RECAP: ICE CUBES 'TRUTH TO POWER - FOUR DECADES OF ATTITUDE TOUR'

Backspin Canada
1 day ago
4 min read

Ice Cube and his 'Truth to Power - Four Decades of Attitude Tour' made its 11th stop in Vancouver on September 20, filling the Pacific Coliseum with four generations of fans. It was his first B.C. appearance since Abbotsford in February 2024 on the Straight into Canada Tour, and his 10th performance in the province overall. That history stretches back to Lollapalooza 1992, when a young O’Shea Jackson first introduced British Columbia to his voice.

Photos by Tage Stenner / Backspin HQ

Before the tour, Cube reminded fans what this run is about. “Truth to Power is more than a tour, it’s a 40-year celebration. The world needs truth. The people need power. And that’s what my music brings. It’s gonna’ be next level to go from city to city with a major production unlike anything I’ve ever done before.”

The audience reflected those four decades. Young kids stood next to day-one fans, many dressed in Raiders gear, Compton hats, and Ice Cube jerseys. The night kicked off with a video introduction that traced his story from South Central beginnings to his partnership with Dr. Dre and the rise of N.W.A.

Smoke filled the stage as Cube stepped through a screen door entrance. He wore a fitted Dodgers cap with a bandana underneath, Ray-Bans, black pants with a bandana at the pocket, and a black-and-white jersey marked with his name and the number 40. On his feet were classic Converse. The stage looked like a West Coast block party, with car fronts flanking a two-level platform and a catwalk riser that lifted him above the crowd during “Gangsta Gangsta.”

The night opened with “Before Hip Hop,” setting the stage before Cube and his crew dropped into the first N.W.A classics “F*ck tha Police” and “Dopeman.” One of the night’s most powerful moments came early when Lil Eazy-E joined for “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” The son of Eazy-E stepped into his father’s role, and the crowd showed love at the generational handoff.

“Gangsta Gangsta” and “Straight Outta Compton” kept the N.W.A foundation alive before Cube shifted into solo landmarks like “Once Upon a Time in the Projects,” and “Jackin’ for Beats.”

Before “No Vaseline,” Cube gave context with a story. “At the end of the ’80s, start of the ’90s, I left N.W.A. The money was funny so I got outta there. But when I left they dissed the sh*t out of me. They called me all kinds of names. Now the problem is, when you diss me, I got to diss you back. And when I diss you back, imma give it to you good. And I’m going to give it to you with ‘No Vaseline.’”

The show flowed through Death Certificate and The Predator cuts including “How to Survive in South Central,” “Steady Mobbin,” “My Summer Vacation,” “Ghetto Bird,” and “Wicked.” Each track tied his rise in the 1990s to the present stage.

Tributes were woven in as well. A video honoured director John Singleton, who gave Cube his film breakthrough in Boyz n the Hood. Later Cube remembered Eazy-E, saying “Now Eazy-E is the architect of this sh*t right here. Yeah, we made it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, we won a lifetime achievement award last year. And all I can hear in my ear was Eazy in the background saying, ‘I told you, I told you, I told you.’ None of this would be possible without him.”

The mid-set kept the hits coming: “Check Yo’ Self,” “Really Doe,” “We Be Clubbin,” and “Friday.” He pushed into funk-heavy anthems like “Bop Gun (One Nation)” and breezy west coast staples like “You Know How We Do It.”

The Westside Connection era then took over. WC joined Cube for “Bow Down,” “The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer,” “Gangsta Nation,” and “Hello.” Together they also tore through “Natural Born Killaz,” reuniting the intensity of his collaborations with Dr. Dre.

Late in the set, Cube shifted to the 2000s with “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It,” “Why We Thugs,” “Go to Church,” “Until We Rich,” “Do Ya Thang,” “You Can Do It,” and “Ain’t Got No Haters.” It proved his catalog runs deep across every era of hip hop.

He also took shots at lazy live performers. “See I rap for real, you know what I mean? I don’t bullsh*t. I don’t know what some of these artists be doing now of days, they come out, you pay to see them perform, and they got their f*cking mic down. Damn, I came, I paid my money, I parked, I got fresh, AND I got to sing the f*cking song?”

The encore opened with “It Was a Good Day,” one of hip hop’s most iconic tracks, with WC on stage to amplify the moment. He closed with “It’s My Ego,” leaving Vancouver with both nostalgia and a reminder that his attitude is still present tense.

The night balanced history, gratitude and reflection. Ice Cube gave Vancouver more than a greatest hits show. He gave them a living history lesson in hip hop, punctuated with tributes, stories, and authenticity.

Four decades after first stepping into British Columbia, Ice Cube returned with a show that felt part block party, part documentary, and part cultural reckoning. The setlist told his story in full. The tributes honoured those who built with him. The quotes reminded Vancouver of the attitude that shaped his career.

Ice Cube’s truth is still sharp. His power is still undeniable.

Remaining Tour Dates

September 22 - Portland, OR at Moda Center

September 25 - Oakland, CA at Oakland Arena

September 27 - San Diego, CA at Viejas Arena

September 28 - Los Angeles, CA at Crypto.com Arena

September 30 - Glendale, AZ at Desert Diamond Arena

October 2 - Fort Worth, TX at Dickies Arena

October 4 - Oklahoma City, OK at Paycom Center

October 6 - Chicago, IL at United Center

October 8 - Cleveland, OH at Rocket Arena

October 9 - Toronto, ON at Scotiabank Arena