One of the most influential and innovative hip hop stars in history, Ice
Cube was at the forefront of “gangsta rap” movement and parlayed his position into leading roles in several films—a move that only served to enhance is status with millions of fans. Ice Cube was born as O'Shea Jackson in South Central Los Angeles on June 15, 1969. He started writing rap songs while in high school and performed at several parties hosted by the soon-to-be legendary
Dr. Dre. In 1988, Cube, Dr.
Dre and some fellow rappers now known as
N.W.A. (Niggas Wit
Attitude) recorded the lan
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dmark album Straight Outta Compton. The album, which contained incendiary raps on political and ethnic topics, particularly the treatment of African-Americans in the United States, gained instant critical and commercial success, but internal squabbling led to the group’s breakup and Cube’s solo career.
Cube recorded his debut solo album in New York City, with his group Da Lench Mob, and the Bomb Squad (Public Enemy's production team). AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted was released in 1990 and was an instant hit, riding and contributing to the rising tide of rap's popularity in mainstream society. Ice Cube's subsequent solo albums have been just as popular, including Amerikka's Most Wanted (1990), Lethal Injection (1993) and War & Peace, vols. 1 and 2 (1998-2000). His performance in the 1991 movie Boyz N the Hood (co-starring Laurence Fishburne) proved he also had what it takes to be a movie star and now he's known in films as an actor, writer, producer and director (he has also directed several music videos). His films include: Anaconda (1997, with
Jennifer Lopez); Three Kings (1999, starring George Clooney); Ghosts of Mars (2001); Torque (2004); and Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004). In 2005, Ice Cube starred in the action movie XXX: State of the Union and then acted as a man who drives a woman whom he is dating and some children to Vancouver, in the comedy Are We There Yet? In the Movies, a compilation album of Ice Cube songs that have appeared in movie soundtracks, was released in September 2007. Soon after, Cube was back in the studio to record a comeback album, once again demonstrating the musical versatility and fearlessness that has garnered him a huge following.