Ice Cube doesn't see anything wrong with a stereotype. In fact, the 36-year-old rap mogul has built an empire on stereotypes, whether perpetuating them as the self-proclaimed "nigga ya love to hate" in NWA and Boyz n the Hood (1991), or debunking them in family-friendly fare like Are We There Yet? (2005), and in his reality TV hit Black. White. As he prepares to release Laugh Now, Cry Later, his first solo album in six years, Cube is looking to challenge another stereotype-that veteran rappers don't age well. Sitting in the Santa Monica office of his Cube Vision production company, he takes a long, hard sip of his Cherry Slurpee, shuffles some papers around his immaculate desk, and stares unflinchingly as the questions begin.

Every rapper from 50 Cent to T.I. has a movie now. Is it frustrating to get lumped in with all the new jacks?
Nope, because that tells me that my work needs to stick out above the crowd. Either you got it or you don't. It's nothing for me to think about, worry about, or hate on, or trip on, because early on in Hollywood you had to sing and dance to even get a job. If you couldn't do it all, you couldn't ever act. From Nat King Cole to Sammy Davis Jr. to Frank Sinatra to Elvis, people have always gone from music to acting, so it's nothing new. It's just a different time, a different kinda entertainer coming in. But that's how it's always been.

Do awards like the Grammys and Oscars mean anything?
Not to us it shouldn't. I remember when we wasn't accepted by anybody, like the radio, the video shows, Grammys, American Music Awards-so now they're kinda embracing the music not because they really want to, but because it's the most popular music of the day. It's cool to go up there and get 'em, but to define yourself-like, Three 6 Mafia won an Oscar, but do you think they a better group for that? I like some of their songs that didn't win an Oscar better than the one that did, so to me that shouldn't define us at all. If you get caught up in winning awards, I don't think you could really create your best work comin' from that angle. You tryin' to impress the wrong people.

You mention George W. Bush a lot on your new album. Why is that?
Because he needs to be on people's minds with what he's doing with his administration. When I came out with Death Certificate in '91, I talked about his father a lot. Every time one of these Republican cats gets into office, the economy's messed up, gas prices go up. Everybody's more paranoid. The Christian Right goes crazy. It does make the hip-hop better; oppressed people have the best art. People need to pay attention to my new album because people are into partying and bullshittin' and not really into what's happening with their rights.

Speaking of Death Certificate, when you wrote "Black Korea" about racist Korean grocers, did you know that many do get robbed in the ghetto, and their suspicion might be a reaction to that reality?
Yeah, I realize that happens a lot. I'm not Korean. I can only speak from my point of view and be accurate about it. But I'll produce any Korean rapper that wanna spit about niggas comin' in they shop stealin' and shit.

On Black. White., it seems like the people are essentially fulfilling stereotypes.
But see, when we picked these guys, we didn't think they was none of that. These mainstream, middle-class people gave us a better picture of the society we live in. People who didn't think they're racist, but by them living in a racist country, layers stack on top of them. Our show was to pull back the layers one by one. There's some truth in stereotypes. People just should be themselves. If we eating chicken is a stereotype, and I like chicken, I'm gonna have me some damn chicken. I'm not gonna worry about who's watching me and am I fulfilling the stereotypes.

Do you think your current image in family movies like Are We There Yet? contradicts your rap identity?
Yeah, but see, in movies you're just acting. If you wanna be an actor and you wanna have some kind of control in what you're doing, then it's kinda hard to parallel both of 'em and still work a lot. With movies you have to take more chances; it's whatever the character calls for. It's all me when it's all said and done-it's just most of the rap I do is gangster rap.

Do you think your music is still relevant for the 106 & Park crowd?
I don't know. I don't live for the 106 & Park crowd. I got older fans. 

On movies, how would you compare your XXX performance to Vin Diesel's?
Mine was just better. Look better, act better. I don't know what he could do as good as me. 

He could play an Italian.
Maybe that.

Three Kings was one of the first Gulf War films. Are you going to do anything about the current Iraq War?
We're talking about it. But in Hollywood, ain't nothing real until somebody signs a check.  Home » CELEBRITIES » The Shotcaller » Ice Cube