Why We Rugs Analysis

Have you ever been to a ghetto? Not just passed by but really be immersed in it? Well in rapper Ice Cube’s song “Why We Thugs”, he provides important insight into the struggle of growing up in a rough neighborhood. His song is essential in showing us a different way in life, which is beneficial to us all because when we are aware of issues, like poverty and racism, it takes us a step closer to solving them. Through his lyrical message, emphasized vocal ability, and powerful beat Ice Cube takes his listeners on a journey through what a ghetto really entails.

“They give us guns and drugs then wonder why the fuck we thugs”. This is the first lyric in the hook of the song, and it describes the song’s entirety; that lower class living is created by society. With this lyric Ice is stating that the government is putting gun and liquor shops in these neighborhoods and it is only natural that these individuals surrounded by these things would turn into what society deems as thugs.

“Call me an animal up in the system, but whose the animal that built this prison, whose the animal that invented lower living”. This lyrical message is important because it shows us that he did not create this life for himself. It is important for us to know that individuals living in the ghetto did not choose their life they were victims of circumstance. Some of the society is shunning those who live in poverty and claiming that they are less than others, but what Ice is saying is that it is not their fault. These people are trying to find a way to survive and it may not be ideal for some, but with not many opportunities, and the world already shunning them there is not much choice for some but to go into guns and drugs.

In addition to the already influential lyrics, Ice’s potent delivery of the words adds on to the overall greatness of the song. At no point in the song are his words careless; he is making sure the lyrics are heard. His emphasized enunciation of every word in the song expresses his passion for his topic. If Ice was not passionate about the song the message would not be as powerful. The word that he puts the most weight on is “fuck” when he is singing the hook. Paying attention to that single word the most out of the hook brings home the idea that he is conveying that there is no other option. The system is the one who put these detrimental things in front of these people so what did they think would happen?

The addicting beat is what ties the whole song together.

The beat kicks off right away and this works because it gives the listener the idea that this is not a song that plays around. The deep bass coincides with the menacing keyboard to ultimately create an aggressive song. The beat drops at every new line in the song, which entices the listener to keep listening to the rest. As a whole the instrumental draws the listeners in and works perfectly with the lyrics to create an agreement between Ice and the listeners about what he is saying.

Today Ice is considered to be a wealthy family man and has been in movies like “Are We There Yet”, but that does not mean his experiences and right to talk about the ghetto are any less meaningful .Ice Cubes song is a masterful work of art that raises awareness of societies issues through the powerful translation of music. He brings up real issues in a way that gets people interested and evokes emotions in his listeners which is true

art.