Lethal Injection was supported by three singles: "Really Doe", "You Know How We Do It", and the Funkadelic-sampling "Bop Gun (One Nation)", which became a staple on MTV. The track "Down for Whatever" also gained popularity after featuring in the 1999 film Office Space. The album received generally positive reviews from critics and was a commercial success similar to the rapper's previous albums. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, selling 215,000 copies in its first week.[11]
The album was heavily criticized for what many saw as Ice Cube's pandering to gangsta rap, and for lyrics which were considered to be anti-police, racist and misogynistic, as well as the toning down of socio-political content found on his earlier efforts. The album's standing has increased over time.[12]
Lethal Injection debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 215,000 copies in its first week.[13] This became Ice Cube's third US top-ten album.[13] The album also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[14] On February 1, 1994, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies in the United States.[15]