Ice Cube's 1993 record "It Was a Good Day" is important for many reasons. One of them is the incredible narrative that Cube tells over DJ Pooh's smooth production. "Just waking up in the morning, gotta thank God/I don't know but today seems kinda odd," he starts before delivering three verses worth of a story that has become hip-hop folklore. Or so we thought it was.
A few years ago stand-up comedian and avid skateboarder Donovan Strain took it upon himself to research everything that was said in the song by Ice Cube. After breaking down the record line for line, Strain figured out January 20, 1992 was the exact day that Cube was talking about in the song. Strain shares that story with Complex TV today, the 22nd anniversary of when Cube's "Good Day" occurred. That date also happens to land on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this year.
"At first I was kind of inspired to listen to the song that day, because I was having a good day myself," Strain says. "Space Jam was on TV that day right when I woke up, my favorite movie. And I'm like, this is the best day ever. I got to listen to the anthem."
"I was having such a good day, I was curious what day his good day was," Strain continues. He says he got on his iPhone and proceeded to research each line that Cube raps in "It Was a Good Day." Strain spent about 15 minutes before getting down to two dates that could fit Cube's description in the song. One of those dates happened to land around when Ice Cube was filming Boyz n the Hood. That only left January 22, 1992.
Strain posted his analysis on his Tumblr account, and it immediately spread across the Internet like wild fire. The news eventually reached Ice Cube at some point. "It doesn't make any sense at all, but it's cool," he recently told Jimmy Fallon on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Even though Cube admits the day in "It Was a Good Day" is fictional, that doesn't take away from Strain's awesome discovery. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, whose Goodyear Blimp is referenced in the song ("Even saw the lights of the Goodyear Blimp/And it read 'Ice Cube's a Pimp'"), agrees. The company will be flying a blimp today to celebrate Cube's "Good Day." The move is inspired by the song as well as Jon Barco and Andy Dao, who started the "Good Day Blimp" Crowdtilt project to raise $25,000 for A Place Called Home, a non-profit organization that helps at-risk youth in South Los Angeles. Barco and Dao are closing in on their final mark, and both Goodyear and Ice Cube are supporting their project. Donations can be made here.
After checking out Donovan Strain's story above, be sure to watch Ice Cube talking about the making of "It Was a Good Day" for Complex TV's Magnum Opus below.
