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An epic narrative about a gangster, who was once vicious, respected and feared by almost anyone in his community, but whose stature was almost reduced to nothing, after he fell prey to his own kind—other, villainous characters in the same neighborhood.

The theme of the song echoes a classic, pacifist maxim (by Jesus – Matthew 26:52): Live by the sword, die by the sword.

A very deep message to any attempting to live a life of violence.

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Cube’s OG status in the hood has put a natural target on his back. The young thugs that were roaming on their bike have now shot at Cube, which he vividly remembers in slow motion; .44 caliber bullets being fired at him and then falling face down in a pile of his own blood. A brutal scene, even for a thug.

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His crew makes sure to take advantage of Cube’s misfortune and stashes their weed on him because he’s in a wheelchair and they feel the cops won’t search him because he’s handicapped.

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Remember earlier?

The girls that Cube used to get with no longer want him because he can’t function the same. So he has to resort to giving the ladies some oral pleasure, but even that is quite strenuous.

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Maybe consider it karma that Cube was once a “rude” gangster and due to his lifestyle, he’s now using a urostomy.

A urostomy is made to avail for urinary diversion in cases where drainage of urine through the bladder and urethra is not possible.

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The bullets that took his ability to walk also took his ability to use his penis. Cube explains that he had to have surgery, this could have very well been a side effect of the surgery. Officially, it would be considered “erectile dysfunction”, unfortunately for our Ghetto Vet, it’s not the kind that can be treated with drugs like Viagra.

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Cube is now at the famed “Killer King” hospital that he referenced earlier in the song.

The “I.C.U.” is the shortened (and more commonly said) version of “Intensive-care unit” in hospitals nationwide. Which is obviously where gunshot victims get admitted to upon arrival.

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When he says enslave us, he’s referring to working. Ben Davis makes work clothes. It was popular fashion on the west coast in the later ‘90s to wear work gear such as Carhart or Dickies. A common misconception is that Dickies was the popular brand, when in reality, it was Ben Davis’ designs that had the block going crazy.

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The two young Bloods are looking to gain fame in their hood. Ice Cube borrows the terminology from fellow west coast rapper 2Pac and his song of the same name, “Ghetto Star”.

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A Beach Cruiser is a type of bike, popularized in Cube’s own movie, Friday. In this scenario, two young thugs are ridin' around, one on the handles.

In the film, the bike is stolen from Red by the block’s notorious thug, Debo.

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