You Know How We Do It by Ice Cube Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the West Coast Anthology
Lyrics
Fool, you know how we do it
West Side
Comin’ from the West Side
Nothin’ but the West Side
Ain’t nothin’ goin on but the bomb ass rap song
Hittin’ all night long
Just like me on the black and white ivory
Gettin’ six on artillery you don’t want to see a G
Break yo’ ass like dishes
Buster ass tricks sleep with the fishes
Runnin’ from Lennox up at Venice
They want to have me in stripes, like Dennis the Menace
But that ain’t poppin’, ain’t no stoppin’
Fo’ hoppin, ass droppin’, Coupe DeVille
My truth can, ill, fool I got skills
So, back on up ‘fore I check that chin
Down as fuck and I’m full off Henn’
You gets no love and I thought you knew it
Fool, you know how we do it
Comin’ from the West Side
West Side, comin’ from the West Side
Chillin’ with the homies, smellin’ the bud
Double parked and I’m talkin’ to Dub
About who got a plan, who got a plot
Whom got got, and who got shot
‘Cause everybody knows that he got the info
Crazy Toones hangin out the window
Fool, I got them bomb-ass tapes
Da Lench Mob, Planet of the Apes
I’m down with Eiht, and Watts Up
Kam and Solo, they got nuts
When Ice Cube write a sentence
I want “The Bomb,” just like George Clinton
S-K-D is down to catch a body
Put on Knee Deep, we’ll turn out your party
You gets no love and I thought you knew it
Fool, you know how we do it
You know how we do it
Jack B Nimble, and Jack B Quick
If you want to jack me on a lick, ’cause
I’m that fool from South Central
You think you stuck yourself, with a number two pencil
That’s how I poke hot lead in yo’ ass
With “Mo’ Bounce to the Ounce” in the dash
Mash up, Van Ness, headed for the West
Everything is great, slow down for the dip
On a 100 and 8th and keep mashin’
Don’t drink and drive to keep the fo’ from crashin’
Stashin a glock and I thought you knew it
You know how we do it
Comin’ from the West Side, West Side
Nothin’ but a West Side
It’s hittin’ on the West Side
Fool, you know how we do it
Ice Cube’s ‘You Know How We Do It’ isn’t just a smooth West Coast beat with catchy hooks—it’s a layered narrative, an urban tapestry stitched with the cultural threads of 1990s Los Angeles. Bubbling beneath the laidback verses lies the raw, lived experience of a rap icon, whose rhymes reverberate with the weight of a community’s story.
‘You Know How We Do It’ encapsulates a vibe, a sliver of time distilled into a sonic experience. But to dismiss it as simply another G-funk track would be to overlook the ethos it imparts and the complexity it communicates about life in South Central LA, Ice Cube’s proving ground.
A Cinematic Glimpse Into Cube’s Hood
Much like a movie director frames a scene, Ice Cube sets the stage for his listeners. ‘Comin’ from the West Side,’ isn’t merely about geographic orientation; it’s an embrace of the Westside’s unique cultural identity. Just as New York City rappers of the era drew influence from their concrete jungles, Cube roots his narrative in the Left Coast’s endless summer beat.
The song’s beat acts as a vehicle, cruising through the cityscape that shaped Cube’s craft. With every beat, the metaphoric lowrider bounces, illuminating snapshots of life from Lennox to Venice, a landscape peppered with stories of triumph and survival.
Casual Braggadocio Meets Poignant Social Commentary
There’s a swagger to Cube’s delivery, a confidence that goes beyond the surface of self-assurance. But beneath this bravado lies an acute awareness of his environment—a place where success and survival mean navigating a gauntlet of potential downfalls. This is not just braggadocio; it’s a testament to the resilience required to transcend.
The phrase ‘ain’t nothin’ goin on but the bomb ass rap song’ itself is multi-layered, at once celebrating the art form that provides Cube a platform, while subtly hinting at the lack of opportunities beyond the glitz of the entertainment industry for many young black men in South Central.
Collaborative Spirit and West Coast Unity
While Cube may be the central narrator, ‘You Know How We Do It’ is imbued with a sense of community. Shout-outs to fellow artists like Kam, Solo, and Eiht emphasize the collaborative essence of West Coast hip-hop.
The name-drops serve to celebrate shared achievements, while also forging a musical alliance against the East Coast-West Coast rivalry that was brewing at the time. Each mentioned artist carries with them a segment of the West Coast’s panoramic mosaic, contributing to a larger, unified sound.
The Hidden Message in Cube’s Artillery
Ice Cube’s expertise is manifest in his ability to convert harsh realities into compelling verses. When he talks of being ‘down as fuck and I’m full off Henn’,’ he isn’t glorifying substance use or menace but rather, illustrating a scene—the reality for many who found solace in escape, even if momentary.
His reference to ‘six on artillery’ subtly underscores the omnipresence of guns and the normality of violence in his sphere. Yet, Cube navigates this with a deft touch, neither preaching nor condoning, but faithfully reporting the temperature of the streets.
Timelessness in Ice Cube’s Verses
Over two decades later, ‘You Know How We Do It’ endures as a touchstone of its era. Words like ‘Jack B Nimble, and Jack B Quick’ are clever iterations of classic rhymes, repurposed to capture the cunning necessary to stay ahead of the game on Cube’s home turf.
This song’s enduring presence in party playlists and radio rotations underscores Cube’s achievement in crafting lines that are not merely memorable but generationally transcendent, rhythmic prose that captures the heart of a dynamic culture.
