On High, Slightly Stoopid, and Ice Cube

In a way, this band could only hail from a place called Open Beach. The uniting thing about their music is its sense of carefree abandon; it’s the sound of an endless summer, a spring break that’s everything you could possibly want and more. Needless to say, it’s pretty awesome that way.

One of the most impressive things about the band is that in their nineteen years as a band they’ve been built around the same core duo of founding members, multi-instrumentalists and childhood friends Miles Doughty and Kyle McDonald. Their chemistry and artistry, not to mention their friendship, have been the driving forces behind the band in a way that few bands before or since have replicated.

They formed the band in high school and soon afterwards they were discovered by Sublime frontman Bradley Nowell, who signed them to his label where in 1996, they released their debut album “Slightly $toopid”. They’ve since released a total of seven studio albums but for all their quality and experience as musicians, it’s the bands live show that’s made them the band they are to this day.

Few bands have a more welcoming, inclusive spirit at their shows than Slightly Stoopid, both the founding members of the band credit their fans with making them what they are today. That gratitude is pretty much tangible when they perform, and they give back in turn with every riotous skank, every crowd surfing bass player, and every ounce of positivity they possess.

They may be a cult band, but they’re the kind of cult that welcomes newcomers of all shapes, sizes and colours. Anyone would do very well to be a part of it the next chance they get.

Born in South Central, Los Angeles on 15 June 1969, Ice Cube began writing raps in high school. In 1984, het met a 19-year-old Dr. Dre, and together they released a single “My Posse” under the alias CIA. The two then teamed up with fellow rappers Easy-E, MC Ren and DJ Yella as the group NWA (Niggaz Wit Attitude) and together they released “Straight Outta Compton” in 1988. However, due to creative issues, he left the group and by 1989 was pursuing his solo career. His debut album, “AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” was released in 1990 and despite claims of misogyny and racism, was extremely successful. The follow-up record was even more controversial; however his most critically acclaimed album was his 1992 “The Predator.”

Having had so much success as a solo artist, Ice Cube still continued to work with other artists. 1994 saw him reunited with former NWA member, Dr. Dre, and together they recorded and relased “Natural Born Killaz,” and 1996 was the formation of Westside Connection, a collaboration with Mack 10 and WC.

The late 90s found Ice Cube concentrating on his acting career such as “Barber Shop” and “All About The Benjamins,” but he still found time to work on music. He was still collaborating with other artists like his appearance on Lil Jon & The East Side Boys’ “Real Nigga Roll Call,” and in 2003 The Westside Connection reunited for their sophomore album “Gangsta Nation.”

His most recent music musings with a new single release on 10 February 2014 “Sic Them Youngins On ‘Em.”