“Early in my career, people wanted to hear music about protest, about trying to change things.”

American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer, born 1969

Ice Cube, born O'Shea Jackson, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s and remains closely associated with the rise of gangsta rap. Born in 1969, he is known for his work with N.W.A and for a solo career that moved between sharp political commentary and commercial success. His contributions to N.W.A's 1989 album Straight Outta Compton helped bring gangsta rap wider attention. He later released the solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted in 1990, Death Certificate in 1991, and The Predator in 1992, each of which was both critically and commercially successful. In 2016, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with N.W.A.