Ice Cube has never been afraid of being political, and in a new interview the N.W.A. rapper revisted those roots, talking about everything from David Bowie to the police and Donald Trump.
When asked how he feels about police brutality and the rampant stories of police shooting unarmed black people years after “F*ck tha Police” was released, Cube told Rolling Stone he wasn't surprised by police brutality.
"Makes me feel like a black man. That's what it makes me feel like -- same as always. As a black person, it's always seemed like it's a war on us. It's just terrible," he said. "They wonder what I've got to complain about at this point in my life. I'll tell you: People are only nice to me because they know who I am and they like my work. It shouldn't have to be like that to get people to respect you."
Cube then said what he thinks of Donald Trump in a mere two sentences, “I think he’s a rich white man. He can’t possibly know the pain of poor people.”
The rapper and actor was also very complimentary of Bowie in his interview, saying his remix of “I’m Afraid of Americans” in 1997 meant a great deal to him. “It was. He was such an innovator, and his songs were phenomenal. I remember when I first heard ‘Fame’ on the radio, I thought he was black. It was so funky!” he revealed.
One of his recent career successes, Straight Outta Compton, made waves the world over for it’s honest portrayal of N.W.A’s rise to fame. Cube even called it “a slice of American history,” to express just how proud he was of the finished product. While it was snubbed at the Oscars, it made a deep impact on both fans and critics for it’s portrayal of police brutality, scams in the music business and the group themselves, who had a great impact on hip-hop during their rise to international fame.
