It Was A Good Day

Released in March 1993, this was the second single from Ice Cube's 1992 album The Predator. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 27 on the UK charts. It was ranked as the 81st greatest rap song of all time by About.com and number 77 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s. In 2008, it was ranked number 28 on VH1's 100 greatest songs of hip hop. The song was also featured on a radio station in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Ice Cube originally recorded a demo of the track in his home studio and went on to record the album version in Los Angeles at Echo Sound Studios during 1992, and it was one of the first ideas for the album sessions. Ice Cube commented on the concept behind the song stating, "The inspiration was my life at the time ... I was at the top of the rap game. It was the summer of ’92 and I was in a hotel room, really in a state of euphoria. I had all the money I had dreamed of. I was in a good frame of mind. And I remember thinking, ‘Okay, there’s been the riots, people know I will deal with that. That’s a given. But I rap all this gangsta stuff — what about all the good days I had?" The song samples The Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark ", and DJ Pooh enhanced the production with bass and vocals. The song has been re-released multiple times, including on Ice Cube's Greatest Hits album. A remixed version, sampling "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, appeared on his Bootlegs & B-Sides as well as The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 1: 1988-1999. In the song, Ice Cube reflects on the events of January 20, 1992 and how these events affected his life at the time.

[Produced by DJ Pooh] [Intro] Break 'em Yeah Yeah Yeah Uh [Verse 1] Just wakin' up in the morning, gotta thank God I don't know, but today seems kinda odd No barking from the dog, no smog And Momma cooked a breakfast with no hog I got my grub on, but didn't pig out Finally got a call from a girl I wanna dig out Hooked it up for later as I hit the door Thinkin', "Will I live another twenty-four?" I gotta go 'cause I got me a drop-top And if I hit the switch, I can make the ass drop Had to stop at a red light Lookin' in my mirror and not a jacker in sight And everything is alright I got a beep from Kim, and she can fuck all night Called up the homies and I'm askin' y'all "Which park are y'all playin' basketball?" Get me on the court and I'm trouble Last week, fucked around and got a triple double Freakin' niggas every way, like MJ I can't believe today was a good day [Verse 2] Drove to the pad and hit the showers Didn't even get no static from the cowards 'Cause just yesterday them fools tried to blast me Saw the police and they rolled right past me No flexin', didn't even look in a nigga's direction As I ran the intersection Went to Short Dog's house, they was watchin' Yo! MTV Raps What's the haps on the craps? Shake 'em up, shake 'em up, shake 'em up, shake 'em Roll 'em in a circle of niggas And watch me break 'em with the 7, 7-11, 7-11 7, even back door Little Joe I picked up the cash flow Then we played bones, and I'm yellin': "Domino!" Plus nobody I know got killed in South Central LA Today was a good day [Verse 3] Left my nigga's house paid Picked up a girl been tryna fuck since the 12th grade It's ironic, I had the brew, she had the chronic The Lakers beat the Supersonics I felt on the big fat fanny Pulled out the jammy and killed the punani And my dick runs deep, so deep So deep put her ass to sleep Woke her up around one She didn't hesitate to call Ice Cube the top gun Drove her to the pad and I'm coastin' Took another sip of the potion, hit the three-wheel motion I was glad everything had worked out Dropped her ass off and then chirped out Today was like one of those fly dreams Didn't even see a berry flashin' those high beams No helicopter lookin' for a murder Two in the morning, got the Fatburger Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp And it read "Ice Cube's a Pimp" (Yeah) Drunk as hell, but no throwin' up Halfway home and my pager still blowin' up Today I didn't even have to use my AK I gotta say, it was a good day [Outro] Hey, wait, wait a minute! Pooh, stop this shit! What the fuck am I thinkin' about?