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LOS ANGELES – Ice Cube could have chased trends to keep up with today’s rap game for his latest release, but instead, he stayed faithful to the gritty West Coast gangsta sound that dates back to his early NWA days and rich singles. Has been his signature since his career.
Ice Cube stayed true to his street storytelling roots while injecting some West Coast rap party vibes into his 11th studio album “Man Down,” which was released on the same day as Kendrick Lamar’s surprise project late last month . Ice Cube’s new album made the top 10 on Billboard’s Top Rap Albums chart – debuting at No. 8 – for the first time in 14 years.
The rap icon created “Man Down” to satisfy his loyal listeners. He is known for creating classic hip-hop jams such as “It Was a Good Day,” “Check Yo Self,” “No Vaseline,” and “Steady Mobbin’.”
“You’ve got to serve your customers,” Ice Cube said of “Man Down”, which features Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, E-40, Killer Mike, Xzibit and Cypress Hill’s B-Real. His latest project is his first since 2018’s “Everything’s Corrupt.”
“The people who got you here are the people you’re making music for,” said Ice Cube, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of NWA in 2016. The new fan or the new kid who is just getting into music. If you’ve been in the game for almost four decades you shouldn’t have come this far.”
In a recent interview, Ice Cube spoke with The Associated Press about his partnership with the NFL, the Big3 basketball league and his thoughts following the U.S. presidential election.
Ice Cube first pitched the Contract with Black America to political leaders from both parties in 2020, and four years later, he’s still pushing negotiations with the NFL.
He said the CWBA’s partnership with the league has gained momentum since joining forces in 2022, creating opportunities for Black-owned businesses. The partnership between Cube’s initiative and the NFL focuses on identifying opportunities in finance, technology and production.
“When they have the opportunity, they’re going to give our guys a chance to get the jobs that we put in front of them,” Ice Cube said, adding that the CWBA aims to address the wealth gap and economic inclusion between black and white Americans. ,
CWBA seeks to remove barriers and open doors.
“We just want a shot,” he said. “All companies have to step up and earn that work. We just say ‘Hey, tell us when you got an opportunity in tech. …And we present to you some companies. And let the best company win. “They’ve picked up some of our companies and now they’ve got contracts with the NFL, which is great.”
Ice Cube hopes the CWBA will grow beyond the NFL, encouraging other companies to adopt the initiative. In 2020, he presented his proposal to both main political parties, including Donald Trump’s campaign, a move that drew criticism from those who thought he was supporting Trump at the time.
But it wasn’t, Ice Cube said. Whichever party supports the CWBA will listen.
“Politically, they have to show an appetite to work with me,” he said. “I am not a politician. I never went to these political parties and asked for anything from them. “I’m still ready to help.”
While Ice Cube has left his mark in music, he has done the same in film.
But as Hollywood grapples with the challenges following two major attacks and the lingering effects of the pandemic, Ice Cube has chosen an independent path for his upcoming projects. For now, he is not relying on major studios.
The late John Singleton’s “Boys in the Hood”, “Are We There Yet?” And Ice Cube, who starred in “Barbershop,” said, “It would be better to make independent movies and not go through the studio system.” , ”Ride Along” and ”Friday” franchise films. He also wrote, acted, produced and directed the 1998 film “The Players Club”.
He said, “With independent films, I can do some great work that isn’t sterilized by studios.” “When they make a big film, they spend a lot of money. When they make a low budget movie, they want to cut it into every little corner, to the point where sometimes they end up cutting out the best parts. You have to fight him.”
Ice Cube created a haven for athletes who had left their professional basketball days behind. Through his co-founded league, BIG3, he gave them a second chance – a sanctuary to keep their passion for the game alive.
Their 3-on-3 basketball league is gearing up for its sixth consecutive year, with an expanded 11-week season beginning in the summer of 2025. Since its launch in 2017, the league has evolved, transitioning to a traditional city-based model where teams host home games, moving away from its original road-game-only structure.
Earlier this year, BIG3 sold its first franchise for $10 million to a group of investors in Los Angeles. Games stream on CBS through Paramount, and some stream on X.
“It is increasing every day. “We have some great new owners and we are setting the direction of the league with them, where we should be and how to plant our flag,” Ice Cube said of the BIG3, which includes Joe Johnson, Rashard Lewis, Stephen Jackson and the likes. Former NBA players have starred. Corey Maggette. Last year, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown became the first active NBA player to participate in a BIG3 game.
“You’re getting into the nitty-gritty of big games at the highest level,” Ice Cube said. “It’s exciting to be out there and it’s a challenge every day. This is not a place I want to live. To influence the game on that level, it’s pretty cool from someone who had to sneak into the forums to watch my first Laker game.
If the post-presidential election blues are still bothering you before you head to the inauguration on January 20, Ice Cube has a bit of advice: Stop stressing.
“Worrying will not change the outcome,” he said.
“Stop thinking so much about the future,” he said. “The future is unknown. The future is anxiety, the past is depression. …You have to believe in the future. Whatever made you strong enough to get to this point, you will also be strong enough to overcome whatever the future may bring. The key thing is to stop worrying about what’s going to happen and focus on what is happening. Act accordingly.”
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
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