AUSTIN, TEXAS: Joe Rogan recently hosted rapper and actor Ice Cube on the most listened podcast, 'The Joe Rogan Experience' ('JRE') episode and discussed government concerns over rap culture back in 1988.
Ice Cube, whose real name is O'Shea Jackson Sr, was a member of the rap group N.W.A. from 1986 to 1989, recording their iconic album 'Straight Outta Compton' with rappers Easy-E, Dr Dre, and MC Ren.
'We were looking for FBI to raid our houses'
Conflicts with the group, however, forced Ice Cube to quit NWA in 1989 to pursue a solo career. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, African-Americans opposing police brutality used hip-hop music as a means of communication. Songs like 'F**k tha Police' by NWA, 'Cop K*ller' by Ice-T, and 'Batteram' by Toddy Tee were anthems during the 1992 Los Angeles riots.
As a result, rappers like Ice Cube, Ice-T, Snoop Dogg, and Easy-E, as well as organizations like NWA, ended up on the FBI's watchlist in the early 1990s. The FBI wrote to the NWA regarding their 'Straight Outta Compton' record.
Ice Cube said, "We [were] looking for them [the FBI] to raid our houses and sh*t, like, damn - because we [were] singing the Batteram, we [were] seeing them run up on people's houses on d*pe charges, you know, whatever. Especially in the late 80s, early 90s, they got a kick out of just running [up on] people's houses and sh*t."
Rogan weighed in, noting that the government originally expressed alarm about rap music in the late 1980s said, "[The year] 1988 was a different. And that was the first [time] we'd heard that the government and politicians were concerned about rap music."
'Good cops vs bad cops'
Back in the late 1980s, Rogan and Ice Cube addressed the 'good cops vs bad cops' scenario. While the rapper and his former rap group NWA were on the police and FBI's watchlist for their 'concerning' music, the rapper-turned-actor did recognize some nice men in uniform who truly appreciated their music.
Ice Cube said, "[There were] a lot of cops that we respected, that came through and they would treat us like, you know, real humans. You know, not like suspects. So we knew some dude that would come to us [and] tell us, 'You know, you need to watch out, be careful, you know what I'm saying?"
He went on to say, "Does anybody know [about] something that happened around the corner?' and all these little [things]. But they [were] respectful and we respected their authority." Rapper also discussed cops being bribed with anti-authoritarian group's merchandise, promising protection if they sign autographs for daughter, avoiding issues. He added, "If you all [have] got a couple of pictures, a couple of 8/10s, you all sign [an autograph] for my daughter, we aren't going have any problems."
