Editing Ice Cube (section)

===1989–1993: Early solo career, ''AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted'', ''Death Certificate'', and ''The Predator''===
In early 1990, Ice Cube recorded his debut solo album, ''[[AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted]]'', in New York with iconic rap group [[Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy]]'s production team, [[the Bomb Squad]]. Arriving in May 1990, it was an instant hit, further swelling rap's mainstream integration. Controversial nonetheless, it drew accusations of misogyny and racism. The album introduces Ice Cube's affirmation of black nationalism and ideology of black struggle.

Cube appointed [[Yo-Yo (rapper)|Yo-Yo]], a female rapper and guest on the album, to be the head of his record label, and helped produce her debut album, ''[[Make Way for the Motherlode]]''. Also in 1990, Cube followed up with an [[Extended Play|EP]]—''[[Kill At Will]]''—critically acclaimed, and rap's first EP certified [[Platinum album|Platinum]].<ref name="Allmusic">{{cite web|title=Ice Cube – Biography|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p48/biography|pure_url=yes}}|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine|year=2007|website=Allmusic|access-date=February 13, 2008}}</ref>

His second album ''[[Death Certificate (album)|Death Certificate]]'' was released in 1991.<ref name=":6">{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|date=October 31, 1991|title=Death Certificate – Ice Cube|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/death-certificate-r27942/review|access-date=April 11, 2012|website=AllMusic}}</ref> The album was thought to be more focused, yet even more controversial, triggering accusations of anti-white, antisemitic, and misogynistic content. The album was split into two themes: the Death Side, "a vision of where we are today", and the Life Side, "a vision of where we need to go". The track "[[No Vaseline]]" scathingly retorts insults directed at him by N.W.A's [[100 Miles and Runnin'|1990 EP]] and [[EFil4zaggin|1991 album]], which call him a traitor.<ref name=":122">Sacha Jenkins, Elliott Wilson, Jeff Mao, Gabe Alvarez & Brent Rollins, "Mo' beef, mo' problems: #7, N.W.A vs. Ice Cube", ''[[Ego Trip (magazine)|Ego Trip]]'s Book of Rap Lists'' (New York: [[St. Martin's Griffin]], 1999), [https://books.google.com/books?id=sB3SAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22100+Miles%22&pg=PA238 p 238].</ref><ref>Vlad Lyubovny, interviewer, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdO7SJ5VGoQ "DJ Yella: All of NWA knew Ice Cube won with 'No Vaseline' "], ''VladTV''–''[[DJ Vlad|DJVlad]]'' @ YouTube "Verified" channel, August 22, 2015.</ref> Besides calling for hanging Eazy-E as a "house nigga", the track blames N.W.A's manager [[Jerry Heller]] for exploiting the group, mentions that he is a Jew, and calls for his murder.<ref name=":10" /><ref name=":7" /> Ice Cube contended that he mentioned Heller's ethnicity merely incidentally, not to premise attack, but as news media mention nonwhite assailants' races.<ref name=":7" /> The track "Black Korea", also deemed racist,<ref name=":6" /> was also thought as foreseeing the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]].<ref name="Allmusic"/> While controversial, ''Death Certificate'' broadened his audience; he toured with [[Lollapalooza]] in 1992.<ref name=chillin/>

[[File:Ice Cube and Da Lench Mob at the Ranch Bowl 1993-02-10 (ticket).jpg|thumb|left|A ticket from a 1993 Ice Cube concert in Omaha, Nebraska]]
Cube's third album, ''[[The Predator (1992 album)|The Predator]]'', was released in November 1992. Referring to the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]], the song "[[Wicked (Ice Cube song)|Wicked]]" opens, "April 29 was power to the people, and we might just see a sequel." ''The Predator'' was the first album ever to debut at No. 1 on both the R&B/hip-hop and pop charts. Singles include "[[It Was a Good Day]]" and "[[Check Yo Self]]", songs having a "two-part" music video. Generally drawing critical praise, the album is his most successful commercially, over three million copies sold in the US. After this album, Cube's rap audience severely diminished, and never regained the prominence of his first three albums.<ref name=":5" />

During this time, Cube began to have numerous features on other artists' songs. In 1992, Cube appeared on [[Del the Funky Homosapien]]'s debut album ''[[I Wish My Brother George Was Here]]'', on [[Da Lench Mob]]'s debut ''[[Guerillas in tha Mist]]'', which he also produced, and on the [[Kool G Rap]] and [[DJ Polo]] song "[[Live and Let Die (album)|Two to the Head]]". In 1993, he worked on [[Kam (rapper)|Kam]]'s debut album, and collaborated with [[Ice-T]] on the track "Last Wordz" on [[Tupac Shakur|2Pac]]'s album ''[[Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.]]''.