Ice Cube is the stage name of O’Shea Jackson Sr., an American rapper and actor from Crenshaw, Los Angeles. Born in 1969, he starts his career in West Coast hip hop with the groups C.I.A. and then N.W.A, where he becomes one of the key voices in the group’s early work. He leaves N.W.A in 1989 after financial and personal disputes and then develops a solo career alongside acting.

Early career and N.W.A

Ice Cube begins writing rap while at George Washington Preparatory High School in Westmont, California, and later finishes school at William Howard Taft Charter High School in Woodland Hills. With his friend Sir Jinx, he performs as C.I.A. at parties hosted by Dr. Dre. After a short period in a group called HBO, he shows Eazy-E the song “Boyz ’N Da Hood,” which leads to the formation of N.W.A with Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, The Arabian Prince and MC Ren. He spends a year studying architectural drafting in Phoenix in 1987, then returns in time to appear on N.W.A’s debut album, Straight Outta Compton. He delivers the lead verse on “Fuck tha Police,” one of the album’s best-known tracks.

Solo recordings

His solo debut, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990), is made with Da Lench Mob and the Bomb Squad in New York and becomes a major success. It is followed by Death Certificate (1991), which includes overt political material and the diss track “No Vaseline,” aimed at his former N.W.A bandmates. In the same period he converts to the Nation of Islam. He then releases The Predator (1992), which reaches number one on both the pop and R&B charts in the United States and includes “Today Was a Good Day” and “Check Yo Self (remix).” Later albums include Lethal Injection (1993), War & Peace Vol. 1: The War Disc (1998), War & Peace Vol. 2: The Peace Disc (2000), Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006), Raw Footage (2008) and I Am the West (2010). He also releases Bootlegs & B-Sides in 1994.

Groups and collaborations

Outside his solo work, Ice Cube records with Da Lench Mob and Kam, and later duets with Dr. Dre on “Natural Born Killaz.” In 1996, he forms Westside Connection with Mack 10 and WC, releasing Bow Down that year. The project reflects his view that West Coast rap lacks respect from the East Coast scene. In 2003, he and WC and Mack 10 release Terrorist Threats under the Westside Connection name. His broader list of associated groups also includes Stereo Crew, Mount Westmore, Beats by Dre Band and The Possé.

Acting and screen work

Ice Cube also builds a parallel film and television career. He appears in Boyz n the Hood (1991), Friday (1995), for which he co-writes the screenplay, and Barbershop (2002). He serves as a producer on the television adaptations Barbershop and Are We There Yet?, both based on films in which he plays the central character. His acting in Boyz n the Hood brings him recognition, including “Most Promising Actor” at the Chicago Film Critics Association Awards in 1992. He tours Lollapalooza in 1992, widening his audience beyond rap.

Style and recognition

His music is associated with gangsta rap, hardcore hip hop, political hip hop and West Coast hip hop, and his lyrics often include social and political commentary. He is widely identified as one of the founding figures of gangsta rap. He is ranked among major rap lyricists and MCs in several lists, and is described as one of hip hop’s most controversial and influential artists. His name comes from Iceberg Slim, the African American author and former pimp whose autobiography Pimp appears in 1969.

Labels

Ice Cube is associated with Heavyweight Records, Lench Mob Records, Gangsta Boogie Music and Priority Records.