The Motto No. 39 is dedicated to Ice Cube. Lately, Cube’s been goin’ straight Twitter fingers on the injustice and racism in America. He’s been sharing his views at such a rapid pace he was trending yesterday. Cube was accused of anti-semitism and many believed his account was hacked. But O’Shea Jackson Sr. was quick to clarify.
Maybe people don’t know Cube’s catalogue? Maybe you don’t understand his journey. Let’s do a quick run thru.
top billin’:
mood ⤵️
Cube was the strongest pen in the legendary N.W.A — you saw the 2015 movie.
Growing up in Woodside, Queens, NY, I didn’t know much about Los Angeles let alone the LAPD’s brutal treatment of Black men. Then along came this ⬇️ 1988 song anchored by Ice Cube, who wrote his own lyrics, and Eazy’s too (songwriting credits on “Fuck tha Police” go to Cube, Ren, and The D.O.C.). When LAPD officers were caught on video beating Rodney King in 1991 (an early viral moment) it felt like a vindication of Cube’s sentiments.
Cube, of course, eventually left N.W.A, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of his 1990 solo debut, Amerikkka’s Most Wanted (Priority). I never stopped celebrating the brilliant Amerikkka’s. It’s a collaboration with Public Enemy’s production crew, The Bomb Squad. Sadly, many of its great tracks don’t have videos—including my favorite ⏬
Riding the wave of his solo success, Cube dropped the 1990 EP, Kill At Will (Priority) with this powerful cover.
Cube also proved — like a true MC — he could tear down any beat, even Digital Underground’s “Humpty Dance.”
Cube put the music on hold and got with the late great director John Singleton to play Doughboy in 1991’s Boyz-N-The-Hood ⤵️
final scene so classic ⏬
back to the beats: Cube’s 1991 Death Certificate (Priority) is another undisputed classic. Let’s ride ⏬
The Lakers / beat the SuperSonics: Cube’s third album, 1992’s The Predator (Priority) is a notch below his previous two looks, but it did deliver the most recognized song in his solo catalogue 🔽
Cube’s fourth album, 1993’s Lethal Injection (Priority) features the most underrated of Cube’s great songs, “Coming from the Westside” 🎤⤵️
finally back in Hollywood, Cube wrote his first film, 1995’s Friday — a fuckin’ masterpiece.
what more can I say:
Cube was at the forefront of our culture in the late 80s and the entire 90s via music and film. With such a decorated discography and formidable filmography a man like Cube demands and deserves your attention and respect in 2020. Cube has always be an uncompromising brother with attitude, integrity and fearlessness. He’s angered and inspired by these world-changing times. Can’t cancel Cube. Yay-yay.
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Danyel Smith + Elliott Wilson