Ice Cube: ‘Without N.W.A, There’s No Eminem’

Ice Cube also announces N.W.A's upcoming reunion.

Fans won’t have to wait until N.W.A’s “Straight Outta Compton” biopic hits theaters to see the group reunited. According to Ice Cube, the crew is set to join forces again at the BET Awards this
weekend.
“Getting on stage with those guys is going to be just like riding a bike,” Cube told Noisey on Thursday (Jun. 25). “We’re N.W.A. We’re going to make it as ferocious as we can.”
That reunion will sadly have to be without Eazy-E, the iconic star who died in 1995. But beyond their upcoming performance, Cube also discussed the legendary group’s legacy in the interview.
“We opened it up,” he explained. “To me, we gave freedom to a whole new side of entertainment. Without N.W.A, there’s no Eminem. Without N.W.A, there’s no shows like ’South Park.’ Without N.W.A, do we have any reality shows?
“Would you be bleepin’ out the cuss words when you say ’Bitch, I[’ll] kick your ass?'” he continued. “Those come off the N.W.A records. All that set that in motion to not be so scared of human nature, human interaction, human communication. Made it OK for all that to be accepted.”

more: Ice Cube’s N.W.A Movie Will Prove They Were ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Group’

Eminem – who was mentored by Dr. Dre – has actually given credit to N.W.A for their influence several times over the course of his career. Here are a few of those instances:

• ’Rap God’

  One of the most notable instances came on “Rap God.”
  “I’m a product of Rakim, Lakim Shabazz, 2Pac, N.W.A,” Shady rapped on the track. “Cube, hey, Doc, Ren / Yella, Eazy, thank you, they got Slim / inspired enough to one day grow up, blow up and be in a position / To meet Run DMC and induct them / into the motherf–kin’ Rock ’N / Roll Hall of Fame.”
  

  • ’Renegade’

    Em referred to himself as “the new Ice Cube” on Jay Z’s “Renegade.” Remember? “Motherf–kers hate to like you.”

  • The Grammys

    In 2010, Slim thanked a slew of rappers including Dr. Dre and the entire N.W.A for inspiring him.