Ice Cube “What Can I Do?”
Tadow.
I caught some clips on IG of Large Professor deejaying at what looked like an epic event this past Sunday night at Raw Like Sushi in Brooklyn. And in one of the clips, he was spinning Gwen McCrae’s ‘70s soul classic “90% Of Me Is You.” Which got me thinking about a trifecta of Queens rap songs that sampled it in the past.
First, a mixtape gem, “Da Funk Mode,” featuring Tragedy, Havoc, and Large Pro on the production.
Tragedy Khadafi ft. Havoc “Da Funk Mode”
Next, “The Yearn” by the Lost Boyz featuring Pete Rock. I remember this from mixtapes too—both these joints sampled the “90%” intro and were out around the same time. It’s from the America Is Dying Slowly compilation.
Lost Boyz ft. Pete Rock “The Yearn”
And then, my favorite of the three, “What Can I Do?” off Mobb Deep’s fire Free Agents album. This one catches the loop and vocal sample beautifully.
Mobb Deep “What Can I Do?”
Okay, let’s head out west for today’s pick. It’s a song by Ice Cube also titled “What Can I Do?”—you like that transition, right? I used to thump the fuck out of this in my Civic DX. It’s some real deal penitentiary bars shit, off Lethal Injection.
IP’S PICK OF THE DAY 12/23/25: Ice Cube “What Can I Do?”
That Lethal Injection album has a few heaters on it. Of course, there’s the single, “You Know How We Do It.” My oldest son went through like a three-week period a year ago where he was listening to this song nonstop. No thanks to me either—he discovered it on his own.
And to wrap it up, “Down For Whatever,” another one I used to thump crazy in the whip. “Damn I’m such a G it’s pathetic.” Love this.
A bi-coastal blam tonight on IP’S PICKS. Not bad. And I’m publishing right at the buzzer.
Peace!
Oh shit great call! I’ve never really heard that version, just went to listen because it had me second-guessing this whole post lol but I’m pretty sure I heard the “what can I do” from the Tate McCrae version because at first I thought he might have been playing the Mobb song. Intros sound so similar too - I wonder if Large sampled that original for “Da Funk Mode” as well. I’ll have to look it up. Honestly I rocked this whole post off mixtape memories with no deep research lol it was a feeling. Glad we’re getting to the details though this is what it’s all about. Thanks Rhude!
Dope selections! Large Pro also sampled "90% of Me Is You" for Main Source's "Just Hanging Out." He used the Vanessa Kendrick original version!