SXSW 08 Music Live Shots

Ice Cube

"For all those that want Ice Cube out the game," started the legendary West Coast rapper, "I got one thing to say: You better check yourself before you wreck yourself." Bam! Ice Cube reminded everyone at Auditorium Shores Saturday night just why he's atop rap's pantheon. The hourlong set played out as a greatest-hits collection of one of hip-hop's finest hit-makers, the crowd getting what they wanted: "You Can Do It," "Check Yo Self," "Natural Born Killaz," as well as N.W.A staples "Gangsta Gangsta," "Straight Outta Compton," and "Express Yourself." Crip-walking alongside hype-man Doug C (who sounds eerily like Chuck D), Cube urged weed heads to light up, riffed on gangsta rap's bad rep, and bet Benjamins with C over whose side of the crowd was more raucous before launching into "It Was a Good Day." Had the venue had a roof, it would've landed in the river behind the stage. Rocking a black Washington Nationals jersey and grown-out Afro ("I can grow my Jheri curl back"), the oft-criticized Cube came off more Friday than Are We There Yet?, his "I'm still treacherous as ever on this goddamn mic" claim completely warranted.