Ice Cube + Luck-One + Erok and Mayo – Roseland Theater (Portland, OR; Apr. 8, 2011)

For someone who grew up in Southern California during the height of gangsta rap’s popularity, seeing Ice Cube is like going home. After funneling through metal detectors and having my purse sniff-tested for drugs by the Roseland Theater’s security guards, the night begins with DJ T.J. spinning classic 90s jams. The brief DJ set ends, and we are introduced to the first openers, Erok and Mayo, who won an “Open for Ice Cube” contest hosted by Jammin’ 107.5. Both performers appear nervous, and hardly move during the delivery of their rhymes. The first song has a decidedly retro vibe that is an appropriate lead-in for tonight’s headliner. Both men’s voices crack slightly throughout the performance. They announce the title of every song, and are joined by a pair of dancing ladies for the third one. Clad in vests and tiny tube tops like a Fly Girls throwback, the dancers gyrate awkwardly behind Erok and Mayo and occasionally lip-sync along with the lyrics. “Life in the Fast Lane” borrows its chorus from New Kids on the Block’s “The Right Stuff,” continuing the night’s retro theme. While Erok and Mayo were good enough to beat the other hopefuls for the coveted opening spot, I’m glad to see them go.

Up next is local rapper Luck-One, who bounds into the room with much higher energy and a strong command of the stage. He calls himself the “King of the Northwest,” and rightly so. His rhymes are lightning-quick, and many are performed solo without the aid of a backing track. True to Portland form, he wears a beanie and has his keys attached to his belt loop with a carabiner. The keys jangle violently as he jumps high in the air and runs effortlessly from one side of the stage to another without missing a beat. He performs “Sounds of my City” with bass so thick it makes my hair vibrate, and coaxes a call-and-response from the eager audience. Toward the end of his set, he gives us some choices. Do we want “hyper shit,” “crunk shit,” or “real shit?” The DJ plays some samples to help us decide. A snippet of the much-reviled Soulja Boy is met with boos, while Snoop Dogg’s “Gin and Juice” elicits roaring cheers. We are caught in a hip-hop choose-your-own-adventure story. Luck-One brings a guest rapper onstage to join him, and jumps into the audience to conclude his set, basking in the energy he’s created.

The stage setup remains minimal for the upcoming legend. DJ Crazy Tunes appears behind the record decks, and beckons the man we came to see. From offstage, Ice Cube taunts us. The DJ forms his fingers into the iconic W shape, and raises his hand into a salute. First to the stage is Cube’s longtime collaborator, WC; the crowd goes wild when he appears. Finally, Ice Cube appears before us. “Can we keep it gangsta tonight?” He asks. Well, this is Portland, but we’ll try. The feeling in the room is pure 90s, as if the last 20 years never happened. He begins with “Life in California.” Already, the audience is amped to be in the presence of greatness. Several women in the balcony begin dancing so furiously that they are in danger of tumbling into the crowd below. There is a sea of bobbing hands and camera phones swaying in the air. The audience is diverse, and several parents have brought their young children for an important lesson in the history of rap music. 

After a few songs culled from his solo career, he switches gears and asks us if we remember N.W.A. “Straight Outta Compton” quickly follows this question. Though the excitement in the room is palpable, something is missing in Cube’s performance. He is dialing it in, it seems; following the motions he’s been making for his 20+ year career with no variation. Nonetheless, the show continues. He leads us in a chant in remembrance of Nate Dogg, who passed away last month, and plays a sample from Dr. Dre’s “The Next Episode” in his honor. He treats us to “Check Yo Self,” as well as Westside Connection’s “Bow Down” with the help of WC. The next song, “You Can Do It” is what gets the crowd moving, though, with enough booty shaking in the balcony that the support beams threaten to give way. Every song seems shortened, clocking in at no more than two minutes, as if he is trying to cram as many nostalgic hits into his 90-minute set as possible.

With the end of his performance looming, Cube launches into one of his best-known songs, “It Was a Good Day.” This song, beloved by fans, should have closed out the night. Instead, he brings his two oldest sons, emerging rappers Doughboy and OMG, onstage to perform “She Couldn’t Make It on Her Own” from his most recent album, I Am the West. It’s unremarkable and not fit for this point of the evening. Unfortunately, there is nothing special about OMG and Doughboy other than their relation to their famous father. The last song, “I Rep That West,” also from that latest release, ends the performance with minimal fanfare and sends half the audience toward the door before its final note. Earlier in the night, Cube paused to relay a message to the audience. He told us people want him to retire, but that he started this gangsta shit and he plans on finishing it. However, if finishing what he started means sleepily performing his old hits peppered with the occasional new one, I say send him his AARP card and let’s have something new.

DOWNLOAD: Ice Cube - Check Yo Self (Remix) (MP3) or Follow us for more Ice Cube MP3s (Twitter)

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