Hip Hop Icon Ice Cube Announces Scholarship Winner at McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN

St. Paul, MN, September 11, 2008 – Ice Cube, the legendary hip hop icon, visited McNally Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN, today to announce the winner of the school’s “Ice Cube Scholarship.” Ice Cube was greeted by a raucously vocal group of McNally Smith students who were thrilled to have the music industry giant visit the campus. Josiah Kosier of Watertown, South Dakota, beamed as Ice Cube announced that he had won the four-year, full tuition “Ice Cube Scholarship” for studies in Music Technology. Ice Cube, who chooses the scholarship winner annually, has maintained a strong relationship with McNally Smith since the scholarship was inaugurated in 2006.

During his visit to McNally Smith, Ice Cube also toured the latest updates to the college’s state-of-the-art recording facilities and fielded questions from students. Ice Cube performed at Myth Nightclub in the Twin Cities the night before his McNally Smith visit as part of his national tour to support his latest album, Raw Footage which was released August 19^th and topped the Billboard Rap Charts at #1 in its first week debut.

“Ice Cube is a powerful, dramatic force in changing the direction of contemporary music and the music industry,” said Harry Chalmiers, President of McNally Smith College of Music. “We are grateful to him for his partnership through the Ice Cube Scholarship at McNally Smith, and for his support as we prepare our students to realize and sustain a life in music.”

About McNally Smith. Founded in 1985, McNally Smith College of Music is devoted to excellence in music industry higher education and in developing music industry professionals. An accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, McNally Smith College of Music offers music degrees and programs in Music Performance, Recording Technology and Music Business. With more than 500 students and an 80-member faculty, McNally Smith College of Music students get a personalized music education that combines the art of physics with musical artistry and includes wide access to current music technology, research tools and performance facilities. McNally Smith alumni are working all over the world. McNally Smith is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. For more information, visit www.mcnallysmith.edu.

About Ice Cube. Known to be one of the most important figures in rap history, Ice Cube began his career with the Notorious West Coast Gangsta Rap Group N.W.A two decades ago. At the height of the group’s success, Ice Cube broke away to start his own solo career. His initial release, “Amerikkka's Most Wanted” (Priority, 1990) sold over a million copies. His sophomore solo effort, "Death Certificate" (Priority, 1991), a concept album about the fall and rise of the black man, debuted at #1 on the R&B Album chart, #2 on the Top 200 album chart and went on to sell over two million copies. His impressive musical career also includes the multi-platinum success of both his double album “War and Peace,” and hit albums “Lethal Injection,” “Bootlegs & B-Sides,” “The Predator,” and the gold certified, independently released “Laugh Now, Cry Later.” Ice Cube has sold over 10 million albums to date

Ice Cube Smoking Section

When my alarm clock went off at 2:00 AM to make the drive down for the 10:00 allotted time slot, and granted I had other business in the LA area, there was no hesitation. It’s Ice Cube. I don’t need to justify it by any means.

I can’t remember how many times I asked myself, “where the f*ck am I going?” on route to Ice Cube’s video shoot for “Why Me?” When I say it was in the cut, whatever you might envision, that’s an understatement. Aside from sand, Joshua tress and abandoned diners that offered eggs, bacon, toast and coffee for seventy five cents, there wasn’t much life aside from scrambling video crews and the roar of air conditioned vans where we were at.

The pleasant encouragement to keep the interview under 10 minutes was another task of it’s own. I could have gone on and on, but it was clear nobody in the building other than me wanted that. Like the homie Conceit said, “I’m not bitter at all” and the result…I at least got him to crack a smile at the end. And there you have it.

Click link Below for behind the scenes

ttp://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=7380

ICE CUBE’S EIGHTH SOLO ALBUM “RAW FOOTAGE” DEBUTS #1 ON THE US RAP & R& B ALBUM SALES CHART, #5 ON THE TOP 200 ALBUM SALES CHART

Godfather of Gangsta Rap Dominates the Hip Hop Charts Once Again, Impressing Fans and Critics with Second Successful Independent Release Through His Own Lench Mob Records

Cube Readies for Collaboration with Director Benny Boom

for Official Second Single Video “Why Me?” Featuring

Musiq Soulchild

(Los Angeles, CA, August 27, 2008) Award Winning, Hip Hop Superstar Ice Cube does it once again with his latest music masterpiece, “Raw Footage,” landing itself at #1 on the Hip Hop/R & B charts, selling 69,234 units in its first week and #5 on overall Top 200 Album sales chart. This impressive debut is reminiscent of the success Cube had with his 2006 opus “Laugh Now, Cry Later,” which became the highest selling independent hip hop release of the year. With the month of August also marking the 20^th year anniversary of the NWA debut release of “Straight Outta Compton,” Cube proves he is still the Godfather of Gangsta Rap after two decades in the game.

Rolling Stone Magazine writes of “Raw Footage,” “Cube spits some of his sharpest rhymes in years,” leaving no doubt that Cube is continuing his reign as rap’s heavy weight champion, showcasing his creative and lyrical genius throughout 16 solid tracks.”

Featuring production from Emile, DJ Crazy Toones and guest features by Young Jeezy, The Game and WC, “Raw Footage” has become a viral sensation across the internet, in part by the earlier released buzz single & video “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It,” produced by Maestro which MTV boasted as the first great song and video of 2008. Cube recently followed up with the album’s first official single and video, “Do Ya Thang,” which was the #1 most added record at rhythmic radio, a certified banger produced by Palumbo Beats. Showing absolutely no signs of slowing down, Cube readies for the release of the album’s official second single, “Why Me?” featuring Musiq Soulchild, which will introduce a music video by famed director Benny Boom. Produced by Teak and Dee for Hallway Productionz, “Why Me?,” is a powerful song where Cube tells a story from the viewpoint of an innocent victim who faces a random act of violence, asking, “Why did I have to be one to die?”

“I made this record to talk about what is going on in the world today. We are dealing with a recession, and I know a lot of people feel helpless in a way. I consciously decided to try to give a voice to those who feel voiceless in the world,” says Ice Cube.

Currently on a national 22-city concert tour, which kicked off last Thursday in Seattle on August 20^th and is scheduled to end on September 21^st in New York City, Cube can be seen performing new hits off of “Raw Footage” along with classic material for die hard fans. For more information on Ice Cube and a detailed tour schedule, visit www.icecube.com or www.myspace.com/icecube.com.

ABOUT ICE CUBE

Known to be one of the most important figures in rap history, Ice Cube began his career with the Notorious West Coast Gangsta Rap Group N.W.A two decades ago. At the height of the group’s success, Ice Cube broke away to start his own solo career. His initial release, “Amerikkka's Most Wanted” (Priority, 1990) sold over a million copies. His sophomore solo effort, "Death Certificate" (Priority, 1991), a concept album about the fall and rise of the black man, debuted at #1 on the R&B Album chart, #2 on the Top 200 album chart and went on to sell over two million copies. His impressive musical career also includes the multi-platinum success of both his double album “War and Peace,” and hit albums “Lethal Injection,” “Bootlegs & B-Sides,” “The Predator,” and the gold certified, independently released “Laugh Now, Cry Later.” Ice Cube has sold over 10 million albums to date.

ABOUT LENCH MOB RECORDS

Launched in 1994 by Ice Cube, Lench Mob Records is independently owned and operated by Ice Cube.

Preview Of Ice Cube’s Raw Footage

Nineteen minute sampler of Cube’s upcoming album, Raw Footage.

the final order for the snippet.
1. It Takes A Nation
2. I Got My Locs On
3. Do Ya Thang
4. Hood Mentality
5. Here He Come
6. Why Me?
7. Get Use To It
8. Jack N the Box
9. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
10. Thank God
11. Tomorrow