According to a new interview, Ice Cube still wanted to be cool with his friends in N.W.A after he left the legendary group in 1989 and even wanted Dr. Dre to produce his debut album AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted.
Cube sat down with Complex’s Idea Generation and spoke on how he tried to keep his business relationship with the group separate from his personal relationship with them. “I still tried to be friends with the guys who had nothing to do with the business,” he admitted. “Me and Eazy was shaky, and I didn’t care about [manager] Jerry Heller at all, so it wasn’t no love lost there. But I tried to keep it together with Dre. I even wanted Dre to produce my solo record, and we was talking about it, but Eazy and Jerry vetoed it.”
Instead, the West Coast rapper tapped Public Enemy’s in-house production team The Bomb Squad to produce his 1990 solo debut and eventually dropped one of the most scathing diss tracks of all time, “No Vaseline,” a year later in 1991, in which he tore into his former group and Ruthless Records co-founder Heller.
Cube and the group would eventually reconcile around the time of Eazy-E’s untimely death from AIDS complications in 1995. On Tuesday (Nov. 12), the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced N.W.A among 26 nominees up to be inducted next year.
Ice Cube is set to drop his 11th solo album Man Down, later this month on Nov. 22, and he’s going to get some help from fellow West Coast legends in Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, Xzibit, B-Real and Kurupt.
You can watch the full conversation below.
According to a recent interview, Ice Cube expressed his desire to maintain a positive relationship with his former friends in N.W.A after his departure from the group in 1989. He even sought out Dr. Dre to produce his debut album, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted.
Keeping Relationships Intact
In a conversation with Complex’s Idea Generation, Cube discussed how he attempted to separate his personal friendships from his business dealings within the group. He admitted, “I still tried to maintain friendships with those who were not involved in the business side of things. My relationship with Eazy was strained, and I had no regard for Jerry Heller, so there was no love lost there. However, I made an effort to preserve my connection with Dre. I even proposed that Dre produce my solo album, but Eazy and Jerry opposed the idea.”
The Solo Journey
Instead of enlisting Dre, the West Coast rapper decided to collaborate with Public Enemy’s production team, The Bomb Squad, for his 1990 solo debut. This partnership led to the release of the infamous diss track, “No Vaseline,” in 1991, where Cube openly criticized his former group members and Ruthless Records co-founder Heller.
Reconciliation and Recognition
Over time, Cube and the group reconciled, especially following Eazy-E’s tragic passing due to AIDS complications in 1995. Recently, the Songwriters Hall of Fame announced N.W.A as one of the nominees for induction next year.
Upcoming Album and Collaborations
Ice Cube is gearing up to release his 11th solo album, “Man Down,” later this month on Nov. 22. The album features collaborations with fellow West Coast icons such as Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, Xzibit, B-Real, and Kurupt.
You can watch the full interview below.
FAQs
Q: What was the reason behind Ice Cube’s departure from N.W.A?
A: Ice Cube left N.W.A in 1989 due to creative and financial disputes with the group.
Q: How did Ice Cube and N.W.A reconcile after years of tension?
A: The reconciliation between Ice Cube and N.W.A began around the time of Eazy-E’s passing in 1995, bringing the group back together.
Q: Who are some of the artists featured on Ice Cube’s upcoming album “Man Down”?
A: “Man Down” includes collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, E-40, Xzibit, B-Real, and Kurupt.
Credit: www.billboard.com
