What makes a good day? Someone complimenting you on your attire? Looking at your bank account and realizing that it’s payday? Taking another sip of the potion and hitting the 3-wheel motion? For everyone it’s different, but on April 23rd 2024, it was a definitely a good day for the crowd that packed Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre because Los Angeles’ Ice Cube was in the building! Joining the legendary rapper on this tour was Surrey’s Merkules and Ontario’s Peter Jackson. Nothing like a little midweek rap show to get you through to the weekend.
To say Peter Jackson is a hard worker is an understatement. Not only is he releasing his own music, but he’s the mastermind behind making these shows happen. This was my third time seeing him and out of all three performances I’ve seen, this was shortest set by a mile. Coming to the stage wearing a Victoria Royal’s Jersey, Jackson performed a quick and polished set. While I don’t have much more to say about the performance itself, Peter Jackson should still be honored for all the work he’s done all over Canada. Bringing artists like Tony Yayo, Dave East, and now Ice Cube, he’s working hard to bring great experiences across country.
While Merkules is technically from Surrey, his Victoria set felt more like homecoming set. His time on stage was spent telling stories, cracking jokes, and performing some great tracks. Easy work for the Death Row Recordings Artist. What made his set feel like a homecoming set however, was a few other notable events. At one point, he FaceTimed his partner after sharing how he wouldn’t be there he is today without her. During the FaceTime call, he performed and dedicated a track to her. After that, he invited two very special guest onto the stage; his parents. The wholesome moment of cheers and respect for the rapper’s parents really made this set feel special. Each time I see Merkules I get more impressed each time. I know I’ll be seeing again real soon.
Between music, acting, and running a Basketball League, Ice Cube is one busy individual. Busy or not, he managed to make time to perform some classic tracks for the packed stadium. When I say classic tracks, we’re talking about the full range of his catalog. From NWA anthems, to tracks with his stage partner WC, to solo works of art, and even newer tracks, Ice Cube performed it all. Each song throughout the set had everyone standing and singing every lyric, including some of his more recent tracks like “Ain’t got no Haters” which was released in 2018 featuring another rap icon, Too Short. During his set, Cube made a mention to rap conflicts and diss tracks as the current rap scene climate is seeing one of the biggest conflicts in recent years between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Ice Cube mentioned that no matter what, the beef between him and NWA will go down as the greatest beef to exist. His set ended with “Today was a good day” and I swear that there’s no way to feel bad after that song. The beat, the lyrics, it’s all just perfect. Ice Cube still got it all these years later, but what else did you expect?
Seeing a sea of Raiders Jerseys in the crowd, as a Dallas Cowboys fan, was quite daunting. However, it was great to be in a room together to celebrate the incredible catalog of a west coast legend. After all these years of releasing music, Ice Cube doesn’t look like he’s slowing down anytime soon and with that, I’m sure we will be seeing Cube again very soon.
