For such a revolutionary figure, Cube (born O'Shea Jackson) came from a surprisingly straight background. Raised in South Central Los Angles, 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 protege, 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 1992, 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", which was in 1994. 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 Mob label for his solo comeback album, Laugh Now, Cry Later. Raw Footage followed two years later.
Sound Files (MP3)
Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It - from the album Raw Footage
Do Ya Thang - from the album Raw Footage
Why Me? (f/Musiq Soulchild) - from the album Raw Footage
I Got My Locs On (f/Young Jeezy) - from the album Raw Footage
Why We Thugs - from the album Laugh Now, Cry Later
Go To Church (w/Lil' Jon & Snoop Dogg) - from the album Laugh Now, Cry Later
100 Dollar Bill Y'All - from the album Ice Cube's Greatest Hits
In The Late Night Hour (w/The Neptunes & Pusha T) - from the album Ice Cube's Greatest Hits
You Can Do It (w/Mack 10 & Ms.Toi) - from the album War & Peace Vol.2 (The Peace Disc)
*Hello (w/Dr.Dre & MC Ren) - from the album War & Peace Vol.2 (The Peace Disc)
*Until We Rich (w/Krayzie Bone) - from the album War & Peace Vol.2 (The Peace Disc)
Pushin' Weight - from the album War & Peace Vol.2 (The War Disc)
We Be Clubbin' - from the album War & Peace Vol.2 (The War Disc)
Bop Gun (One Nation) - from the album Lethal Injection
You Know How We Do It - from the album Lethal Injection
It Was A Good Day - from the album The Predator
We Had To Tear This Motherf**ker Up - from the album The Predator
Check Yourself (w/DAS Efx) - from the album The Predator
My Summer Vacation - from the album Death Certificate
Steady Mobbin' - from the album Death Certificate
Jackin' For Beats - from the album Kill At Will
The N***a Ya Love To Hate - from the album Amerikkaz Most Wanted
Once Upon A Time In The Projects - from the album Amerikkaz Most Wanted
Check Yourself (Remix)
We Be Clubbin' (Remix - w/DMX)
What Can I Do? (Remix)
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