The Roots And Ice Cube, "Straight Outta Compton"
Ice Cube was on Jimmy Fallon's show a couple weeks ago and before taping began, he joined the house band the Roots to warm up the audience with a live version of N.W.A's 1988 classic, "Straight Outta Compton." Drummer Questlove put a video of the performance up on his Twitvid account last night. It's of a very different feel than the original. The Roots' MC Black Thought and guitarist Kirk Douglas wear suits (!) as they handle Ren and Eazy-E's verses, respectively. And the avoidance of profanity is jarring. (Black Thought raps that he'll "find a good piece of mush/And go up in it," which is far more offensive, actually, than the real word that goes there.) But still, as it's own thing, musically, like Questlove says at the end, Damn, that shit was dope.
Comin straight outta …midtown.
I had to explain to a 19 year old that,in the early 90s, Ice Cube was like Maclom X and Jay-Z combined.
People grow up, and I'm happy for his continued success, but it still makes me sad to see one of the top-3 MCs of all time go the Eddie Murphy family entertainment route.
Everyone knows NWA stole their act from CB-4.
I finally realized what the difference is between a fanboy and a fan. A fan enjoys the work someone makes and enjoys the artist but acknowledges that artist grows and so do they. A fan boy wants everything he likes to be 100% exactly the same as when they discovered it and doesn't realize the world changes.
Anyone complaining about Eddie Murphy, Ice Cube and even Steve Martin going "family entertainment" really doesn't understand what the concept of "show business" is. Hint: IT'S A BUSINESS!!!
Get over it and enjoy.
Also, Cube has bigger things to worry about than his family films. He was just outrapped by The Roots' guitarist.
Yes, a "fan" always likes an artist, no matter what crap they put out. That is the true definition of a fan, for sure.
@Dave – word. That guy threw it DOWN
I still think they should call the show "Late Night with the Roots featuring Jimmy Fallon"
You mean, "The Magic Hour With the Roots featuring Jimmy Fallon and Sheila E".
I actually like Jimmy but this is the truth. Any episode where the Roots jam with the musical guest is a must watch.
Jimmy Fallon is tolerable until he's intolerable. To me, he's the indie version of Jay Leno: Not bad in small doses. But night after night? It wears thin.
The Roots: They are the best new idea in Late Night programming in decades.
this is the only thing I need to listen to for the rest of the day
Ice Cube is only one more case of selling out away from playing Mr. Conductor. Glad to know he still has some balls.
HELLS. YES. That shit is dope.
I was driving through the backcountry last weekend and Tupac came on the motherfucking easy listening radio station. "That's Just the Way It Is" is hardly his best work, or even in my Top 20 hip hop songs of the Nineties, but it is still incredible.
This isn't Megadeth.
That's how it's done, kids. Or, how it used to be done. No one can rap worth of shit these days.
Agreed. And they switched out some of the aggro for a bit more funk. I even like the suits, which make it seem more rad somehow.
Look, you either feel it or you don't: just because you're older doesn't mean you can't bring it.
Great to see you again, Bookish (I got tired of those sellouts over at that other place).
Ditto, sugar. Not our kind.
Oh my god, I so needed this today.
WOW!
Powerful version – kicked my ass (still goose-pimply).
Will be on repeat for the rest of the day.
That was fucking nice. Thanks!
Nice.
There are at least a thousand words that would be way fucking better than MUSH. So far Honey Bucket has my favor.
That's the best thing on twitvid by a factor of asdkijna;lkfmem
I smell a revival movement. "The Chronic" re-envisioned by Beirut, Dre, and Snoop drops next fall.
NWA totally sold out when they started that Airline.
The Bitches-n-Hoes union went on strike, The wholesale cost of 40oz Colt 45s went up, Retrofitting each plane with gold rims and trim cost them around 2.5 mil a pop so yeah, the stock got wetted.
SOUSAPHONE!