Ice Cube Explains Why He Refuses To Work With New Rappers

[lil_bayly]

Last week, Ice Cube angered a few West Coast
newcomers after suggesting in his blog that, despite his veteran status in the game, he felt no obligations to help bring up local Los Angeles emcees.

"They ain't on my level," Cube wrote about the new generation of artists. "I don't even remember ever meeting these clowns or even being in the same room with any of 'em. They can't make a name for themselves so they need help from the O.G.'s. I refuse to throw 'em a life line. Fuck 'em. It ain't my job to make nobody famous."

The remarks prompted a Twitter response from Watts rapper Jay Rock, who said he considered himself part of the "New West" that Ice Cube seemed to be referring to. "I ain't never had a problem with Cube or none of the O.G. niggas," Rock said. "But if [he's referring to] the New West I'm a part of, he talkin [sic] bout all of us [since] he didn't say a name."

This week, likely in response to Jay Rock's Twitter comments, Ice Cube explained where his own remarks came from, and said he hasn't turned his back on young rappers, although he does have reservations about the new generation of emcees.

"Why don't I produce up and coming rappers like I used to? I got burnt out. Niggas couldn't take the baton and run wit [sic] it. I was sick of babysitting grown ass men and walking them through the industry. I felt like Dr. Frankenstein building uncontrollable monsters. How? If you DON'T make 'em a star, they blame you. If you DO make 'em a star, they leave you. I got sick of that ungrateful shit."

Although Cube has not been specific about who he is talking about, he did say he may mention them on his upcoming album I Am The West.

"Now, a lot of people want me to name names. Buy the record. In stores July 13th. I ain't naming names at this time, but I'm adding names. You let me know if you wanna be on the list."

[dR3]

He's fucking right.

[murphmanny]

He is right.

But who is he actually aiming this at? Because Em isn't a "new" rapper. Just wondering...

[classthe_king]

He is right.

But who is he actually aiming this at? Because Em isn't a "new" rapper. Just wondering...

Em isn't even from the West Why the fuck would this be towards Em

[Xray]

He is right.

But who is he actually aiming this at? Because Em isn't a "new" rapper. Just wondering...

[Jay-19]

Fuck Ice Cube.

[EminemBase]

Fuck Ice Cube. I'm sick of hearing old rappers bitch about the new generation and think they're gods.

He's no creative fucking genius. His music is intimidation music. Gangsta rap is lame as fuck and he has a lot of ridiculous, uninformed, nonsensical opinions in his music too.

Just because he was a pioneer I don't give a shit. Sick of people thinking they deserve automatic respect for that. HE isn't even on B.o.B's level creatively. He hasn't got the real intelligence to stretch outside of his pathetic little macho comfort zone and do anything of any real artistic importance.

Of course there are a bunch of bullshit rap artists now. There was in the 90's too. So what, you should expect that in any genre, any generation. If you're a true artist it shouldn't matter, just do what you do and shut the fuck up. Let your work speak for itself.

Instead of bitching like this and then hinting at mentioning them as a lame tactic to sell his newest material through possibility of beef lmao. He can go back to his shitty little family comedies and leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B. His work adds nothing worth listening to now.

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B.

Besides Em, I'd say Cube destroys those guys.

I'd say Cube has a valid point, because talent is so scarce that he shouldn't be bothered.

The last thing music needs right now is a wave of Nobodies becoming Somebody's.

(Thank you, Ice Cube, for doing your part to help prevent this)

[EminemBase]

leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B.

Besides Em, I'd say Cube destroys those guys.

I'd say Cube has a valid point, because talent is so scarce that he shouldn't be bothered.

The last thing music needs right now is a wave of Nobodies becoming Somebody's.

(Thank you, Ice Cube, for doing your part to help prevent this)

Cube doesn't touch the sides of Nas or Mos Def.

And the reason this appears to be increasing in rap in recent times is because of the commercialization of the genre. As with ANY genre.

The 80's and early-mid 90's were the golden years of hip-hop because that was when it was starting out, growing etc. Just like rock in the 60's and 70's. So obviously once the business of it takes force and trends and so on kick in it's gonna be harder for genuine artists to breakthrough and sustain.

That doesn't mean the talent isn't there though. There's just as many talented rappers now as there was then. People just don't see them or look for them. And there's some creative rappers that shit on what many were doing in the 90's too. Just need to seek it out and not be ignorant.

Ice Cube is doing nothing by doing this. He just looks like a stubborn old bitchy bastard and by actually mentioning them in his own music shows how lame and stagnant his creative juices are. If you think that little of your art to actually dedicate time to putting down other artists in your main output... You must be pretty spent of ideas.

[hype]

Fuck Ice Cube. I'm sick of hearing old rappers bitch about the new generation and think they're gods.

He's no creative fucking genius. His music is intimidation music. Gangsta rap is lame as fuck and he has a lot of ridiculous, uninformed, nonsensical opinions in his music too.

Just because he was a pioneer I don't give a shit. Sick of people thinking they deserve automatic respect for that. HE isn't even on B.o.B's level creatively. He hasn't got the real intelligence to stretch outside of his pathetic little macho comfort zone and do anything of any real artistic importance.

Of course there are a bunch of bullshit rap artists now. There was in the 90's too. So what, you should expect that in any genre, any generation. If you're a true artist it shouldn't matter, just do what you do and shut the fuck up. Let your work speak for itself.

Instead of bitching like this and then hinting at mentioning them as a lame tactic to sell his newest material through possibility of beef lmao. He can go back to his shitty little family comedies and leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B. His work adds nothing worth listening to now.

would you say that to his face?

[GoodGirlsGetGutted]

Cube doesn't touch the sides of Nas or Mos Def.

You're right, he's too far ahead of them.

I know how much you enjoy satire and irony in rap. This being said, I'm shocked that Ice Cube isn't right up your alley.

[EminemBase]

Fuck Ice Cube. I'm sick of hearing old rappers bitch about the new generation and think they're gods.

He's no creative fucking genius. His music is intimidation music. Gangsta rap is lame as fuck and he has a lot of ridiculous, uninformed, nonsensical opinions in his music too.

Just because he was a pioneer I don't give a shit. Sick of people thinking they deserve automatic respect for that. HE isn't even on B.o.B's level creatively. He hasn't got the real intelligence to stretch outside of his pathetic little macho comfort zone and do anything of any real artistic importance.

Of course there are a bunch of bullshit rap artists now. There was in the 90's too. So what, you should expect that in any genre, any generation. If you're a true artist it shouldn't matter, just do what you do and shut the fuck up. Let your work speak for itself.

Instead of bitching like this and then hinting at mentioning them as a lame tactic to sell his newest material through possibility of beef lmao. He can go back to his shitty little family comedies and leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B. His work adds nothing worth listening to now.

would you say that to his face?

Of course.

I'd rather have my head kicked in than sell out my opinion. My own integrity outweighs fear of any man. His little images with AKs don't scare me into faking an opinion about him lmao. I live in a fucked up urban city too, so what.

A man that wears that much superficial intimidation on his sleeve is a man who's truly intimidated by the World around him. Often bred from ghettos etc. due to the environment, paranoia, over-zealous, in your face. I'm from a city like that, it doesn't intimidate me. I associate with it. He's one man. A short man. He's not inhuman.

[slimsoxshady]

^ you ain't from no ghetto you fuckin loser

[murphmanny]

Oops, didn't even see it

[hype]

Fuck Ice Cube. I'm sick of hearing old rappers bitch about the new generation and think they're gods.

He's no creative fucking genius. His music is intimidation music. Gangsta rap is lame as fuck and he has a lot of ridiculous, uninformed, nonsensical opinions in his music too.

Just because he was a pioneer I don't give a shit. Sick of people thinking they deserve automatic respect for that. HE isn't even on B.o.B's level creatively. He hasn't got the real intelligence to stretch outside of his pathetic little macho comfort zone and do anything of any real artistic importance.

Of course there are a bunch of bullshit rap artists now. There was in the 90's too. So what, you should expect that in any genre, any generation. If you're a true artist it shouldn't matter, just do what you do and shut the fuck up. Let your work speak for itself.

Instead of bitching like this and then hinting at mentioning them as a lame tactic to sell his newest material through possibility of beef lmao. He can go back to his shitty little family comedies and leave rap in the hands of Em, Nas, Mos and B.o.B. His work adds nothing worth listening to now.

would you say that to his face?

Of course.

I'd rather have my head kicked in than sell out my opinion. My own integrity outweighs fear of any man. His little images with AKs don't scare me into faking an opinion about him lmao. I live in a fucked up urban city too, so what.

A man that wears that much superficial intimidation on his sleeve is a man who's truly intimidated by the World around him. Often bred from ghettos etc. due to the environment, paranoia, over-zealous, in your face. I'm from a city like that, it doesn't intimidate me. I associate with it. He's one man. A short man. He's not inhuman.

i still doubt that if he walked into your bedroom right now, that you'd repeat any of this to him. you'd most likely be starstruck and fumble your words as you ask him to sign your penis.

then you'd proceed to make a 3000 word essay/topic on here about how you met Ice Cube and how awesome it was and how he is now your favourite rapper alive, and if anyone were to say another artist was better than Ice Cube, you'd make another 3000 word essay/topic, counter-acting his points.

but, with regards to what you're saying, i don't believe that Ice Cube dressing like he does signifies any insecurity or intimidation of his surroundings. it's just a look, a style. think about it, do you really think that if he was so worried about his surroundings or his image, he'd have done those 'lame' films? no. the fact that Ice Cube participated in those films goes to say that quite frankly, he doesn't give a fuck what people think of him or his image.

personally i think Ice Cube is confident about himself, which contradicts what you're trying to say. and personally, i think i am correct. unless you produce another 3000 word essay topic about how wrong i am.

i can't wait.

you may think this is a personal attack toward you, but try not to look at it in that way, it's just my sense of humour, i have nothing against you, i'm just stating my opinion on that matter at hand. i'm pretty sure that you are around the age of 16-21, whereas Ice Cube is a grown man and a pretty big one at that. but perhaps, just because i wouldn't talk shit to his face, doesn't mean to say that you won't, but i believe you wouldn't.

there is no way of proving that you would tbh, so this is a bit pointless.