Ice Cube Tour Spits ‘Truth To Power’ In ‘Four Decades Of Attitude’

Ice Dice introduced his Reality To Energy tour to Atlanta, Georgia on Oct. 14. 4 A long time of Perspective was on full show on the metropolis’s State Farm Enviornment which was buzzing with diehard, day one followers of the west coast emcee. 

This one-man present didn’t disappoint and gave way over right now’s typical live shows. For starters, the set was a mashup of phases, an higher stage stage outfitted with a pair of low riders and a decrease stage stage that launched trendy expertise, within the type of amalgamated actuality (AR), to Dice’s nostalgic providing. 

Dice built-in the stage backdrop as an overhead projector and digital photograph album to assist within the visible storytelling of his life story. The NWA expat paired efficiency with songs and tales that had been laced with a historic narrative, that led the viewers from his pre-Ice Dice period—earlier than he ever picked up a mic— when he was simply younger O’Shea Jackson. After sharing photos from his childhood, Dice paid homage to his older sister Beverly, who died by the hands of her husband, who occurred to be a cop. In that second, it’s crystallized that Ice Dice’s ire towards regulation enforcement shouldn’t be solely based mostly on profiling and state sanctioned violence towards Black and brown communities—but in addition private. Dice instructed followers that Beverly’s loss of life had a profound influence on him at 12-years-old. The lack of innocence has actually contributed to his writing, turning into a rapper and a nigga with an perspective (NWA). Sharing that perception was the proper segue into the primary tune of the night time: “Fuck the Police.” 

Dice took the gang down reminiscence lane with “Dopeman,” after which to his encounter and camaraderie with Eric “Eazy E” Wright. The friendship morphed into the long-lasting rap group NWA which might go on to be one of the crucial influential rap teams in Hip-Hop, making gangsta rap a industrial commodity. The Los Angeles rapper welcomed Lil Eazy, Straightforward E’s son, on stage to carry out the monumental tune “Boyz within the Hood.” 

Dice went forwards and backwards between commentary and efficiency. He bought into his NWA bag with “Straight Outta Compton,” and transitioned into story and tune round his departure from the group; recording AmeriKKKa’s Most Needed in NYC; the Lench Mob; John Singleton and his critically-acclaimed album Dying Certificates. He gave shoutouts to Friday film alums Chris Tucker and Faizon Love, who had been a part of the viewers. His followers had been “Regular Mobbin” and mouthing lyrics to “Examine Ya’self.” 

The “No Vaseline” artist pulled no punches whereas expressing his ideas on tensions in Hip-Hop: Ice Dice stated the “East Coast-West Coast beef didn’t begin with Tupac and Biggie,” earlier than reminding concertgoers of the 1991 squabble between him and Tim Canine, which truly predates the latter coastal rivalry.

It’s onerous to go to Dice’s musical previous with out all three members of Westside Connection, however it’s refreshing to see WC crip-dancing alongside the homie to “Bow Down” and different hits, and it’s as refreshing to witness Warren G carry out “Regulators” as soon as once more. The icing on the cake, although, would have been a cameo from Yo-Yo and Das EFX. These absences, particularly, really feel like missed alternatives. The live performance crescendo, although, kinda makes up for this and is epic certainly. The rapper, producer, filmmaker and icon, concluded the present with “It Was A Good Day,” Ice Dice’s highest-charting single up to now, as a Goodyear blimp floated the sector; its ticker learn: “Ice Dice’s A Pimp.”

Design

The rollout, pacing and timing of Dice’s supply is on level from kickoff to shut. The themes round resistance, reclamation, reunification and Black pleasure are aligned with Hip-Hop historical past, weaving by 4 a long time of Hip-Hop expertise. The Reality To Energy: 4 A long time of Perspective tour commits to reminiscence and music and Ice Dice’s heft as a Hip-Hop legend and pioneer. Ice Dice actually is a pimp. 

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