"A History Of Violence" lyrics - ICE CUBE

[William Shatner - Host of Rescue 911:]
Blacks who ventured across the unmarked border were often attacked
By teenage members of the new gang called The Spook Hunters,
One of a handful of white gangs active in this time.
It was only natural for L.A.'s newest residents to respond unkind.

[Unknown:]
As white attacks started to increase in the mid 1940's and late 1940's
Blacks started to organize their clubs really as a defensive mechanism.
And the boss men or the business men and the Snyder boys and all these
Clubs in south L.A. really were just sorta defending themselves against
White violence that was coming from Huntington Park and Southgate.

[William Shatner:]
The demise of the black panthers in Los Angeles is said to be another
Blow to a generation of black teenagers that witnessed many of its role models
Assasinated throughout the 1960's.

[Ice Cube spoken:]
What I'm sayin in so many words, they shoulda let the panthers
Went on because there probably would never have been no crips and no bloods.

[Transition to "Growin' Up" Clean Version]

[Ice Cube:]
Ha ha, that's my
Turn it up [echoes]
Uhh, yeah

I hear a beat like this, and think about growin up
House parties, with gangbangers showin up
Represent your hood, everybody throw it up
They say Cube get on the mic, blow it up
I used to lyrical, political
But now you want it sugarcoated like cereal
First I met Dre, then I met Yella (yessir)
Dr. Dre made me rap acapella
Me and Jinx did a show at Dudo's
With K-Dee, I think it was two shows
Then Dre introduced me to E
Cruisin down the street in his red Jeep
He said, yo we should flip it like this
'Cause them Boyz N the Hood like the gangsta
I put the pen to the pad, young was raw
And told the world how we felt about the law
It was real

[Chorus 2x samples + (Cube):]
I see the happiness (all day every day)
I see the pain
Where am I (growin up in the hood)
Back down memory lane

[Ice Cube:]
Oh, it's B.W.!
Them on tour and they comin our way
Little one is still tucked away
In that trailer park, just bumpin our tape
Jerry Heller tried to make his escape
I had to bounce, while other got raped
Same turned around and said me
No you 'cause I'm down with Chuck D
And I'm 'bout to do a movie up, a classic
When I hit the screen, it was magic
Never thought I'd see Eazy in a casket
Thanks for everythang, that's on everythang
I learned a lot of game from you
I like your son, he got his name from you
I tell him everythang that he need to know
If he ask my advice, I won't think twice homey

[Chorus samples + (Cube):]
I see the happiness (all day every day)
I see the pain
Where am I (growin up in the hood)
Back down memory lane

[Ice Cube:]
From Boyz N the Hood , to XXX 2
Everybody wanna know my next move
Fans all around say "We love you Cube!"
I wanna take time to say I love you too
I love all my fans 'cause they know I'm a man
And not a little boy or some play toy
A lot of say I grew up on you
And let me know if anybody wit you
'Cause you talk a lot of about the red, black & blue
And how they treat a called Katrina, did you see her
White folks worry 'bout them misdemeanor
While black people dyin in that God dang arena
Just because I'm actin never stop rappin
It's in my blood homey, I'ma keep the party crackin
Money keep stackin 'til they put me in a casket
Who you think you wit? Here's another classic

[Chorus samples + (Cube):]
I see the happiness (all day every day)
I see the pain
Where am I (growin up in the hood)
Back down memory lane

[Ice Cube:]
I'm Ruthless, I'm Ruthless..
Street Knowledge..
Lench Mob..
Westside..
Uhh..

[Chorus - 1/2:]
[samples + (Cube):]
I see the happiness (all day every day)
I see the pain
Where am I (growin up in the hood)
Back down memory lane