5150 Lyrics – Ice Cube

5150 Lyrics Meaning

[Intro]
In the intro, Ice Cube is expressing frustration with a woman he describes as crazy. He sees her behavior as unpredictable and dangerous, hinting that he’s ready to retaliate. His tough, aggressive tone implies that he’s fed up with her actions and is prepared to take extreme measures if she keeps pushing him.

[Verse 1]
In this verse, Ice Cube paints a picture of a woman who’s chaotic and unpredictable, questioning whether she’s simply lazy or genuinely out of her mind. He criticizes her superficial appearance, mentioning her fake hair and nails. Cube also describes how she’s acting promiscuous, comparing her to a prostitute. Despite her advances, he makes it clear that he’s not interested in a relationship, calling her a “dumb b!tch” for assuming so. He further describes her erratic behavior, including damaging his property and acting violently. Cube feels like he has to protect himself from her by preparing for confrontation, even mentioning an order of protection for her daughter. The overall theme here is Cube’s frustration and a sense of being trapped by her behavior.

[Chorus]
In the chorus, Ice Cube repeatedly calls the woman “psychotic” and uses the term “5150,” a reference to a psychiatric hold. He’s emphasizing how mentally unstable she is, implying that she needs help, even going as far as to say she might need antibiotics, playing on the idea that her mind is sick and contagious. It’s a quick, repetitive reminder of her instability.

[Verse 2]
This verse continues with Cube detailing his troubled interactions with the woman. He describes situations where she causes chaos in his life, like parking up the hill and stalking him, even causing damage to his car. Cube expresses that he’s fed up with her and that he’s committed to his life with his wife, not interested in her drama. He criticizes her intelligence, implying she’s uneducated and more focused on fake luxury than actual life progress. Cube also mentions how she uses the police to create problems, even denying him access to his child. The woman is described as being more than just a troublemaker—she’s a “freak” in an unhealthy sense. Cube refers to her as crazy as a Vietnam veteran, hinting at deep psychological trauma. Ultimately, Cube tells her to get help, underlining how dangerous and disruptive her behavior has become.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats again, reinforcing the idea that the woman’s mental state is deeply disturbed. Ice Cube uses the term “5150” again to symbolize how far gone she is mentally, urging that she needs to be put under psychiatric care. It’s a catchy but harsh reminder of her mental instability.

[Verse 3]
In this verse, Cube dives deeper into the woman’s mental state, calling her a “schizomaniac” and describing her as someone who causes extreme stress and panic. He implies that she’s not simply dealing with mood swings but is constantly erratic, using drügs to cope. Cube warns others not to get involved with her because of how dangerous and unpredictable she is. He gives an example of how one wrong move, like calling his mother a name, could escalate into something worse. He also refers to how quickly her obsession could turn into more serious commitment, like marriage, and how she would disrupt even the most mundane aspects of life. Cube reflects on a past memory where she had a breakdown, illustrating just how unstable and unsafe she is. It’s a harsh warning about getting involved with her, as her behavior could destroy everything in its path.

[Chorus]
The chorus repeats once more, continuing to stress that the woman is mentally unstable and in need of psychiatric help. Ice Cube sticks to his original message that she’s psychotic and needs intervention, using the repeated refrain to highlight the severity of her behavior.

[Outro]
In the outro, Cube takes on a more mocking tone, suggesting that if the woman wants him to cheat or act a certain way, he’ll match her aggression and behavior. He humorously compares her physical appearance to that of a disheveled and unattractive person, further mocking her. The mention of a “St. Bernard” and a “baked potato” adds to the overall demeaning portrayal of her. Cube is essentially saying that if she wants to act like a man and cause trouble, he’ll treat her as such, showing his frustration with her childish antics and toxic behavior.