Ice Cube’s net worth of $160 million is all that is needed to make any doubter believe that he is one of the strongest forces in the American hip hop scene. His interest in hip hop music was kindled when he was a teenager and at that time, he started writing raps during their keyboard class in George Washington Preparatory High School, Los Angeles. It was in the course of one of these classes in his ninth-grade that Ice Cube, who went by his birth name, O’Shea Jackson, wrote his first rap after he was challenged by a friend of his known as Kiddo. Continuing on this path, he eventually sold his first song at 16 to Eazy-E, who later became his co-N.W.A member.
The rapper later moved over to William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, where he completed his high school education. Even though making music was his priority, he understood the need for education and as a result, got into Phoenix Institute of Technology in Arizona in 1987. There, he studied architectural drafting and after he graduated a year later, he moved back to Los Angeles to kick off his music career while banking on architecture as a backup in case the former fails to favor him. Fortunately, his undeniable knack for rap paved way for him in the industry and today, he is counted among the big shots in America’s entertainment industry not only as a rapper but also as an actor, record producer, filmmaker, and director.
How Ice Cube’s Net Worth Grew To $160 Million
Ice Cube’s first taste of popularity was in 1984 when he was part of a hip hop group known as C.I.A, which enjoyed limited commercial success before they disbanded in 1987. Moving forward, Ice Cube formed a group, N.W.A, together with Dr. Dre and Eazy E. He served as the group’s major songwriter and performer, becoming extremely notorious for his songs and performances, which established him as one of the artists who founded gangsta rap. His works as a member of N.W.A also registered his name among artists who broke boundaries of lyrical content in mainstream pop music in addition to pushing the borders of visual imagery in music videos.
He left the group in 1989 and began his solo music career which turned out to be very successful. He released his debut solo album titled AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, in May 1990 and it was an immediate hit. In the same year, he also released an EP, Kill At Will, which was a commercial success. The following year, he released his second album, Death Certificate. And just like his first, it was certified Platinum in the US and classed as one of the defining albums of the 1990s.
Following his success in the hip hop world, O’Shea Jackson, who is usually described as an influence and one of the world’s best rappers of all time decided to transition into Hollywood sequel to the release of his second album. There, his fame continued to increase after he starred in the 1991 movie Boyz n the Hood, thanks to his amazing performance.
He also wrote and played a starring role in the Friday film series, which was a contributing force to Ice Cube’s success in reinventing himself as a movie star. Since then, the rapper has appeared in a lot of films and television shows some of which are Ride Along and Barbershop. He has also produced many other movies, including Dangerous Ground, The Players Club, Barbershop 2: Back in Business, Lottery Ticket, Straight Outta Compton, and Barbershop: The Next Cut among others.
Apart from music and film, the growth of Ice Cube’s net worth is also as a result of the money he makes from his businesses. One of these business ventures is a licensed clothing line named Solo by Cube, which features both men’s and women’s styles of snapbacks, t-shirts, and hooded sweatshirts. From 2011 to date, the rapper has featured in adverts for the ABV light beer, Coors Light. Also, he formerly served as a spokesperson for Pabst Brewing Company’s St. Ides malt liquor.
Additionally, he ventured into sports with the establishment of a 3-on-3 professional basketball league known as Big3. Co-founded by entertainment executive Jeff Kwatinetz, the league is made up of 12 teams which features both former NBA and foreign players. It kicked off its first season in June 2017, featuring eight teams.
How Does The Rapper Spend His Money?
Ice Cube’s net worth shows that the rapper can afford the best things of life. He purchased a 7,575-square-foot mansion in 2016 in Marina del Ray, California. The house which he bought from actor Jean-Claude Van Damme at the cost of $7.25 million features six bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, a living room with a fireplace, a chef’s kitchen, dining area, a family room, and a large office space among others.
He also has a collection of cars, including a Cadillac Escalade, a Corvette Stingray, a Porsche Panamera, a Rolls Royce, a Bentley Flying Spur, and a Bentley Arnage.
