Ice Cube Speaks On Dr. Dre's Absence During N.W.A.'s Grammy Acceptance
My man, Dr. Dre, is not here. He wanted to make sure I let you know he’s not hating. He a billionaire. He got shit to do”
- Ice Cube
Ice Cube Clarifies Dr. Dre's Absence as N.W.A. Receives Lifetime Achievement Award:
N.W.A. and Eazy-E’s mom accepted a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Special Merit Awards:
— VIBE Magazine (@VibeMagazine) February 4, 2024
“My man Dr. Dre's not here. He wanted to make sure, to let you know to not hate me...He’s a billionaire. He got sh*t to do,” joked @icecube.
Hear Dr. Dre's message at the end! #Grammys pic.twitter.com/QUFcMy5yRo
Cube highlighted Eazy-E's vision, acknowledging him as the catalyst for their groundbreaking music. Reflecting on their journey starting in the mid-'80s, Cube expressed how they defied Grammy expectations with their unique music style, never anticipating radio play.
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Despite lacking traditional vocal prowess, N.W.A aimed to articulate the realities of their Los Angeles environment, addressing issues in Compton, South Central, Long Beach, and Watts through their heartfelt music.
This Lifetime Achievement Award, posthumously awarded to Eazy-E alongside Donna Summer and Tammy Wynette, marks a milestone in N.W.A's legacy. Cube's message resonates with the group's early struggles, as they navigated a music industry that initially dismissed their genre.
This is actually Eazy-E’s vision. He’s the one who allowed us to do this type of music. We knew when we started to do music in 1985, ’86, ’87 that a Grammy was not in the cards for us, with the type of music we was doing. We actually didn’t think we would ever even get on the radio. We was cool with that. We can’t sing like Gladys. None of us can hold a note like the Clark sisters. But we still wanted to express ourselves and try to make sense of the world around us, in L.A., Compton, South Central, Long Beach, Watts. It was a different world out there, and we were trying to make sense of it. And what we did is, we did music. We did music from our hearts.”
- Ice Cube
In essence, N.W.A's induction into the esteemed ranks of Lifetime Achievement Grammy recipients signifies their enduring impact on hip-hop and cultural expression. The absence of Dr. Dre, while notable, does not overshadow the group's historic recognition and the acknowledgment of their pioneering contributions to the rap genre.