35 Years Later: Ice Cube Begins Vivacious Solo Career With ‘AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted’

Of all the iconic Hip-hop groups that emerged in the 90s, very few saw successful solo careers that branched off from their collective’s success. Wu-Tang is an obvious example of a powerful group whose members went on to achieve success in the solo realm, but back in the day, breaking free of your group’s identity and establishing your lane was much more difficult than Wu-Tang made it out to be. Along with Wu-Tang, there is one group whose members not only went on to cultivate unforgettable solo discographies but also released timeless classics. We’re talking about N.W.A. and their shining songwriter, Ice Cube, whose quickly established classic debut album, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, was released thirty-five years ago on 5/16/90.

Ice Cube’s iconic debut album came after a tumultuous time for the emcee. Towards the end of 1989, after the runaway success of N.W.A.’s Straight Outta Compton, Cube began questioning his place in the group. After writing a large portion of member Eazy-E’s rhymes for the album and lending his writing talents to Dr. Dre at times, a contract presented to Cube showed that he was not an official, contracted member of the group. Blood boiled, and one of Hip-hop’s most promising groups began to turn on each other. Just as quickly as they established the West Coast’s position in the burgeoning Hip-hop scene of the ’90s, N.W.A. was no more, leaving Cube to explore his untapped creativity freely. 

The recording of AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted began in January 1990 and lasted until May. With his home in Los Angeles acting as a reminder of his past, Cube flew to New York to work with Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad, who would go on to produce Cube’s debut along with Sir Jinx, who is a member of Cube’s original group C.I.A. Initially, Cube wanted fellow N.W.A. member Dr. Dre to make his debut solo album, but the powers that be interfered. According to legend, Eazy-E and Jerry Heller, who helped manage Ruthless Records, didn’t want Dre involved in the project. Whether that’s due to the strained relationships after N.W.A.’s split or simple business proceedings, it all worked out for Cube as he traveled East to establish his sound. 

The 16-song album established an undeniable discography in the Hip-hop history books and showcased Cube’s contributions to N.W.A. The raw delivery of these lyrics, the lyrics themselves being steeped in sociopolitical thinking, and the undeniable bounce of Cube’s flows showed how significant the artist’s impact was on the group. Cube’s talents were always evident, but never laid out for all to see until the release of AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. After the world heard this album, those same talents became undeniable. 

Cube didn’t waste a single second of his debut album. Every drum pattern hits you in the soul, every lyric aimed directly at the artist’s target, every moment dedicated to introducing the world to the true Ice Cube. Moments like “You Can’t Fade Me / JD’s Gaffilin’” and “A Gangsta’s Fairytale” highlight Cube’s storytelling abilities and how he can make a simplistic instrumental feel like an all-encompassing sonic world. On the other hand, “Rollin’ Wit the Lench Mob” and the title track show the listener that narratives aren’t necessary for Cube and how he can rhyme endlessly. It’s not all tales and bars on AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted; Cube also had some urgent messaging. “Turn Off Your Radio” is a direct shot at the racism in the music industry, and “Endangered Species (Tales From the Darkside” highlights the systematic pressure put on Black youth. 

Thirty-five years, several feature films, and a few more albums later, Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is still one of the purest examples of West Coast Hip-hop. The artist’s solo debut skyrocketed him into the pop culture pantheon, with the LP being certified Platinum in June of 1990 and peaking at 19 on the Billboard 200 charts. Critical acclaim and commercial success aside, the music has become essential listening for any young Hip-hop head looking to understand the genre better. Cube’s career has gone every which way, but all roads lead to home, and in this case, home is a 16-song debut album that continues to withstand the test of time.