SunJun 15

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Rapper

Ice Cube

June 15, 2025

Fast Facts
Background
Career Timeline
Why We Love
Surprising Facts
FAQs

Ice Cube, born O’Shea Jackson Sr. on June 15, 1969, in Los Angeles, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, writer, comedian, film producer, and director. Ice Cube started his career in 1984 as a member of the group C.I.A. and then joined the gangsta rap group N.W.A. in 1986. After leaving N.W.A. in December 1989, he built a successful solo career in music. He also succeeded as a writer, director, actor, and film producer. Additionally, he was one of the producers of the Showtime television series “Barbershop” and the TBS series “Are We There Yet?,” both of which are based on films where he played the main character. He was ranked number nine on MTV’s list of the ‘10 Greatest MCs of All Time.’

Fast Facts

Full Name:

O'Shea Jackson Sr.

Nickname:

Ice Cube

Birth date:

June 15, 1969

Age:

Zodiac Sign:

Gemini

Height:

5' 7"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$160 million

Background

Ice Cube was born in Baldwin Hills, South Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Doris Jackson, a hospital attendant and caretaker, and Hosea Jackson, who worked as a gardener at the University of California at Los Angeles. At 15, Ice Cube developed an interest in hip hop and began writing raps at William Howard Taft High School, in keyboard class. Ice Cube studied in the same class as rapper Candyman at Washington Preparatory High School.

With his friend Sir Jinx, Ice Cube formed C.I.A., and they sang at parties hosted by Dr. Dre. Young Ice Cube was 14 years old when he met Dre, who was 19. Dr. Dre had entered the recording industry involved with the recordings of World Class Wreckin’ Cru. Dr. Dre saw Ice Cube’s potential as a songwriter and had him assist in writing the smash hits ‘LA do Wreckin Cru’, ‘Cabbage Patch,’ as well as teaming up with Ice Cube for a partnership with the duo Stereo Crew, for whom they produced an album, “She’s a Skag,” released by Epic Records in 1986. With the help of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and their group released the single ‘My Posse,’ but it didn’t get much recognition. After the collaboration, Ice Cube showed Eazy-E and Dr. Dre the lyrics to the song ‘Boyz-n-the-Hood.’ Eazy-E initially rejected the lyrics and ended up recording the song for the compilation album “N.W.A. and the Posse,” which included Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Arabian Prince.

When asked if he liked acting in movies or rapping more, he replied that when an opportunity presents itself, people should take it. His movie success was so great that he even released a C.D. with the best songs from his movies, called “In the Movies,” released on September 4, 2007.

Career timeline

1980

Eve After Dark

Ice Cube starts rapping to Dr. Dre at a club called Eve After Dark.

1984

His First Hip-Hop Group

Ice Cube forms the hip-hop group Cru in Action (C.I.A.) with Sir Jinx and K-Dee and the group parties and collaborates with World Class Wreckin' Cru, a group formed by Dr. Dre and the manager of Eve After Dark.

1990

Gangsta Rap Genre Expansion

Ice Cube releases “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” which is a huge success and furthers his reputation of using offensive language and political critique, expanding the gangsta rap genre.

1991

Life in South Central Los Angeles

Ice Cube gets his first acting job in the movie “Boyz n the Hood,” which shows the intense life in South Central Los Angeles.

2002

One More Success

Ice Cube stars in the hit film “Barbershop,” which generates sequels, a T.V show, and inspires “Beauty Shop,” which Ice Cube helps produce.

2012

“21 Jump Street”

Ice Cube gets a role in the Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum comedy “21 Jump Street,” ironically, as the police chief.

2017

One Star to Another

Ice Cube receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

2018

His Most Explicitly Political Album

Ice Cube releases his 10th album, “Everythang's Corrupt.”

Why We Love Ice Cube

His kids listened to his songs
When asked if his children could listen to his music, he said it is his duty to instill in his children a level of self-respect. He wanted them to understand the violent content found not only in the music but also in the evening news.
He's a one-woman man
He’s been married for almost three decades. Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff, back in 1992, and the two are still going strong.
He believes artists should be themselves
Cube says the rap crew’s crux is an artistic expression that's breaking down barriers and opening doors that were always closed to entertainers. This is something his former group N.W.A. taught him.

5 Surprising Facts

Architectural drafting
Determined to carve a better life for himself, Ice Cube enrolled in the Phoenix Institute of Technology and earned a two-year diploma in architectural drafting.
Son playing father
His son, O'Shea Jackson Junior, played his father in the “Straight Outta Compton” movie.
His own clothing line
His clothing line is named Solo by Cube, featuring many types of clothing and the most notable are his hooded sweatshirts with built-in headphones in the hood strings — the first of their kind.
Rap is in the genes
Two of his four children are rappers.
The best M.C. ever
For M.T.V., he was ranked ninth out of the ‘Top 10 M.C.s of all Time,’ but for Snoop Dogg, he's number one.

Ice Cube FAQs

What disease does Ice Cube have?

Pica is an eating disorder in which people compulsively eat one or more nonfood items, such as ice, clay, paper, ash, or dirt.

What is Ice Cube's most famous song?

The song the fans like most is ‘It Was a Good Day.’

Are Ice Cube and Dr. Dre friends?

Ice Cube and Dr. Dre have a long and storied history as friends and collaborators. Yet despite having spent time together as part of the legendary group NWA, the pair have only linked up on a handful of tracks in the years that followed.