Wicked (Ice Cube song)
1992 song by Ice Cube featuring Don Jagwarr
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"Wicked" is a song written and performed by American rappers Ice Cube and Don Jagwarr. It was released on October 16, 1992, via Priority Records as the lead single from the former's third solo studio album The Predator.[1][2] Recorded at Echo Sound in Glendale, it was produced by Torcha Chamba and Ice Cube himself, who utilized samples from the Ohio Players' "Funky Worm", Public Enemy's "Welcome to the Terrordome" and "Can't Truss It", and Das EFX's "Looseys".
| "Wicked" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Ice Cube featuring Don Jagwarr | ||||
| from the album The Predator | ||||
| Released | November 3, 1992 | |||
| Recorded | 1992 | |||
| Studio | Echo Sound (Glendale, CA) | |||
| Genre | Hip-hop | |||
| Label | Priority | |||
| Songwriters |
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| Producers |
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| Ice Cube featuring Don Jagwarr singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Wicked" on YouTube | ||||
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 for selling 500,000 copies in the US alone.
An accompanying music video was directed by Marcus Raboy starring Anthony Kiedis and Michael "Flea" Balzary of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.[3]
Cover versions
In 1996, the song was covered by Calla Destra for the electro-industrial various artists compilation Operation Beatbox.[4]
Limp Bizkit has also covered the song in concert,[5] while Korn 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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wicked" (Radio) |
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| 2. | "Wicked" (Instrumental) | Jackson |
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| 3. | "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" (LP Version) | Jackson | Mr. Woody | |
| 4. | "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" (Instrumental) | Jackson | Mr. Woody | |
| 5. | "Wicked" (LP Version) |
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Personnel
- O'Shea "Ice Cube" 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
| Chart (1992–93) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (Official Charts)[6] | 62 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 55 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 31 |
| US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[9] | 71 |
| US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[10] | 1 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[11] | Gold | 500,000^ |
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^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Korn version
| "Wicked" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Korn featuring Chino Moreno | |
| from the album Life Is Peachy | |
| Released | October 15, 1996 |
| Recorded | 1996 |
| Studio | Indigo Ranch (Malibu, California) |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:00 |
| Label | Immortal · Epic |
| Songwriter | O'Shea Jackson |
American nu metal band Korn recorded a cover of "Wicked" for their second album Life Is Peachy, featuring guest vocals by Chino Moreno of Deftones. Sources describe the recording as part of the 1990s rap-metal and nu-metal crossover movement.[12][13]
The cover drew attention as one of the more notable tracks on Life Is Peachy and led to Korn's first proper collaboration with Ice Cube on "Children of the Korn", which came before his appearance on the band's 1998 Family Values Tour.[13]
Critical reception
In a 2025 Revolver article, Gregory Adams described the interplay between frontman Jonathan Davis and Moreno on "Wicked" as raw, loose, and unusually intimate.[14] Kerrang! highlighted the chorus of "Wicked" as one of Davis's most unrestrained early scatting performances, reflecting his developing nu-metal vocal style.[15] The cover has been cited as an example of nu-metal's blending of hip-hop and heavy music influences.[16]