15/05/2025
Ice Cube's first solo album, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted," dropped on May 18, 1990, through Priority Records. This marked his departure from the group N.W.A., and it was quite the success, reaching platinum status in the US.
Before going solo, Cube and Dr. Dre from N.W.A. had plans to collaborate on Cube's debut solo, but label conflicts interfered. Cube then teamed up with Sir Jinx, Dr. Dre's cousin, and started working on songs previously meant for Eazy-E. They even moved to New York to get things done.
The album got its final touch from Public Enemy's production team, The Bomb Squad. Cube brought in notebooks filled with new rhymes for the project. The lyrics tackled heavy subjects like ghetto life, racism, and police brutality. Cube didn't hold back, even criticizing certain African-Americans and radio stations.
Despite not having a lead single or video initially, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" made waves. Critics praised the album for its rawness and social commentary. While some found Cube's lyrics distasteful, others saw it as an important social document. Over the years, it gained classic status in Hip-Hop circles.
Ice Cube's bold stance on societal issues didn't go unnoticed, his influence spread across the rap scene, inspiring many artists. "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" debuted at number 19 on the US Billboard 200 chart and quickly went gold, earning platinum status just four months later.
