Ice Cube has hit back at a social media user who accused the hip-hop veteran of performing in “any place these days” in a bid to keep his Big3 basketball league “afloat.”
On October 17, Ice Cube—whose given name is O’Shea Jackson—took to X, formerly Twitter, to announce that he would be performing on the main stage of the Western Navajo Fair in Tuba City, Arizona, on Sunday.
Per the promotional flyer shared by Ice Cube, other acts performing at the event on various days include rapper Travis Thompson, country music singer Randall King and country artist Blaine Bailey.
The official website for the fair describes it as “more than just an event—it’s a collaboration of our rich heritage and a chance to connect with the past, present, and future of the Navajo people.”
After Ice Cube informed his followers on X that they could purchase tickets for his performance on his website, user @JussSomeDude commented: “Man this is not a diss but I give u credit for trying something new but The ‘keep the big3 afloat tour’ is still going[.] I see U hitting any place these days after exhausting the larger markets.”
The user ended the post with the hashtag “#timetocutlosses.”
Ice Cube in Highland, California, on October 28, 2022. The veteran rapper has hit back at a suggestion that he is performing in certain markets to keep his basketball league “afloat.”
Rich Polk/Getty Images for Yaamava’ Resort & Casino
The Friday star responded: “It is a diss. It’s called demand and after 40 years in the game fans everywhere deserve to see you. But you’re Juss Some Dude so you would understand.”
Referring to his basketball league, the former NWA rapper added: “Next year will be 8 years afloat. Get your tickets at http://big3.com/tickets. We still take cash.”
Newsweek has contacted a representative of Ice Cube for comment via email.
It is a diss. It’s called demand and after 40 years in the game fans everywhere deserve to see you. But you’re Juss Some Dude so you would understand. Next year will be 8 years afloat. Get your tickets at https://t.co/vckW6Su2C3. We still take cash. https://t.co/a95lo81Ook
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 17, 2024
In 2017, Ice Cube founded the 3-on-3 basketball league Big3 with Jeff Kwatinetz, the chief operating officer of Cube Vision, the rapper and actor’s film and TV production company.
Last October, TMZ reported that Ice Cube had filed a federal lawsuit against the NBA, accusing the organization of attempting to squash his basketball league.
The rapper’s league consists mostly of retired NBA players, but some current NBA stars have shown interest in playing in the Big3 during the NBA‘s offseason.
According to TMZ, the Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the claims. Ice Cube reportedly accused the NBA of using its influence to steer sponsors and potential business partners away from the Big3 and of urging TV stations not to work with the league. The NBA has denied the allegations.
In December, Ice Cube called out NBA commissioner Adam Silver on X, writing: “He don’t like how we be changing the game … making it better without the @NBA’s permission. Adam thinks he owns basketball. But he don’t.”
In June, the “Check Yo Self” rapper questioned why Silver was reluctant to form a partnership with the Big3, as the league is not in competition with the NBA.
During an appearance on The OGs podcast, Ice Cube discussed his league’s growth and Silver’s apparent refusal to partner up.
“It’s been challenging, but it’s been rewarding, too, because we know nobody has helped us get to this point,” he told hosts and former NBA champions Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller.
He added: “They can’t really discredit what we’ve accomplished. We have changed the game for the better.”
“NBA fans love us,” Ice Cube continued. “We just got a problem with the brass. Adam Silver, Mark Tatum—them guys feel threatened. We could have worked together all these years, and we wouldn’t have made a move without their blessing.”
