Ice Cube

  • Los Angeles, CA
    hometown
  • Hip-Hop/Rap
    genre
  • 1984
    started
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About Ice Cube

Official Site: http://icecubemusic.com/ | @icecube | facebook.com/IceCube


Ice Cube was the first member of the seminal California rap group N.W.A. to leave, and he quickly established himself as one of hip-hop's best and most controversial artists. From the outset of his career, he courted controversy, since his rhymes were profane and political. As a solo artist, his politics and social commentary sharpened substantially, and his first two records, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Death Certificate, were equally praised and reviled for their lyrical stance, which happened to be considerably more articulate than many of his gangsta peers. As his career progressed, Cube's influence began to decline, particularly as he tried to incorporate elements of contemporary groups like Cypress Hill into his sound, but his stature never diminished, and he remained one of the biggest rap stars throughout the '90s.

For such a revolutionary figure, Cube (born O'Shea Jackson) came from a surprisingly straight background. Raised in South Central Los Angeles, where both of his parents had jobs at UCLA, Cube didn't become involved with b-boy culture until his late teens. He began writing raps while in high school, including "Boyz-n-the Hood." With his partner Sir Jinx, Cube began rapping in a duo called CIA at parties hosted by Dr. Dre, and he eventually met Eazy-E, then leading a group called HBO, through Dre. Eazy asked Cube to write a rap, and he presented them with "Boyz-n-the Hood," which was rejected. Eazy decided to leave CIA, and he, Cube, and Dre formed the first incarnation of N.W.A. Cube left to study architectural drafting at Phoenix, AZ, in 1987, returning the following year after he obtained a one-year degree. He arrived just in time for N.W.A.'s breakthrough album, Straight Outta Compton. Released late in 1988, Straight Outta Compton became an underground hit over the course of 1989, and its extreme lyrical content -- which was over-the-top both lyrically and politically -- attracted criticism, most notably from the FBI.

N.W.A. may have been rivaling Public Enemy as the most notorious group in hip-hop, but Cube was having deep conflicts with their management, resulting in him leaving the band in late 1989. He went to New York with his new posse, da Lench Mob, and recorded his first solo album with Public Enemy's production team, the Bomb Squad. Released in the spring of 1990, his debut AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was an instant hit, going gold within its first two weeks of release. While the record's production and Cube's rhythmic skills were praised, his often violent, homophobic, and misogynist lyrics were criticized, particularly by the rock press and moral watchdogs. Even amid such controversy, the album was hailed as a groundbreaking classic within hip-hop, and it established Cube as an individual force. He began his own corporation, which was run by a woman, and he produced the debut album from his female protégée, Yo-Yo. At the end of 1990, he released the EP Kill at Will, which was followed in the spring by Yo-Yo's debut, Make Way for the Motherlode. That summer, his acting debut in John Singleton's acclaimed urban drama Boyz 'n the Hood was widely praised.

AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted may have been controversial, but it paled next the furor surrounding Cube's second album, Death Certificate. Released late in 1991, Death Certificate was simultaneously more political and vulgar than its predecessor, causing more outrage. In particular, "No Vaseline," a vicious attack on N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller, was perceived as anti-Semitic, and "Black Korea" was taken as a racist invocation to burn down all Korean-owned grocery stores. The songs provoked a public condemnation from the trade publication Billboard. It was the first time an artist had been singled out by the magazine. The furor over Death Certificate didn't prevent it from reaching number two and going platinum. During 1992, he toured with the second Lollapalooza tour in a successful attempt to consolidate his white rock audience. He also converted to the Nation of Islam during 1992, which was evident on his next album, The Predator. Upon its release in December of 1992, The Predator became the first album to debut at number one on both the pop and R&B charts. The steady-rolling single "It Was a Good Day" and the Das EFX collaboration "Check Yo Self" made the album Cube's most popular.

However, Cube's hold on the mass rap audience was beginning to slip. His former colleague, Dre, was dominating hip-hop with his stoned G-funk, and Cube tried to keep pace with 1993's Lethal Injection. While the album debuted at number five and went platinum, its funkier sound wasn't well-received. Lethal Injection was Cube's last official album for several years. In 1994, he wrote and produced da Lench Mob's debut, Guerillas in tha Mist, and produced Kam's debut, Neva Again, releasing a remix and rarities collection Bootlegs & B-Sides at the end of the year. In 1995, he kept quiet, appearing in Singleton's film Higher Learning and making amends with Dre on their duet "Natural Born Killaz." The following year, he acted in the comedy Friday, which he wrote himself. He also formed Westside Connection with Mack 10 and WC, releasing their debut album, Bow Down, at the end of the year. It went gold within its first month of release. In the spring of 1997, Cube starred in the surprise hit horror film Anaconda. War & Peace, Vol. 1 (The War Disc) followed in 1998; its sequel, The Peace Disc, followed two years later.

Cube spent the next few years devoting his time to film. Three Kings, Ghosts of Mars, and the big hit Barbershop all appeared in theaters before the rapper returned to music with Westside Connection's sophomore effort, Terrorist Threats, which appeared in 2003. Three years later he revived his barely used Lench Mobb label for his solo comeback album, Laugh Now, Cry Later. In the Movies, a compilation of soundtrack cuts, was put together for a 2007 release. A year later he returned with Raw Footage, an album filled with Cube's observations on politics along with the single "I Got My Locs On" featuring special guest Young Jeezy. His 2010 effort I Am the West was a family affair, with his sons Doughboy and OMG making guest appearances. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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Music

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  • Until We Rich
    ice-cube
    Video
    Until We Rich
  • I Rep That West
    ice-cube
    Video
    I Rep That West
  • Let It Fly
    ice-cube
    Video
    Let It Fly
  • Why Me?
    ice-cube
    Video
    Why Me?
  • Do Ya Thang
    ice-cube
    Video
    Do Ya Thang
  • Go to Church
    ice-cube
    Video
    Go to Church
  • Why We Thugs
    ice-cube
    Video
    Why We Thugs
  • U Can Do It
    ice-cube
    Video
    U Can Do It
  • Pushin Weight
    ice-cube
    Video
    Pushin Weight
  • 175
    SoundStream
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    All the music you want, just 10 bucks a month. Try it free.
    • You Can Do It
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/1/0/3/1/104713016.mp3
    • I Rep That West (Explicit)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/5/2/7/0/255807253.mp3
    • Check Yo Self (Remix)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/5/7/3/9/9/104599375.mp3
    • A Bird In The Hand
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/9/7/4/9/249394796.mp3
    • You Know How We Do It
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/8/3/6/2/6/104762638.mp3
    • Bow Down
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/8/6/8/9/104598681.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • The Name Ice Cube
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    The Name Ice Cube
  • Music Censorship
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    Music Censorship
  • Ice Cube's Legacy
    ice-cube
    video
    Ice Cube's Legacy
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 6
    ice-cube
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    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 6
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 5
    ice-cube
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    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 5
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 4
    ice-cube
    video
    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 4
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 3
    ice-cube
    video
    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 3
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 2
    ice-cube
    video
    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 2
  • Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 1
    ice-cube
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    Behind the Music - Ice Cube: Full Act 1
  • Straight Outta Compton
    ice-cube
    video
    Straight Outta Compton

Photos

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  • Ice Cube on the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube on the red carpet at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles.
    Getty Images
  • Ice Cube and Rick Ross at the VMA Radio Forum on September 10
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube and Rick Ross at the VMA Radio Forum on September 10
    Nuzhat Naoreen/ MTV News
  • Ice Cube at the VMA Radio Forum on September 10
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube at the VMA Radio Forum on September 10
    Jordan von Netzer/ MTV News
  •  (L to R) Rappers Dub C. Xzibit, Ice Cube and Lil Jon perform onstage at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2006 at the Hammerstein Ballroom October 7, 2006 in New York City.  (
    Ice Cube
    (L to R) Rappers Dub C. Xzibit, Ice Cube and Lil Jon perform onstage at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors 2006 at the Hammerstein Ballroom October 7, 2006 in New York City. (
    Frank Micelotta/Getty Images
  • Actor Ice Cube arrives at Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California.
    Ice Cube
    Actor Ice Cube arrives at Nickelodeon's 2008 Kids' Choice Awards held at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on March 29, 2008 in Westwood, California.
    Frank Micelotta/Getty Images for Nickelodeon
  • Ice Cube
  • Eve and Ice Cube present the award for Best Fight.
    Ice Cube
    Eve and Ice Cube present the award for Best Fight.
    Getty Images
  • Ice Cube and son O'Shea Jackson Jr. attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube and son O'Shea Jackson Jr. attend the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Dallas Mavericks at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
    Vince Bucci/Getty Images
  • Ice Cube poses during a promotional event for his new movie "Are We Done Yet?"
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube poses during a promotional event for his new movie "Are We Done Yet?"
    Peter Kramer/Getty Images
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube
    Ice Cube
    Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

News

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  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube Drops New Lyric Video For 'The Big Show'
    MTV RapFix
    May 24, 2013
    By Maurice Bobb Ice Cube may be a Hollywood mover and shaker these days with his litany of hit television shows and movies, but he could never co...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    The 100 Greatest Songs Of the '90s
    VH1 Tuner
    May 23, 2013
    From the decade that brought us hits by Beck, Bell Biv Devoe, and Britney Spears, VH1 lists the 100 Greatest Songs of the ‘90s . Seattle’s grunge...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Public Enemy Are 'Rolling Stones' Of Rap, Chuck D Says At Hangout Fest
    MTV News
    May 19, 2013
    'Not braggin', lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin', ' Chuck D tells MTV News' Sway Calloway.
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Public Enemy Are 'Rolling Stones' Of Rap, Chuck D Says At Hangout Fest
    MTV News
    May 19, 2013
    'Not braggin', lips bigger than Jagger, not saggin', ' Chuck D tells MTV News' Sway Calloway.
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Teen athlete's killing lamented in Ice Cube video
    music.yahoo.com
    on a street. As he lays dying, he asks, "Why me homie, why me?" Espinoza's early release from jail led the Shaws to call for the passage of "Jamiel's ...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube Celebrates The West Coast On New Single 'I Rep That West'
    MTV News
    , the beats are right, and it's West Coast hip-hop without any apologies. "The West Coast has been trying ... Ice Cube Celebrates The West Coast On Ne...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube Denies Dissing Dr. Dre In 'Drink The Kool-Aid'
    MTV News
    A rap beef nobody wants to see again: Ice Cube vs. Dr. Dre. It was exciting in the AmeriKKKa's Most ... Ice Cube Denies Dissing Dr. Dre In 'Drink The ...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube Trades His Cap For A Sombrero In 'I Rep That West' Video
    MTV News
    The classic Ice Cube scowl is still there, but for his new video, "I Rep That West," the veteran ... Ice Cube Trades His Cap For A Sombrero In 'I Rep ...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube Says He Will Release New Album,I Am The WestThis Summer
    prefixmag.com
    Ice Cube has announced that his ninth studio album will release this summer. He explained the title,I Am The West,in a blog post yesterday:For 7 or 8 ...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Here's Ice Cube's Actual 'Good Day' (Correction) | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet One of the cooler music-nerd finds of the past few years came last week when some blogger found the actual day Ice Cube was rapping about on "It...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube's "Good Day" -- 1/20/92 or 11/30/88, Probably
    stereogum.com
    In Ice Cube's classic 1992 single "It Was A Good Day," the L.A. rap legend, flowing over an atypically laid-back Isley Brothers sample, lists off all ...
    Read More
  • Ice Cube
    Ice Cube on Mitt Romney: 'It's Astonishing That People Are Buying That'
    music.yahoo.com
    RELATED CONTENTView Photo Ice Cube on Mitt Romney: 'It's Astonishing That People Are Buying That' "I don't see how anybody could believe what that man...
    Read More

Tour Dates

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  • May 25 Saturday
    Mountain View, CA, US Shoreline Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • May 26 Sunday
    Santa Barbara, CA, US Santa Barbara Bowl
    Buy Ticket
  • May 28 Tuesday
    Aspen, CO, US Belly Up Aspen
    Buy Ticket
  • May 30 Thursday
    Minneapolis, MN, US Target Center
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  • May 31 Friday
    Council Bluffs, IA, US Stir Cove, Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
    Buy Ticket
  • May 31 Friday
    Council Bluffs, IA, US Harrah's Council Bluffs Casino & Hotel
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 1 Saturday
    St Louis, MO, US Scottrade Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 2 Sunday
    Louisville, KY, US Headliners Music Hall
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 4 Tuesday
    Atlanta, GA, US Fox Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 5 Wednesday
    Orlando, FL, US Beacham Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 6 Thursday
    St Petersburg, FL, US Progress Energy Center's Mahaffey Theater
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 6 Thursday
    St Petersburg, FL, US The Mahaffey
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 7 Friday
    Saint Augustine, FL, US St. Augustine Amphitheatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 12 Wednesday
    Baltimore, MD, US Lyric Opera House
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 14 Friday
    Simpsonville, SC, US Charter Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 15 Saturday
    Portsmouth, VA, US nTelos Wireless Pavilion
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 16 Sunday
    Durham, NC, US Durham Performing Arts Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 18 Tuesday
    Newark, NJ, US New Jersey Performing Arts Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 18 Tuesday
    Newark, NJ, US Prudential Hall, New Jersey Performing Arts Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 19 Wednesday
    Boston, MA, US Bank of America Pavilion
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 20 Thursday
    New York, NY, US Roseland Ballroom
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 22 Saturday
    Canandaigua, NY, US Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 23 Sunday
    Mount Pleasant, MI, US Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 25 Tuesday
    Cleveland, OH, US Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 26 Wednesday
    Clarkston, MI, US DTE Energy Music Theatre
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 26 Wednesday
    Milwaukee, WI, US US Cell Stage
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 27 Thursday
    Cincinnati, OH, US Riverbend Music Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 28 Friday
    Milwaukee, WI, US Milwaukee Summerfest
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 28 Friday
    Asheville, NC, US The Orange Peel
    Buy Ticket
  • Jun 29 Saturday
    Nashville, TN, US Marathon Music Works
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 1 Monday
    Grand Prairie, TX, US Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 2 Tuesday
    Austin, TX, US Stubb's Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 3 Wednesday
    Houston, TX, US Bayou Music Center
    Buy Ticket
  • Jul 7 Sunday
    Los Angeles, CA, US Greek Theatre
    Buy Ticket

Discography

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  • I Am the West (2010)
    Ice Cube
    I Am the West (2010)
    Lench Mob
  • Raw Footage (2008)
    Ice Cube
    Raw Footage (2008)
    Lench Mob
  • Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006)
    Ice Cube
    Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006)
    Virgin
  • War & Peace, Vol. 2: The Peace Disc (2000)
    Ice Cube
    War & Peace, Vol. 2: The Peace Disc (2000)
    Priority Records
  • War & Peace, Vol. I: The War Disc (1998)
    Ice Cube
    War & Peace, Vol. I: The War Disc (1998)
    Priority Records
  • Lethal Injection (1993)
    Ice Cube
    Lethal Injection (1993)
    Universal Distribution
  • The Predator (1992)
    Ice Cube
    The Predator (1992)
    Priority
  • Death Certificate (1991)
    Ice Cube
    Death Certificate (1991)
    Priority
  • AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990)
    Ice Cube
    AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990)
    Virgin
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