Hip Hop legend Ice Cube brought his Truth To Power: 4 Decades Of Attitude tour to San Diego, California on September 27, 2025. A diverse group of fans rocked Viejas Arena on the campus of San Diego State University.
Southern California was treated to a living history lesson in West Coast hip-hop, and Ice Cube delivered it like a headline sermon. No frills, no filler—just four decades of attitude, stacked with arena-sized hooks and that trademark glower that turns a punchline into a power play. Doors cracked at 7, Cube hit after 8, and the room shifted from buzz to blast as soon as the bass landed.
Backed by a thunderclap mix and precision DJ drops, Cube stitched his eras together—new cuts flexing right alongside the granite classics. “It’s My Ego” and “So Sensitive” carried the fresh shine of his recent run, but the crowd detonated on the N.W.A pillars and Predator-era staples. Every chorus became a call-and-response, every break a chance for Cube to grin, lean into the rail, and remind San Diego why these songs still bang in 2025. The production was big without being busy; lights and screens framed him like a prizefighter, but the show’s spine was bars, beats, and breath control.
The event started with a video biography narrated by Ice Cube himself. He then strutted onstage, opening with an N.W.A barrage – the all-time classic “F*** tha Police”, “Dopeman”, “Gangsta Gangsta” and “Straight Outta Compton”. Sandwiched in the middle of all that was a tribute to N.W.A. founder Eazy-E and a performance of “Boyz-n-the-Hood” with his son Lil Eazy-E. This was a sequence that felt less like nostalgia and more like a status report: this catalog still shakes walls.
There were many videos shown throughout, stitching together the histories of hip-hop in general, Ice Cube in particular, and America as a society. He played songs from every era, explaining how they related to the times we all lived through. He was proud to say that he was rapping live, not singing over his recorded vocals and not holding out the mic for the crowd to sing. When you come to an Ice Cube show, you get the real thing. WC (Dub-C), who was part of Westside Connection along with Ice Cube and Mack 10, joined for a long set which thrilled everyone.
After saying goodnight, Cube left the stage triumphantly, and the stage darkened. Suddenly, a miniature Goodyear blimp started flying around the arena, and of course, it read “Ice Cube is a pimp”. “It Was a Good Day” closed like a victory lap, the whole arena singing that laid-back hook as phones bobbed like lanterns. It was Cube in pure command—sharp, funny, and stone-serious when he wanted to be—proof that “Truth to Power” isn’t just a tour name; it’s how he moves.
Ice Cube
Ice Cube – Master of Ceremonies
Lil Eazy-E – Vocals
WC (Dub-C) – Vocals
Ice Cube Setlist:
1. F*** tha Police (N.W.A song)
2. Dopeman (N.W.A song)
3. Boyz-n-the-Hood (Eazy‐E cover) (with Lil Eazy‐E)
4. Gangsta Gangsta (N.W.A song)
5. Straight Outta Compton (N.W.A song)
6. The N***a Ya Love to Hate
7. Once Upon a Time in the Projects
8. Jackin’ for Beats
9 No Vaseline
10. How to Survive in South Central
11. Steady Mobbin’
12. My Summer Vacation
13. Ghetto Bird
14. Wicked
15. Check Yo’ Self
16. Really Doe
17. We Be Clubbin’
18. Friday
19. Bop Gun (One Nation)
20. You Know How We Do It
21. Bow Down (Westside Connection song) (with WC)
22. The Gangsta, the Killa and the Dope Dealer (Westside Connection song) (with WC)
23. Gangsta Nation (Westside Connection song) (with WC)
24. Natural Born Killaz (Dr. Dre & Ice Cube song) (with WC)
25. Hello (with WC)
26. Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
27. Why We Thugs (with WC)
28. Go to Church (with WC)
29. Until We Rich (with WC)
30. Do Ya Thang (with WC)
31. You Can Do It (with WC)
32. Ain’t Got No Haters
Encore:
33. It Was a Good Day
34. It’s My Ego
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Johnnie Crow is a lifelong music lover. He has photographed artists from every genre at concerts, festivals and cruises all across North America.