Earlier this month, Ice Cube made headlines for collaborating on the Trump administration’s “Platinum Plan” for African Americans. Now, following relentless criticism, the 51-year-old rapper is refusing to back down.
Ice Cube’s collaboration on the “Platinum Plan” came to light about ten days back, after Trump campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson thanked the rapper “for his willingness to step up” on social media. In response to subsequent pushback, the “It Was A Good Day” artist emphasized that he’d reached out to both the Biden and Trump camps with his Contract With Black America.
Additionally, Ice Cube specified in interviews and through social media posts that he hasn’t endorsed either of the 2020 presidential candidates. And yesterday, during a pre-taped interview that aired on Fox News Sunday, the former N.W.A member doubled down on his stance, saying to host Chris Wallace and viewers: “I told everybody that, you know, I’m not playing politics with this. I’m willing to meet with anybody who could bring this to life. And make it a reality.”
When asked what he will do to “push the system” over the next four years, regardless of which candidate wins the election, Ice Cube said: “Find pressure points. That’s the only way you can push. You know, my daddy told me a long time ago, ‘No matter who’s the president, you gotta get up and go to work in the morning. And always remember that.’
“So no matter who’s the president, I’m gonna get up and go to work in the morning,” concluded the Los Angeles-born Cube.
About one week ago, 50 Cent also made headlines for his political activity, albeit as a result of his outright Trump endorsement. The rapper cited the Biden tax plan’s top tax rates in his native New York City – 62 percent, according to an attached image from CNBC’s Power Lunch – as his chief reason for the backing. The Trump endorsement arrived despite 50 Cent’s 2016 support for Hillary Clinton. “Yeah, I don’t want to be 20 Cent,” the Grammy-winning rapper quipped. “62% is a very, very, bad idea. I don’t like it.”
More recently, the “Just A Lil Bit” creator appeared to retract his endorsement, writing on Instagram: “F—k Donald Trump, I never liked him. For all I know, he had me set up and had my friend Angel Fernandez killed, but that’s history. LOL.”
50 Cent posted the text in response to a clip from an interview between his ex-girlfriend Chelsea Handler and late-night host Jimmy Fallon. Notably, however, Handler says in the video that she may be “willing to go for another spin” with Jackson III if he walks back the message and publicly refutes Trump – a point that Fiddy references at the start of his follow-up. Thus, it’s unclear whether the artist’s political opinions have changed or whether he replied to take advantage of Handler’s “offer.”