Before Ice-T went from “Cop Killer” to cop on “Law & Order: SVU” and before Snoop’s “Doggy Fizzle Televizzle,” former N.W.A. rapper Ice Cube was making moves to be the Biggest, Baddest Man in Hollywood.
Most Wanted
In 1990 rapper Ice Cube appeared on “Burn Hollywood Burn,” by the controversial rap act Public Enemy. Sixteen years later, Cube (né Oshea Jackson) is more likely to earn from Hollywood than burn it. The 36-year-old Renaissance man is an actor, director, screenwriter, and executive producer whose projects include such cinematic notables as Friday, Barbershop, and Three Kings. Next year he’ll star in the title role in the Welcome Back, Kotter movie. Even after years of music and motion picture success, Cube is just as determined to deliver social commentary as he was back when he was writing classic rap albums like AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. Today his delivery is far from “Fuck tha Police.” Cube and his production company, Cubevision, are using projects like his FX reality series, Black. White., and a new album, Laugh Now, Cry Later, to get his message to the masses.
Did the final cut of Black. White. Turn out the way you had envisioned it?
It was hard to have expectations. We knew we had a good setup, bringing two families together and putting them in makeup. And we knew we could set up certain situations, but we didn’t know what was going to happen once they got there — because it’s reality. We didn’t want to tell them to do anything they wouldn’t normally do. I knew the situations were hot, and when I was getting the footage back, it was just getting hotter. Once I saw it cut together, I knew I had something different that could get people talking.
Was Black. White. your idea?
It was [conceived] by John Land graff, who runs FX. He called [pro ducer] R. J. Cutler in and asked if Cubevision could do it. So we brainstormed and I said, “Once I see the makeup test, I’ll let you know if I’m in or out.”
Race is a weighty topic, especially in America. Is there anything bigger?
It’s hard to come up with something that doesn’t make you think about race. I don’t know one black person who doesn’t think about being black every day. Thinking about what this white man’s about to do reminds you you’re black. Thinking about what the po-po [police] are about to do reminds you you’re black. As far as black America, it’s kind of in our chromosomes.
You were addressing racism long before your Hollywood career. Have you encountered racism in Hollywood?
Oh, yeah. You’re gonna face old Hollywood that wants to keep the status quo. You’re gonna face people who don’t want you in the game because you’re not a thespian. You got your own people hating on you in various ways. Like, we’ve been begging to get on Oprah, [but] she won’t put us on. I don’t know if that’s racism, but it feels just as bad. You’re always going to have people who don’t want you there.
Is the final Friday movie, Saturday, ever going to happen?
I don’t know. Another Friday might happen but I don’t think we will ever get to Saturday. I’ve been talking to Chris Tucker and he’s showing some interest. It’s just about having a meeting and making sure that he’s really comfortable and wants to be a part of it.
You just released Laugh Now, Cry Later. What does the title mean?
The album feels like laugh now, cry later when you listen to it, because you’re jammin’ one minute and the next you’re hearing about our situation. That’s one reason. Another is the state of hip-hop. We’re really on a happy rap tip, [but] a lot of things need to be said. It had the perfect balance between fun gangsta records that everybody’s into right now and message records that people aren’t into right now. A lot of us [are] playing and not thinking about the way God’s playing.
Are you a proud or concerned parent of gangsta rap?
I’m more proud than concerned. I would love to have been able to sit down with all these MCs before they came out, but I couldn’t do that. There are some records I like more than others, but I’m proud that the music we started has been dominating for a long time and it’s still popular, still raw.
“It’s hard to come up with something that doesn’t make you think about race. I don’t know one black person who doesn’t think about being black every day.”
Was making this record like an itch you had to scratch?
I got the bug. I love hip-hop, I love to rap [because it gives me] way more freedom than movies ever could. It takes more than 100 people to put a movie together. There is always compromising. With a record, I could go in there — me, my engineer, producer, and nobody else. [When] I’m in there, [I’m] free. I can do what I want, say what I want, do it how I feel it.
You were originally supposed to do this album with Dr. Dre, but he got distracted with 50 Cent. You said you were trying to find a way to feed powerful messages to the people through infectious entertainment. Wouldn’t waiting for Dre have guaranteed that?
Yeah, but I can’t wait on nobody. I didn’t build my career on that and I’m not going to start. If I had waited on Dre, I wouldn’t have no songs done right now. So I couldn’t wait. Dre is like the Wizard of Oz — you follow the yellow brick road but you still might not get to him. I’ve done more hit records without Dre than I have with Dre, so it is what it is. I’d love to work with him. Who wouldn’t? He’s the man. If he called me today, I’d be in the studio tomorrow.
Given your hectic schedule, would it have been easier to use a major label instead of micromanaging the project yourself as an independent?
Yeah, but it wouldn’t have been this fun. And it wouldn’t have been this inspiring. I wouldn’t have had a lot of the connections that I’m starting to have with deejays. There are a lot of people who never met me who have been rocking my records all these years. Now I’ve got my chance to get on the phone with them and hustle the record. Let them know that I appreciate everything they’re doing and are going to do for this record. And the masters… at one point, an artist should own all of his masters. They shouldn’t just sign, get an advance, and at the end of the day [not be able to] make the money they need to make off the music they put out. I felt that there’s nothing a label could do for me that I couldn’t do for myself. All of last year I didn’t film anything because I wanted to dedicate all my time to the record — and I’m glad I did, because it’s a better record.
If you had to pick one artistic outlet for the rest of your life, which would you choose?
Rapping, because it’s the freedom. The respect I’ve gotten in the game, the love of the people, being able to voice my opinion — there’s nothing like rocking the crowd with the mike.
What work best defines you?
On the record side, it’s gotta be Straight Outta Compton, because that was the start of it all. Whenever I do an interview, N.W.A. always comes up, even though I ain’t been with the group since ’89. The group was that powerful. As far as movies, I don’t think I’ve done it yet, but it could be Friday. I want to say Boyz N the Hood. I still get compliments on that movie. [But] Friday feels better because it’s mine.
Will there ever be an N.W.A. reunion?
I hope so. I don’t know. That would have to go through Dre, because if Dre don’t do the beats, is it an N.W.A. album? Not really. So if he ever says he wanna do it, I’ll be in the studio.
What’s the difference between the Ice Cube of the outspoken Death Certificate and Ice Cube today?
Age and experience. A lot of people say, “Why don’t you revisit the Death Certificate era with your lyrics?” I say if you really want that, then buy Death Certificate. There is always something new to be said. That music is gonna be there when I’m gone, so it’s crazy to repeat yourself. I always look for other ways to change the system for real, not just speak on it. I did “Burn Hollywood Burn,” [but now] I’m gonna burn the old way of thinking in Hollywood and be a trailblazer. Try to change it from the inside out. Back then I was young, mad, couldn’t really understand the whole world, and was lashing out. Now I know I can get in there and change things. I can put black people in positions of power in movies. So I’m more active now than I am rapping about it.
If your new album makes only one statement, what do you want it to be?
I’m back!
