Concert Review: Ice Cube Thrills 6,000 Fans with a Deep Dive into His Legacy

Ice Cube’s performance in Victoria on Tuesday night was a testament to his enduring success and popularity, with a sold-out crowd of around 6,000 fans packing the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

The iconic rapper, who is currently midway through his Straight Into Canada tour, has experienced a remarkable resurgence in his career. Compared to his last performance in the city in 2011, where he played to a much smaller audience of around 700 fans at Club 9ONE9, Ice Cube’s trajectory has seen him graduate to playing hockey arenas like the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, marking one of 20 stops on his largest Canadian tour to date. Few hip-hop artists from his era can boast of selling out mid-size arenas like this.

But what has fueled this resurgence? It’s not necessarily a newfound popularity for his music, but rather the enduring appeal of a success story. Ice Cube has remained a fixture in the music and film industries for nearly four decades, steadily elevating his profile through his music and acting roles.

The 54-year-old rapper, actor, producer, and performer from Compton, California, has recently focused exclusively on his music, and the results are impressive. He brought his signature meаn-mug rap persona to the forefront on Tuesday night, with former Westside Connection collaborator W.C. by his side throughout the performance.

While the sound mix initially suffered from some muddiness, it improved as the night went on, particularly highlighting the energy of classic tracks like “Check Yo Self,” which still resonated with freshness despite being over 30 years old.

Ice Cube also took the opportunity to pay homage to his roots, with nostalgic images of his days with N.W.A. flashing on screen. While he refrained from performing controversial tracks like “F—k Tha Police,” his renditions of “Straight Outta Compton” and “Gangsta Gangsta” crackled with the same electricity and intensity as when they were first released, even in the era of Ronald Reagan’s presidency.

Despite his departure from N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube’s solo material continues to dominate his performances. While newer tracks may have felt overwrought at times, the inclusion of iconic songs from his film soundtracks, accompanied by visuals from his extensive filmography, kept the audience engaged throughout.

Ice Cube’s lyrics are not just blunt, but also informative and occasionally journalistic, delving into topics like the 1992 Rodney King riots and calling out figures from the Los Angeles Police Department. His performance of “No Vaseline,” a track where he disses his former N.W.A. bandmates, was preceded by a nod of respect to his former adversaries, showcasing the complexity of his persona.

As the night progressed, Ice Cube shifted gears towards funk-infused tracks, featuring samples from The Isley Brothers and Parliament/Funkadelic, which served as the foundation of West Coast hip-hop. Tracks like “Until We Rich,” with its Kool & the Gаng sample, provided moments for Cube to praise collaborators like Krayzie Bоne from Bоne Thugs-n-Harmony, emphasizing the importance of health and resilience in the industry.

In summary, Ice Cube’s performance in Victoria was a testament to his enduring legacy and continued relevance in hip-hop, proving that his career is arguably healthier than ever