Death Certificate

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This is the article about Ice Cube's album.
For the document concerning a person's death, see Death certificate.

Professional reviews
Death Certificate

Studio album by Ice Cube
Released	October 29, 1991
Recorded	1991
Genre	Hip-Hop, Political Rap
Length	61:08
Label	Priority
Producer(s)	Da Lench Mob
All Music Guide link
Ice Cube chronology
Kill at Will (1991)	Death Certificate (1991)	The Predator (1992)

Death Certificate is the critically acclaimed second solo album from rapper Ice Cube, released on October 29, 1991. Comprised of two sides, The "Death Side" was a critique on the current state of the black community in America, while The "Life Side" which followed it was an instruction on the direction needed to pull said community out of the mire of violence and economic ruin depicted on the Death side.

The album garnered critical acclaim and controversy in equal amounts for powerful and evocative songs. "Us," perhaps the album's most insightful track, explains Ice Cube's stance on what the African-American race must do to reach the "Life Side." The evocative "Bird in the Hand" is a track sympathetic with the plight of the minimum wage worker, teenage parent, and inner city drug pusher and critical of figureheads ranging from George H. W. Bush to Jesse Jackson. "Horny Lil' Devil" is a fiercesome attack on white men who sexually harass and objectify black women, while "Black Korea" is a controversial track that attacks Korean store owners who are constantly suspicious of their black customers. The track "Look Who's Burnin'" tells of the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases in low income neighborhoods, while "Alive on Arrival" tells the story of a young man caught in the crossfire of a gang shooting who slowly bleeds to death while waiting in the slow hospital waiting room. "Color Blind" preaches neutrality and brotherhood between gangs, such as the Bloods and Crips. The album is also famous for the bonus track "No Vaseline," a vicious "diss track" aimed at Ice Cube's former N.W.A bandmates.

Due to fear that laws against racial incitement in Europe could see the album banned, the European release deleted the tracks Black Korea and No Vaseline. In 2003, Priority Records re-released Death Certificate with one bonus track, "How to Survive in South Central", originally appearing on the Boyz N the Hood soundtrack. The album spawned the chart single and music video Steady Mobbin'.

In the September 2006 issue of FHM, Ice Cube stated in an interview that he did not regret the controversial statements made on the album. Regarding the offence caused to Koreans, he said, "If there's still a problem, it's their problem."

1 Track listing
2 Partial List of Samples
3 Album singles
4 Album Chart Positions
5 Singles Chart Positions
6 Miscellanea
7 External links

[edit] Track listing

The Death Side

The Funeral
The Wrong Nigga To Fuck Wit
My Summer Vacation
Steady Mobbin'
Robin Lench
Givin' Up The Nappy Dug Out
Look Who's Burnin'
A Bird In The Hand
Man's Best Friend
Alive On Arrival
The Death

The Life Side

12. "The Birth"
13. "I Wanna Kill Sam"
14. "Horny Lil' Devil"
15. "Black Korea"
16. "True To The Game"
17. "Color Blind"
18. "Doing Dumb Shit"
19. "Us"
20. "No Vaseline"

2003 bonus track:

21. "How to Survive in South Central"

[edit] Partial List of Samples

The following lists some songs and sounds sampled for Death Certificate.

Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit

Thief
"Flashlight" by Parliament
"The Payback" by James Brown
"Good Ole Music" by Funkadelic

My Summer Vacation

"Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
"So Ruff, So Tuff" by Zapp & Roger

Steady Mobbin'

"Deep" by Parliament
"Love Amnesia" by Parlet
"After the Dance" by Marvin Gaye
"Reach Out" by Average White Band
"Sir Nose D'Voidoffunk (Pay Attention- B3M)" & "Theme From The Black Hole" by Parliament

Givin' Up the Nappy Dug Out

"Do it Roger" by Roger
"Mr. Wiggles" by Parliament
"Jimmy" by Boogie Down Productions
"Smooth Criminal" by Michael Jackson
"Hip-Hug-Her" by Booker T. & the MG's
"I'll Take You There" by The Staple Sisters
"Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers

Look Who's Burnin'

"The Freeze" by Parliament
"Lyin' Ass Bitch" by Fishbone
"The Very Long Fuse" by Disney
"Jimmy" by Boogie Down Productions
"More Bounce to the Ounce" by Zapp
"Go See the Doctor" by Kool Moe Dee
"Sister Sanctified" by Stanley Turrentine
"Claudine" by Gladys Knight and the Pips
"Burning Love Breakdown" by Peter Brown

A Bird in the Hand

"Chains and Things" by B.B. King
"Take Some. . . Leave Some" by James Brown
"Bop Gun (Endangered Species)" by Parliament
"Don't Change Your Love" by The Five Stairsteps

Man's Best Friend

"Flashlight" by Parliament
"Atomic Dog" by George Clinton

Alive on Arrival

"The Big Bang Theory" by Parliament
"Hot (I Need to Be Love, Love Loved)" by James Brown

The Death

"A Funky Song" by Ripple

The Birth

"Long Red" (Live) by Mountain
"Mystique Blues" by The Crusaders

I Wanna Kill Sam

"Chocolate City" by Parliament
"Funky President" by James Brown
"Rock Creek Park" by The Blackbyrds
"Cold Chillin' in the Spot" by Jazzy Jay
"Take Me to the Mardi Gras" by Bob James
"Hot Pants...I'm Coming, I'm Coming, I'm Coming" by Bobby Byrd

Horny Lil' Devil

"Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" by Sly & the Family Stone
"Funky President", & "Please, Please, Please" by James Brown

True to the Game

"Reach for It" by George Duke
"Outstanding" by The Gap Band
"You Can Make it if You Try" by Sly & the Family Stone

Color Blind

"Pungee" by The Meters

Doing Dumb Shit

"Cosmic Slop" by Funkadelic
"Funkentelechy" by Parliament

"Gamin' on Ya!" by Parliament
"Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss

No Vaseline

"Dazz" by Brick
"Vapors" by Biz Markie
"Atomic Dog" by Parliament
"Hit by a Car" by Eddie Murphy
"Turn off the Radio" by Ice Cube
"It's My Thing" by Marva Whitney
"To Da Break of Dawn" by LL Cool J
"Dopeman", "8 Ball", "Message to B.A.", & "Prelude" by N.W.A

How To Survive In South Central

"Atomic Dog" by George Clinton
"Not Just Knee Deep" by Funkadelic

[edit] Album singles

Single cover	Single information
	"Steady Mobbin'" Released: December 9, 1991 B-side: "No Vaseline"
	"True To The Game" Released: September 14, 1992 B-side:

[edit] Album Chart Positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1991	Death Certificate	#2	#1

[edit] Singles Chart Positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
Year	Song	Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1991	"Steady Mobbin'"	-	#30	#3

[edit] Miscellanea

As a result of the controversy over Death Certificate, in 1992 the state of Oregon declared any display of Ice Cube's image in retail stores throughout the state illegal. This ban also included advertisements for St. Ides Malt Liquor, which Ice Cube endorsed at the time.

On the hook of The Game's song "The Documentary", off his album of the same name, Game lists some of rap's most legendary albums, mentioning Death Certificate.