ICE CUBE
Ice Cube is considered to be one of the founding members of the most dangerous rap group NWA, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in early 2016. Even though his early departure was a bitter one, O’Shea Jackson is still an OG.
Through the years Ice Cube has become a reinvented success, time and time again. With a successful Friday movie franchise, Are We There Yet TV & Movie franchise, The Barbershop movie franchise. Not to mention countless other TV shows as well as other films like Ride Along and Ride Along 2, with the hilarious Kevin Hart, and 21 Jump Street & 22.
However, the Motion Picture Straight Outta Compton, the NWA biopic distributed by Universal Pictures, produced by Ice Cube, Will Packer, Dr. Dre and Eazy-E’s widow Tomica Woods-Wright, was a over the top huge success. The film featured new comers, Jason Mitchell, Corey Hawkins, Neil Brown Jr., as well as Aldis Hodge to play the most dangerous group, and yes O’Shea Jackson Jr. did a fantastic job playing his Dad, back in the dayz.
This we imagine, will not be the end of Ice Cube’s career as well as Cube Vision, which is his successfully built production company. In fact, Barbershop: The Next Cut just finished with a great box office run, and the much anticipated Last Friday is up next.
Even though critics may say that he’s lost his ruff edge, or street persona they really need to check they self because Cube’s music has always been, and always will be his passion, so it’s safe to say there will always be a new Ice Cube track, or album to bump in your trunk, or to knock on your Beats headphones.
After the tragic untimely death of Eric Eazy-E Wright, his homeboyz from NWA have mended fences and have also independently gained successful ventures on their own. Dj Yella has a clothing line Attitude, MC Ren has also had his share of a solo career in the rap game, and has many other ventures as well with Villain Entertainment.
Dr. Dre has had a phenomenal career since NWA, his Beats by Dre headphones has earned him billionaire status with his deal with Apple, as well as his music production successes since his departure from the defunct Death Row records. His Aftermath record label has earned catalogs of the most famous rappers in the rap game: Eminem, 50 Cent, The Game and Kendrick Lamar to name a few. Dr. Dre’s relationship with Snoop Dogg is also still intact, with Snoop’s past NWA credits as well.
Even though Ice Cube and Dr. Dre have stated there will be no current NWA reunion, there was Coachella. In 2016 fans got a chance to witness the strength of street knowledge, with the worlds most dangerous group up close and personal. MC Ren said it felt like old times. One can only wonder if they will put down another album. But the old school gangster rap, West Coast rap, reality rap or whatever you want to call it, will remain forever in the hearts and minds of the fans who supported them. As time goes on, one can only imagine what NWA would be doing in the future. With the state of Hip-Hop in dissatisfaction with true heads out there, and with radio stations spinning watered down versions of rapsing in heavy rotations. Ice Cube will sure to keep it 100 with his fans, and not to play into the hands of record executives and A&Rs that are just in it to make a quick buck, forsaking true Hip-Hop as an art.
During the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, in true Ice Cube form, he Tweeted to the leader of the Rock Group Kiss, Gene Simmons in reply to the state of the Hip-Hop nation. This is the attitude we expect from the Cube. It’s also true to those who think the Rap game is over, when Hip-Hop is almost 40 years old. So say whatever you want critics, no one can fade the Cube. Keeping it 10000… Socialbilitty Entertainment Social Blog ~ Entertainment Equals Diversity ~ This featured autographed photo is a throwback of Ice Cube back in the Dayz… for an in-store signing of his Classic “Lethal Injection” album on Priority Records. The location, the now defunct Virgin Megastore @8000 Sunset. It was a time when artists would draw in crowds of all colors and creeds inside an actual record store. Now, with brick and mortar record stores a thing of the past, even A List artists have to find new ways to connect with their audience. Gone are the Days of record in-store signings in Los Angeles. Maybe Ice can do it again when he decides to write a book, or he can still visit Amoeba in Hollywood with the N.W.A. crew. They still can’t fade the Cube.
With the success of Ice Cube‘s movies, no wonder he has become a Hip Hop mogul. In a video clip from Jimmy Kimmel Live shown below; Rapper Snoop Dogg recently describes Ice Cube as one of his top three greatest Rappers of all time. It would be great to one day see them both in a film or television series together. These two rapper actors are forever black cinema personified, with music videos, DVDs and plenty of Tags for Likes on the instagram. Ice Cube has proven not only is he a music/ movie mogul and actor, he even received a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame, with celebratory fans, friends and family. His most recent venture though is inside the sports area, suffice it to say, deuces and trays can be defined in many different ways. But with Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz‘s BIG3 , Trays has a whole new meaning. BIG3 in a nutshell is a new 3-on-3 basketball league with old school former NBA players who are still able to play ball. The game is played only on half court with one basket. So far, there are only eight traveling teams with five players per team, three on the court and two on the bench, with one coach per team. During the eight week regular season, games are held on Sundays at various big time sports arenas like the Staples Center, throughout major cities within the United States. Maybe one day we’ll get to see Shaq and Kobe reunited, rockin’ key positions. Off the beaten path of professional basketball, the Big 3‘s rules are based off street knowledge, rather than traditional rules of the modern day sport.
Hopefully, there will be more teams coming soon to the Big 3 in the near future, but for now the teams; 3s Company, 3 Headed Monsters, Ball Hogs, Ghost Ballers, Killer 3s, Power, Tri-State and the undefeated Trilogy, first ever BIG3 Champions are the first 8 to represent. They also have merchandise to get your latest hats, t-shirts and jerseys to rep your favorite team. No doubt LaVar Ball will want his Big Baller Brand in on the action.