From boy n the hood to hollywood mogul: Ice cube’s lasting stardom in contemporary hollywood

Abstract

Lobalzo Wright explores Ice Cube’s transition from controversial gangster rapper to Hollywood mogul through an investigation of his industrial position in contemporary Hollywood, as an actor, writer, director, and producer. His longevity, a feat mostly unmatched by many of his rap contemporaries, can be linked to the conglomerate nature of contemporary Hollywood. His success, however, is limited by the same industry through the ideology of black male stardom and the critical reception of many of his films, although the box office success of some of his more recent films may signal a turning point in his film career.