It's been 20 years since Ice Cube's classic Friday hit our screens. But what are the most quotable lines out there?
It’s been 20 years since Ice Cube and Chris Tucker kicked back with a blunt as Craig and Smokey in F. Gary Gray's cult stoner comedy Friday. Following Craig losing his job — the two homies decide to hit the blunt on a chill Friday in the hood, only to encounter a series of wacky characters and some trouble along the way. This ode to marijuana has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, from our introduction to Big Worm – a particularly large drug dealer with a penchant for aqua hair rollers, to Smokey’s most quotable lines, which, inevitably pushed Chris Tucker into superstardom.
In one of Tucker’s funniest roles to date, and Ice Cube’s foray into comedy, Friday is a classic ‘hood’ comedy, filled with snappy one-liners. The 1995 flick stands out as one of the best films of the 90s, but it’s not alone. In a time where the hood film genre ruled the cinema screen, these movies defined a time where film explored urban African-American culture, delivering some of the most memorable lines along the way. Here, we take a trip down the block to remember some of our favourite lines – seriously, it was a tough one.
“YOU DON’T DO SHIT, AND YOU NEVER GONNA AMOUNT TO SHIT. ALL YOU DO IS EAT, SLEEP AND SHIT”, FROM BOYZ N THE HOOD (1991)
Boyz N The Hood is a gritty tale about young men growing up in the hood, jam packed with good subplots, great music, and an awesome directorial debut from John Singleton, fresh out of USC Film School. While Tre, Ricky, Doughboy and crew may have been battling gang wars and the pitfalls of black men trying to make it out the hood, this quote is pretty much a universal link to young people everywhere. We all know that one person who didn’t amount to shit. Chances are if you didn't know who that person was — it was you.
“I WANNA SHOOT YOU SO BAD, MY DICK’S HARD”, FROM NEW JACK CITY (1991)
Oh Ice T! How I wish I came up with this line so bad, my imaginary dick is hard. New Jack City is based on drug lord Nino Brown, played by Wesley Snipes, at his pre-Blade-and-tax-evasion best, who ascends to power with a successful crack business. Scotty, a detective played by Ice T is determined to stop Brown and his Cash Money Brothers, in unstoppable journey to take down his empire in this thrilling movie.
“YOU NEED TO HAVE RESPECT FOR ME. I WAS ALMOST YOUR FATHER BUT THE LINE WAS TOO LONG”, FROM JUICE (1992)
Yes, Pac! Taking the 'yo mama' dig to a whole new level, this line is a classic. Juice stars late rapper and budding actor at the time as ‘Bishop,’ a man who becomes addicted to the ’juice’ after shooting a man to death during a heist with his friends. Cue climatic battles between friends, the struggle of peer pressure, and an insatiable bloodlust from Pac which ends as destructively as it begun.
“CLIMB OUT THE PUSSY FOR A MINUTE LUTHER!”, FROM SET IT OFF (1996)
Set it Off is the ultimate badass hood movie, with a clique of four feisty chicks robbing a whole lot of cash. In a male led film genre, Set it Off was pretty damn revolutionary, as Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah et al, set off on a series of banks robberies while showing us their take on ‘girl power,’ when dealing with their treacherous boss, Luther.
“DON’T BE CALLIN’ ME NO BITCH! IF I’M A BITCH, YO’ MAMA’S A BITCH, BITCH”, FROM POETIC JUSTICE (1993)
Poetic Justice is a hood love story of sorts, showing the relationship between Justice (Janet Jackson) a depressed poet following the death of her boyfriend, and Lucky (Tupac) the postal office worker she eventually falls for while on an impromptu delivery run with friends. The beginning of their ‘relationship’ is pretty rocky to say the least, and this line stands out as an accurate statement said perfectly by Jackson in response to Pac calling her a bitch in one of their early arguments – with attitude, sass, and perfect box braids to boot.
“KNOWLEDGE BORN, WHAT’S THE SCIENCE BABY?”, FROM BELLY (1998)
While the meaning of this quote is somewhat a mystery to me, it definitely stands out within Belly, as we are introduced to Method Man’s character Shameek – aka Father Sha. Belly has many qualities which makes it worth watching; from the redemption style plot which sees Nas and DMX as bad boys who go good, to the sleek cinematography from director Hype Williams, reminiscent of his glossy music videos of the 90s and early noughties. Not to mention a killer soundtrack from 90s favourites including D’Angelo, Mýa & Wu Tang Clan. Oh and the best thing I learnt from watching Belly? PHD = Playa hating dickhead. Gotta love learning an acronym or two.
“PUFF, PUFF, GIVE. PUFF, PUFF, GIVE. YOU FUCKIN’ UP THE ROTATION”, FROM FRIDAY (1995)
Seriously, is Friday the ultimate quotable film?! There are one-liners dropping left, right and centre, as it follows a not-so-simple day in the hood with Craig (Ice Cube) and Smokey (Chris Tucker). But there’s something about this line which seems to unite stoners around the world. It's simple, effective and pretty damn accurate. Other notable lines worth mentioning include ‘you got knocked the fuck out!’, ‘break yourself foo!’, 'bye Felicia', and ‘DAAAAAMN!’
“SUCK ON THAT, YOU BITCH-ASS TRICK”, FROM MENACE II SOCIETY (1993)
When an unwanted guest offers to suck your dick, give them the finger and channel your inner O-Dog with this simple yet effective line — minus shooting them to death like O-Dog did of course. Menace II Society explores life in the hood from the perspective of Caine, and his struggles to escape the temptations of the ghetto in search of a better life. While the story is told from the Caine’s point of view, the many standout moments come courtesy of O-Dog – the gun-happy gangster and best friend to Caine in The Hughes Brothers drama.
“PINO, FUCK YOU, FUCK YOUR FUCKIN’ PIZZA, AND FUCK FRANK SINATRA”, FROM DO THE RIGHT THING (1989)
Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing analysed racial tensions in 80s New York on a hot summers day in Brooklyn, displaying the different racial groups living amongst one another. This argument between characters Mookie and Pino showed the ignorant stereotypes which are often perpetrated in real life — all wrapped in a witty one liner that aimed to offend Pino, his pizza, and his beloved Frank Sinatra.
“I WAS BORN BY THE PUSSY, I’LL DIE BY THE PUSSY”, FROM DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995)
In Dead Presidents – a story of Vietnam army vet Anthony (Larenz Tate) who resorts to a life of crime to support his family – Chris Tucker’s character ‘Skip’ presents an honourable and respectable way to die. At the hands (well not so much hands) of a woman and her most powerful weapon. No guns necessary here folks.