Wicked (Ice Cube song)
| "Wicked" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Ice Cube featuring Don Jagwarr | ||||
| from the album The Predator | ||||
| Released | November 3, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Echo Sound (Glendale, CA) | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Label | Priority | |||
| Songwriter(s) |
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| Producer(s) |
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| Ice Cube featuring Don Jagwarr singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Wicked" on YouTube | ||||
"Wicked" is a song written and performed by American rappers Ice Cube and Don Jagwarr. It was released on October 16, 1992 via Priority Records as the lead single from the former's third solo studio album The Predator.[1][2] Recorded at Echo Sound in Glendale, it was produced by Torcha Chamba and Ice Cube himself, who utilized samples from the Ohio Players' "Funky Worm", Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Can't Truss It", and Das EFX's "Looseys".
The song marks Ice Cube's first single to enter the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 55. On March 23, 1993, the single went certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 copies in the US alone.
An accompanying music video was directed by Marcus Raboy starring Anthony Kiedis and Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[3]
Cover versions
[edit]In 1996, the song was covered by Calla Destra for the electro-industrial various artists compilation Operation Beatbox.[4]
The song was covered by KoЯn for their 1996 album Life Is Peachy. This version features Deftones lead singer Chino Moreno and contrasts from Ice Cube's version with scat-like vocals from Jonathan Davis in the chorus. This would be the first of four KoЯn songs involving Ice Cube (and vice versa); the others being "Children of the Korn", "Fuck Dying" and "Should I Stay or Should I Go".
Limp Bizkit has also covered the song in concert,[5] while KoЯn have performed this song live on several occasions with Deftones frontman Chino Moreno, Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and Ice Cube himself (along with "Children of the Korn").
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wicked" (Radio) |
|
| |
| 2. | "Wicked" (Instrumental) | Jackson |
| |
| 3. | "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" (LP Version) | Jackson | Mr. Woody | |
| 4. | "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" (Instrumental) | Jackson | Mr. Woody | |
| 5. | "Wicked" (LP Version) |
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|
Personnel
[edit]- O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson – lyrics, vocals, producer (tracks: 1, 2, 5), executive producer
- Duane "Don Jagwarr" Earle – lyrics & vocals (tracks: 1, 5)
- Torcha Chamba – producers & mixing (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
- Jesse "Mr. Woody" Stubblefield – producer & mixing (tracks: 3, 4)
- Mark "DJ Pooh" Jordan – mixing (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1992–93) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC)[6] | 62 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 55 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 31 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 71 |
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[10] | 1 |
Certifications
[edit]| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
[edit]- ^ Watrous, Peter (March 1, 1993). "Review/Pop; At Ice Cube Rap Concert Everyone Goes to a Party". The New York Times.
- ^ "The 100 Best L.A. Rap Songs". Complex. June 21, 2012.
- ^ "The Nigga You Love to Love: Ice Cube Reissued, Amerikka's Most Wanted to Lethal Injection". Morphizm.com. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ^ Christian, Chris (August 1996). "Various Artists: Operation Beatbox". Sonic Boom. 4 (7). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
- ^ "Limp Bizkit Wicked". YouTube. 2007-01-06. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Ice Cube Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Ice Cube Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Ice Cube Chart History (R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "Ice Cube Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ "American single certifications – Ice Cube – Wicked". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
External links
[edit]- "Wicked / U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" at Discogs (list of releases)
