Lethal Injection
Encyclopedia
Lethal Injection is the fourth studio album
by California-based rapper
Ice Cube
. Similar to the rapper's previous albums, it was a commercial hit, debuting at #5 on the Billboard 200
with 215,000 copies sold in its first week. However, it was heavily criticized for what many saw as Cube's pandering to gangsta rap
, and toning down of the socio-political content found on his earlier efforts. The album's standing has increased over time. It includes the popular singles; "You Know How We Do It
", and the Funkadelic
-sampling "Bop Gun (One Nation)
", which became a staple on MTV
.
-influenced "Enemy". On "Lil' Ass Gee" he tells the tale of an adolescent who follows his older brother into a life of petty crime and little hope. Ice Cube's expresses his own opinion on religion and race on the controversial "When I Get to Heaven." The track "Ghetto Bird" was produced by QD3
, son of legendary producer Quincy Jones
. "Ghetto Bird" is street slang
for a police
helicopter
, and the song tells a story of police harassment.
With its use of whiney synthesizers, crispier drums, and deeper bass, the album leans more towards the G-Funk
sound, rather than the dense, rugged soundscapes of his previous albums. This conscious decision to head towards a glossier sound was no doubt due to the impact of The Chronic
, and Doggystyle
, both produced by Cube's former bandmate, Dr. Dre
. Lethal Injection saw four singles in total, including the George Clinton
collaboration "Bop Gun", which reached #22 in the UK Charts and #23 in the Billboards. Album cover photography and portraits of Ice Cube
and his son were taken by photographer Daniel Arsenault.
In 1999, the track "Down for Whatever" appeared in a scene in the movie Office Space
.
"Intro from the Film: American Me"
You Know How We Do It
Bop Gun (One Nation)
Lil' Ass Gee
When I Get to Heaven
Ghetto Bird
Cave Bitch
"
"You Know How We Do It
"
"Bop Gun (One Nation)
"'
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by California-based rapper
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
Ice Cube
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,...
. Similar to the rapper's previous albums, it was a commercial hit, debuting at #5 on the 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...
with 215,000 copies sold in its first week. However, it was heavily criticized for what many saw as Cube's pandering to gangsta rap
Gangsta 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 toning down of the socio-political content found on his earlier efforts. The album's standing has increased over time. It includes the popular singles; "You Know How We Do It
You Know How We Do It
"You Know How We Do It" is the second single from Ice Cube's fourth studio album Lethal Injection. It was released as a 12" single on February 2,1994. A G-funk hit which has the same kind of mood and feeling from The Predator...
", and the Funkadelic
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:...
-sampling "Bop Gun (One Nation)
Bop Gun (One Nation)
"Bop Gun " is the fourth single from Ice Cube's fifth album, Lethal Injection. It samples the Funkadelic song "One Nation Under a Groove". It reached number 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and number 23 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart....
", which became a staple on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
.
Overview
Lethal Injection saw Ice Cube depart somewhat from social and political issues, which he was well known for in his three previous albums, and embrace a more gangsta-oriented aura. Several songs do, however, contain social topics, such as the scathing "Cave Bitch", on which Cube chastises white women who pursue successful black men as a trophy, and the Louis FarrakhanLouis Farrakhan
Louis Farrakhan Muhammad, Sr. is the leader of the African-American religious movement the Nation of Islam . He served as the minister of major mosques in Boston and Harlem, and was appointed by the longtime NOI leader, Elijah Muhammad, before his death in 1975, as the National Representative of...
-influenced "Enemy". On "Lil' Ass Gee" he tells the tale of an adolescent who follows his older brother into a life of petty crime and little hope. Ice Cube's expresses his own opinion on religion and race on the controversial "When I Get to Heaven." The track "Ghetto Bird" was produced by QD3
Quincy Jones III
Quincy Delightt Jones III is a British-born Swedish/African-American composer, music producer, film producer, and author...
, son of legendary producer Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
. "Ghetto Bird" is street slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
for a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
, and the song tells a story of police harassment.
With its use of whiney synthesizers, crispier drums, and deeper bass, the album leans more towards the G-Funk
G-funk
G-funk, or Gangsta-funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from Westcoast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. G-funk incorporates multi-layered and melodic synthesizers, slow hypnotic grooves, a deep bass, background female vocals, the extensive sampling of P-funk tunes, and a high-pitched...
sound, rather than the dense, rugged soundscapes of his previous albums. This conscious decision to head towards a glossier sound was no doubt due to the impact of The Chronic
The Chronic
The Chronic is the solo debut album of American hip hop artist Dr. Dre, released December 15, 1992, on his own record label Death Row Records, and distributed by Priority Records. Recording sessions for the album took place in June 1992 at Death Row Studios in Los Angeles and at Bernie Grundman...
, and Doggystyle
Doggystyle
Doggystyle is the debut album from American rapper Snoop Dogg; released by Death Row Records on November 23, 1993. The album was recorded soon following the release of Dr. Dre's landmark debut album The Chronic , to which Snoop Dogg contributed significantly. His musical stylizations for the album...
, both produced by Cube's former bandmate, 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...
. Lethal Injection saw four singles in total, including the George Clinton
George Clinton (funk musician)
George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
collaboration "Bop Gun", which reached #22 in the UK Charts and #23 in the Billboards. Album cover photography and portraits of Ice Cube
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,...
and his son were taken by photographer Daniel Arsenault.
In 1999, the track "Down for Whatever" appeared in a scene in the movie Office Space
Office Space
Office Space is a 1999 American comedy film satirizing work life in a typical 1990s software company. Written and directed by Mike Judge, it focuses on a handful of individuals fed up with their jobs portrayed by Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Gary Cole, David Herman, Ajay Naidu, and Diedrich...
.
Track listing
- Original Release
- "The Shot (Intro)" - (0:55) (Produced by Sir Jinx)
- "Really DoeReally Doe (song)Really Doe is the first single from rapper Ice Cube's fourth studio album, Lethal Injection. "My Skin Is My Sin" a song which also appeared on the album is the b-side for this song. Really Doe samples "You Gotta Believe It" by The Pointer Sisters and "Lick the Balls" by Slick Rick. This song is...
" - (4:28) (Produced by Derrick McDowell, Lay Law) - "Ghetto Bird" - (3:50) (Produced by QDIII)
- "You Know How We Do ItYou Know How We Do It"You Know How We Do It" is the second single from Ice Cube's fourth studio album Lethal Injection. It was released as a 12" single on February 2,1994. A G-funk hit which has the same kind of mood and feeling from The Predator...
" - (3:52) (Produced by QDIII) - "Cave Bitch" - (4:18) (Produced by Brian G)
- "Bop Gun (One Nation)Bop Gun (One Nation)"Bop Gun " is the fourth single from Ice Cube's fifth album, Lethal Injection. It samples the Funkadelic song "One Nation Under a Groove". It reached number 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and number 23 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart....
" (featuring George ClintonGeorge Clinton (funk musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
) - (11:17) (Produced by Ice Cube, QDIII) - "What Can I Do?" - (4:10) (Produced by 88 X Unit)
- "Lil Ass Gee" - (4:04) (Produced by Sir Jinx)
- "Make It Ruff, Make It Smooth" (featuring K-DeeK-DeeK-Dee, formerly Kid Disaster, born Darrel Johnson, is an American rapper most known for his album Ass, Gas, or Cash . He was Introduced into the hip hop scene by fellow West Coast rapper, Ice Cube on the group C.I.A...
) - (4:23) (Produced by QDIII) - "Down for Whatever" - (4:40) (Produced by Madness 4 Real)
- "Enemy" - (4:50) (Produced by Madness 4 Real)
- "When I Get to Heaven" - (5:04) (Produced by Brian G)
2003 reissue bonus tracks
- "What Can I Do? (Westside Remix)" - (4:27)*
- "What Can I Do? (East Side Remix)" - (4:46)*
- "You Know How We Do It (Remix)" - (4:23)*
- "Lil' Ass Gee (Eerie Gumbo Remix)" -(5:21)*
Partial list of samples
Really Doe"Intro from the Film: American Me"
- "You Gotta Believe" by The Pointer Sisters
- "Lick the Balls" by Slick RickSlick RickRichard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
You Know How We Do It
- "The Show Is Over" by Evelyn KingEvelyn King (singer)Evelyn "Champagne" King is an American R&B, disco and post-disco singer. Some of her best-known songs are "Shame", "Love Come Down," and "I'm in Love."-Biography:...
- "All Night Long" by Mary Jane GirlsMary Jane GirlsThe Mary Jane Girls were an American R&B, soul, funk and disco group in the 1980s. They were protégées of singer Rick James. They are known for their hit songs "All Night Long", "Candyman" and "In My House".-Formation:...
- "Summer Madness" by Kool & The GangKool & the GangKool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
Bop Gun (One Nation)
- "One Nation Under A Groove" by FunkadelicFunkadelicFunkadelic 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:...
Lil' Ass Gee
- "La Di Da Di" by Slick Rick, and Doug E. FreshDoug E. FreshDouglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
When I Get to Heaven
- "Inner City Blues" by Marvin GayeMarvin GayeMarvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
Ghetto Bird
- "Atomic Dog" by George ClintonGeorge Clinton (musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
Cave Bitch
- "Horny Lil Devil" by Ice Cube
Album singles
"Really DoeReally Doe (song)
Really Doe is the first single from rapper Ice Cube's fourth studio album, Lethal Injection. "My Skin Is My Sin" a song which also appeared on the album is the b-side for this song. Really Doe samples "You Gotta Believe It" by The Pointer Sisters and "Lick the Balls" by Slick Rick. This song is...
"
- Released: 1993
- B-side: "My Skin Is My Sin"
"You Know How We Do It
You Know How We Do It
"You Know How We Do It" is the second single from Ice Cube's fourth studio album Lethal Injection. It was released as a 12" single on February 2,1994. A G-funk hit which has the same kind of mood and feeling from The Predator...
"
- Released: February, 1994
- B-side: "2 'N The Morning"
"Bop Gun (One Nation)
Bop Gun (One Nation)
"Bop Gun " is the fourth single from Ice Cube's fifth album, Lethal Injection. It samples the Funkadelic song "One Nation Under a Groove". It reached number 6 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and number 23 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart....
"'
- Released: August, 1994
- B-side: "Down For Whatever"
Album chart positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
| 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... |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1993 | Lethal Injection | #5 | #1 |
Singles chart positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 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... |
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 1993 | "Really Doe" | #54 | #30 | #3 |
| 1994 | "You Know How We Do It" | #30 | #21 | #5 |
| 1994 | "Bop Gun (One Nation)" | #23 | #37 | #6 |