Ice Cube

Solo Artist

Photo: Adam Bielawski · CC BY-SA 3.0
Active 1986-present
Origin Los Angeles, California
Albums 12
Tracks 201
Most frequent collaborator Sir Jinx · 31 tracks
Genres Hip HopRapGangsta RapWest Coast Hip HopG-Funk
Complete Artist
98%
Authorship

Holds writing credit on 197 of 201 tracks

Does Ice Cube write his own raps?

Yes. Ice Cube is credited on about 98% of his catalogue and writes every verse himself. He is never the only name on a track because his producers share the composer credit for the beats. Songs like 'It Was a Good Day,' 'Check Yo Self,' and 'No Vaseline' are all his own words.

By the Numbers

12
Studio Albums
201
Tracks Credited
98%
Self-Written
40
Years Active
268
Collaborators

Authorship Breakdown 197 / 201 self-written

Who wrote the songs?

Across all 201 tracks: how many Ice Cube wrote alone, how many they co-wrote, and how many were written by others. The bracket marks every track they hold any writing credit on.

Ice Cube has a writing credit98%
19%
79%
2%
Sole author38tracks19%
Co-written159tracks79%
Outside writers4tracks2%

Role Fingerprint how they contribute

Lyricist Performer Composer Producer
Ice Cube's roles across the catalogue

Share of all 201 tracks where they are personally credited, by role.

Lyricist (words)98%
Composer (music)50%
Producer27%
Performer98%

Authorship Over Time writing credit per album

Ice Cube's writing credit per album, in release order. Hover any bar for the album.

avg 98%
100%
100%
100%
100%
94%
94%
100%
94%
94%
100%
100%
100%
1990AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
1991Death Certificate
1992The Predator
1993Lethal Injection
1998War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc)
2000War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)
2006Laugh Now, Cry Later
2008Raw Footage
2010I Am the West
2018Everythang's Corrupt
2024Man Down
2025Man Up
Early · 100% written
Mid · 96% written
Late · 98% written

Authorship by Decade track-weighted

99%
1990s
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Death Certificate +3 more
96%
2000s
War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc), Laugh Now, Cry Later +1 more
97%
2010s
I Am the West, Everythang's Corrupt
100%
2020s
Man Down, Man Up

Authorship Spectrum pure performer to complete author

Where Ice Cube sits on the scale from a pure performer (0%, sings songs written by others) to a complete author (100%, writes everything). The bright marker is their catalogue authorship score, plotted against other artists on the site.

Ice Cube
Other artists on the site

Reference artists spread across the scale, closest by genre and era.

EXO8%
Salt-N-Pepa35%
Kylie Minogue46%
TLC59%
Destiny's Child69%
Guns N' Roses78%
Dr. Dre89%
98%Ice Cube
Pure Performer0%
Songwriter~50%
Complete Author100%

Who Really Wrote the Hits signature songs

Steady Mobbin'
Death Certificate
Written by Ice Cube, Boogiemen, O'Shea Jackson
Co-wrote
True to the Game
Death Certificate
Written by Ice Cube, Sir Jinx, O'Shea Jackson
Co-wrote
It Was a Good Day
The Predator
Written by Ice Cube, O'Shea Jackson
Wrote it
Check Yo Self
The Predator
Written by Ice Cube, O'Shea Jackson
Wrote it
Wicked
The Predator
Written by Ice Cube, Don Jagwarr, O'Shea Jackson, Torcha Chamba
Co-wrote
You Know How We Do It
Lethal Injection
Written by Ice Cube, Dexter Wansel, O'Shea Jackson, Quincy Jones III, Theodore Life
Co-wrote
Bop Gun (One Nation)
Lethal Injection
Written by Ice Cube, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Garry Shider, O'Shea Jackson, Junie Morrison, Quincy Jones III
Co-wrote
Pushin' Weight
War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc)
Written by Ice Cube, Joseph Johnson, Lionel Hunt, N.O. Joe
Co-wrote
You Can Do It
War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)
Written by Ice Cube, Mack 10, Donald Saunders, Arthur Baker, Afrika Bambaataa, John Robie, One Eye
Co-wrote
Hello
War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)
Written by Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, MC Ren, Andre Romelle Young
Co-wrote

Discography 12 albums

Collaborator Network who they worked with most

Ice Cube201 tracks
SJ31Sir Jinx, 31 tracks TB13The Bomb Squad, 13 tracks HP12Hallway Productionz, 12 tracks B10Boogiemen, 10 tracks TU7Teak Underdue, 7 tracks TJ6Tristan Jones, 6 tracks T6T-Mix, 6 tracks B6Bud'da, 6 tracks W6WC, 6 tracks DP5DJ Pooh, 5 tracks JJ5Joseph Johnson, 5 tracks NJ5N.O. Joe, 5 tracks SA5Stephen Anderson, 5 tracks GC4George Clinton, 4 tracks QJ4Quincy Jones III, 4 tracks Q4QDIII, 4 tracks LH4Lionel Hunt, 4 tracks MS4Mr. Short Khop, 4 tracks JH4Joseph Hearne, 4 tracks OE4One Eye, 4 tracks E4Emile, 4 tracks JS4Jonathan Smith, 4 tracks DU4Deejon Underdue, 4 tracks DF4Darrell Finister II, 4 tracks DM3DJ Muggs, 3 tracks on Cypress Hill's page BC3Bootsy Collins, 3 tracks JM3Junie Morrison, 3 tracks L3Laylaw, 3 tracks GS3Garry Shider, 3 tracks M13Mack 10, 3 tracks SA3Shon Adams, 3 tracks AR3Andre Romelle Young, 3 tracks on Dr. Dre's page CT3Carl Thompson, 3 tracks RN3Rich Nice, 3 tracks LH3Loren Hill, 3 tracks CT3Chucky Thompson, 3 tracks LJ3Lil Jon, 3 tracks OJ3O'Shea Jackson Jr., 3 tracks AT3Arcale Turner, 3 tracks D3Decadez, 3 tracks KA2Khalid Abdul Muhammad, 2 tracks BG2Brian G, 2 tracks BB2Blæs Bukki, 2 tracks J2Jokeren, 2 tracks M42Madness 4 Real, 2 tracks NC2Nick Coldhands, 2 tracks RB2Rasmus Berg, 2 tracks MG2Marvin Gaye, 2 tracks JJ2Joe Joe, 2 tracks RG2Ryan Gardner, 2 tracks AW2Anthony Wheaton, 2 tracks K2Kokane, 2 tracks E2E-A-Ski, 2 tracks TG2Terry Gray, 2 tracks JF2Jayo Felony, 2 tracks DS2Donald Saunders, 2 tracks ES2Erick Sermon, 2 tracks P2PMD, 2 tracks SS2Scott Storch, 2 tracks on The Roots's page ME2Mike Epps, 2 tracks T2Teak, 2 tracks SD2Snoop Dogg, 2 tracks CB2Calvin Broadus, 2 tracks D2D-Mac, 2 tracks WC2William Calhoun, 2 tracks JM2John Murphy, 2 tracks EH2Emile Haynie, 2 tracks CW2Chris Whitacre, 2 tracks JH2Justin Henderson, 2 tracks TB2Tha Bizness, 2 tracks O2OMG, 2 tracks D2Doughboy, 2 tracks CB2Chris Bellard, 2 tracks MH2Montay Humphrey, 2 tracks YM2Young Maylay, 2 tracks DU2Deejan Underdue, 2 tracks AP2Amir Perry, 2 tracks S2ShawnSki, 2 tracks BS2Big Soj, 2 tracks M2Magnedo7, 2 tracks TS2Too Short, 2 tracks TA2The Almighty E-A-Ski, 2 tracks DP2Davon Phillips, 2 tracks D2Davon, 2 tracks DB2David Banner, 2 tracks CD1Chuck D, 1 track on Public Enemy's page FF1Flavor Flav, 1 track on Public Enemy's page Y1Yo-Yo, 1 track DT1Deadly Threat, 1 track K1Kam, 1 track TM1the Maad Circle, 1 track KT1King Tee, 1 track J1J-Dee, 1 track BC1Bob Cat, 1 track DJ1Don Jagwarr, 1 track TC1Torcha Chamba, 1 track MW1Mr. Woody, 1 track R1Rashad, 1 track P1Pocketts, 1 track DE1Das EFX, 1 track LF1Louis Farrakhan, 1 track MX1Malcolm X, 1 track D1D'Maq, 1 track NW1Norman Whitfield, 1 track SG1Shock G, 1 track DM1Derrick McDowell, 1 track BW1Bernie Worrell, 1 track DS1David Spradley, 1 track DW1Dexter Wansel, 1 track TL1Theodore Life, 1 track 8X188 X Unit, 1 track A“1Arthur “T-Boy” Ross, 1 track LW1Leon Ware, 1 track K1K-Dee, 1 track C“1Clarence “Satch” Satchell, 1 track GW1Greg Webster, 1 track M“1Marshall “Rock” Jones, 1 track MP1Marvin Pierce, 1 track NN1Norman Napier, 1 track RM1Ralph Middlebrooks, 1 track S1Sugarfoot, 1 track AC1Al Cleveland, 1 track JN1James Nyx, 1 track RB1Renaldo Benson, 1 track K1KoRn, 1 track GS1Gwen Stefani, 1 track on No Doubt's page ES1Eric Stefani, 1 track on No Doubt's page ST1Silkk the Shocker, 1 track VM1Vyshonn Miller, 1 track GG1Gerald Goffin, 1 track MM1Michael Masser, 1 track TW1Timothy Walker, 1 track MD1Marlin Demby, 1 track DF1Deep Fried Damp, 1 track AS1Andy Summers, 1 track on The Police's page RC1Richard Cousins, 1 track RD1Rick Dutch Cousin, 1 track BD1Betty Davis, 1 track KG1Kelly Garmon, 1 track B1Butch, 1 track K1K-Mac, 1 track KG1Kevin Gulley, 1 track GH1Gregory Hutchinson, 1 track MO1Mark Ogleton, 1 track DD1Dr. Dre, 1 track MR1MC Ren, 1 track CR1Chris Rock, 1 track TA1Terrell Anderson, 1 track MM1Marcus Moore, 1 track T1T-Bone, 1 track

Bubble size = tracks worked on together. Showing the 150 most frequent of 262. SJ Sir Jinx · TB The Bomb Squad · HP Hallway Productionz · B Boogiemen · TU Teak Underdue · TJ Tristan Jones

Photo credits

Portraits in the web and the rail come from Wikimedia Commons. The artist's own photo carries its credit under the picture.

The Authorship Story

Data Insight

Ice Cube is a complete lyricist across all ten studio albums, with every rap verse on every track being his own writing. His authorship split is nearly identical throughout his career: sole lyricist, zero composer credit (production outsourced entirely to beat-makers), and occasional co-producer credit on early albums when he took a hands-on role in the studio. The Bomb Squad handled AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted; Sir Jinx and the Boogiemen produced Death Certificate; later albums brought in DJ Pooh (The Predator), QDIII (Lethal Injection), and Scott Storch and Swizz Beatz (Laugh Now, Cry Later). Guest rappers like Chuck D, Yo-Yo, Dr. Dre, and MC Ren contribute their own verses where credited. His lyricist score is effectively 100%.

Quick Facts

  • N.W.AWas N.W.A's lead rapper and main writer, ghostwriting much of Straight Outta Compton
  • The PredatorHis 1992 album sold over three million copies in the US
  • Rock HallInducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with N.W.A in 2016
  • Grammy honorReceived the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024
  • FilmmakerCo-wrote and starred in Friday (1995) and built a major acting and producing career

Creative Fingerprint

A complete lyricist: Ice Cube is credited on about 98% of his catalogue, writing every rap verse himself, always sharing credit with the producers who supply the beats.

The Story

O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is a rapper, actor, and filmmaker from South Central Los Angeles. He began his career writing rhymes for N.W.A, contributing lyrics to Straight Outta Compton (1988) before departing the group in 1989 following a financial dispute with manager Jerry Heller. His debut solo album AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), recorded in New York with Public Enemy's Bomb Squad, established him as one of rap's sharpest political voices. The Predator (1992) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 within days of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, making it one of the fastest-selling rap albums in history. Across ten studio albums spanning 1990 to 2018, Ice Cube has written every lyric himself while working with a rotating roster of producers including Sir Jinx, DJ Pooh, The Bomb Squad, DJ Muggs, Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, and Hallway Productionz. He extended his career into film with Boyz n the Hood (1991), the Friday franchise (1995, which he also co-wrote), Barbershop (2002), and Are We There Yet? (2005).

Awards & Recognition

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with N.W.A in 2016
Received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024
The Predator (1992) sold over three million copies in the US
One of the most influential figures in West Coast and political hip-hop

Frequently Asked Questions Ice Cube

Does Ice Cube write his own raps?
Yes. Ice Cube is credited on about 98% of his catalogue and writes every verse himself. He is never the only name on a track because his producers share the composer credit for the beats. Songs like 'It Was a Good Day,' 'Check Yo Self,' and 'No Vaseline' are all his own words.
Was Ice Cube in N.W.A?
Yes, and he was central to it. Ice Cube was N.W.A's lead rapper and main writer, ghostwriting much of the landmark album Straight Outta Compton (1989). He left the group in a contract dispute and launched a hugely successful solo career.
Who wrote 'It Was a Good Day'?
'It Was a Good Day,' from The Predator (1992), was written by Ice Cube over a beat built on an Isley Brothers sample. Its laid-back tone contrasted with his harder material and became his most famous song.
What is 'No Vaseline' about?
'No Vaseline,' from Death Certificate (1991), is Ice Cube's diss track aimed at his former N.W.A bandmates and their manager after he left the group. He wrote it himself, and it is considered one of the most brutal diss records in rap history.
Is Ice Cube an actor?
Yes, a major one. He debuted in Boyz n the Hood (1991), then co-wrote and starred in Friday (1995), which became a franchise. He built a substantial career as an actor, screenwriter, and producer alongside his music.
How many albums has Ice Cube released?
This catalogue covers ten studio albums, from AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990) through Everythang's Corrupt (2018), spanning his solo run after leaving N.W.A.
Has Ice Cube won major awards?
Yes. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with N.W.A in 2016 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024, recognising his impact on hip-hop.
What genre is Ice Cube?
Ice Cube makes hip-hop, gangsta rap, and West Coast hip-hop, known for confrontational, politically charged lyrics on albums like AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Death Certificate.

Sources

Wikipedia: Ice Cube File:Ice-Cube 2014 Chicago - Wikimedia Commons