Ice Cube • September 17, 2025 • Maverik Center
Reviewed and Photographed by Kevin Rolfe
When Ice Cube took the stage at the Maverik Center for his Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour, the atmosphere was electric—charged with the weight of history, legacy, and raw energy. The night was a guided tour through the evolution of West Coast hip-hop, led by one of its most uncompromising architects. Cube turned the arena into a living museum of rap, balancing nostalgia with urgency, and proving that four decades into his career, he still knows how to command a crowd. I remember listening to N.W.A. and later Ice Cube solo albums with my best friend in high school. He had an amazing car stereo, and we would play these songs so loud in our Los Angeles suburb. This concert was a trip down memory lane for me. Ice Cube did not disappoint.
Cube wasted no time in getting the show going. Opening the set with a thunderclap of rebellion: “F**k tha Police.” The familiar chant drew thousands of fists in the air, and the Maverik Center erupted with the kind of intensity only a song of that magnitude can summon. Ice Cube was taking us on a journey through his forty years in hip hop. The entire first part of his set was N.W.A staples that transported the crowd back to the late ’80s when Cube and his crew redefined the boundaries of hip-hop.
The night took an especially poignant turn when Lil Eazy-E joined Cube onstage for “Boyz-n-the-Hood.” The presence of Eazy-E’s son turned the track into a tribute rather than just a performance, reminding fans of the brotherhood, tension, and history that fueled one of rap’s most influential collectives. The pairing was both a nod to legacy and a celebration of hip-hop’s generational handoff.
That history continued with “Straight Outta Compton,” a track that still carries the same fire it did when it first shook suburban households in the late ’80s. Cube’s delivery was sharp, his voice cutting across decades as if no time had passed. He encouraged the audience to pump our fists, and the Maverik Center became a sea of fist pumps.
From there, Cube pivoted into solo territory with “The Nigga Ya Love to Hate” and “Once Upon a Time in the Projects.”Ice Cube told the audience that it was a special night for him. “What’s great about tonight. I get a chance to do some records I don’t get a chance to do. You know what I mean?” His storytelling reminded everyone why he’s one of rap’s sharpest pens, weaving humor, danger, and social commentary into cinematic verses. “Jackin’ for Beats” only reinforced Cube’s reputation as one of the most fearless voices in the game.
Cube told the audience, “1990 was crazy for me. I left the words most dangerous group. We had some sh*t going on. They dissed the F**k outta me. Yeah, they dissed the sh*t outta me. So what happens is, when you diss me, I got to diss you back, right? Now when I diss you back, I’m gonna give it to you good. And I’m a give it to ya with No Vasaline!” The crowd went crazy as Ice Cube performed his iconic diss track, “No Vasaline.”
The setlist read like a mixtape of his career. Tracks like “How to Survive in South Central,” “Steady Mobbin’,” and “My Summer Vacation” showcased Cube’s ability to balance gritty narratives with satirical edge. “Ghetto Bird” and “Wicked” had the Maverik Center bouncing, while “Check Yo’ Self” and “Really Doe” pushed the energy higher, the crowd shouting back every chorus as if they were lifelong anthems.
When Cube slid into late-’90s club joints like “We Be Clubbin’” and “Friday,” the arena turned into a party. Ice Cube told us, “I know it’s Wednesday, but I’m gonna get you high today.” The groove-heavy “Bop Gun (One Nation)” had fans swaying, while “You Know How We Do It” slowed things down with a laid-back, West Coast swagger.
The night wasn’t just about Cube alone—it was also about the legacy of Westside Connection. WC joined Cube for a run of anthems, including “Bow Down,” “The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer,” and “Gangsta Nation.” The chemistry between the two was undeniable, and their performance of “Natural Born Killaz,” a Dr. Dre and Ice Cube collaboration, reminded everyone of Cube’s deep ties to some of rap’s most iconic partnerships.
The duo kept the crowd hyped with “Hello,” “Why We Thugs,” and “Go to Church.” The momentum carried through tracks like “Until We Rich” and “Do Ya Thang,” songs that showcased Cube’s versatility, moving seamlessly from socially conscious lyrics to pure West Coast bravado. By the time “You Can Do It” and “Ain’t Got No Haters” dropped, the crowd was in full celebration mode, proof of Cube’s staying power across generations of hip-hop fans.
Then came the encore. Few songs in hip-hop are as universally beloved as “It Was a Good Day,” and hearing it live was a bucket-list moment for many in the audience. It was just a short time ago when Cube was performing this crowd favorite at the World Series at Dodgers Stadium for Game 2. The Maverik Center lit up with phone screens, fans swaying and rapping every word in unison, as Cube delivered his ode to a perfect Los Angeles day. He closed with “It’s My Ego,” a reminder that beneath the legacy and history, Ice Cube is still writing, still pushing forward, and still making music that resonates.
Throughout the night, Cube’s performance was punctuated by his signature stage presence—calm, authoritative, and razor-sharp. Unlike many of today’s performers who lean on elaborate stage effects, Cube relied on nothing more than beats, rhymes, and his commanding delivery. WC’s presence added grit and camaraderie, while Lil Eazy-E’s cameo gave the night its most emotional moment.
Ultimately, Ice Cube’s stop at the Maverik Center wasn’t just a concert—it was a celebration of hip-hop’s endurance and evolution. For two hours, fans were treated to the soundtrack of rebellion, resilience, and raw storytelling that has defined Cube’s career. The Truth to Power: Four Decades of Attitude Tour is more than a retrospective; it’s a declaration that Ice Cube remains as vital and uncompromising as ever.
At the end of the night, as fans poured out into the cool Utah air, the sentiment was clear: four decades in, Ice Cube hasn’t just told the truth to power—he’s lived it, and he’s still delivering it, one verse at a time. Like Ice Cube said, “I don’t know what some of the young MC’s are doing out there. But this is real rappin’, you know what I mean?” We sure do Cube!