Today was a good day

Released in March 1993, this was the second single from Ice Cube's 1992 album The Predator. It peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and at number 27 on the UK charts. It was ranked as the 81st greatest rap song of all time by About.com and number 77 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s. In 2008, it was ranked number 28 on VH1's 100 greatest songs of hip hop. The song was also featured on a radio station in the 2004 video game Grand Theft Auto San Andreas. Ice Cube originally recorded a demo of the track in his home studio and went on to record the album version in Los Angeles at Echo Sound Studios during 1992, and it was one of the first ideas for the album sessions. Ice Cube commented on the concept behind the song stating, "The inspiration was my life at the time ... I was at the top of the rap game. It was the summer of ’92 and I was in a hotel room, really in a state of euphoria. I had all the money I had dreamed of. I was in a good frame of mind. And I remember thinking, ‘Okay, there’s been the riots, people know I will deal with that. That’s a given. But I rap all this gangsta stuff — what about all the good days I had?" The song samples The Isley Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark ", and DJ Pooh enhanced the production with bass and vocals. The song has been re-released multiple times, including on Ice Cube's Greatest Hits album. A remixed version, sampling "Let's Do It Again" by The Staple Singers, appeared on his Bootlegs & B-Sides as well as The N.W.A. Legacy, Vol. 1: 1988-1999. In the song, Ice Cube reflects on the events of January 20, 1992 and how these events affected his life at the time.

[Chorus: JVZEL] Ride the coast Ride the coast Ride the coast I'm waiting to go wherever you take me Slow up, slow up, r-r-ride the coast On the coast, you can find me I'm riding the waves, got Cali behind me [Verse 1] Behind the wheel cause I could never stand still I'm at the hill, I need a better view of mine, I have to chill I'm from the coast, we caught the most but play us close We stay lowkey underrated though and always faded in the locs Heard that's my baby though, that down next to my caddy Living that candy, tatted, flossing that baddest, yeah she automatic With that mad fatty, double the patty, drop it for this mac daddy No static, when on the ride in Venice blazing that good Cali Catching the vapours, feel the bass, we call that sally spot That sunsets that undress that beautiful to the valley As I flow with the most, cruise control down Pacific coast Never feeling lost, life goes round, hundred spokes [Chorus: JVZEL] Sun lets the weekend bathe me Cut in the ribs and ride the coast You got me elevated Trees got me leaning while I coast Ride the coast I'm waiting to go wherever you take me Slow up, slow up, ride the coast On the coast, you can find me I'm riding the waves... Ride the coast [Verse 2] A moment of silence, don't kill on my vibing (As I coast) I put in that mileage, I'm good when I'm riding (On my coast) On nights when I can't sleep, my fam in the back seat (As I coast) I'm running a marathon with ribs from the swap meet (I still coast) I been through phases, caught in Cali waves Faded by the sunny days when lemons turn to lemonade When K Town be the shadiest, them hood rats get the craziest I hotbox with my lady while we cruise, we be the haziest Hot like Cheetos and ain't nobody beef like we roast Today was a good day, Ice Cube what you west to the east coast I'm smooth as wood grain, GOOD Cause we know we on the road to riches, on the Golden State while we coast [Chorus: JVZEL] Sun lets the weekend bathe me Cut in the ribs and ride the coast You got me elevated Trees got me leaning while I coast Ride the coast I'm waiting to go wherever you take me Slow up, slow up, ride the coast On the coast, you can find me I'm riding the waves, got Cali behind me