Ice Cube was a recent guest on Power 106 FM’s Nick Cannon Mornings where he broached a variety of topics. The conversation kicked off with Cannon praising Cube for his undeniable impact on Hip Hop culture.
But ultimately, the discussion turned to Cube’s Top 5 MCs and the BIG3 co-creator had no problem naming his favorites.
“I always look at the influencers, the pioneers, the ones who virtually created a style or flavor all they own,” he said. “So my greats are people like Melle Mel, Ice-T, Chuck D, KRS-One and I’ll put Rakim in there.
“To me, those are the trendsetters, the ones who changed the trajectory of the game in a major way. It was about skills and talent, and really having their own style and taking it and running with it.”
Cannon then spoke about the perceived lack of leaders in the Hip Hop space. Cube explained he’d witnessed a shift in the early ’90s from more politically-charged lyrics to what he dubbed “escapism rap.”
“I saw that shift happen around ’93,” he said. “It went from focusing on the rappers that really have something to say about our condition to the rappers who just wanted to escape our condition through weed, women, jewelry, cars, money … it’s escapism. Now pills — all that stuff is escapism rap and it’s easier to accept because when you listening to somebody who’s really telling you the real, it’s hard. Them records are not easy to listen to sometimes, especially when you know that they’re talking directly to you.
“Some people, when they go to kick it and go get entertained, they don’t want to hear all that — they wanna just party. That’s what we’ve been fighting against … not caring, not really worried about tomorrow type music over the ones that make you think, the ones that make you focus, the ones that make you change your behavior, the ones who trying to help you get out the situation you in.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Cube talked about the BIG3, the ills of social media and the next Friday movie.
Watch the full clip above.
Skill and talent…something thats lacking now. Any motherfucker can now be a rapper
B-real should be one of his top 5
Top 5 half a hit wonder? Dude can’t rap for shit. Their last 10 albums went wood. LOL.
1. GucciMane 2. Future 3. Rick Ross 4. Young Thug 5. Kanye West
Wow your ears have no substance ha ha
You are a funny guy. You number 1 beats a murder case and your number is a prison officer. Don’t come with was he IS.
Once you play the policeman roll there ain’t no rolling back. PO’s are just policemen within walls!
You for sure don’t know ish about co’s …. they are some of the biggest criminals in the jail … they run contraband and are the connection to the outside for many inmates
He said top 5 MCs those top 5 you mentioned are NOT Cms.
*MCs
Spoken like a G.
You can do it put your ass into it…
We Be Clubbin!
Word! Escapism raps from Mr Escapism himself…
Respect to Cube but how about kool g rap? The man was ahead of his time.
Cmon now though. I like every one of the rappers listed but thats a terrible top 5… we expect more from you Cube. Kind of like when you drop 4 classics then make us listen to War and Peace Vol 1 and 2??? As if 1 wasn’t trash enough we needed a 2nd? Eh…
My List. 1.) Dylon 2.) Dylon 3.) Dylon, 4.) Dylon 5.)Dylon.
Because he spit hot Fire!
Please it’s spelled hawt fyre.
Nasir Jones, Pac, Mos, BIG, Jayz
Didn’t like the N.W.A movie or certain career directions (with the exception of BIG 3) but Cube along with Dre will always be legends…SOLIDIFIED
KRS is one of the greatest rappers but I lost all respect for him when he started defending and making excuses for that f.aggot pedophile Afrikka Bambooty molesting boys. Shame you had to be such an ignorant fruitcake all this time.
top 5
em, jay-z, biggie, 2pac, lil wayne
Couldnt agree more tbh…but jay<nas
The way Cube started wearing bandanas and throwing up “Westside” after Pac’s success, you figured he would have thrown one West Coast artist on there.
Sorry not meant for you. Peace out
Cube is in my top 5.