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 | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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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
In 1996, the song was covered by Calla Destra for the electro-industrial various artists compilation Operation Beatbox.[4]
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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wicked" (Radio) |
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| 2. | "Wicked" (Instrumental) | Jackson |
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| 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
- 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
| 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
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
KoЯn version
| "Wicked" | |
|---|---|
| Song by KoЯn featuring Chino Moreno | |
| from the album Life Is Peachy | |
| Released | October 15, 1996 |
| Recorded | 1996 |
| Studio | Indigo Ranch (Malibu, California) |
| Genre | Rap metal · Nu metal |
| Length | 4:00 |
| Label | Immortal · Epic |
| Songwriter | O'Shea Jackson |
American nu metal band KoЯn recorded a cover of "Wicked" for their second album Life Is Peachy (1996), featuring guest vocals by Chino Moreno of Deftones. Sources describe the recording as part of the 1990s rap-metal and nu-metal crossover movement.[12][13]
The cover became one of the most widely discussed reinterpretations on Life Is Peachy and marked the first official collaboration between Ice Cube and Korn, preceding Cube's later participation in the band's 1998 Family Values Tour.[13]
Critical reception
Revolver praised the interplay between Jonathan Davis and Chino Moreno, describing the track as a raw, loose, and unusually intimate tribute to Ice Cube's original.[14]
Kerrang! highlighted Davis's chorus as one of his most unrestrained early scatting performances, emblematic of his emerging nu-metal vocal style.[15]
Louder further noted that the cover served as an important bridge between hip-hop and heavy music during the decade, helping introduce Ice Cube to the nu-metal generation.[13]
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "The Biggest Day in Nu-Metal History". Billboard. May 25, 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ a b c "How One Rap Legend Helped Bring Hip-Hop to the Nu-Metal Generation". Louder. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "Fan Poll: Top 5 Chino Moreno Songs Outside of Deftones". Revolver. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
- ^ "The 6 Best Jonathan Davis Scat Performances – Ranked". Kerrang!. Retrieved 2025-04-30.
External links
- "Wicked / U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" at Discogs (list of releases)