Born in South Central, Los Angeles on 15 June 1969, Ice Cube began writing raps in high school. In 1984, het met a 19-year-old Dr. Dre, and together they released a single “My Posse” under the alias CIA. The two then teamed up with fellow rappers Easy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella as the group NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitude) and together they released “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988. However, due to creative issues, he left the group and by 1989 was pursuing his solo career. His debut album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” was released in 1990 and despite claims of misogyny and racism, was extremely successful. The follow-up record was even more controversial; however his most critically acclaimed album was his 1992 “The Predator.”
Having had so much success as a solo artist, Ice Cube still continued to work with other artists. 1994 saw him reunited with former NWA member, Dr. Dre, and together they recorded and relased “Natural Born Killaz,” and 1996 was the formation of Westside Connection, a collaboration with Mack 10 and WC.
The late 90s found Ice Cube concentrating on his acting career such as “Barber Shop” and “All About The Benjamins,” but he still found time to work on music. He was still collaborating with other artists like his appearance on Lil Jon & The East Side Boys’ “Real Nigga Roll Call,” and in 2003 The Westside Connection reunited for their sophomore album “Gangsta Nation.”
His most recent music musings with a new single release on 10 February 2014 “Sic Them Youngins On ‘Em.”
If we’re talking about hip hop credibility, I’m not sure you can really top having been one of the members of N.W.A. As far as I’m concerned, then, Ice Cube gets a free pass for life. “What about some of the horrendous films he’s been in?” I hear you cry. Nope, not having it. He was on Straight Outta Compton. “How about his tepidly-received recent solo record, I Am the West?” Nah, sorry, ‘Express Yourself’. “Hasn’t he been in adverts for the almost-beer Coors Light?” That’s alright by me - ‘Gangsta Gangsta’. I could continue in this vein for some time.
As a solo performer, Ice Cube was really one of the pioneers of conscious hip hop, teaming his brutally honest lyricism with an obviously complementary aggression. He brings that kind of energy to the stage, too, with his last UK shows of two years ago blending some of his stone-cold classics - ‘It Was a Good Day’, ‘Check Yo Self’, ‘Natural Born Killaz’ - with the more raucous side of his recent output, with ‘You Can Do It’ meeting with a particularly feverish reception. He keeps things pretty sparse on stage - a DJ dropping beats, and a hype man - but what else does he need? The man is a bona fide hip hop legend. Don’t sleep on his shows next time he’s in the UK.