‘Straight Outta Compton’: Ice Cube’s Son Plays His Father
Ice Cube’s oldest son, O’Shea Jackson, Jr., was so intent on playing his father in the upcoming movie, Straight Outta Compton, that he took the time get his dad’s mannerisms down pat during a two-year audition process. His determination has paid off.
Billboard reports that Jackson, Jr., 24, makes his acting debut as “Ice Cube” in the upcoming film, Straight Outta Compton. The movie, which depicts the humble beginnings of rap group N.W.A., and captures the group’s rise to fame and the subsequent downfall, is produced by two of the group’s original members, Dr. Dre and Ice Cube.
Although children often make fun of their parents’ clothing and music choices they had while growing up, Jackson, Jr. told Billboard that he didn’t have any problems portraying someone who grew up in the ’80s, aside from the lingo.
“The only thing that would be remote to that would be the lingo of the ’80s, just the things that they said that were ‘in’…. No pun intended: Ice Cube’s the coolest dad.”
Jackson, Jr. doesn’t plan to end his acting career anytime soon. Ice Cube’s ambitious son wants to stay in the acting business, but wants to wait until Straight Outta Compton is released in order to showcase his talent.
“I’m definitely ready to get my foot in as far as the cinema, definitely trying to get my acting career off the ground. I want to wait until Straight Outta Compton is well in everyone’s minds and see where we go from there.”
If he inherited his father’s acting talent, there is a good chance we’ll see more of Jackson, Jr. in the future. Ice Cube has starred in over 30 movies, which brought a myriad of award nominations and wins, including the 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Award: Favorite Action Team award for his role in the movie, Three Kings.
In addition to acting, Ice Cube states that his son also has a natural knack for music. Jackson, Jr. has been around the music scene before he could even talk.
“We first took him on tour, me and my wife, when he was 1½…. So he’s been around movies and music his whole life…. Then at 18, he started to really perform with me. So he has a knack for the stage. I’ve seen him rap my songs before on stage, with me. So to see him do this on the big screen, it was great. I wasn’t surprised that he was so good, because I knew how good he was.”
To see Ice Cube’s new film and his son in action, check out Straight Outta Compton, slated to hit theaters on August 14.
[Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images]
