Ice Cube, whose early career as a member of the
groundbreaking gangsta rap group NWA was dramatized by Hollywood with
last year's hit film Straight Outta Compton, is looking back
again. At this point in his career, Cube is probably as well known as
an actor as he is as a rapper. Surprisingly, particularly for those
that remember his menacing scowl in early videos and films like Boyz
'N the Hood, it has turned out that the guy is a natural comedian.
He started showing off his comic chops in the
Friday films, but he really changed everyone's perception of him
with the 2002 film Barbershop. Playing an aging, hard-working
guy who is just looking to run a small business and carve out a little
happiness for himself, Cube softened the edges he had shown in earlier
films like Trespass, The Player's Club, Anaconda and All About
the Benjamins.
With an all-star ensemble including Anthony
Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Michael Ealy, Troy Garity, Keith
David, DeRay Davis and a scene-stealing Cedric the Entertainer, the film
because a huge success, spawning a sequel a couple of years later. Cube
also produced the 2006 spin-off Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah.
Twelve years on from the last Barbershop
film, Cube decided to go back home again. Once again he was joined by
Anderson, Thomas, Eve and Cedric. Joining in for this go-around are a
group of some of the most talented actors (and rappers) on the scene,
including Common, Nikki Minaj, Regina Hall, Tyga, J.B. Smoove and Deon
Cole. Comedian Cole has worked on The Tonight Show with Conan
O'Brien, Lopez Tonight, and is currently on the series Black-ish
and Angie Tribeca.
At the Philadelphia premiere of Barber Shop: The
Next Cut, we caught up with Ice Cube and co-star Cole on the red
carpet to briefly discuss the new movie.
Can you tell us a
little bit about the film?
Ice Cube:
It's a great movie. It's a funny movie. An all-star cast. It's about
a shop in the south side of Chicago, and it's going through problems,
you know? It had to become unisex, so now it's a beauty shop and a
barber shop.
Deon Cole:
It's a movie set on the south side of Chicago. It focuses on the
relationship between a father and a son, in addition to the struggles of
growing up in this day and age, with the violence going on in Chicago.
Ice Cube:
They're dealing with issues in the neighborhood and trying to be a
positive force in the movie.
This is the third
film in the series. How does this one compare to the earlier ones?
Ice Cube:
It's better. (laughs)
Better, huh?
Ice Cube:
Yeah.
What would you
consider to be your favorite scene in the film?
Deon Cole:
Man, there is just so many of them. It's so hard to pick one. Each
scene makes me feel a different emotion, so it's really hard to pick
just one.
We're in the city of
Brotherly Love. What's your favorite thing about Philadelphia?
Ice Cube:
Oh, the people. The people, they know what they like. They know what
they don't like. You don't come wit' it, you're gonna get booed. So
that's great.
How has Philadelphia
been treating you?
Deon Cole:
It's amazing. I love being here. There is so much love. The fans are
great.
Who is your favorite
character in the film if you had to choose just one?
Deon Cole:
Ice Cube, obviously, because he hired me. Thank you very much Cube!
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT ICE CUBE HAD TO SAY TO
US IN 2005!
