Ice Cube
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Ice Cube is considered by many to be one of the most influential rappers in the world. His best selling album is Amerikkka's Most Wanted.
Contents |
[edit] About
Gangsta rapper Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) was born on June 15, 1969 in Los Angeles, California. He began rapping at the age of 16 years old. He attended William Howard Taft High School and went to University of Phoenix taking up Architectural Drafting. Like his friend, Dr. Dre, Ice Cube also performed at parties with his partner Sir Jinx.
Ice Cube and Dr. Dre made a rap group and called themselves N.W.A. acronym for Niggaz With Attitude. They met Eazy-E, who asked Cube to write a rap, they represented it to HBO but was unfortunately rejected. N.W.A. released their debut album, Straight Outta Compton in 1988. It became an underground hit, the media refused to air their songs for the hardcore lyrics. It got political attention especially the FBI who left them a warning.
N.W.A. became the most notorious hip-hop group but he had no choice but to leave the group for conflicts in 1989. Rumors has it that it was about a financial disagreement. In 1990, Ice Cube released his debut album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. It instantly went gold on its release. He was praised for his skills but his lyrics were criticized by rock press and moral watchdogs. Amidst it's controversy the album was hailed as a groundbreaking classic within hip-hop. It established Ice Cube as an individual earning him respect. At the end of 1990, he released Kill at Will. After it's release Ice Cube made his acting debut on the film Boyz 'n the Hood.
In 1991, he released Death Certificate, it was more controversial than his first album. The album went #2 on the charts and went platinum. The song "No Vaseline" was an attack on N.W.A.'s manager, Jerry Heller and "Black Korea" was a song about racism. In 1992, he converted to the Nation of Islam. His next album, The Predator, was the first album that reached at #1 on both the pop and R&B Charts. The singles "It Was a Good Day" and "Check Yo Self" were #1 on the charts.
Cube's fans were slowly going down and his former colleague, Dr. Dre was gaining popularity. The competition didn't stop him from releasing his next album, Lethal Injection in 1993. The album topped the chart at #5 and went platinum. Although it was successful, the audience didn't take the new funky sound of Ice Cube. Lethal Injection was Cube's last official album. In 1994, he produced for other artists such as da Lench Mob's debut Guerillas in tha Mist and Kam's Neva Again. The following year, he pursued an acting career, he appeared on Singleton's film Higher Learning and Friday (which he wrote himself). He formed a group with Mack 10 and WC called Westside Connection and released their debut album, Bow Down. The album was successful and went gold. In 1997, Ice Cube starred on the horror film, Anaconda. In 1998, he released his long awaited album, War & Peace, Vol. 1 and two years later, released the sequel, The Peace Disc.
After the release of his album he concentrated on making films, appearing on Three Kings, Ghosts of Mars, and the comedy Barbershop. In 2003, he released his come back album, Terrorist Threats, with Westside Connection. As a solo artist, he returned with Laugh Now, Cry Later.
[edit] Awards & Certifications
Awards
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | T. Rex's Award | Old Album of the Year for "Bootlegs and B-Sides" |
| 2000 | Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Action Team for Three Kings (1999) |
| 2000 | Black Reel | Nominated for Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor for Three Kings (1999) |
| 2000 | MTV Movie Award | Nominated for Best Comedic Performance for Next Friday (2000) |
| 2002 | MECCA Movie Award | Acting Award |
| 2005 | Quincy Jones Award | Lifetime Achievement |
| 2005 | Soul Train Music Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award |
Certifications
| Year | Album | Certification |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 1991 | Death Certificate | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 1992 | The Predator | Certified 2x Platinum in U.S. |
| 1993 | Lethal Injection | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 1998 | War & Peace - Volume 1 (The War Disc) | Certified Platinum in U.S. |
| 2000 | War & Peace - Volume 2 (The Peace Disc) | Certified Gold in U.S. |
| 2006 | Laugh Now, Cry Later | Certified Gold in U.S. |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Billboard Hot 100 | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Amerikkka s Most Wanted | 1 | AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted | ||
| 1992 | Wicked | 31 | 55 | The Predator | |
| 1993 | Check Yo Self | 1 | 1 | 20 | The Predator |
| 1993 | Really Doe | 30 | 3 | 54 | Lethal Injection |
| 1993 | Wicked | 1 | The Predator | ||
| 1994 | Bop Gun (One Nation) | 37 | 6 | 23 | Lethal Injection |
| 1994 | You Know How We Do It | 21 | 5 | 30 | Lethal Injection |
| 1998 | Pushin Weight | 12 | 1 | 26 | War & Peace, Vol. 1 (The War Disc) |
| 2001 | $100 Bill Y'all | 67 | War & Peace, Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc) | ||
| 2006 | Go To Church | 67 | 25 | Laugh Now, Cry Later | |
| 2006 | Why We Thugs | 92 | Laugh Now, Cry Later |
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
Jan 12, 2007 - Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre ,Victoria, Canada
Jan 13, 2007 - Pacific Coliseum, Vancouver, Canada
Jan 14, 2007 - Prospera Place, Kelowna, Canada
Jan 15, 2007 - CN Centre, Prince George, Canada
Jan 16, 2007 - Canada Games Arena, Grand Prairie, Canada
Jan 17, 2007 - Rexall Place, Edmonton, Canada
Jan 18, 2007 - Calgary Stampede Corral, Calgary, Canada
Jan 19, 2007 - Westerner Park ENMAX Centrium Arena, Red Deer, Canada
Jan 20, 2007 - Enmax Centre, Lethbridge, Canada
Jan 22, 2007 - Brandt Centre, Regina, Canada
Jan 23, 2007 - Winnipeg Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Canada
Jan 26, 2007 - Ottawa Civic Center Arena, Ottawa, Canada
[edit] Announcements
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 May 16, 1990 Priority |
 October 31, 1991 Priority |
 November 17, 1992 Priority |
 December 7, 1993 Priority |
 November 17, 1998 Priority |
 March 21, 2000 Priority |
 June 6, 2006 Lench Mob Records |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Amerikkka s Most Wanted | Priority | AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted |
| 1992 | Wicked | Priority | The Predator |
| 1993 | Check Yo Self | Priority | The Predator |
| 1993 | It Was A Good Day | Priority | The Predator |
| 1993 | Really Doe | Priority | Lethal Injection |
| 1993 | Wicked | Priority | The Predator |
| 1994 | Bop Gun (One Nation) | Priority | Lethal Injection |
| 1994 | You Know How We Do It | Priority | Lethal Injection |
| 1998 | Pushin Weight | Priority | War & Peace, Vol. 1 (The War Disc) |
| 2006 | Why We Thugs | Virgin | Laugh Now, Cry Later |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 November 22, 1994 Priority Records |
 December 16, 1997 Priority |
 December 4, 2001 Priority |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Trivia
- He is one of the richest people in the hip hop industry with an estimated net worth of $145 million.
- He was the executive producer for the movie The Players Club in 1997.
- He stands at 5'10 inches tall.
- Ice Cube was the star of XXX:State Of The Union.
- He was the first member to leave NWA.
