"Black Ice (Sky High)" is a song by American hip hop group Goodie Mob from their second studio album Still Standing (1998), released as its second single on June 7, 1998.[1] The song features American hip hop duo Outkast and was produced by Mr. DJ.

"Black Ice (Sky High)"
Single by Goodie Mob featuring Outkast
from the album Still Standing
ReleasedJune 7, 1998
GenreHip hop
Length3:25
LabelLaFace
Songwriter(s)Cameron Gipp, André Benjamin, Antwan Patton, David Sheats
Producer(s)Mr. DJ
Goodie Mob singles chronology
"They Don't Dance No Mo'"
(1998)
"Black Ice (Sky High)"
(1998)
"Watch for the Hook"
(1998)
Outkast singles chronology
"Jazzy Belle"
(1996)
"Black Ice"
(1998)
"Skew It on the Bar-B"
(1998)
Music video
"Black Ice (Sky High)" on YouTube

There are two versions of the song. The first, titled "Black Ice (Sky High)", features verses from only Big Gipp and Outkast. The second features all members of the Goodie Mob as well as Outkast.

Background

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The instrumental of the song was originally intended for a remix to "Blackberry Molasses" by American R&B group Mista. When Big Gipp heard the beat, he began writing lyrics to it.[2] Gipp told MTV, "It was a song that I did in one night. I was [in the studio], just there playin' around and then came the hook and a verse. It came out so good and everybody was like 'It's jammin'." Gipp added that Outkast was "nearby working on their new album", and joined him, recording two new verses for the track.[1]

Composition

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Jonathan Zwickel of Pitchfork described the song as "a sparse, psychedelic warning against the perils of dealing near your neighbor."[3] The song is notable for an imitation of the speech "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears" from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, in the final verse rapped by André 3000.[4]

Charts

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Chart (1998) Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[6] 48
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[7] 13

References

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  1. ^ a b MTV News Staff (June 8, 1998). "Goodie M.O.B. Skates On "Black Ice"". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 23, 2021.
  2. ^ Hobbs, Linda (February 2, 2012). "Organized Noize Tells All: The Stories Behind Their Classic Records". Complex.
  3. ^ Zwickel, Jonathan (March 30, 2004). "Goodie Mob: Dirty South Classics". Pitchfork.
  4. ^ Ch, Devin (2018-08-23). "OutKast Got You Hyper On Goodie Mob's "Black Ice"". HotNewHipHop.
  5. ^ "Goodie Mob Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. ^ "Goodie Mob Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  7. ^ "Goodie Mob Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.