Ice Cube’s potent “Good Cop Bad Cop” gets a cinematic visual to match the track’s intensely-charged lyrics.
Directed by Gabriel Hart, the gritty clip finds the Don Mega in the heart of Los Angeles, where he witnesses law enforcement officials abusing their power. Not only does he rap about the injustice, he also suffers at the hands of it, being maced, jailed, and brutally beaten.
Featuring police officers in riot gear, the visual also includes protest scenes. “Black Lives Matter is not chit-chatter,” he raps, “’cause all they wanna do is scatter brain matter.”
The “Good Cop Bad Cop” video coincides with the release of Death Certificate: 25th Anniversary Edition, which celebrates Ice Cube’s classic 1991 album. “Good Cop Bad Cop” is one of three new songs on the re-release, along with “Only One Me” and “Dominate the Weak.”
Much like “Good Cop Bad Cop,” Death Certificate deals with political and social injustice from various angles. Nearly 26 years after its release, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer says that the album tragically remains relevant.
“Sadly, our community is dealing with many of the same issues,” he explained. “I only hope that young millennials feeling powerless in the ‘hood can channel their own anger and frustration by listening to this record.”
Stream Death Certificate: 25th Anniversary Edition below.