Wednesday, November 18, 1998
Cool as ice
MUSIC: After making a splash in Hollywood, Ice Cube returns to
the music industry with the release of his new
double album ‘War and Peace’
By Tenoch Flores
Daily Bruin Contributor
It’s been four years since O’Shea Jackson, better know as Ice
Cube, put out a solo project. But the man’s been busy, what with
the Westside Connection project, acting, directing and
screenwriting. He’s no longer that angry jerry-curled teenager
sporting a black jacket and a Raiders cap.
"I think now, I know more about the world," Cube
contemplated.
Ice Cube is a full-fledged member of the mainstream. He is a pop
icon, whether or not William Bennett likes it. His appeal stretches
beyond the confines of his Compton, Calif., hometown, with kids in
the suburbs knowing his songs and owning his albums. He’s also
appeared in various films.
In short: he’s made it. On the heels of his success in the film
industry, Cube is set to release his double album, "War and
Peace."
Musically, it’s been a while since Ice Cube gave his fans
something they were satisfied with (going all the way back to
"Death Certificate"). With the release of "War and Peace," he hopes
to change that.
Constantly undergoing transformations as an artist from album to
album, this time proves no different. When his movie "The Players
Club" was released, Ice Cube’s "new" style surfaced on the
soundtrack with the song, "We Be Clubbin’." It seemed that Cube was
making the transition to dance music rather than the usual gangsta
rap that he helped to create.
"I’ve said things, and there’s no reason to (restate) them or no
reason to go cover old ground," Cube said. "I’m always into going
into new records, new things. Sometimes I do records that reflect
the old NWA style, sometimes I don’t want to do that."
Be that as it may, "We Be Clubbin’" is a far cry from his "F—
the Police" days with NWA. Ironically, NWA’s "Straight Outta
Compton" is what helped to thrust Ice Cube into the mainstream
despite its anti-establishment message. The controversial album
appealed to all ethnicities, allowing NWA to make its mark on the
American music scene.
"Even though that was a hard-core underground record … that
record was still pop," reflected Cube. "Everybody had that record,
and everybody knew about that record. I think that was the initial
thing, and then ‘Boyz N The Hood’ kind of threw me over that fence
to where … everybody knew me."
If "Straight Outta Compton" helped Ice Cube get his foot in the
door, then Hollywood gave him the mortgage to the house. After
starring in John Singleton’s "Boyz N The Hood," Ice Cube became a
household name. Those who hadn’t heard of O’Shea Jackson now caught
wind, thanks to the likes of Siskel and Ebert and other critics
heralding Singleton’s film.
"I kind of fell into that (acting)," Cube recalled. "I wasn’t
really thinking about acting, but I ran into John Singleton in 1988
and he was just a junior at USC … he was telling me he had this
script and hopefully in a couple of years he’ll do it and he’s got
people looking at it. I didn’t really pay him (any) attention."
Columbia Pictures ended up picking up the script, and after what
Ice Cube described as a terrible audition, he reread the script,
gave it a second shot and got the part.
"From doing one movie, that experience just gave me the buzz and
from then on, I’ve been just trying to get involved with any
project that I feel I can contribute to," he explained.
The floodgates were thus opened. After acting in various films,
Cube decided to step things up a bit. In 1995 Cube starred in a
film that he had also written, "Friday." The public’s initial
reaction was one of bewilderment: not only was Ice Cube writing a
movie, but it was going to be a comedy?
"I like to do projects like ‘Friday’ and stuff like that to kind
of show the other side of who I am," he stated, "because I’m not
serious 24 hours a day and nobody is or nobody should be. I have a
sense of humor, it comes out every now and then."
Was he ever right. "Friday" not only proved to be a great
comedy, (with the help of Chris Tucker), but it overachieved at the
box office. The film remained in the top five for quite some time,
and once again, Hollywood took notice.
After the success of "Friday," Cube took his shot at directing
in "The Players Club." The film (also written by Cube) was about a
"gentlemen’s club" and the women who worked there as dancers.
Receiving marginal reviews, the movie went on to do quite well at
the box office. Projects that he has on tap include (what else) a
sequel to "Friday" which he just finished writing and a film which
stars him alongside George Clooney and Mark Wahlberg.
So where has all this success in Hollywood left his music? Well,
it seems as though no one can have it all. Enigmatically, while his
success in the film industry shows no signs of curtailing, his
music seems to be headed in another direction.
The new double album, "War and Peace," (actually, the second
part, "Peace" will be released in early 1999) looks to leave Ice
Cube fans saying "maybe next time." Much like the less than
enthusiastically received "Lethal Injection," this one appears to
be headed for the same fate. Though it will undoubtedly achieve
commercial success, Ice Cube fans grumble under their breath.
"’War’ Â that record is pretty much (about things that are)
going on right now. How it is," Cube explained. "’Peace’ is more of
a visionary record…how it should be. I’d say my ‘Peace’ record is
my … conscious record and my ‘War’ record is (more of a) street
record. The reason I title my album that is because I think that is
the conflict of life."
The new album isn’t stingy with the tracks (17 songs). However,
his "new" style doesn’t exactly play over well. Where he used to
bounce over tracks using a rugged yet smooth flow, the new Cube
hollers and yells a little too much. This kind of thing can get
annoying for 17 songs. Combine that with one too many appearances
by his sidekick Mr. Short Khop, and an album emerges that could
have been improved.
There are highlights on "War" including "Ghetto Vet" and the
title track "War and Peace," which places a soft-speaking female
beside Cube’s rough lyrics. A well-executed track, this is one that
everybody will like.
Cube collaborates with Korn on "F— Dying" in which he rejects
a visit from the grim reaper. Ice Cube decided to make this song
because as he put it, "People … are so preoccupied by
death…everybody’s gonna get there. It’s not like you’re gonna
miss the boat … so why rush it?"
Most of the tracks on "War" leave something to be desired.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem as though Ice Cube suffered from a
lack of enthusiasm on this project, (as it is never dull) but
rather, he focused his enthusiasm in the wrong direction.
Though he admitted that he would never be able to please
everybody, he stated, "Ice Cube fans … that’s all I concern
myself with nowadays because I’ve been in this game too long to try
to get more people to like me. It’s all about either you’re down
with what I’m down with or your not, and if you’re not, I’m cool
with that too."
Yet, Ice Cube fans don’t know what to make of his new style of
delivery. Perhaps the "Peace" disc will provide redemption. Maybe
it will just take some getting used to. Whatever the case may be,
this is a new Ice Cube.
"For 10 years I’ve been telling you how it is and … I’ve done
that. It’s all about doing new stuff now," he said.Lisa Peardon
Ice Cube’s new album, "War and Peace," is fresh out in stores
now.
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