics, and over the years it has been regarded by many as a hip-hop classic. David Jeffries from Allmusic gave the album 5 out of 5 stars and stated; "This street knowledge venom with ultra fast funk works splendidly throughout the album, with every track hitting home [...] AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is a timeless, riveting exercise in anger, honesty, and the sociopolitical possibilities of hip-hop." Davis Mills from the The Washington Post
praised the album for its lyrical dexterity by stating; "Ice Cube has now proven that he was N.W.A.
's crucial element. He's an unusually gifted rhymer, and his delivery is even more self-assured." Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly
complimented the album's vivid depictions of urban realities, and stated;
Rolling Stone
originally gave the album 2 ½ out of 5 stars in 1990, with Alan Light commenting; "The relentless profanity grows wearisome, the Bomb Squad beats lose steam, and Cube's attitudes toward women are simply despicable." He also declared the album as "a disappointment." Rolling Stone however, gave the album 5 out of 5 stars in 2004, and praised the album for its production, and lyrics.
and political rap
sub-genres. Focusing on the hardships of life in South Central, Los Angeles
, as well as criticizing the American Justice System
and race relations in the United States
, Cube became an outspoken voice of U.S. social customs tipped against young Black Americans.
Although Ice Cube's popularity among mainstream listeners has lessened since the 2000s, and his sound may be considered distinctively old school to modern ears, many notable rappers themselves have been influenced by AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. His style of rapping about real life sentiment and socio-political awareness influenced the music of West Coast rappers, including that of Tupac
, Ras Kass
, and Xzibit
, as well as East Coast
rappers Nas
, The Notorious B.I.G.
, and more recently, Saigon
and Southern rapper Young Jeezy
. East Coast rapper
Redman also covered "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" on his album Doc's Da Name 2000
, with the song "Jersey Yo!."
Ice Cube
O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
. It was released after his acrimonious split from his former group N.W.A. It was originally released on May 16, 1990. Primarily produced by The Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track...
(Public Enemy's production team), the album was an unexpectedly large critical, and commercial success, and remains one of the defining hip hop albums of the 1990s.
Conception
After departing from Ruthless Records and the west coast-based group N.W.A.N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
, Ice Cube immediately moved to record his own album. Cube maintains that originally, he and N.W.A. producer Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
still wanted to collaborate for Cube's debut solo, but the move was nixed by label powers:
Linking up with Sir Jinx
Sir Jinx
Sir Jinx, born Anthony Wheaton, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper from South Central Los Angeles, California.-Beginnings:...
, Dr. Dre's cousin, Cube made use of pre-written notebooks of songs meant for N.W.A. member/Ruthless co-founder Eazy-E
Eazy-E
Eric Lynn Wright , better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and in the hip hop group N.W.A. Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton, California...
. After relocating to New York, they worked on the songs, which included "Once Upon a Time in the Projects," "Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo' Bitch to Come Here" and "Gangsta's Fairytale," among others. Under fire from his former group with the song "100 Miles and Runnin'," from the EP of the same name, he also recorded the song "Jackin' For Beats," using beats allegedly planned for use on the next N.W.A. album, though he would use this several months later on the Kill at Will
Kill at Will
-Partial list of samples:"Endangered Species "*"The Payback" by James Brown*"Funky Drummer" by James Brown*"Standin' on the Verge of Gettin' It On" by Funkadelic*"Bop Gun " by Parliament...
EP.
After contacting Public Enemy's production team The Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad
The Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track...
, they completed the album. The album received a fair share of production credited to various Bomb Squad members, with an appearance by Public Enemy frontman Chuck D
Chuck D
Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York...
, despite Jinx's claims that the only Bomb Squad member fully present was Eric Sadler. Hank Shocklee spoke on meeting and working with Ice Cube in a Cooleh Magazine interview:
Album Title
Though the title of the album appears to be an allusion to the television show America's Most WantedAmerica's Most Wanted
America's Most Wanted is an American television program produced by 20th Television, and was the longest-running program of any kind in the history of the Fox Television Network until it was announced on May 16, 2011 that the series was canceled after twenty-three years, with the final episode...
, wherein real-life crimes are reenacted and viewers are asked to call in with any information about the alleged perpetrators, it is a broader commentary on the state of race relations in the United States. The intentional misspelling of "America" with three K's alludes to the oldest terrorist organization in the U.S., Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
, and the inextricable role that white supremacy historically played in the federal, state and local laws in the U.S.
Content
With socio-political conscious and gangsta rapGangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
content, its songs delve into the issues of ghetto
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
life, drug addiction, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
. Throughout the album, Ice Cube incessantly attacks institutions for perceived or actual racist
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
tendencies, as well as social norms which directly or indirectly allowed the oppression of those living in the ghettos of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to continue. On "Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
Endangered Species is a single from Ice Cube's debut album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The title comes from an excerpt in the beginning of the song, in which a reporter talks about blacks becoming endangered...
," he predicts that his neighborhood would become a flash point for violence before 1992's scandal over the beating of Rodney King
Rodney King
Rodney Glen King is an American best known for his involvement in a police brutality case involving the Los Angeles Police Department on March 3, 1991...
, and takes police to task for the policies that would later lead to the L.A. riots that resulted.
Throughout the album, Cube takes some controversial stands, referring to certain types of African-Americans as "oreo cookies", an epithet
Epithet
An epithet or byname is a descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name and having entered common usage. It has various shades of meaning when applied to seemingly real or fictitious people, divinities, objects, and binomial nomenclature. It is also a descriptive title...
implying that they appear black on the outside, but have, internally, negative white tendencies. Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is an American actor, comedian, and former talk show host. He is best known for his talk show The Arsenio Hall Show, which ran between 1989 and 1994, and his roles in the films Coming to America and Harlem Nights.Hall is also known for his appearance as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the...
is specifically mentioned as being a "sell-out." Cube also heavily criticizes R&B and hip hop radio stations for watered-down broadcasting. The title song directly parodies the television show, America's Most Wanted, alleging bias and glee the program displays in arresting Afro-American men.
A later song, "Get Off My Dick, and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here," returns to the same theme at the end, with newscaster Tom Brokaw
Tom Brokaw
Thomas John "Tom" Brokaw is an American television journalist and author best known as the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News from 1982 to 2004. He is the author of The Greatest Generation and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors...
reporting on rioting, stating: "Outside the south central
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
area, few cared about the violence because it didn't affect them." He also addressed gender relations on "It's a Man's World", a duet between Cube and female rapper Yo-Yo
Yo-Yo (rapper)
Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube...
. Cube and Yo-Yo verbally spar and trade sexist barbs back and forth in an expose of sexism between men and women. Amidst critics' accusing Ice Cube of sexism, Peter Watrous of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
wrote, in review of a live show at New York's Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater
The Apollo Theater in New York City is one of the most famous, and older, music halls in the United States, and the most famous club associated almost exclusively with Black performers...
:
Singles
The title track was the first official single from the album. The song contains samples from "Humpin'" by the Bar-KaysBar-Kays
The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group who began performing in 1966 and continue to perform today, although with only one original member. The group had dozens of charting singles from the 1960s to the 1980s, including "Soul Finger" The Bar-Kays are a popular soul, R&B, and funk group...
, "There It Is" by James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
, "Let the Music Take Your Mind" by Kool and the Gang and "Advice" by Sly and the Family Stone. The B-side for the song was "Once Upon a Time in the Projects". The next single released for the album was "Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)
Endangered Species is a single from Ice Cube's debut album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The title comes from an excerpt in the beginning of the song, in which a reporter talks about blacks becoming endangered...
" featuring Chuck D. of Public Enemy. The title comes from an excerpt in the beginning of the song, in which a reporter talks about the alarming death rate of black males in America, and the song's lyrics focus on this as well.
Release and reception
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted initially charted without the support of a lead single or video, although the title track would later receive a pressing, and a rare video for "Who's the Mack?" eventually surfaced. Regardless of very limited promotion, and airplay, the album reached gold status three months after its release, and was certified PlatinumRIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
sixteen months later.
Upon release, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted received mostly positive reviews from music critics, and over the years it has been regarded by many as a hip-hop classic. David Jeffries from Allmusic gave the album 5 out of 5 stars and stated; "This street knowledge venom with ultra fast funk works splendidly throughout the album, with every track hitting home [...] AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted is a timeless, riveting exercise in anger, honesty, and the sociopolitical possibilities of hip-hop." Davis Mills from the The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
praised the album for its lyrical dexterity by stating; "Ice Cube has now proven that he was N.W.A.
N.W.A.
N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre....
's crucial element. He's an unusually gifted rhymer, and his delivery is even more self-assured." Greg Sandow from Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
complimented the album's vivid depictions of urban realities, and stated;
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
originally gave the album 2 ½ out of 5 stars in 1990, with Alan Light commenting; "The relentless profanity grows wearisome, the Bomb Squad beats lose steam, and Cube's attitudes toward women are simply despicable." He also declared the album as "a disappointment." Rolling Stone however, gave the album 5 out of 5 stars in 2004, and praised the album for its production, and lyrics.
Legacy
Ice Cube's social, and political commentary, delivered in an incisive manner, has influenced numerous rappers since Amerikkka's Most Wanted, particularly in the gangsta rapGangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
and political rap
Political hip hop
Political hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music that developed in the 1980s. Inspired by 1970s political preachers such as The Last Poets and Gil Scott-Heron, Public Enemy were the first political hip hop group...
sub-genres. Focusing on the hardships of life in South Central, Los Angeles
South Los Angeles
South Los Angeles, often abbreviated as South L.A. and formerly South Central Los Angeles, is the official name for a large geographic and cultural portion lying to the southwest and southeast of downtown Los Angeles, California. The area was formerly called South Central, and is still widely known...
, as well as criticizing the American Justice System
Law of the United States
The law of the United States consists of many levels of codified and uncodified forms of law, of which the most important is the United States Constitution, the foundation of the federal government of the United States...
and race relations in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Cube became an outspoken voice of U.S. social customs tipped against young Black Americans.
Although Ice Cube's popularity among mainstream listeners has lessened since the 2000s, and his sound may be considered distinctively old school to modern ears, many notable rappers themselves have been influenced by AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. His style of rapping about real life sentiment and socio-political awareness influenced the music of West Coast rappers, including that of Tupac
Tupac
Tupac is a relatively uncommon male name. Notable people with the name include:*Túpac Inca Yupanqui , tenth Sapa Inca of the Incan Empire*Túpac Amaru , last indigenous leader of the Inca people in Peru...
, Ras Kass
Ras Kass
John Austin IV, better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is also a part of hip hop supergroup The HRSMN along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt...
, and Xzibit
Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner , better known by his stage name Xzibit , is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success...
, as well as East Coast
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
rappers Nas
Nas
Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...
, The Notorious B.I.G.
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
, and more recently, Saigon
Saigon (rapper)
Brian Daniel Carenard, better known by his stage name Saigon, is an American rapper and occasional actor.Saigon is currently signed to Suburban Noize Records and Just Blaze's Fort Knocks Entertainment record label. After years of delay due to former record label interference, his album The Greatest...
and Southern rapper Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...
. East Coast rapper
East Coast hip hop
East Coast hip hop is a regional subgenre of hip hop music that originated in New York City, USA during the 1970s. Hip hop is recognized to have originated and evolved first in the East Coast...
Redman also covered "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" on his album Doc's Da Name 2000
Doc's da Name 2000
Doc's da Name 2000 is the fourth studio album by American rapper Redman. It was a top seller, initially shipping platinum in sales and reaching platinum sales in less than two months...
, with the song "Jersey Yo!."
Track listing
- The 1990 EPExtended playAn EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Kill at WillKill at Will-Partial list of samples:"Endangered Species "*"The Payback" by James Brown*"Funky Drummer" by James Brown*"Standin' on the Verge of Gettin' It On" by Funkadelic*"Bop Gun " by Parliament...
is included on later remastered pressings as bonus material. - * symbolizes Co-producer.
| # | Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Samples | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Better Off Dead"* | *Intro* | Ice Cube, Sir Jinx Sir Jinx Sir Jinx, born Anthony Wheaton, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper from South Central Los Angeles, California.-Beginnings:... , E. Sadler |
— |
1:03 |
| 2 | "The Nigga You Love to Hate"* | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad The Bomb Squad The Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track... , *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
|
3:13 |
| 3 | "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Fuck tha Police "Fuck tha Police" is a protest song by the gangsta rap group N.W.A that appears on the album Straight Outta Compton. Despite not being a single, it ranked #425 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.... " by N.W.A Straight Outta Compton (song) "Straight Outta Compton" is the lead single from N.W.A's second album with the same name. It was released in 1988. It also appears on N.W.A's Greatest Hits with an extended mix and The Best of N.W.A. It was voted number 19 on About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs, and is ranked number 6 on VH1's 100... " by N.W.A James Brown James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr... The Turtles The Turtles are an American rock group led by vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. The band became notable for several Top 40 hits beginning with its cover version of Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" in 1965... Boogie Down Productions Boogie Down Productions was a hip hop group that was originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of BDP's debut album, Criminal Minded. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the... The Last Poets The Last Poets is a group of poets and musicians who arose from the late 1960s African American civil rights movement's black nationalist thread... Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets... |
4:08 |
| 4 | "What They Hittin' Foe?" | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Stanley Turrentine Stanley William Turrentine, also known as "Mr. T" or "The Sugar Man", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.-Biography:Turrentine was born in Pittsburgh's Hill District into a musical family... |
1:22 |
| 5 | "You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gaffilin"* | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Parliament (band) Parliament was a funk band most prominent during the 1970s. It and its sister act Funkadelic, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:... |
5:12 |
| 6 | "Once Upon a Time in the Projects"* | Ice Cube | Sir Jinx, *The Bomb Squad |
Betty Davis Betty Davis is an American funk, rock and soul singer. She was also Miles Davis's second wife.- Background :She worked as a model, appearing in photo spreads in Seventeen, Ebony and Glamour... |
3:41 |
| 7 | "Turn Off the Radio"* | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the... Do the Right Thing Do the Right Thing is a 1989 American dramedy produced, written, and directed by Spike Lee, who is also a featured actor in the film. Other members of the cast include Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, and John Turturro. It is also notably the... |
2:37 |
| 8 | "Endangered Species" Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside) Endangered Species is a single from Ice Cube's debut album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. The title comes from an excerpt in the beginning of the song, in which a reporter talks about blacks becoming endangered... (Tales from the Darkside)* |
Ice Cube, Chuck D Chuck D Carlton Douglas Ridenhour , better known by his stage name, Chuck D, is an American rapper, author, and producer. He helped create politically and socially conscious rap music in the mid-1980s as the leader of the rap group Public Enemy.- Early life :Ridenhour was born in Queens, New York... |
The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Funkadelic Funkadelic was an American band most prominent during the 1970s. The band and its sister act Parliament, both led by George Clinton, began the funk music culture of that decade.-History:... Funky drummer "Funky Drummer" is a funk song recorded by James Brown and his band. The recording's drum break, performed by drummer Clyde Stubblefield, is one of the most frequently sampled rhythmic breaks in hip hop and popular music; indeed, it lays a strong claim to being the most sampled recording ever,... " by James Brown |
3:21 |
| 9 | "A Gangsta's Fairytale"* | Ice Cube Lil' Russ |
Ice Cube, Sir Jinx, E. Sadler, *The Bomb Squad |
Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay is an American comedian and actor who played the lead role in the film The Adventures of Ford Fairlane.Clay has been in several movies and has released a number of stand-up albums... The Flintstones The Flintstones is an animated, prime-time American television sitcom that screened from September 30, 1960 to April 1, 1966, on ABC. Produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions, The Flintstones was about a working class Stone Age man's life with his family and his next-door neighbor and best friend. It... and Looney Tunes Looney Tunes Looney Tunes is a Warner Bros. animated cartoon series. It preceded the Merrie Melodies series and was Warner Bros.'s first animated theatrical series. Since its first official release, 1930's Sinkin' in the Bathtub, the series has become a worldwide media franchise, spawning several television... |
3:16 |
| 10 | "I'm Only Out for One Thang"* | Ice Cube, Flavor Flav Flavor Flav William Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy... |
Sir Jinx, Ice Cube, *The Bomb Squad |
— |
2:10 |
| 11 | "Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo' Bitch to Come Here"* |
Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
— |
0:56 |
| 12 | "The Drive-By"* | *Interlude* | Sir Jinx |
|
1:01 |
| 13 | "Rollin' wit' the Lench Mob"* | Ice Cube | The Bomb Squad, *Ice Cube, *Sir Jinx |
Kid 'n Play Kid 'n Play is an American hip-hop and comedy duo from New York City that was popular in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The duo was composed of Christopher "Kid" Reid and Christopher "Play" Martin working alongside their DJ, Mark "DJ Wiz" Eastmond... |
3:43 |
| 14 | "Who's the Mack?"* | Ice Cube | Sir Jinx, The Bomb Squad |
The J.B.'s The J.B.'s were James Brown's band during the first half of the 1970s. On record the J.B.'s were sometimes billed under various alternate names such as The James Brown Soul Train, Maceo and the Macks, A.A.B.B., The First Family and The Last Word... Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range.... The Humpty Dance "The Humpty Dance" is a 1990 hip hop song by Digital Underground, which was featured on their debut album Sex Packets. The single climbed all the way to #11 on the pop charts, #7 on the R&B charts, and #1 on the Billboard Rap Singles chart... " by Digital Underground Digital Underground Digital Underground was an alternative hip hop group from Oakland, California. It could have been considered a music "family" rather than a group, as its personnel changed and rotated with each album and tour.... Sing a Simple Song "Sing a Simple Song" is a 1968 song by the soul/rock/funk band Sly & the Family Stone, the b-side to their #1 hit "Everyday People". The song's lyrics, sung in turn by Sly Stone, Freddie Stone, Rose Stone, and Larry Graham, with spoken word sections by Cynthia Robinson, offer a simple solution for... " by Sly and the Family Stone |
4:35 |
| 15 | "It's a Man's World" | Ice Cube, Yo-Yo Yo-Yo (rapper) Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube... |
Sir Jinx, Ice Cube |
Laura Lee Laura Lee is an American soul and gospel singer and songwriter, most successful in the 1960s and 1970s and influential for her records which discussed and celebrated women’s experience.-Career:... Roy Ayers Roy Ayers is an American funk, soul, and jazz composer and vibraphone player. Ayers began his career as a post-bop jazz artist, releasing several albums with Atlantic Records, before his tenure at Polydor Records beginning in the 1970s, during which he helped pioneer jazz-funk .- Biography :Ayers... Fishbone Fishbone is a U.S. alternative rock band formed in 1979 in Los Angeles, California, which plays a fusion of ska, punk rock, funk, hard rock and soul. Critics have noted of the band: "Fishbone was one of the most distinctive and eclectic alternative rock bands of the late '80s... Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,... Eazy-E Eric Lynn Wright , better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and in the hip hop group N.W.A. Wright was born to Richard and Kathie Wright in Compton, California... Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor was an American stand-up comedian, actor, social critic, writer and MC. Pryor was known for uncompromising examinations of racism and topical contemporary issues, which employed colorful vulgarities, and profanity, as well as racial epithets... N.W.A. N.W.A was an American hip hop group from Compton, California, widely considered one of the seminal acts of the gangsta rap sub-genre.... Guy (band) Guy are a hip hop, R&B and soul band most closely associated with the new jack swing style of the 1980s and 1990s.-Origins :Guy was formed in Harlem, New York in 1987 by R&B singer-songwriters Aaron Hall, young musician/record producer Teddy Riley and Timmy Gatling... |
5:26 |
| 16 | "The Bomb" | Ice Cube | Sir Jinx, *The Bomb Squad |
ESG (band) ESG are a band that emerged from the South Bronx, New York, U.S. in the early 1980's. Trouser Press called it "one of the most dynamic bands that New York could offer at the top of the '80s." ESG have been influential across a wide range of musical genres, including hip hop, post punk, disco,... More Bounce to the Ounce "More Bounce to the Ounce" is an influential funk single recorded by the Ohio-based band Zapp, led by singer-songwriter Roger Troutman. Released in 1980 on the Warner Bros. Records label, the song was originally recorded in 1979 while Troutman's group was part of George Clinton's Uncle Jam Records.... " by Zapp Zapp (band) Zapp is a soul and funk band formed in 1978 by brothers Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman, Bobby Glover and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]... Beastie Boys Beastie Boys are an American hip hop trio from New York City. The group consists of Mike D who plays the drums, MCA who plays the bass, and Ad-Rock who plays the guitar.... |
3:25 |
- On The Clean Version: "The N---- Ya Love To Hate" Lasts 3:16 Instead Of 3:13, You Can't Fade Me Lasts 4:44 Instead Of 5:12 And Also Removes The JD's Gafflin Skit From The Track, Once Upon A Time In The Projects Lasts 4:07 Instead Of 3:41, Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside) Lasts 3:28 Instead Of 3:21, A Gangsta's Fairytale Lasts 3:26 Instead Of 3:16, Rollin' Wit The Lench Mob Lasts 3:52 Instead Of 3:43, Who's The Mack? Lasts 4:30 Instead Of 4:35, And It's A Man's World Lasts 4:46 Instead Of 5:26.
- The Tracks: Better Off Dead (Intro), Turn Off The Radio, I'm Only Out For One Thang, Get Off My Dick & Tell Yo' Bitch To Come Here, And The Drive-By Are Not Featured On The Clean Version
Personnel
- The Bomb SquadThe Bomb SquadThe Bomb Squad is an American hip hop production team, known for their work with the rap group Public Enemy. The Bomb Squad are noted for their dense, distinct, innovative production style, often utilizing dozens of samples on just one track...
- Record producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music... - Mario Castellanos - PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
- Chris Champion - Assistant engineer
- Chuck D. - Performer
- Da Lench MobDa Lench MobDa Lench Mob was a West Coast hip hop group associated with Ice Cube. The group consisted of rappers J-Dee, Shorty, T-Bone and Maulkie.-History:The group made its debut on Ice Cube's first solo album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted...
- Vocals (bckgr), producer - (Ex) Cat Heads - Vocals (bckgr)
- Flavor FlavFlavor FlavWilliam Jonathan Drayton, Jr. , better known by his stage name Flavor Flav, is an American rapper and television personality who rose to prominence as a member of the rap group Public Enemy...
- Vocals, performer - Ricky Harris - Vocals (bckgr)
- Al Hayes - Bass GuitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Vincent Henry - FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
, saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - Brian Holt - Vocals
- Kevin Hosmann - Art direction
- Ice CubeIce CubeO'Shea Jackson , better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American rapper and actor. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined the rap group N.W.A. After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer,...
- Vocals, producer - Jay Dee - Vocals (bckgr)
- Tim Rollins - PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
- Eric Sadler - Producer
- Nick SansanoNick SansanoNick Sansano is an American record producer, engineer, and musician. He coproduced and recorded Sonic Youth's albums Daydream Nation and Goo. He also engineered and mixed selections from Public Enemy's albums It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back, Fear of a Black Planet and Muse...
- Engineer - Shannon - Vocals (bckgr)
- Christopher Shaw - Engineer
- Keith ShockleeKeith ShockleeKeith Matthew Boxley , better known as Keith Shocklee or Wizard K-Jee, is an American hip hop producer and DJ. He was an original member of Public Enemy and The Bomb Squad...
- ScratchingScratchingScratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used... - Sir JinxSir JinxSir Jinx, born Anthony Wheaton, is an American hip-hop record producer and rapper from South Central Los Angeles, California.-Beginnings:...
- Vocals (bckgr), producer - Chilly ChillChilly ChillChilly Chill is an American platinum Hip Hop Music Producer that has produced music for big artists like: Ice Cube, RBX, Yo-Yo, WC , Da Lench Mob and the list goes on!...
- Vocals (bckgr), producer - Howie WeinbergHowie WeinbergHowie Weinberg is a music mastering engineer who has worked with numerous bands.- Career :He has worked at Masterdisk, New York City, since 1977...
- Mastering - Dan Wood - Vocals (bckgr), Engineer
- Yo-YoYo-Yo (rapper)Yo-Yo is a Grammy-nominated American hardcore rapper and actress. Much of her music has advocated female empowerment, denouncing the frequent sexism found in hip-hop music. She is the protege of gangsta rapper Ice Cube...
- Vocals, performer
Album
| Charts (1990) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
19 |
| U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | 6 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
U.S. R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
U.S. Rap Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
||
| 1990 | "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" | — | — | 1 |
Accolades
- The information regarding accolades is adapted from acclaimedMusic.net except for lists that are sourced otherwise.
- (*) signifies unordered lists
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank About.com About.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....United States United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...100 Greatest Hip Hop Albums 2008 33 Best Rap Albums of 1990 2008 2 Robert Dimery 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, first published in 2005. The most recent edition consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2010, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd...2005 * Ego Trip Ego TripEgo Trip may refer to:*Ego Trip , a 1990s hip hop magazine*Ego Trip , a 1969 film*Ego Trip , a 1984 album by Kurtis Blow*Ego Trip , a 1997 album by Keoki...Hip Hop's 25 Greatest Albums by Year 1980-98 1999 1 The Guardian The GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...United Kingdom United KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die 2007 * Mixmag MixmagMixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...The 100 Best Dance Albums of All Time 1996 24 New Musical Express Albums of the Year 1990 41 Chris Rock Chris RockChristopher Julius "Chris" Rock III is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer and director. He was voted in the US as the 5th greatest stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central...United States Top 25 Hip-Hop Albums 2005 17 Rock De Lux Spain SpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...Albums of the Year 1990 46 Rolling Stone Rolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...United States The Essential Recordings of the 90s 1999 * The Source The Source (magazine)The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...The 100 Best Rap Albums of All Time 1998 * Spin Spin (magazine)Spin is a music magazine founded in 1985 by publisher Bob Guccione Jr.-History:In its early years, the magazine was noted for its broad music coverage with an emphasis on college-oriented rock music and on the ongoing emergence of hip-hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold, if sometimes haphazard...Top 100 (+5) Albums of the Last 20 Years 2005 33 Albums of the Year 1990 1 Top 90 Albums of the 90s 1999 80 Tom Moon 1000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die 1000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die1,000 Recordings To Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book written by Tom Moon, published in 2008.It consists of a list of recordings, mostly albums, arranged alphabetically by artist or composer, starting with ABBA's Gold and concluding with ZZ Top's Tres Hombres...2008 * Village Voice Albums of the Year 1990 6
External links
- AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Album Review at Hip Hop ConnectionHip Hop ConnectionHip Hop Connection is the longest running monthly periodical devoted entirely to hip hop culture. HHC has earned international recognition and was described by Chuck D as "the best magazine in the world".-History:...
- Album Review at RapReviews.com