With the worldwide release quickly approaching, Ice Cube, director F. Gary Gray, and the rest of the cast are in full gear to promote Straight Outta Compton. While speaking on the N.W.A. biopic, Cube opened up on a very hot topic that sparked the on-going(?) beef between Drake and Meek Mill. Find out what he had to say after the jump!
Ice Cube, an MC known for glorifying gangsta rap with his explicit lyrics, thinks ghostwriting in music is not a big deal. In a recent interview with WatchLOUD, Cube was asked if it mattered whether or not an MC had a ghostwriter. Although the rapper-turned-actor penned the lyrics for the late Eazy-E and Dre for N.W.A.’s debut album Straight Outta Compton, his answer was more neutral than expected.
“I don’t think it ever mattered, in record-making,” said Cube. “When you talk about making a record, I don’t think people ever cared what it takes to make a good record, just make sure it’s good. I think making a record is like building a house: people don’t really expect one person to just do it. It’s a team effort.”
With tension between Drake and Meek Mill getting worse by the day, Cube’s views on the subject reflect the reality of the music business. However, Cube aka O’Shea Jackson did give credit to the real ones who do write their own bars.
“As far as being a B-Boy, as far as being a Hip-Hop Head, far as respecting the essence and the nature [of MC’ing], to me, you get extra points if you write your own lyrics.”
Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson, Jr., who plays young Cube in the film, had an answer contrary to his father’s opinion.
“People who don’t have to write they songs are r&B singers,” said Jackson. “When you rap you’re supposed to stand behind those words…they’re supposed to come from you.”
Straight Outta Compton will officially hit theaters August 14. Watch the interview below.
