Ice Cube at Club Mohawk

December 14, 2008-When I found out that Ice Cube was coming to Austin, I had to go. You may be asking, “What’s a guy like you doing at an Ice Cube concert?” Well my profile states that I like ALL types of music and I really do. Anyway, I got into Rap and Gansta Rap because my kids grew up with MTV. I also found MTV interesting and entertaining not to mention this was music history in the making. Of course MTV played music videos but then introduced rap music. Many of the rappers were sampling songs from music I grew up listening to and now my kids were listening to a new version of that old song. Then “YO! MTV Raps” came out and all hell broke loose. Gansta Rap was introduced to the mainstream audience.

All this sound familiar? Whether you’re my age or grew up in the MTV generation, Rap music was here to stay.

Ice Cube or O’Shea Jackson, is on my short list of must see rappers along with Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Sugarhill Gang, RunDMC and the Beastie Boys. He can be credited for getting rap from the street to mainstream USA in the late 1980s. Ice Cube was the lyrical brains behind MWA which consisted of : Dr Dre, Easy-E, MC Ren, DJ Yella and Ice Cube. In 1990 he went solo and in 1993 he teamed up with WC and Mack 10 to form Westside Connection. Ice Cube also has a successful movie career with credits in "Boys in the Hood," several "Friday" movies, "Barbershop" and "Are We There Yet" to name a few movies. If that wasn’t enough, Ice Cube established his won Lench Mob Records label.

The Mohawk hosted the show this night. In one of my previous blogs, I stated that I really like the Mohawk and its tri-level set up. The night was cool and breezy but nice for a December. The tickets for the show were $25, a little high for me, but it was Ice Cube! I positioned myself on the patio above the audience and facing the stage. The crowd really didn’t come in until Ice Cube took the stage at about 9:30 PM with an estimated 400 packed fans.

I really liked this show because Ice Cube does an excellent job of engaging the audience. He talks to the crowd and the crowd happily responds. DubC, Ice Cube’s partner, would ask Ice Cube a question and then Ice Cube would respond and ask the audience the question. The audience would respond and then Ice Cube would use the answer as an introduction to the next song. Ice Cubed sang for about two solid hours but we could all have gone all night.

Note: Personally I don't use the same language that you hear on gansta rap music but I understand the artistic value and impact it provides to song and message . If you are offended by such language, do not listen or view the videos. Thanks.

To get an idea of the sense of the actual show click on the YouTube video by bluntedviewz .

Ice Cube performed all my favorites songs and a couple of songs from his new Raw Footage CD

Gansta Nation

Today Was A Good Day

Check Yo Self

We be Clubbin’

You Can Do It

Fuck The Police

Why Me?

I Got My Locs On (Raw Footage)

The sound system was pretty good that night but Ice Cube kept asking for more volume. He frequently would use the sound of a shot gun cocking and firing throughout the concert. Plus the thumping sound of the bass in the music mesmerized the audience into mindless submission, me included.

Now there is plenty of free parking if you get to the Mohawk before the show but watch out for people who guide you to an available parking spot and then ask for a "donation." I’d stayed away from those guys and parked in another free location.

I do have a complaint about the Mohawk restroom in the inside bar area. You have approximately 300 men, most of them drinking, trying to use a restroom with two urinals and one stall. Wow!

Overall one of the best concerts/shows I’ve been to ever. I strongly recommend that you catch an Ice Cube show next time he's in your area. You will not be disappointed.