Death Certificate cover art

  Studio Album · No. 2

Death Certificate Songwriting Credits by Ice Cube

1991 Priority Records 20 tracks 61 min

Produced by Sir Jinx, Boogiemen, Ice Cube  ·  Engineered by Bob Morse, Frank Macek, Andy Growcott

Priority Records Gangsta RapHardcore Hip HopPolitical Hip HopWest Coast Hip Hop
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 20 of 20 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 20 / 20 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 20 tracks with documented writers, by whether Ice Cube carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
20 trackswritten by Ice Cube 0 tracksoutside writers
Ice Cube's roles on this album

Share of the 20 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer90%
Producer90%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

20
Tracks
6
Lyricists
3
Producers
2 million
US Copies Sold
1991
Released
Data Insight

Ice Cube wrote all his own lyrics for this 1991 concept album, structured as two halves: 'The Death Side,' a mirror of where Black America stood, and 'The Life Side,' a vision of where it needed to go. Production came mainly from Sir Jinx and the Boogie Men, leaning on 1970s funk and soul samples, with Cube as executive producer. The record drew significant controversy, particularly 'Black Korea,' which was accused of inciting anti-Asian sentiment; Cube later called it a failed song. Nation of Islam figure Khalid Abdul Muhammad appears in interludes.

Ice Cube's second studio album, released October 29, 1991, recorded at Paramount Recording in Los Angeles. The album features West Coast production built on 1970s funk and soul samples, handled primarily by Sir Jinx and the Boogiemen, a production collective that included Ice Cube and WC. It is divided into two thematic halves: the Death Side, depicting urban struggles and street life, and the Life Side, offering political commentary on racism, addiction, and economic inequality. Death Certificate sold 250,000 copies in its first week and reached number two on the Billboard 200. Critics and historians regard it as one of the most politically charged and controversial rap albums of the early 1990s.

Track Listing & Credits 20 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
The Funeral (Intro)
Ice Cube Sir Jinx Sir Jinx Ice Cube
2
The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
3
My Summer Vacation
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
4
Steady Mobbin' #30
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
5
Robin Lench (Interlude)
Ice Cube BoogiemenSir Jinx BoogiemenSir Jinx Ice Cube
6
Givin' Up the Nappy Dug Out
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
7
Look Who's Burnin'
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
8
A Bird in the Hand
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
9
Man's Best Friend
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
10
Alive on Arrival
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
11
Death
Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson Ice Cube Ice CubeKhalid Abdul Muhammad
12
The Birth
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice CubeKhalid Abdul Muhammad
13
I Wanna Kill Sam
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
14
Horny Lil' Devil
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
15
Black Korea
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
16
True to the Game #67
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
17
Color Blind
Ice CubeDeadly ThreatKamthe Maad CircleKing TeeJ-Dee BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice CubeDeadly ThreatKamthe Maad CircleKing TeeJ-Dee
18
Doing Dumb Shit
Ice Cube BoogiemenO'Shea Jackson BoogiemenIce Cube Ice Cube
19
Us
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube
20
No Vaseline
Ice Cube Sir JinxO'Shea Jackson Sir JinxIce Cube Ice Cube

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 10 contributors

IC
Ice Cube
Writer · Producer
On this album20 written
OJ
O'Shea Jackson
Writer
On this album18 written
B
Boogiemen
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
SJ
Sir Jinx
Writer · Producer
On this album10 written
DT
Deadly Threat
Writer
On this album1 written
J
J-Dee
Writer
On this album1 written
K
Kam
Writer
On this album1 written
KT
King Tee
Writer
On this album1 written
TM
the Maad Circle
Writer
On this album1 written
KA
Khalid Abdul Muhammad
Performer
On this albumGuest

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Frequently Asked Questions Death Certificate

Did Ice Cube write Death Certificate?
Yes. Ice Cube wrote all of his own lyrics for Death Certificate, his 1991 second album. Production was handled mainly by Sir Jinx and the Boogie Men, with Cube serving as executive producer, but the words and the album's concept are his.
What is the concept behind Death Certificate?
Death Certificate is split into two halves. 'The Death Side' is described as a mirror image of where Black America was at the time, while 'The Life Side' presents a vision of where Ice Cube believed it needed to go.
Why was Death Certificate controversial?
Several tracks drew criticism, most notably 'Black Korea,' which was accused of inciting anti-Asian racism amid tensions in Los Angeles. Ice Cube later referred to it as a failed song. Other tracks were attacked for confrontational content.
Who produced Death Certificate?
The album was produced primarily by Sir Jinx and the Boogie Men, with Ice Cube credited as executive producer. The production leans heavily on 1970s funk and soul samples.
How well did Death Certificate sell?
Death Certificate sold roughly 105,000 copies in its first week and was certified Platinum by the RIAA on December 20, 1991. It has since sold over two million copies in the United States.
What is Steady Mobbin' by Ice Cube about?
'Steady Mobbin'' is a single from Death Certificate that depicts everyday life in Cube's South Central environment. It reached number 30 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 3 on the Hot Rap Songs chart.

Sources

Wikipedia: Death Certificate Wikipedia: Death Certificate (album) Wikipedia: Steady Mobbin' MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Death Certificate by Ice Cube