Natural Born Killaz

"Natural Born Killaz"
Single by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube
from the album Murder Was the Case
Released 1994[1]
Format 12" single, CD single
Recorded 1994
Genre Horrorcore, gangsta rap
Length 4:52
Label Death Row/Interscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Dr. Dre singles chronology
"U Better Recognize"
(1994) U Better Recognize1994		 "Natural Born Killaz"
(1994) Natural Born Killaz1994		 "Keep Their Heads Ringin'"
(1995) Keep Their Heads Ringin'1995
Ice Cube singles chronology
"Bop Gun (One Nation)"
(1994) Bop Gun (One Nation)1994		 "Natural Born Killaz"
(1994) Natural Born Killaz1994		 "What Can I Do?"
(1994) What Can I Do?1994

"Natural Born Killaz" is a collaborative single released by Dr. Dre and Ice Cube for the soundtrack of the film Murder Was the Case. It was originally intended for the scrapped album Heltah Skeltah. It would later be used by professional wrestling tag team The Gangstas during their Extreme Championship Wrestling stint before being used by New Jack for the following years.

Background

It is the first time the duo had worked together since the split of N.W.A. The single was released in 1994 in the United States, but was not released until March 30, 1995 in the United Kingdom. The production credits features Soopafly on the keyboards and Nanci Fletcher on vocals.

The song covers such subjects as mass murder, Sarah Connor from the Terminator films, Al Cowlings' tight bond with O. J. Simpson, schizophrenia, Charles Manson, the attack on Reginald Denny during the Rodney King riots, strychnine poisoning, flagellation in Singapore, Jeffrey Dahmer, Kurt Cobain's suicide and psilocybin mushrooms.

Album and music video

The album song portrays a couple (performed by Priest ‘Soopafly’ Brooks and Nanci Fletcher) walking down the street in a bad neighborhood, until, from a distance, they are yelled at and verbally insulted by a local thug. Though the intro is different in the video and audio versions, both of them involve murder and end with the sound of a gunshot. The final shot of the video features a cameo from rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, prior to his association with Death Row Records, as a SWAT sniper who takes out Ice Cube's character.

Although the song and video were highly popular, and debuted a short time after release of the Oliver Stone film Natural Born Killers, the song did not appear in the film or on its soundtrack.

It did, however, appear in the 2011 film Bridesmaids starring Kristen Wiig.

Cover versions

In 1996, the song was covered by Christ Analogue for the electro-industrial various artists compilation Operation Beatbox.[2]

In 2014, the song was covered by the American metal band Conducting from the Grave and released as a free single. This was the final release from the band before their break-up.[3]

Track listing

  1. "Natural Born Killaz" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
  2. "Natural Born Killaz" (Video Edit) – 6:33
  3. "Natural Born Killaz" (LP Version) – 4:52
  4. "What Would You Do" (featuring Tha Dogg Pound) (LP Version) – 5:09
  1. "Natural Born Killaz" (Radio Edit) – 4:16
  2. "Natural Born Killaz" (LP Version) – 4:52
  3. "U Better Recognize" (featuring Sam Sneed) (LP Version) – 3:55

References

  1. ↑ "Natural Born Killaz". 30 March 1995. Retrieved 6 June 2017 – via Amazon.
  2. ↑ Christian, Chris (August 1996). "Various Artists: Operation Beatbox". Sonic Boom. 4 (7). Retrieved November 17, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Natural Born Killaz (Ice cube/Dr Dre cover), by Conducting From the Grave". Conducting From the Grave. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  4. ↑ "Dr. Dre & Ice Cube - Natural Born Killaz". Discogs. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
  5. ↑ "Dr. Dre & Ice Cube / Sam Sneed – Natural Born Killaz / U Better Recognize". Discogs. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
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