ice cube ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

N.W.A. Will Receive The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award

N.W.A. changed culture in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The collective, launched by Eazy-E, included Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince, and helped bring the city of Compton, California to the mainstream entertainment lexicon. While superstar careers emerged out of the Gangsta Rap outfit,... Read more

January 5, 2024 News, Trending Stories

The 25 Most Important Rap Albums Of Hip-Hop’s First 50 Years

Over the years, countless music lists have laid out the "Greatest" of a particular category–album, artist, song, etc. These lists often cite vague criteria and then lay out what they claim to be objective rankings. But, they are subjective. At Ambrosia For Heads, we have generally provided opportunities for the people... Read more

August 17, 2023 Exclusive, Food for Thought, Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

Ice Cube Details How The NBA Is Blocking The BIG3

Ice Cube's three-on-three basketball league, the BIG3 has been around for over six seasons. It has offered additional life to the professional basketball careers of former NBA stars Allen Iverson, Chauncey Billups, Kenyon Martin, and others. The league has scored television contracts, and continues to thrive—even through the pandemic. However,... Read more

July 11, 2023 Lifestyle, Video

Ice Cube Details The Connection Between The Music Industry & Prisons

For over 35 years, Ice Cube has been an independent artist—from Ruthless Records to a lengthy tenure at Priority Records—to running his own Lench Mob imprint. In a new conversation with Bill Maher, Cube explains why he has avoided major labels despite his success. At 17:00 in The Club Random Podcast, Cube... Read more

July 3, 2023 Video

Ice Cube, E-40, Too Short & Snoop Are Giving Free Game

Over the last several years, one of the biggest super-groups in Hip-Hop history has been brewing. Mount Westmore is Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short. To date, the collective has released a handful of singles and performed together. However, now the California delegation from South Central Los Angeles,... Read more

November 25, 2022 Video

The Game Names His Top 5 L.A. Rap Albums & It’s Hard To Argue Against Him

Since the release of his debut album The Documentary in 2005, The Game has been a mainstay in the Los Angeles, California Hip-Hop scene. When the 50 Cent and Dr. Dre executive-produced project dropped, The Game almost single-handedly put L.A. back on the Rap map in the maintream. While legends... Read more

October 6, 2022 Video

Method Man, Busta Rhymes & 18 Other MCs Perform A Medley Of Their Classics

Many would like to forget the events of 2020, with good reason. The year brought a lot of challenges. However, amidst the trials and tribulations, there were a number of culture-shifting events and personalities that arose. D-Nice captivated the world with an Instagram Live DJ set that entertained millions. The... Read more

October 6, 2022 Video

Snoop Explains Why He Lets Other MCs Write His Rhymes

This year, Snoop Dogg has released lots of new music while also acquiring the label that birthed his career, Death Row Records. Among his songs on BODR (Bacc On Death Row), which released in conjunction with the announcement, Snoop solicited writing from other artists. Although not in the official credits,... Read more

August 25, 2022 Video

Many Of Hip-Hop’s Greatest Rappers Name Their Top 5 MCs

Note: Jadakiss recently appeared on ESPN’s Jalen & Jacoby podcast and was asked who his top 5 Hip-Hop groups of all-time were. This article has been updated below with his response, as well as The Game’s top 5 LA Rap albums. A few days ago, during a podcast appearance, Ice... Read more

July 12, 2022 Video

Ice Cube Explains Why Lil Wayne Is The Best Rapper Of All-Time

Late last month, Ice Cube made a podcast appearance on On The Guest List. There, the legendary MC was asked about his opinion of other great MCs. Shortly after the 31:00 mark, the hosts ask the onetime member of N.W.A. and Westside Connection his opinion on the best rapper of... Read more

July 7, 2022 Fresh, Video

The Top 20 Rap Albums Of All-Time As Determined By Millions Of Fans

Earlier this month, the Hip-Hop community reacted to the latest high-profile lists ranking the greatest Rap albums of all time. Rolling Stone magazine and a team of journalists and writers ranked 200 Hip-Hop LPs, prompting plenty of reaction. It was not the first list of this kind, and it certainly will not... Read more

June 21, 2022 Video

Ice Cube Responds To Claims Of Underpaying Friday Actors

It has been nearly 27 years since Friday premiered in theaters. However, the film continues to earn its place among the Comedy classics and make waves in other ways. In recent weeks, some of Cube's costars and collaborators on the 1995 film expressed reasons why they left the franchise, which... Read more

December 30, 2021 News, TV/Film

Comedian Anthony “AJ” Johnson Has Passed Away At Age 55

Comedian and actor Anthony "A.J." Johnson has died at 55 years old. Known for his roles in Friday, House Party, I Got The Hook Up, and Menace II Society, Johnson has been reported dead by TMZ. According to the publication, the Compton, California native was found unresponsive earlier this month... Read more

September 20, 2021 News, TV, TV/Film

Chucky Thompson, Producer Of Hits For Biggie & Nas, Has Passed Away

Legendary Hip-Hop and R&B producer Chucky Thompson has died. Moments ago today (August 10), Young Guru confirmed the news. Thompson worked for over 30 years in music, producing hits including The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Big Poppa," Craig Mack's "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)," and Nas' "One Mic," along with an extensive... Read more

August 9, 2021 News

Kausion Member & Ice Cube Affiliate Gonzoe Has Been Shot And Killed

The Hip-Hop community continues to suffer losses in 2021. West Coast Rap veteran Gonzoe (aka Ronald Moore) has been shot and killed in Seattle, Washington in what appears to be a drive-by shooting. TMZ confirmed the death and reported that Gonzoe was 45 years old. The incident took place this... Read more

July 31, 2021 News

Scarface Would Battle Ice Cube In A New Verzuz Format

An upcoming Verzuz has recently been announced between The Diplomats and The LOX. That matchup is scheduled for August 3, before a live audience at Madison Square Garden's Hulu Room. However, this week saw a discussion of another proposed battle between Scarface and Ice Cube. However, this one would go... Read more

July 17, 2021 Fresh, Video

Black Thought Shows He Really Is Every MC On An Unreleased Roots Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, is better than it's ever been. Not only can we go back and... Read more

June 26, 2021 Audio

Here Are Some Reasons Why 2000 May Be Hip-Hop’s Greatest Year

At Ambrosia For Heads, we celebrate Hip-Hop throughout the ages. Earlier this year, our What's The Headline podcast launched a series examining the calendar years that made the music and culture reach its full potential. After taking a loving look back at 1984, the next episode drops in on Y2K.... Read more

April 6, 2021 Video

Is Ice Cube Still True To The Game?

Less than three weeks before the upcoming election, Ice Cube made his way into the news through politics. On October 13, one of Donald Trump's advisors, Katrina Pierson, revealed online that Cube was working with the current administration's "platinum plan." She praised the MC-turned-mogul's actions and cooperation: Shoutout to @icecube... Read more

October 20, 2020 Audio, Fresh, News

Ice Cube Explains Why Storytelling Is The Top Level Of MC’ing (Video)

Ice Cube is no stranger to storytelling with his lyrics. The legendary South Central, Los Angeles MC is responsible for one of Rap's most beloved tales: "It Was A Good Day," as well as penning Eazy-E's breakout anthem, "Boyz-n-the-Hood." Cube's albums, both solo and group, often have songs that follow... Read more

February 3, 2020 Video

Ice Cube Says Hollywood Let John Witherspoon Down, In A Powerful Tribute

Late last month, comedian and actor John Witherspoon passed away at the age of 77. The man affectionately known as "Pops" had a career that dated back to the 1970s. After working with Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, and David Letterman on stage and screen, Witherspoon (born John Weatherspoon) experienced a... Read more

November 8, 2019 TV/Film, Video

John Witherspoon Has Passed Away At 77 Years Old

Actor John Witherspoon has died. The 77-year-old's family confirmed the news Tuesday evening (October 29). Affectionately known as "Pops," Witherspoon (who was born "John Weatherspoon") is remembered for his work in the Friday franchise, and roles in The Hollywood Shuffle, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, House Party, and others. After... Read more

October 30, 2019 News

Ice Cube Explains Why He Does NOT Want To Be On The Forbes List (Video)

Ice Cube once co-wrote, produced, and starred in the film All About The Benjamins. However, the 50-year-old mogul seemingly does not live his life under that tenant. From a chart-topping music career, to becoming a power-player in film, to launching a professional three-on-three basketball league, O'Shea Jackson is at the... Read more

August 14, 2019 Food for Thought, Lifestyle, Video

25 Years Ago, Snoop & Tha Dogg Pound Barked At All The Biters (Video)

Twenty-five years ago, in 1994, Dr. Dre and Suge Knight's record label was giving the mainstream music world an electric charge from the streets of Los Angeles. 1992 saw Dr. Dre's solo debut, The Chronic. Eleven months later, Snoop Doggy Dogg presented his style with a game-changing D*ggystyle LP with Dre and... Read more

May 31, 2019 Do Remember, Video

In 1995, Mack 10 Made An Introduction Built To Last Foe Life (Video)

Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Priority Records' distribution delivered some of the finest Hip-Hop and Gangsta Rap albums to the masses, even if fans might not have realized it. Bryan Turner's company, which historically found its first pivotal success backing the California Raisins claymation act, would go on... Read more

May 23, 2019 Do Remember

John Singleton Has Passed Away At The Age Of 51

UPDATE: Moments ago (April 29), the family of John Singleton confirmed that the 51-year-old film and television producer, director, and screenwriter has died. The report comes hours after family members released a statement to TMZ announcing that he would be removed from life support today. A Singleton family rep has... Read more

April 29, 2019 News, TV/Film

Dr. Dre & LL Cool J Have Recorded More Than 40 Songs Together (Audio)

Dr. Dre rarely grants interviews. He admits it, and adds that he does not enjoy talking about himself in public. Since 2017's The Defiant Ones documentary on HBO, Andre Young has participated little in the way of press, beyond product or album promotion. If there is one Rap peer who... Read more

April 23, 2019 Audio

Rappers Might Start Going To Jail Because Of Their Lyrics

Rap music is often an art that imitates life. However, there appear to be new legal lines surrounding that freedom of expression. Today, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Jamal Knox v. Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania. That case surrounds Cox, who is a Pittsburgh rapper also... Read more

April 15, 2019 Food for Thought, News

Ice Cube & Too Short Have A New Players Club And No Haters Are Allowed (Video)

With December 2018's Everythangs Corrupt, Ice Cube released his first solo album in eight years and further cemented his place as one of the most (and only) relevant Rap artists with a career stretching back to the mid-1980s. Always politically minded, the West Coast icon used the LP to comment on... Read more

March 27, 2019 Video

N.W.A.’s Forgotten Member Explains Why He Was The First To Leave The Group

For those who watched 2015's Straight Outta Compton film, there was no mention or reference to Arabian Prince. The rapper/producer was a founding member of N.W.A., but left the group in 1988, the same year that the Straight Outta Compton album released. During an interview with Unique Access' Soren Baker, the... Read more

January 15, 2019 Throwback, Video

Eminem Names His Top 12 Rap Diss Songs Of All-Time (Audio)

Despite being a perennial Grammy darling, with 44 nominations and 15 wins, Eminem's 2018 Kamikaze album has no nominations. The LP also was missing from a number of prominent "best album of the year" lists. But, make no mistake, Kamikaze, which became Em's 10th album in a row to reach... Read more

December 27, 2018 Audio

Ice Cube’s New Video Has One Nation Under A G-Funk Groove

Earlier this month, Ice Cube released his first solo album in eight years with Everythangs Corrupt. As the title may suggest, the 30-plus-year Rap legend tackles numerous social and political issues on the project. The LP's first single “Arrest The President” takes aim at the White House and called for handcuffing the... Read more

December 18, 2018 Video

Ice Cube Calls Out AmeriKKKa’s New Bullies. He’s Fighting Back.

Today (December 7) Ice Cube released his first album in eight years. Everythangs Corrupt finds the Hollywood mogul basking in his early Rap aesthetic of calling out systems of oppression. First single "Arrest The President" took aim at the White House and called for handcuffing the President for illegal activities.... Read more

December 7, 2018 Video

Ice Cube Returns To His Old Sound For His New Album & It’s Filled With Funk

Almost 25 years ago, Ice Cube was front-and-center for a Rap renaissance surrounding Parliament Funkadelic. In 1992, Cube's N.W.A. homie Dre brought G-Funk to the mainstream. However, even before that, Cube and his team produced Del The Funky Homosapien's 1991 debut, I Wish My Brother George Was Here. The title was... Read more

December 4, 2018 Audio

Hear The Original Version Of California Love & It’s Nuthin’ But A Dre Thang

UPDATE: The same version through an alternate upload has been added. ORIGINAL STORY: When Tupac Shakur got out of prison in late 1995, he boarded a private jet and went straight to Death Row Records' Can-Am Studios in Tarzana, California. After pausing for dinner at Monty's Steakhouse with his new... Read more

December 3, 2018 Throwback, Throwback

Del The Funky Homosapien, Domino & Dante Ross Detail The Making Of No Need For Alarm

The cornerstone of Del The Funky Homosapien’s career and artistic identity belongs to his second album, No Need For Alarm. Released 25 years ago last month, the Elektra Records LP may not be remembered as a commercial triumph. However, the record increased the profiles of Del’s Hieroglyphics cohorts, establishing a... Read more

December 2, 2018 Exclusive, Interview

Do Remember When Ice Cube Wanted This Crew To Take West Coast Rap To Anotha Level

In early 1994 the world was introduced to Anotha Level, a five-person Rap group from Los Angeles had something alluring. Veteran N.W.A. affiliate/producer Laylaw and Gangsta Rap icon Ice Cube discovered this quintet, and they recognized that the young squad strafed the line between that classic West Coast sound and... Read more

November 29, 2018 Do Remember

Ice Cube’s New Song Calls To Put The President In Handcuffs (Audio)

Ice Cube built his Rap career on saying what he feels and not caring about the consequences. For Hip-Hop fans, that's what millions upon millions of people love him, even before Hollywood gravitated towards his on-screen gifts. The founding member of N.W.A. and Westside Connection has not changed his ways.... Read more

November 10, 2018 Audio

Too Short’s Career Documentary Includes Rare Footage From MC Breed & More (Video)

Too Short is a pioneer within Rap. While Todd Shaw has been churning out albums for 31 years, his career in music goes back even further. With such an extensive resume in Hip-Hop, Too Short takes a moment to reflect on some key moments in his career. He produced 3... Read more

November 6, 2018 TV/Film, Video

Ice Cube Readies 1st Album In Nearly A Decade & He’s Coming Out Swinging (Video)

After years of preparation, Ice Cube's first album since 2010 is due in just over a month. Following his recent celebration of Death Certificate's 25th birthday, the N.W.A. and Westside Connection alum is keeping politically and socially-minded Rap on his agenda. Everythang's Corrupt is currently planned for a December 7... Read more

November 6, 2018 Fresh, Video

Cypress Hill Recall Filming A Video With Ice Cube & Tim Dog On The Same Set (Video)

It's been nearly a decade since Cypress Hill released a group studio album, but that changed late last month with their new LP Elephants On Acid. That effort restores the production to DJ Muggs, a welcomed shift both for the group and its legions of fans. In honor of the project,... Read more

November 1, 2018 Throwback, Video

Do Remember When The Internet Figured Out The Exact Date Ice Cube Had A Good Day

Twenty-five years ago, Ice Cube released the highest-charting solo song of his three-plus-decade Rap career. Although "It Was A Good Day" made its debut in late 1992 on Cube's third LP, The Predator, the single took flight after the album's second single, "Wicked." The formula for "It Was A Good... Read more

October 18, 2018 Do Remember

Sir Jinx Reveals That His & Ice Cube’s First Song Plays In Michael Jackson’s “Bad” Video

N.W.A. was not Ice Cube's first Rap group. Years before O'Shea Jackson helped lead an independent Gangsta Rap charge in music, he and longtime producer/DJ Sir Jinx were already major label acts. Although Cube, Jinx, and K-Dee had C.I.A. (Criminals In Action) during the mid-1980s (a trio that worked with... Read more

October 7, 2018 Throwback

Finding The GOAT Group: N.W.A. vs. Public Enemy. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

September 6, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

The Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. GOAT Match-Up Is Too Close To Call. Decide Who Advances.

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

August 16, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Finding The GOAT Group: Mobb Deep vs. N.W.A. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’ annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility for... Read more

August 14, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

John Singleton Reveals He Wanted N.W.A. To Star In Boyz N The Hood

Thirty years ago today, on August 8, 1988, the N.W.A. released its proper debut album, Straight Outta Compton. Bursting onto the scene with rawness and aggression fueled by the Reagan-era Compton climate and lifestyle, Ni**az Wit' Attitudes presented an LP that would shape the sound and narrative in Rap for... Read more

August 8, 2018 Throwback, Throwback, TV/Film

Warren G’s Documentary Trailer Shows How The G-Funk Era Is Forever (Video)

Nearly a year and a half ago, Warren G's G-Funk documentary made waves at the 2017 South By Southwest Film Festival. A partnership with filmmaker Karam Gill, the movie examines how a sub-genre of Hip-Hop largely credited to Warren, half-brother Dr. Dre, as well as an artists and producers such... Read more

July 9, 2018 TV/Film, Video

Finding The GOAT Group: Geto Boys vs. N.W.A. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual competition series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry (which has been determined), including the possibility... Read more

June 29, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Dr. Dre’s Next Film Project Is Bringing Marvin Gaye’s Life To The Big Screen

Dr. Dre has a great history of mixing music and film, and he's using that experience in attempting to bring to life the story of Marvin Gaye on the big screen. Dre famously was a producer for the 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, and now he's reportedly in the... Read more

June 19, 2018 News, TV/Film