Ice cube interview about jerry heller biography

I actually feel lucky to have survived a recent visit to the film set of Straight Outta Compton. The upcoming biopic dramatizes the mid-to-late eighties rise of the groundbreaking rap group N. W. A, and has been beset with plenty of real-life drama swirling off camera. First there were accusations of racism on the extras call sheet (absolutely valid), then a drive-by shooting near filming at the Compton Courthouse, and later a serious scuffle between rap impresario Suge Knight and security personnel that ended with one man dead and another dangerously injured after Knight backed his pickup truck then ran over a man in his haste to flee the set. Not bad for a group that helped to define gangsta rap and catapulted West Coast hip hop into notoriety…

In 1986 a bunch of friends from L.A.’s South Central neighborhood of Compton formed a rap group, largely to use their music to protest against poverty and police oppression. N. W. A stood for ‘Niggaz Wit Attitudes’ and the guys certainly had an aggressive attitude to burn, railing against commonplace police brutality with songs such as ‘Fuck tha Police’ and ‘Gangsta Gangsta.’

Active from 1986 to 1991, the rap group was ultimately comprised of Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Eazy E, DJ Yeller and MC Ren. N. W. A endured controversy due to their profane and violent lyrics that glorified drugs and crime and also disparaged women in almost equal measures. Describing the oppression and constant struggle of life in the ’hood, the guys called it “reality rap.”

A central figure to the saga, rapper (and one of the movie’s co-producers, along with Dr. Dre) Ice Cube tells me he got involved after he heard that Jerry Heller — N. W. A manager and Ruthless Records co-founder, along with Eazy E — was trying to get the movie off the ground.

Cube says he was hands on, “from the whole concept to gathering all the information to interv

Ice Cube is never one to mince words or back away from expressing his opinion — no matter how blunt and hard-hearted they may be. As a case in point, look at the N.W.A. rapper’s recent interview on Detroit radio station Hot 107.5.

When asked about the recent death of Jerry Heller, the former N.W.A. manager who was suing the group for defamation due to his depiction in the biopic “Straight Outta Compton,” Cube didn’t budge from his long-standing stance. “I didn’t have no emotions, you know,” said Cube. Heller died after having a heart attack while driving last Friday (September 2). He was 75.

Jerry Heller, Ruthless Records co-founder, dies at 75

“I ain’t gon’ pop no champagne, but I ain’t goin’ shed no tears either,” he elaborated. “It is what it is, you know. We come here to pass, and he’s outta here, so you know. Like I said, I’m not losing no sleep over that one.”

Heller has an infamous history with the N.W.A. Despite leading the group into dominance, financial disputes between he and the group led to their downfall. Ice Cube left to pursue a solo career in 1989, amid a dispute over royalty payments. In 1991, Dr. Dre made similar claims about Heller’s mismanagement, departing to form Death Row Records with Marion “Suge” Knight. Heller denied the accusations. Last year, the former manager was played by Paul Giamatti in the N.W.A. biopic “Straight Outta Compton.” Heller was unhappy by his depiction and filed a defamation lawsuit against Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, the estate of Eazy-E, NBC Universal, and others.

Former N.W.A. manager Jerry Heller's death has inspired mixed reactions within the hip-hop community. Some people have praised him for his work in putting N.W.A. into the mainstream, while others have criticized him for long-standing allegations that he fleeced the group out of money. One person who surprisingly doesn't have strong feelings about the situation is Ice Cube.

The rapper sat down for a radio interview with Detroit's Hot 107.5 on Tuesday, where he was asked about Heller's death. Despite their long history of conflict—and the scorched earth attacks Cube launched against Heller on "No Vaseline"—Cube didn't seem to have much of an opinion about his death. "I didn't have no emotions," he said. "I'm glad I'm with DJ Yella, I'm glad I'm with MC Rehn today, it's only right." Cube went on to explain that he's moved beyond being upset with his former manager. "I ain't gonna pop no champagne but I ain't gonna shed no tears either. It is what it is... He's outta here. I'm not losing no sleep over Heller," he said.

Heller died on Sept. 3. Since his death, Heller's attorney has come out and blamed the 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton for his death. Heller was not happy about his portrayal in the film, which depicted him as a shady manager who appropriated the group's royalty money. Although this is consistent with what Ice Cube and Dr. Dre have said about Heller for years, it runs counter to Heller's continued claims that he never did anything wrong with regards to the group.

Heller had recently brought a $110 million defamation lawsuit against Dre, Cube, the estate of Eazy E, and the Straight Outta Compton filmmakers for portraying him as an "exploitative record label manager."

Related News

SH