Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)
Ice Cube Net Worth (Money & Salary)
October 31, 2024
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Ice Cube’s Net Worth Is What?
An American rapper, actor, producer, and entrepreneur, Ice Cube boasts a net worth of $160 million. Ice Cube has evolved from being a pioneer of West Coast gangsta rap to a prominent figure in Hollywood today. Initially rising to fame and fortune with N.W.A., Ice Cube later achieved tremendous success as a solo artist. Additionally, he has written, produced, and starred in numerous films.
Initially gaining recognition as a key songwriter in the groundbreaking hip-hop group N.W.A., Ice Cube contributed incisive and controversial lyrics that played a pivotal role in popularizing gangsta rap and shaping the hip-hop genre.
Transitioning to a solo career after departing N.W.A. in 1989, Ice Cube solidified his position as one of hip-hop’s most influential voices. His debut solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” released in 1990, garnered commercial success, critical acclaim, and controversy for its socio-political commentary. Subsequent albums like “Death Certificate” and “The Predator” continued to tackle themes of social justice, racial inequality, and urban challenges.
Beyond his music, Ice Cube successfully ventured into acting, making his feature film debut in John Singleton’s “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991, a role that paved the way for more acting opportunities. His involvement in and writing contributions to the cult classic comedy film “Friday” (1995) further solidified his presence in the film industry. Ice Cube’s diverse filmography ranges from action (“xXx: State of the Union”) to family comedy (“Are We There Yet?”) and drama (“Barbershop”).
Ice Cube’s impact as a producer and writer is equally noteworthy. He not only produced many films he starred in but also spearheaded successful projects through his production company, Cube Vision.
Early Life
O’Shea Jackson, known as Ice Cube, was born on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles. His parents were Doris, a custodian and hospital clerk, and Hosea Jackson, a UCLA groundskeeper. Ice Cube, who has an elder brother, tragically lost his half-sister at the age of 12. Growing up on Van Wick Street in Los Angeles, he began writing rap and hip-hop music at 14. Ice Cube adopted his rapper moniker from an incident involving his brother threatening to “freeze” him into an ice cube, a name that stuck.
He attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, and at 16, sold his first song to future N.W.A. member Eazy-E. Post high school, he enrolled at the Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona in fall 1987, where he pursued architectural drafting and completed his diploma within a year. Returning to Los Angeles thereafter, he delved into rap as a career.
Early Career
Teaming up with friend Sir Jinx, Ice Cube formed the group C.I.A. and performed at Los Angeles parties hosted by Dr. Dre. Their collaboration led to the 1987 release of a track produced by Dr. Dre, “My Posse.” Ice Cube later shared his lyrics for “Boyz-n-the-Hood” with Eazy-E, who initially disliked them but eventually recorded the song for “N.W.A. and the Posse,” the group’s debut album featuring Dr. Dre, MC Ren, DJ Yella, and Ice Cube. Ice Cube contributed rhymes and half the lyrics for the group’s breakthrough 1988 album, “Straight Outta Compton,” for which he received a meager $32,000. Ongoing conflicts over pay and contractual matters led to his exit from N.W.A.
Solo Career
Ice Cube’s inaugural solo album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted,” dropped in May 1990, promptly riding the popularity wave of rap at the time. In the same year, he released the EP “Kill at Will,” the first hip-hop EP to achieve Platinum status. His acting debut in John Singleton’s crime drama “Boyz n the Hood” in 1991 garnered critical acclaim across the board.
Followed by his controversial second album, “Death Certificate,” in 1991, Ice Cube expanded his fanbase by performing at Lollapalooza in 1992. November 1992 witnessed the release of his third album, “The Predator,” which secured the top spot on both pop and R&B charts, a historic feat, and received favorable reviews. The album remains his most commercially successful release, selling over three million copies in the U.S.
However, diminishing rap popularity greeted Ice Cube the subsequent year, with his fourth album, “Lethal Injection,” receiving poor critical reception. Taking a hiatus from music, he didn’t unveil his fifth album (“War & Peace Vol. 1”) until 1998. Joining Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dog for the “Up in Smoke Tour” in 2000, he waited another six years before dropping his next album, “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” charts. Ice Cube’s ninth solo album, “I Am the West,” hit shelves on September 28, 2010. Throughout the 2010s, Ice Cube collaborated on various projects and tracks, including ventures beyond hip-hop with artists like Trent Reznor and David Bowie. His tenth solo album, “Everythang’s Corrupt,” emerged in 2018 after a gradual release of singles over several years.
Acting Career
“Boyz n the Hood” marked Ice Cube’s acting debut in 1991, paving the way for subsequent film appearances. The release of “Friday” in 1995, a movie he starred in, wrote, and produced, garnered critical and commercial success.Producing several sequels, “Friday” was a movie that garnered attention. Starring in “Anaconda” in 1997 and writing, directing, producing, and starring in “The Players Club” in 1998, as well as acting in other films like “Are We There Yet” and its sequel, “21 Jump Street” and “22 Jump Street,” “xXx: Return of Xander Cage,” and “Fist Fight,” Ice Cube has had a successful career in the film industry. Additionally, he produced the 2015 N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” with his son O’Shea Jr. portraying him in the film. In October 2021, Ice Cube made headlines for exiting the upcoming film production of a comedy called “Oh Hell No” due to his decision not to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, which was mandatory for the Hawaii-based shoot, forfeiting a $9 million salary in the process.
In terms of other ventures, Ice Cube, along with Mack 10 and WC, formed Westside Connection in 1996, releasing two albums. He also has a clothing line called Solo by Cube, which sells hooded sweatshirts with built-in headphones. Moreover, in 2011, he became a spokesperson for Coors Light beer and introduced the Big3 project in 2017, a professional basketball league featuring former NBA players.
Regarding his personal life, Ice Cube married Kimberly Woodruff in 1992, and they share five children. In a notable interview with Terry Gross on NPR’s “Fresh Air” in January 2005, Ice Cube discussed his approach to parenting, emphasizing instilling self-respect in his children. He also talked about guiding them on the usage of language and exposure to different media content.
In terms of real estate, Ice Cube purchased a home in Marina Del Rey, California, for $7.25 million in May 2016 from Jean-Claude Van Damme. He also owns a large mansion in Encino, California, which he bought in June 1996 for $2.36 million, featuring seven bedrooms, a pool, spa, and a full-size basketball court.