I'm still coming to terms what I was able to accomplish this past Thursday, October 2nd, in Fort Worth, TX. Getting the confirmation that I was approved to photograph arguably one of the most influential rappers in history was not something I thought I was going to get. Yet, I was granted the immense luxury to cover Ice Cube's Four Decades of Attitude Tour at Dickies Arena. A combination of story-telling and songs spanning four decades, the night was anything but ordinary.
Is there anyone that can say in 2025 that they don't know who Ice Cube is? The legend has been a force in the music world since he was just 16 years old and whether it has been his solo work or his work with N.W.A., I feel almost everyone in the planet knows the sound of his voice. Maybe you're not a fan of his musical work (sounds like an insane thing to claim) and know him from his extensive acting career. Regardless of the reason why, we all know the man, the myth, the legend.
This incredible background in the arts and a hunger for being the best in the world gave the people of Fort Worth one of the most incredible sets I've ever experienced. As the lights died down, a short film narrated by Ice Cube himself was projected on the banner blocking the stage. All you could see was a sea of fans on the edge of their seats entranced by what was happening in front of them. This silence was abruptly stopped as the banner was dropped and one of the most infamous songs ever created started to play and echo across the arena: "Fuck tha Police". Every fan, staff member, crew member, and photographer erupted into a deafening cheer as they head banged along and shouted the words back as loud as the PA system. You could argue hip-hop and metal are as similar as oil and vinegar, but I would argue that couldn't be further from the truth. There was nothing fake, boring, or "mainstream" about Ice Cube's act on stage and that is exactly what made it as incredible as you could imagine.
Just when you thought the beginning of this set couldn't get any better, Ice Cube proved you wrong. Joining Ice Cube to perform "Boyz-n-the-Hood" was none other than the son of Eazy-E. Yes, I'm talking about Lil Eazy-E and you would've thought that a God or someone came across the stage with how loud the fans in attendance were screaming. Each and every moment of the set just continued to transcend expectations.
As the nearly 40-song set continued to proceed for the night, with moments of breaks to watch more short films on the screen behind the stage, the fans never lost their energy once the entire night. No matter where you stood in the stadium, everyone was having the time of their life. The wide age range of fans in attendance was also something not to be belittled and should be considered a testament of the influence Ice Cube has had on generations. Kids that were raised on Ice Cube and N.W.A. were seen singing along to the songs, sometimes even better than their parents, and if that doesn't bring a smile to your face, I'm not sure what will.
Who knows the next time Ice Cube will grace the DFW area and who knows what future gifts and goodies he might bring. All I know is that I will be impatiently waiting for the moment that the chance is given.
