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Born in South Central, Los Angeles on 15 June 1969, Ice Cube began writing raps in high school. In 1984, het met a 19-year-old Dr. Dre, and together they released a single “My Posse” under the alias CIA. The two then teamed up with fellow rappers Easy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella as the group NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitude) and together they released “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988. However, due to creative issues, he left the group and by 1989 was pursuing his solo career. His debut album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” was released in 1990 and despite claims of misogyny and racism, was extremely successful. The follow-up record was even more controversial; however his most critically acclaimed album was his 1992 “The Predator.”
Having had so much success as a solo artist, Ice Cube still continued to work with other artists. 1994 saw him reunited with former NWA member, Dr. Dre, and together they recorded and relased “Natural Born Killaz,” and 1996 was the formation of Westside Connection, a collaboration with Mack 10 and WC.
The late 90s found Ice Cube concentrating on his acting career such as “Barber Shop” and “All About The Benjamins,” but he still found time to work on music. He was still collaborating with other artists like his appearance on Lil Jon & The East Side Boys’ “Real Nigga Roll Call,” and in 2003 The Westside Connection reunited for their sophomore album “Gangsta Nation.”
His most recent music musings with a new single release on 10 February 2014 “Sic Them Youngins On ‘Em.”
There are more than a few artists around that it’s basically impossible to say anything new about. They have been so scrutinised, so celebrated and so criticised that most of what one can say about them has already been said before. This is very much the case with Snoop Dogg, one of the cast iron legends of Hip-Hop and one of the key influences that make it what it is today, both as a cultural phenomenon, and as (arguably) the dominant force of pop music in the world.
After his rapping caught the attention of Hip-Hop godhead Dr. Dre, the legendary producer gave the up and coming Snoop the exposure of a lifetime by featuring him heavily on his 1992 album “The Chronic”. The California, US native capitalised by releasing the following years “Doggystyle” and promptly became one of the world’s most successful, famous, controversial, and downright feared musicians overnight. Since then his image has softened slightly, he’s more likely to be seen in adverts for Hot Pockets than on trial for murder (as he was in 1996), but he’s diversified to a thrilling degree as a musician.
Not content with giving the world the best G-Funk it’s ever going to get with “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” and “Gin and Juice”, he’s also given it some of its best straight up hip hop with the Pharrell Williams assisted “Drop It Like It’s Hot” and is still unafraid to tread his own path. His most recent reinvention, with a new name (Snoop Lion) and a new reggae sound on the album “Reincarnated”, sees him still going from strength to strength 22 years into his career. With a back catalogue like his, and a bright future to match, you can’t go wrong with the Doggfather himself, Snoop Dogg.
If we’re talking about hip hop credibility, I’m not sure you can really top having been one of the members of N.W.A. As far as I’m concerned, then, Ice Cube gets a free pass for life. “What about some of the horrendous films he’s been in?” I hear you cry. Nope, not having it. He was on Straight Outta Compton. “How about his tepidly-received recent solo record, I Am the West?” Nah, sorry, ‘Express Yourself’. “Hasn’t he been in adverts for the almost-beer Coors Light?” That’s alright by me - ‘Gangsta Gangsta’. I could continue in this vein for some time.
As a solo performer, Ice Cube was really one of the pioneers of conscious hip hop, teaming his brutally honest lyricism with an obviously complementary aggression. He brings that kind of energy to the stage, too, with his last UK shows of two years ago blending some of his stone-cold classics - ‘It Was a Good Day’, ‘Check Yo Self’, ‘Natural Born Killaz’ - with the more raucous side of his recent output, with ‘You Can Do It’ meeting with a particularly feverish reception. He keeps things pretty sparse on stage - a DJ dropping beats, and a hype man - but what else does he need? The man is a bona fide hip hop legend. Don’t sleep on his shows next time he’s in the UK.
Okay, who doesn't love Snoop Dogg? Maybe my grandma, but otherwise, I can't think of anyone!
So, when I had the opportunity of a lifetime to see Snoop Dogg (and others) live I was more than thrilled. I was excited as I have ever been in my entire life. I felt like a kid on Christmas morning. Snoop Dogg is a legend in the rap world and he did nothing less than live up to that legacy during this show at Coachella.
He kept the audience involved in the show the entire time. There was not one dull moment, it was probably one of the best nights of my life. At one time, I swear he even looked right at me and pointed and winked at me. I almost died! I was so excited.
His music is well, Snoop Dogg's music and if you like it you love it. I enjoyed all the old school music that he played as well as some of the newer songs he has.
His performance was great. He had me smiling the entire time, I seriously couldn't believe I was seeing Snoop Dogg. Like, it was him, right there in front of me. I will never forget that night. One of the best ever!
Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik!!! If you don't know what that means, you ain't breathing and you ain't from Atlanta! I crossed off the number one musical item on my bucket list by seeing Outkast (Big Boi and Andre 3000) perform at the Counterpoint Festival. I could hardly contain my excitement as I anxiously awaited the group's arrival on stage. To set the scene...it rained earlier that day, so the Outkast set was postponed an hour. None of that mattered as the lights finally dimmed and the dynamic duo hit the stage to shut.it.down. Dre 3000 was dressed in an all black jumper with a white X down the middle and Big Boi was his dipped in his usual freshness. They performed everything from 1994's "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik" to 2003's "Speakerboxxx/The Love Below." I really think they could've just stood on stage and not said a word and the crowd would've been just as pleased. Every woman, man and child was filled with the vibes from the music we grew up listening to for the past 20 years! I couldn't even make up the magic that took place that night. If you missed it, well...you missed a lot!