Ice Cube

AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted: The Story of Ice Cube

With so much going on in the world, currently, in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others, it’s safe to say that the soundtrack should be taken more seriously and should be put more to the forefront of entertainment more. Of course, entertaining isn’t something that should be of a priority firsthand but it is something that can be also used as a tool to create something that definitely reflects the times. After all, true artists makes art that does reflect the times and it’s part of the formula that makes one a great of all time. For over 40 years in hip hop, the world has seen many artists come in and speak on the realities of America and it’s true history through songs. Besides the partying, excessive drugs and alcohol, raunchy sex stories, the misogyny, materialistic attitudes, machismo bravado, and feminine power through sexuality, hip hop has always provided us the soundtrack that involved the harsh realities of Black neighborhoods all over the country. When you mention the music that speaks about police brutality, unarmed killings and deaths, corrupt systems, firearms, protesting, looting, riots, depending on the generation you’re a part of, such acts like Public Enemy, KRS-One, The X-Clan, 2Pac, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and even N.W.A. would come to mind. Back in 1988, it was N.W.A. who came out the gate, straight from the hard streets of Compton, California speaking on the everyday murders by police and even regular people who do it to each other over petty disputes, drugs, and money. They brought the world’s attention towards the harsh realities of their hometown and how to survive living there everyday. With songs like “Fuck The Police” and “Straight Outta Compton”, it was very clear that this group would go down in history as one of the greatest to ever do it. Of course as time went on, the group split up to do solo things and other ventures but it was one member in particular who decided that his voice was more than just worthy of a hot beat and hot songs. He took things to a whole other level with his first two albums called “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” and “The Predator.” O’Shea Jackson aka “Ice Cube”, born on June 15th, 1969, is definitely an artist that reflects the times in his music and not being afraid to tell the truth. With a combination of everyday life in Compton, both the good and bad, he also had party records and other kinds too to remind the people that life isn’t 100% bad. Life is a balance after all. Everyday can’t be dark and gloomy and dangerous, just like his movies. Reality has it’s ups and downs. What you do with it and how you get through it is what matters. Through darkness comes the light and Ice Cube is the perfect definition of that.

Written by Jalen Hemphill

O’Shea Jackson (born June 15, 1969), better known by his stage name Ice Cube, is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor, screenwriter, film producer, and director. He began his career as a member of the hip-hop group C.I.A. and later joined N.W.A (Niggaz Wit Attitudes). After leaving N.W.A in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music, and also as a writer, director, actor and producer in cinema. Additionally, he has served as one of the producers of the Showtime television series Barbershop and the TBS series Are We There Yet?, both of which are based upon the two films in which he portrayed the lead character.

Cube is noted as a proficient lyricist and storyteller and is regarded as a brutally honest rapper; his lyrics are often political as well as violent, and he is considered one of the founding artists in gangsta rap. He was ranked #8 on MTV’s list of the 10 Greatest MCs of All Time, while fellow rapper Snoop Dogg ranked Ice Cube as the greatest MC of all time. About website ranked him #11 on its list of the “Top 50 Greatest MCs of Our Time.” Allmusic has called him one of hip-hop’s best and most controversial artists, as well as “one of rap’s greatest storytellers.” In 2012, The Source ranked him #14 on their list of the Top 50 Lyricists of All Time.

Written by Dianne Washington

The Predator: The 25th Anniversary!

After having two successful albums that touched on more political topics like police brutality and injustice, Ice Cube returns with his third album “The Predator” on November 17th, 1992. 25 years later, it’s an album that’s still relevant and still timeless. With only three singles released, “it Was a Good Day”, “Wicked” and “Check Yo Self”, Cube still comes raw and unfiltered, unapologetic and truthful, in your face and knowledgeable about the realities of where he comes from and taking those experiences on another level to connect it to more worldly events that are similar. It’s not a personal favorite of mine from Cube but the lyrics are full of aggression and the production is still hardcore, street and heavy hitting. There’s no smiling or happy things about this man or his words. It’s frustration and demanding. Demanding enough to catch the hip hop fan’s attention and can easily piss of anyone whose ignorant. Not too many artists’ today have albums that’s just as powerful and raw like this. Everybody wants the truth but handle the truth. So who’s the real “predator” I ask?

The Legacy of Ice Cube

The man who was once a part of a hip hop group that was ruthless, very honest and to be considered “the world’s most dangerous”, Ice Cube is one cold mutha that brought the heat with his highly conscious music and bold raps of what it’s like to be a Black man here in America. When he left NWA, there was friction between him and the group but with drama comes with great music and Cube definitely brought out some hard bangers. More than a month ago, I finally got the chance to actually listen to his albums from start to finish and I was completely blown away with how dope his music is, not that I wasn’t expecting it to be but, the production, the attitude, the topics, it was all dope. I personally enjoy his music a lot more than NWA’s. Especially his first albums “Amerikkka’s Most Wanted”, “Death Certificate” and “The Predator.” All three albums were a reflection of the Ice Cube that was unapologetically truthful and harsh but he was real. Songs about certain topics that made your mouth drop and laugh like “Yoooo, did he really say that? Did he actually make a song about that?” After the third album, Ice Cube’s music is not exactly the same but he still had some bangers and he was now appearing on the big screen in movies. His character as “Doughboy” in 1991’s “Boyz N The Hood” was the perfect role for him. He was also in “CB4”, “Higher Learning”, and nothing like the classic “Friday” series. Such a classic and hilarious movies. The Ice Cube nowadays is a lot more laid back but don’t sleep on him. He’ll still bite back if he has to and he just recently got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, such a huge accomplishment for the West Coast hip hop legend. Yay Yaaayyyy!