He's always been a radical voice for black culture, but Ice Cube has turned things up a notch on social media in recent weeks. The former N.W.A. rapper burst onto the music scene with a controversial classic that spoke of defying authority, but there are Ice Cube fans who see him as the family-friendly actor and not as a political voice. His recent tweets have caused a bit of backlash as Ice Cube has been accused of sharing anti-Semitic images, but no matter what people had to say about his viewpoints, he remains steadfast. 

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On Friday (June 12), a news story out of Florida began to circulate online. The articles and images of protests have dwindled in recent days, but rest assured they are still taking place nationwide. However, things took a turn in Tampa Bay when hundreds of looters reportedly stormed a local Walmart and made off with $100K worth of items. A video clip of the incident from store security cameras hit news stations, and the videos were shared on social media. 

Ice Cube wanted to make sure that no one involved found themselves in trouble, so when he saw that CBS News tweeted the clip of the looters, he offered up a solution. "No arrest and I’ll cover the $100k. Deal?" We're curious as to whether or not he'll be able to pull this one off, but the gesture speaks volumes. Check out the tweet below.

Though Ice Cube may have lulled the masses into a false state of security through his occasional family-friendly movies, affable nature, and sharp sense of humor, his roots as status-quo disrupting pot-stirrer must never be forgotten. Lest we forget, this is the very same man who wrote "Fuck The Police," a track that still carries weight and impact to this day. This is the same man who penned Amerikkka's Most Wanted back in 1991, a direct call out of the country's founding principles. Has Are We There Yet really left such an impact? 

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No matter. The days of a docile Ice Cube appear to have been brought to a swift and decisive end. A few days ago, Cube took to social media to let fly a barrage of posts rallying against systematic racism, anti-black behavior, and the American police system. Though some of his chosen stances did draw outrage, with some accusing the rapper of holding anti-semitic views, others appreciated Cube's return to the fight. And from the look of it, the legendary rapper isn't about to back down, proudly standing by his messages.

It didn't take long for Cube's onslaught to spark a mini-controversy, and while many were quick to voice outrage over his conduct, Royce Da 5'9" was content to sit back and watch it unfold with glee. No stranger to the fight against racism himself, Nickle took a moment to address the White people offended by Cube's Twitter spree. "Dear White People... Thank you for reactivating Ice Cube.... On behalf of the culture, we are extremely grateful," he writes, making it clear that he stands with the N.W.A. legend. 

Ice Cube has been on a roll with his social media presence as of late. He has been sharing plenty of messages throughout the day about the current climate of the world but everything got a little muddy when he began posting messages that support a popular anti-Semitic conspiracy theory.

The rapper responded to the controversy about his "Black Cube of Saturn" posts, claiming that he did not get hacked and he stands by everything he puts online.

It may seem inconceivable that a man who once penned lyrics for a song called "F*ck the Police" could be criticized over his radical views on the government, but that's exactly what happened to Ice Cube on Wednesday (June 10). Over the last week, Ice Cube has joined millions of others who have used their platforms to support Black Lives Matter and to speak against systematic racism. However, a few of the memes Cube has shared has caused a bit of confusion, leaving him the target of anti-Semitic accusations.

Ice Cube has been flooding the TL with a ton of out of context imagery lately, but one of his most recent posts has landed him in some hot water for its anti-Semitic messaging. On Wednesday (June 10th), in between posting photos depicting police brutality against Black people to protest the systemic racism in the United States, Cube shared some images that reference the popular "Black Cube of Saturn" conspiracy theory, which, although difficult to follow, seems to deal with Satanic worship.

The demand for police reform has never been higher as it is today. In the wake of George Floyd's murder, the public discourse has shifted from coronavirus to the needed for imminent social change, especially within the police force. Shows like Live PD and Cops have essentially championed police officers, even when they're in the wrong. But as protests continue to take place across the country, Paramount Networks has announced the end of one their most beloved and problematic shows.

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After being pulled from scheduling a few days ago, Paramount Network has officially canceled Cops, Variety reports. This comes days after Derek Chauvin was charged and in the midst of the ongoing protests. "Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” Paramount Network rep told deadline. 

Ice Cube, who has been incredibly vocal in recent times about the injustices Black Americans face, caught wind of the news and shared his reaction on Twitter with a timeless line from his classic 1995 film, Friday. "Bye Felicia," he wrote. 

As Paramount Network pulled the plug on Cops, it's also reported that A&E's Live PD has also been cut from scheduling “out of respect for the families of George Floyd and others who have lost their lives.”

Check out Ice Cube's tweet below. 

It’s rare that a song’s power only intensifies with time. Though nostalgia can be a powerful means of preserving replay value, more often than not a song stands as a representation of a moment in time. A reflection of the social climate, of the musical trends prevalent. When N.W.A. first released “Fuck Tha Police” back in August of 1988, over thirty years ago, it’s uncertain whether Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, MC Ren, and DJ Yella had any idea what they had created. A song that has continued to resonate with people of all ages, unified by a shared disdain for abusive police and the systems they represent.

Following the death of George Floyd, murdered by the disgraced police officer Derek Chauvin, the protests that sparked in defiance looked to the past for its theme music. With thousands placed in direct confrontation with police, in many cases forced to suffer abuse with impunity, the need for a rallying cry has reached an apex. “Fuck Tha Police” has found new life as a modern-day anthem, one whose message has endured for decades. In its simplest form, a stand against authority figures, especially those who succumb to the temptations of tyranny. Yet amidst the simple bluntness of the titular curse lies a long and complex history. One chock-full of racial prejudices borne through a lack of empathy and understanding. Satisfying though it may be to blast “Fuck Tha Police” in a cop’s vicinity, the deeper meanings should not be diluted.

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The story of its creation was sold to many by the 2015 N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton, which depicted our five heroes being racially profiled outside of a recording studio and roughed up for no other reason beyond their skin color. In reality, a revelation on HBO’s The Defiant Ones confirmed that “Fuck Tha Police” was originally declined by Dr. Dre, after Ice Cube presented the young producer with the incendiary lyrics. It was only after Eazy-E and Dre engaged in a joyride on the Los Angeles freeway, possessed by a desire to fire paintballs into passing cars. “Fifteen minutes after that, the police is behind us,” reflects Dre, older and wiser. “They pull us out of the car with guns drawn, lay us face down on the freeway.”

In the same clip, Cube admits that Dre’s frequent trips to jail were the catalyst for “Fuck Tha Police.” As he explains, Dre’s company tended to mean that the parties were in full swing; in Cube’s eyes, the Doc’s recurring weekend slammer trips were the ultimate buzzkill. “I was mad that all the fun stopped, and Dre had to go to jail till Monday,” smiles Cube. “So I wrote ‘Fuck Tha Police.’” A far cry from the narrative put forth in the film, but authorial intent doesn’t necessarily matter when the product is ushered into the world. The minute it was released, “Fuck Tha Police” provided a voice to everybody who ever experienced police brutality. Especially when Cube’s opening verse painted such a vivid picture, one that could be juxtaposed with any given protest montage of today with no shortage of relevancy.

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It’s become all too familiar a sight. A Black person harassed, assaulted, and in the bleakest cases, murdered because a police officer claims to have feared for their safety. We’ve seen the footage. Traffic stops turned fatal, as was the case for Philando Castile. A fatal chokehold placed on George Floyd over a counterfeit bill. Instances where the consequences of an officer’s actions went unfeared, the system backing them designed as an impenetrable safety net. For Ice Cube, frustrated by the seemingly unconquerable presence of the police, rebellion came through music. By belittling the organization that had disrupted his daily life. Provocative in its blunt title and direct message, it didn’t take long before “Fuck Tha Police” caught the ire of law enforcement across the country. For those who self-aggrandized themselves as untouchable, the hostile bars of Compton’s finest served as the ultimate undermining. And given how infectiously catchy the track was, its popularity ensured that “Fuck Tha Police” quickly achieved anthem status. And given how many different walks of life have experienced negative interactions with aggressive police officers — across all generations — NWA’s controversial creation continues to carry the same weight today.

Though the track’s longevity speaks to the brilliance of its creators, it also reveals a darker truth on the other side of the coin. The fact that the animosity between the civilian population and the police sworn to serve and protect still exists is a disturbing reality. It also highlights how deeply entrenched within the system that racism really is. “Police think they have the authority to kill a minority,” rapped Ice Cube, in his instantly recognizable opening verse. Sadly, that truth has revealed itself like clockwork. Only this time, it seems as if the people have had enough. The streets have since come alive in protest; there isn’t a person in the entire United States that hasn’t come to know the name of George Floyd. Though some police have attempted to combat the uprising with force, they’ve quickly realized that heightened publicity can be a devastating counter to their all-too-often unprovoked bouts of violence. Excessive force will no longer be judged by fellow officers, but the court of public opinion — one that is, for what feels like the first time, standing largely united. All the while, N.W.A’s “Fuck Tha Police” continues to capture the zeitgeist once again, gaining renewed purpose as a protest anthem for a new generation. 

It's become an indisputable fact of life that when Ice Cube speaks, it's wise to listen. We've already seen Cube emerge as a voice of authority amidst times of crisis, with his entire early solo career rife with politically-charged messages and pro-Black themes. It's no surprise that the legendary emcee has much to say considering the ongoing protests in favor of racial equality.

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But like any great rapper, Cube has no shortage of followers and fans that, rather surprisingly, seem to hold prejudices toward black people. It's become disturbingly commonplace to hear arguments like "All Lives Matter" and "But What About Black On Black Crime?" used by those seeking to disrupt an important discourse. Cube took it upon himself to dismantle said arguments, offering his take on why they stand as irrelevant.

"People always say Blacks kill Blacks more then the police," he writes, on his Twitter page. "BLACK ON BLACK CRIME = Jail Time, BLUE ON BLACK CRIME = No Jail Time (and government pays for it), THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE IN THE STREETS." Naturally, many of his followers took it upon themselves to argue his stance, with several attempting to pivot the discussion to "white-on-white crime."  Given that the discussion being had is not about that particular demographic, it's difficult to understand why it continues to be used so frequently. Perhaps Ice Cube has no choice but to start breaking out the scowl, a gaze only to be used in emergencies only.

As folks across the nation and around the world take to the streets to protest police brutality and racial injustice in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, it appears many are revisiting some classic protest anthems, including the aptly titled “F*ck Da Police” by N.W.A. According to Rolling Stone‘s data analytics provider, Alpha Data, the gangsta rap group’s hit off their 1988 debut album, Straight Outta Compton, has seen a 272% percent increase in on-demand audio streams between May 27th and June 1st, in comparison to the five-day period prior to George Floyd’s death on May 25th.

In particular, streams for “F*ck Da Police” increased exponentially on Sunday (May 31st) and Monday (June 1st), with a total of 765,000 on-demand audio streams over those two days. These numbers are nearly five times more than the amount of streams recorded on the previous Sunday and Monday.

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A few other hip hop songs that feel especially relevant in this crucial moment have also seen a surge in streams. As we reported, Kendrick Lamar’s 2015 masterpiece, To Pimp A Butterfly, recently reentered the Apple Music Charts, and one of the most politically driven songs off the album, “Alright,” has alone seen a 71% increase in overall streams. Childish Gambino‘s “This Is America” has also jumped in streams, in large part due to its recent TikTok virality in the wake of Ahmaud Arbery’s murder. “This Is America” has leaped 149% in streams, along with Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power” (89%), D’Angelo and the Vanguard’s “The Charade” (122%), Killer Mike’s “Don’t Die” (542%) and Beyoncé’s “Freedom” (70%).

If there's one thing nobody wants to be on the receiving end of, it's the Ice Cube scowl of disapproval. And while he didn't exactly fire one off per se, the legendary rapper did take the time to voice his displeasure following the tragic murder of George Floyd.

This morning, Cube was scheduled to appear on "Good Morning America," where he would presumably discuss topics like his Big 3 league, his musical legacy, and the state of American society. Unfortunately, Cube decided that America as a whole had failed in a major way, and canceled his appearance altogether.

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"I apologize to everyone expecting to see me on Good Morning America today, but after the events in Minnesota with George Floyd I’m in no mood to tell America, good morning," he writes, Twitter. It goes without saying that morale has been low following Floyd's death at the hands of a police officer, who knelt on the man's neck for an extended period of time -- despite Floyd's panicked declarations that he couldn't breathe. 

Cube is but one of many prominent rappers who have voiced their frustration and anger over the incident, which is beginning to feel like a societal boiling point. Even those who would normally stand silent have been seemingly moved into anger, a testament to the growing tension permeating in America at the moment. It's unclear as to whether rappers will continue to take action in protest, but you've gotta respect Ice Cube for remaining principled -- a quality he's maintained for the entirety of his career. Rest in peace George Floyd.