Cube keeps cool attitude

By Wes Woods, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, November 25, 1998

Ice Cube, the author of "F*** Tha Police" with N.W.A. in 1988, "No Vaseline," a verbal thrashing of his former crew members and their Jewish manager in 1991 and the interracial dating diatribe of "Cave Bitch," in 1993, has evolved.

The soon-to-be 30-year-old rapper and father of three admitted it during a teleconference call from Texas on Nov. 11.

"(When I first started rapping) I was pissed off and had no responsibilities," the 10-plus-year rap veteran said about his early anger-fueled work.

"(Now) I know more about the world as opposed to back then."

In 1988 he, along with Compton compadres Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella, helped craft the classic N.W.A. album "Straight Outta Compton."

Then, after breaking from the group over finances, he later carried the in-your-face sonic assault to his early 1990s solo albums "America's Most Wanted" and "Death Certificate."

Now, in 1998, with hip-hop moving toward the mainstream, Cube (a.k.a. O'Shea Jackson) has moved toward radio-friendly records such as the bouncy "We Be Clubbin'," from his movie "Players Club" and his catchy new single "Pushin' Weight," with Mr. Short Khop.

"I feel I can do anything I want," Cube said about his new sound. "I carry no baggage from previous albums, or a need to do them again. I'm on to new records, even though N.W.A. was a hardcore record, it was still pop," he said, almost in defense of his new material. "(In 1988) everybody had that."

His new album "War," with a second album "Peace" coming in 1999, is scheduled to hit the shelves Tuesday.

"There's war and peace with everybody," he explained of the title. "That is the conflict of life." It has been five years since Cube has released a new album. For the past years he has been contributing to the Westside Connection (with Mack 10 and W.C.) among other projects. So, why the wait?

"I can make money by just releasing (average albums)," he said. "But I'd rather stand the test of time."

Cube said he still feels relevant in the industry, despite a new generation of hip-hop fans who have not grown up with his music.

"I still hang around people (that have) nothing," he said. "(But) the hip-hop crowd is four to 40. I can't be in touch with everybody. I've been in the game too long to get more people to like me. If you do, cool. If not, I'm still cool."

Cube also said he does not plan to retire anytime soon.

"I love to rap. I will always do it, even if it don't sell no records. It's what I get off on."

The question of the much publicized N.W.A. reunion is in the air.

"Dre wants to concentrate with his own career," Cube said of the project's holdup. "Next year ... maybe."

However, he has not forgotten about movies. Cube is currently filming "Three Kings," with George Clooney and Mark Walburg and has just finished writing the sequel to "Friday," his 1995 hit.

"(The 1991 movie) "Boyz in the Hood" threw me over the fence (to mainstream popularity)," he said. "I think that's where it started."

And with the release of "Three Kings," in 1999, and his records, it is sure to continue.