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PEOPLE & ARTS Thursday 22 June 2017
After over 25 years, Ice Cube’s

still got something to say

By DEEPTI HAJELA corrupt police officers, a Iverson and Gary Payton,
Associated Press far cry from the attitude in Cube envisions a league
NEW YORK (AP) — It’s been N.W.A’s infamous song, “F-- that functions like a travel-
more than 25 years, and - tha Police,” but Cube said ing “basketball festival” for
Ice Cube’s still got some- he’s “always really hoped fans like him.
thing to say. good police would take With the re-release of
The 48-year-old entertain- care of bad cops,” that “Death Certificate” and
er has come a long way while the 1988 song was a milestones like recently
from his start as part of “revenge fantasy” type of getting a star on the Holly-
the West Coast rap group thing against police abuse, wood Walk of Fame, Cube
N.W.A. and later a solo the new song is a plea for is taking a moment to stop
artist, branching into mov- honorable cops to step up and reflect.
ies and now founding a and speak out. “I’m a forward-moving
soon-to-be-launched half- “They’re our last line of de- guy, things that’s in my
court basketball league. fense against this onslaught rearview mirror usually stay
But some things haven’t of abuse,” he said. there, I’m usually trying to
changed, like his willing- He has seen changes he move forward,” he said. At
ness to call out law en- thinks are positive, he said, times like this, though, “It’s
forcement on the way he pointing to officers in fatal really all about reflecting
sees policing done and to shootings at least getting to and celebrating the mo-
speak his mind on race is- the stage of undergoing tri- ment — but not too much, In this June 20, 2017 photo, rapper and actor Ice Cube poses
sues, like he did recently als, even if convictions are because (there’s) too for a portrait in New York to promote the 25th anniversary re-
when he took late-night still extremely rare. In the much work to do.”q release of his 1991 solo album, “Death Certificate.”
Associated Press
host Bill Maher to task for his days of his youth, “police
use of the N-word during a could do no wrong ... now
show. you fast forward 25 years
He brought that attitude to later, at least the cops are
the 25th anniversary re-re- being put on trial for their
lease this month of his 1991 actions.”
solo album, “Death Certifi- And it’s not just the police
cate,” with its newly add- that Cube is willing to, well,
ed-on lead single, “Good police. His appearance on
Cop, Bad Cop.” Asked for “Real Time With Bill Maher”
his thoughts about where was noted for his strong
the country is with policing, criticism of Maher, who
especially in the wake of had jokingly referred to
several high-profile shoot- himself by using the N-word
ings of minorities by offi- during the previous week’s
cers, he was blunt: “Same episode. Cube told Maher,
as we always been.” “That’s our word, and you
“Police have a philosophy, can’t have it back.”
they have a theory, they He told The AP, “I know
have a way of doing stuff, some people say, ‘You
it’s win at all costs,” Cube, from a group called N-----
born O’Shea Jackson, said With Attitude and you got
Tuesday in an interview a problem with other peo-
with The Associated Press. ple saying that,’ and yeah,
“Win now, apologize later, I do. I really do.”
that’s the model. By hav- These days, Cube is get-
ing that way of thinking ting ready for the launch of
and that philosophy, it’s all Big3, a three-on-three pro-
about ‘Us against Them,’ fessional basketball league
that’s the mentality.” he co-founded which kicks
“Good Cop, Bad Cop” off Sunday. Peopled by
calls on good cops to former professional bas-
speak and act against ketball players like Allen