Photos © Stephen Lashbrook
“Ain’t no autotune on this shit right here, my microphone is on baby. I ain’t rapping over the record, none that goofy shit, and I’m not gonna hold the mic out the whole concert either. Tonight you got a real one in the building!”
The prolific lyricist Ice Cube made a strong statement to the near-capacity crowd at Rocket Arena on Wednesday, October 8. True to his word, the show ensued with authentic enthusiasm.
The arena was buzzing with history, nostalgia, and raw energy. Ice Cube gave a guided tour of West Coast hip-hop on his hit-packed setlist for the “Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude” tour. Following the journey of his music career, each decade was introduced through a video encapsulating the era. The ’80s kicked off with N.W.A.’s most iconically rebellious anthem “F**k tha Police.” Generations of concert-goers all rapped along in unison as they witnessed the strength of street knowledge.
Early in the night, Cube was joined on stage by Lil Eazy-E, son of the late Eazy-E, for an exceptional performance of “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” The surprise tribute tugged at the heartstrings of everyone in attendance, reminding them of the friction, brotherhood, and history that fueled one rap’s most influential groups.
The ’90s section was jam-packed from start to finish. The crowd was roaring in anticipation after the introductory video detailed the coinciding global history of the time, including Rodney King and the riots in LA. Taking the time to perform songs rarely heard on tour, the audience was in for a treat as they witnessed a rare performance of “Once Upon a Time in the Projects” and a deep cut, “Pushin’ Weight,” with Cubes’ lyricism highlighted throughout. His razor-sharp delivery never faltered once. As he already stated, the mic was on, and he was spitting only heat into it.
Interluding with a tribute to John Singleton, Oscar-nominated writer of Boyz n the Hood, who encouraged Ice Cube to make his on-screen debut. John allowed Cube to bridge the gap between the hood and the masses, allowing him to become the multi-hyphenate we all know and love today.
The ’90s club hits turned the place into a party – Wednesday was basically Friday going into “We Be Clubbin’” and “Friday” with everyone on their feet moving and sparking up. Moving from the club tunes to a funky groove, “I love Ohio – we get our funk from Ohio – I wanna dedicate this next song to Ohio and the funk that it’s blessed the world with,” Cube says, leading into “Bop Gun (One Nation)” which had fans swaying heavily.
Reminiscing on the West Coast/East Coast beef of the ’90s, Ice Cube showed his loyalty by bringing out two more West Coast rappers—Scarface and WC—to perform a set each, finishing the decade’s portion of the show.
As the 2000s approached (out with record stores and in with the internet), a new edge to the industry was necessary, and Ice Cube met it with raw confident power. “Go to Church” and “You Can Do It” (a personal favorite) got everyone outta their seat with a one-two punch. Gearing up for the end, Scarface returned to the stage for a live debut of “Act My Age,” which came to a proper full circle.
Ice Cube and WC both agreed that Cleveland was the loudest audience to date.
Extending the setlist, Ice Cube gave the people exactly what they had been waiting for: an epic rendition of “It Was A Good Day” paired with a miniature Goodyear blimp that read “Ice Cube’s a pimp” (while coincidentally the full-sized blimp was in town). Everyone left having more than just a good day. We experienced hip-hop history that can never be recreated.
At 56 years old, Ice Cube still maintained the passion and ruthlessness of his 15-year-old self. It was as if each song was delivered as if it were the first time. Being able to share such an amazing experience with the man who brought Ice Cube’s music into my life from day one, my father (who was rapping every word), was truly unforgettable and will forever be a shining memory.
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