Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

Arts & Entertainment

Video: Ice Cube Reunites With N.W.A. Members To Perform 'F--- Tha Police'

ice_cube.jpg
Ice Cube performs at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts in 2014 (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

N.W.A.'s "F--- Tha Police" is a timeless rap anthem, but it somehow sounds the most relevant right now—almost 27 years later.

Headlining the BET Experience (a whole weekend of events leading up to the BET Awards, Sunday night) was a concert featuring Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar, and Snoop Dogg on Saturday night. During Cube's set, the rapper performed with fellow N.W.A. members MC Ren and DJ Yella. According to Pitchfork, it was the first time Ice Cube performed with MC Ren since 2000, and the first time he shared a stage with DJ Yella since 1989. Dr. Dre was not in the house.

The trio performed the iconic "Fuck Tha Police" at the Staples Center, using a montage of recent cases of police brutality and subsequent "Black Lives Matter" protests to create a stark backdrop. Some of the clips include the Walter Scott shooting and the pool party gone amok in Texas. The video quality isn't great, but you can see the montage above.

"Fuck Tha Police" launched the rap group into infamy when the FBI sent them a letter accusing them of "violence against and disrespect" for law enforcement.

Also, if you haven't heard, there's a new movie about the group that comes out soon.

Here's another clip of them performing "Chin Check"

Sponsored message

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today