Gangsta Gone Fishin’

Ice Cube has always had an attitude. With genre defining albums like Amerikkka's Most Wanted and The Predator (not to mention memberships in N.W.A and Westside Connection) there's no doubt "the other rapper with the word Ice in his name” is one of the most quintessential voices in hip-hop history. But when it comes to making movies his stature isn't quite bulletproof. With the Are We There Yet? sequel, Are We Done Yet? coming out on April 4th, King-Mag.com takes an in-depth look at some (not all because how many people really saw Torque) of Cube's hits, misses, and overall bizarre movie choices.

Boyz N the Hood - Ice Cube's big-screen debut made him a household name with the Roger Ebert crowd. As Darin ‘Doughboy' Baker, Cube was pretty much perfect as a gang banger in South Central L.A. just trying to live. The scene where Doughboy avenges Ricky's death in the parking still haunts us today. With morality, a deep underlying message, and unforgettable characters, it might be Cuba Gooding Jr.'s story, but Cube's the heart of it. If you don't think Ice Cube can act, then you haven't seen this film.

Friday - Chris Tucker's outlandish performance as Smokey is one of the most quotable Hollywood characters of all time, which makes it easy to forget Cube was actually the main character in this broad comedy. Portraying Craig Jones, a poor guy who just got canned, this adventure of two guys just trying to pay off a drug dealer showed Ice Cube could deliver the funny if he wanted.

Anaconda - And thus began the melting of Ice Cube's movie career. Fighting a giant snake that eventually swallows and regurgitates Jon Voight is one thing, but then exclaiming: "Is snakes out der dis big?!” is another. Also of note, this film features Danny Trejo, Owen Wilson, and Jennifer Lopez's ass. That alone should make it a winner, right? Sadly, no. Thank God he didn't star in the sequel.

The Player's Club - Ice Cube was working overtime with this one as an actor, writer, and director but whether this was actually a good film or not is debatable. But with Bernie Mac, Jamie Foxx, Charlie Murphy, Michael Clark Duncan and the sultry LisaRaye, Ice Cube has certainly made worse films, like, err, Anaconda.

Three Kings - Sharing screen time with Oscar winner George Clooney and Oscar nominee Mark Whalberg should dim the light on Cube's shine in this strange comedy/political actioner about a group of soldiers who flip the bird to patriotism and go after some gold. But strangely enough, he fits in just fine as Sergeant Chief Elgin. From the ‘hood to the desert, nobody can say Ice Cube hasn't gotten his frequent flyer miles.

*Barbershop - Now here's the Cube we like to see. Smart, funny, and still giving that good old gangster stare, even as a barbershop owner just looking to keep his shop from going under. Portraying Calvin Palmer, it seems that he once again tips his hat and let's everybody else get all the laughs, especially Cedric the Entertainer, who slays as a braggadocios barber who seriously hasn't cut any hair since Palmer's father died.

Are We There Yet? - Biggest. Transition. Ever. Who knew the gangster could go from being a boy in the hood to raising a boy in the neighborhood in this PG rated comedy? Then again, Eddie Murphy did it. And at least Cube didn't have to dress up in a giant stalk of broccoli to get any laughs. And hopefully he won't be gettting any of those ideas soon.

**If anyone has a link to a Barbershop YouTube clip featuring Ice Cube, leave the link in the comments section and we'll post it up. Props included!