It Was a Good Day

Infobox Single
Name = It Was a Good Day


Caption =
Artist = Ice Cube
from Album = The Predator
Released = March, 1993
Format = CD single & 12" single
Recorded = 1992
Genre = West Coast Hip Hop
Length = 4:20
Label = Priority
Writer = Jackson, O.
Producer = DJ Pooh
Director = F. Gary Gray
Last single = "Wicked"
(1992)
This single = "It Was a Good Day"
(1993)
Next single = "Check Yo Self"
(1993)Audiosample
Upper caption = Music sample
Name = It Was a Good Day
Audio file= Ice Cube - It Was a Good Day.ogg

"It Was a Good Day" is a 1993 single by American gangsta rapper Ice Cube from his third solo album, "The Predator". It is the second single from the album and it peaked at number seven on the "Billboard" Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It was also a hit in the UK Charts, peaking at number 27. 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. The song was featured in the 2004 game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas on the Los Santos radio station.

Background

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,

Ice Cube initially went into the studio with a sample of the Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark" and DJ Pooh enhanced the production with bass and vocals. The song been re-released multiple times, including on Ice Cube's Greatest Hits album, on the highly successful and controversial videogame , playing on West Coast hip hop radio station Radio Los Santos.A remixed version, sampling "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, appeared on his Bootlegs & B-Sides as well as .

Music and reception

This is perhaps Ice Cube's most well-known song and his most successful. The song's music video and the lyrics itself tell the story of how Ice Cube has a good day in South Central Los Angeles. Throughout the song he enjoys playing basketball, having sex, smoking marijuana, getting drunk, going to his friend Short Dog's house to watch "Yo! MTV Raps" and later win at Craps and Bones, eating fast food at 2 A.M., and cruising the streets of South Central undisturbed. [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/ice_cube/2457687/lyrics.jhtml It Was a Good Day Lyrics] . MTV. Accessed May 21, 2008.] The song samples multiple songs, including the Isley Brothers' "Footsteps in the Dark" and "Come on Sexy Mama" by The Moments. [http://www.the-breaks.com/search.php?term=It+Was+a+Good+Day&type=7 It Was a Good Day sample search] The-breaks. Accessed May 21, 2008.]

The song received generally very positive reviews from critics. "Blender" magazine writer, Michael Odel, stated it contained a "chilled-out, feel-good vibe" Allmusic's Jason Birchmeier noted that even though it was The Predator's "most laid-back moment, [It] emits a quiet sense of violent anxiety." and went on to say "It's a truly beautiful moment, a career highlight for sure" Jason Birchmeier. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0cfuxqy5ldae The Predator > Overview] Allmusic. Accessed May 16, 2008.] "Entertainment Weekly" mention that he rapped over a "partly melancholy, partly swaggering beat [and] glories in good luck, South Central style". Greg Sandow (November 20, 1992). [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,312440,00.html The Predator | Music Review] "Entertainment Weekly". Accessed May 16, 2008.] "Vibe" magazine described DJ Pooh's beat as a "smoothed-out production". [http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2007/02/vibe_150_revs_east/ Vibe 150: West Coast] "Vibe". Accessed May 16, 2008.] It reached number 77 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's. [http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/127759/episode_featured_copy.jhtml 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s] . VH1. Accessed May 16, 2008.] It was included in About.com's Top 100 Rap Songs, at number 81. [http://rap.about.com/od/top10songs/ss/Top100RapSongs_2.htm Top 100 Rap Songs] . About.com. Accessed May 16, 2008.]

Chart performance

The song performed well in the United States, becoming Ice Cube's highest charting single to date. It reached number 15 on the "Billboard" Hot 100, number 7 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and peaked at number 1 on the Hot Rap Singles. It also reached number 13 on the Rhythmic Top 40. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:aifrxq95ld6e~T51 Ice Cube - Billboard Singles] . Allmusic. Accessed May 16, 2008.] It sold over 500,000 units and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it Gold on June 1, 1993. [http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=Ice%20Cube&format=single&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2007&sort=Artist&perPage=25 RIAA Searchable database - Ice Cube Singles] . RIAA. Accessed May 16, 2008.] It was also successful in the U.K., where it peaked at number 27 on single charts. [http://www.everyhit.com/searchsec.php UK Top 40 Hit Database] . EveryHit.com. Accessed May 16, 2008. Note: User must define search parameters, i.e. "Ice Cube".]

Music video

The music video was directed by F. Gary Gray and was first aired during March 1993. [http://www.mvdbase.com/video.php?id=13494 Ice Cube - "It Was a Good Day"] mvdbase. Accessed May 16, 2008.] Each scene follows and depicts the respective lyrics.

At the end of the accompanying music video, police are depicted surrounding Ice Cube's house in order to arrest him. It then states "To Be Continued", a segue to his next music video and single "Check Yo Self," which was released the following August.The shirt Cube was wearing in the video was the same one he later wore in the 1995 movie Friday.

Charts

References