Ice Cube is coming to Las Vegas ahead of his beloved Raiders.
The man born O’Shea Jackson in Compton, California, might be better known as an actor and filmmaker these days, having most recently starred and produced in comedies Fist Fight, Barbershop: The Next Cut and Ride Along 2. But first and foremost, Cube is a hip-hop pioneer and one of the fathers of West Coast rap. Those skills will be on full display Saturday at the Orleans Arena, when he headlines the Las Vegas West Fest.
Cube’s film and music careers converged two years ago with the premiere of Straight Outta Compton, the acclaimed biopic exploring the rise and legacy of N.W.A. His son played the young version of Ice Cube, bringing everything full-circle, but the film might not have spent enough time highlighting Cube’s fiery solo work post-N.W.A.; early-’90s albums AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Death Certificate and The Predator are uncompromising and aggressive gangsta rap records that have yet to be surpassed.
On the subject of the Raiders: Las Vegans fired up about their new football team would be wise to catch the Cube-directed Straight Outta L.A., an ESPN Films’ 30 for 30 doc that details the team’s 1982 move from Oakland to LA. The Raiders’ swagger and style captivated and influenced Ice Cube and all of LA. Will it happen again in Las Vegas?
Las Vegas West Fest with Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short, DJ Quik, Tha Dogg Pound & more at Orleans Arena, April 7.
