This week, rapper, actor, entrepreneur, and activist Ice Cube joins podcast host Guy Raz to discuss his early days in NWA, counting NYC's Beastie Boys as an early inspiration, and more.
LISTEN NOW: The Great Creators with Guy Raz: Ice Cube
"I wanted to be a rapper from day one," says Ice Cube. "I started rapping when I was 14 -- I started rapping in school. It was just natural. When I finished what I was doing, when I finished my work, to just start writing rhymes."
"I wrote 'Boyz N Tha Hood' in eleventh grade," he adds. "In like, fifth period, sixth period... I was always writing because I was always battling in school."
Although his mother was not much of a fan of the message in his rhymes, he admits, "I felt like, as a rapper -- my favorite rappers are the most honest ones. So, I wanted to be that kind of emcee. I wanted to be honest, say what's real, and not be artificial."
"My favorite emcees, that's what they do," he continues. "From Melle Mel, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, to KRS One -- who his first album, 'Criminal Mind' was definitely a big influence on a lot of us. Ice T showing you could talk about what's going on in the neighborhood and it's all good."
Late NWA bandmate Eazy-E, he explains, "didn't like the soft rap. He himself wanted everything hard." The initial success they were getting with their mixtapes and live performances - which in the beginning used Beastie Boys music under their own lyrics -- helped fine-tune and hone their unique style. "Then I could start rapping like myself," Ice Cube admits. "I didn't have to try to rap like the Beastie Boys, or whatever."
Don't miss the full conversation with Ice Cube above.
Listen to The Great Creators with Guy Raz for a more inventive, imaginative you. Every week, Guy Raz (creator of How I Built This) leads a deep-dive conversation with someone at the top of their game. From conquering stage fright to learning to be more present and focused, you'll learn how each guest mastered their craft and ultimately became more successful in life. The result? An arsenal of tools and techniques you can apply to your own life and work, allowing you to harness your talent and become a better version of yourself.
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