"Wicked" is a song written and performed by American rappers

Ice Cube O'Shea Jackson Sr. (born June 15, 1969), known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1989 album '' Straight Outta Compton'' contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popu ...

and Don Jagwarr. It was released on October 16, 1992 via

Priority Records Priority Records is an American distribution company and record label known for artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, MC Ren, Eazy-E, Master P, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Silkk the Shocker, Jay-Z, Paris, Mack 10, 504 Boyz, Brotha Lynch Hung, ...

as the lead single from the former's third solo studio album '' The Predator''. Recorded at Echo Sound in Glendale, it was produced by Torcha Chamba and Ice Cube himself, who utilized samples from the

Ohio Players Ohio Players are an American funk band, most popular in the 1970s. They are best known for their songs "Fire" and " Love Rollercoaster", and for their erotic album covers that featured nude or nearly nude women. Many of the women were models f ...

' " Funky Worm",

Public Enemy Public Enemy is an American Hip-hop, hip hop group formed in Roosevelt, New York, in 1985 by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. The group rose to prominence for their political messages including subjects such as Racism in the United States, American r ...

'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 The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...

for selling 500,000 copies in the US alone. An accompanying

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

was directed by Marcus Raboy starring Anthony Kiedis and Michael "Flea" Balzary of the

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

Cover versions

In 1996, the song was covered by Calla Destra for the

electro-industrial Electro-industrial is a music genre that emerged from industrial music in the early 1980s. While EBM (electronic body music) has a minimal structure and clean production, electro-industrial tends to have a grittier, complex and layered sound ...

various artists compilation '' Operation Beatbox''. 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 Limp Bizkit is an American nu metal band from Jacksonville, Florida. Its lineup consists of lead vocalist Fred Durst, drummer John Otto (drummer), John Otto, guitarist Wes Borland, turntablist DJ Lethal and bassist Sam Rivers (bassist), Sam ...

has also covered the song in concert, 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

Personnel

*O'Shea "

" 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

Certifications

References

External links

* {{Authority control 1992 songs 1992 singles Ice Cube songs Priority Records singles Songs written by Ice Cube Music videos directed by Marcus Raboy