𝖍𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖋𝖔𝖗 𝖆 𝖌𝖔𝖔𝖉 𝖙𝖎𝖒

Early life

O’Shea Jackson aka Ice Cube, born in South Central Los Angeles, California on June 15, 1969. Raised in a rough neighborhood by his mother Doris who was a hospital clerk and his father Hosea, a groundskeeper at the University of California, Los Angeles. Although raised in a neighborhood filled with gun, drugs, and violence O’Shea was a great student who loved music and football. As he got a little bit older like around his teen years he was pulled out of his school by his parents and went to San Fernando Valley, a highschool in the suburbs. He saw opportunity given to him that others couldn’t have, so he took it and continued his studies and then enrolled to Phoenix Institute of Technology and got his 2 year degree in drafting. This is the time where he started to make a music career and wanted to rap.

Career

Ice Cube started writing raps in highschool and started a little group called CIA. This group caught the attention of up-and-coming rapper/producer Andre Romelle aka Dr. Dre. Later on they joined Eazy-E, Dj Yella, and MC Ren to form the group known as N.W.A. His career with the rap group rocketed and they were becoming very popular. Later around 1989 he left the group because he felt that his pay was little and felt unjust due to the fact that he wrote most of the lyrics for their music. He went on to release successfull albums and tracks and worked with other artists. The time of his solo career was also when he began his acting career one of many successful movies he was in was “Boyz n the Hood” (1992) and took some major roles in movies such as “Barbershop” (2002) and “Friday” (1995). He later on started a clothing line, Solo, by Cube and started a 3 on 3 basketball league that featured retired NBA players.

Success

1990: released his album “AmeriKKKa’s most Wanted” went on to become a platinum record

1991: released “Death Certificate” another one of his albums that went on to become a platinum record

2000: Blockbuster Entertainment Award: Favorite Action Team (for Three Kings)

2002: MECCA Movie Award: Acting Award

2006: VH1 Hip Hop Honors

2009: BET Hip-Hop Awards

Impacts

Ice Cube was also considered a pioneer of rap. He influenced many other artists and also the music of hip hop. After his success he gave back to his people, the people from the hood. He has been a role model that people from the hood can look up to. His brutally honest lyrics has also struck people at the time to stand up for what’s right and to open their eyes. He said he believes that NWA opened a door for other artists such as Eminem to be themselves and to express their music in their own way. Ice Cube is really a popular African American figure in the entertainment industry.

Early life

Eric Lynn Wright, born in Compton, California on September 7, 1963. Son of Richard Wright a postal worker and Kathie Wright a grade school administrator. Growing up in a neighborhood filled with gang and criminal activity he didn’t stay in school for long. He was introduced to drug dealing by his cousin and dropped out in tenth grade to sell drugs. Not only did he make a lot of money, being in the game for so long he earned power and respect in the streets. After his cousin was shot and killed he decided that he didn’t want to be in the drug selling business anymore. Still wanting to pursue his dream of becoming rich no matter what, his love for music and rap took drove him to another career that was safe.

Career

Eric Wright started recording music in the mid-1980s. Catching the attention of Jerry Heller, with his drug dealing money they formed the music label Ruthless Records. Eric becoming the owner of the label and Jerry Heller his manager. In 1986 Eric formed the group known as the N.W.A. As the group rose to fame Eric became known as Eazy-E. They released albums such as “Straight Outta Compton”, “N.W.A and the Posse”, “The N.W.A Legacy”, and many more with the notorious rap group. They rose to fame and became one of the most influential rap groups in history. They are well known in pop culture and are remembered in rap history. The group latsted a while until they broke up in 1992 due to money dispute between Dre, The D.O.C, and Eazy. Ice Cube left over royalty disputes; he wrote half of the lyrics on Straight Outta Compton and felt as if he wasn’t getting paid fairly. The break up of the group did not affect Eazy-E’s solo career. He continued to make music and release albums that later became platinum hits, peaked on Billboard 200, and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Accomplishments

September 13, 1988: Eric released his debut solo album “Eazy-Duz-It” with 12 tracks including songs such as “Boyz n the Hood” and “No more ?’s”. It went on to be certified double platinum and sold over 2.5 million copies in the US

December 15, 1992: Eric released his debut EP, “5150: Home 4 tha sick” it peaked at no. 70 on the Billboard 200 and no. 15 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

October 19, 1993: His last solo album “It’s on (Dr. Dre) 187um Killa”. It peaked no. 5 on Billboard 200 and no. 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album became multi- platinum in the first year of its release

Legacy

Became known as The Godfather of Rap, Eric Wright was the pioneer of rap and became one of the most controversial figures in gangsta rap. He influenced many other rappers at the time to express themselves in their music. Since his death in 1995 due to aids, many video and book biographies have been made. He was on cover of magazines, on billboards, and on the news. All of his EPs and studio albums chatted on the Billboard 200 and his singles charted in the US. Eazy-E was truly The Godfather of Rap.