Even though I had grown up a mile away from Manchester’s Moss Side riots of 1981, the world described by Ice Cube, Ice-T and other West Coast rappers seemed terrifying. In 1992, I was young, white, middle-class and utterly clueless about life in South Central, Los Angeles. Ice Cube recorded songs both before and after the riots – making The Predator a thrilling and intoxicating journey.
It was the same rage that subsequently sparked six days of rioting in Los Angeles. It was a record fuelled by rage at the acquittal of four policeman accused of beating up a black motorist, Rodney King, even though the act had been clearly caught on videotape. However, it was Cube’s third solo album, 1992’s The Predator, that would become one of my favourite albums of the decade. and when he left the band in 1989 (“having the courage to leave was the biggest decision of my career,” he would tell me) I followed his progress via an unflinching solo debut (1990’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted) and a hugely impressive first foray into acting (as ‘Doughboy’ in the brilliant, John Singleton-produced movie Boyz In The Hood). He always seemed the most cerebral member of N.W.A. released their astonishing debut album Straight Outta Compton. Like most Brits, I first became aware of Ice Cube in 1988 when his band N.W.A. It’ll undoubtedly stay that way unless Prince one day decides to leave me a witty voicemail message.Ĭube was promoting a new album (the decidedly turgid I Am The West) but, as a fan of his music since the late 80s, I really wanted to ask him about past glories. But, fuck it, Ice Cube’s opening line to me was the coolest thing I’d ever heard in my life. I instantly snatched at it and was greeted, in a familiar Californian drawl, with the following one-liner – “Hey John, this is Cube.” I believe more seasoned hacks are steadfastly ambivalent towards interactions with the great and the good of the music world. Ten minutes later (and still ten whole minutes before the allotted time) my phone began to chirp. It was too late to call his UK publicist – he’d be out doing whatever it is young, hip dudes do on a Friday night in Dalston – so I mouthed a silent prayer for the phone to ring again. Surely I couldn’t have missed his American record label’s call? When dealing with musicians nothing is ever early. I had a flutter of panic – twenty minutes later I was due to interview rap legend Ice Cube by phone. In the time it took me to dash up the stairs and locate its dulcet tones I’d missed the call and the number was showing as ‘blocked’. One Friday evening a couple of years ago, my phone began to ring.
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