Ice Cube found himself a trending Twitter topic earlier this week after Donald Trump’s senior campaign advisor Katrina Pierson thanked him for “helping” the Trump campaign with The Platinum Plan.
Naturally, people were shocked the same person responsible for the 2018 song “Arrest The President” was any way affiliated with a Republican, especially when he’s a founding member of the pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A, a group that’s always been anti-establishment.
On Thursday (October 15), as Cube continued taking Twitter lashings from outraged fans, he announced CNN had previously scheduled him for an episode of Prime Time with Chris Cuomo, then canceled.
“So the POWERS that be cancelled my interview on @CuomoPrimeTime tonight,” he wrote. “I’ve actually been ban from @CNN for a few months so I was surprised they even asked. But it seems like they can’t handle the truth.”
So the POWERS that be cancelled my interview on @CuomoPrimeTime tonight. I’ve actually been ban from @CNN for a few months so I was surprised they even asked. But it seems like they can’t handle the truth.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 15, 2020
But on Friday (October 16), Cube revealed the show was back on, writing, “Rebooked on @CuomoPrimeTime tonight. The truth will set you free.”
Rebooked on @CuomoPrimeTime tonight. The truth will set you free.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 16, 2020
Sure enough, Cube showed up toward the end of the show and appeared immediately offended after Cuomo insinuated he sought out the Trump campaign.
“Your lead-ins are a little misleading,” he told Cuomo. “The Platinum Plan is not my plan. I came up with Contract With Black America [CWBA]. I didn’t run to work with any campaign. Both campaigns contacted me. Both campaigns wanted to talk to me about the Contract With Black America … I didn’t run to nobody, so that was real misleading to me. You said I ran over to the Trump team instead of the Biden team and that’s just not true. I’m willing to work with both teams. I’m just working with whoever is willing to work with me.”
Cube then asserted he was “not playing no more of these political games” and would go to “whoever’s in power.” He added, “I’m going there for Black Americans, the ones who are the decedents of slaves, and that’s what I’m going to talk to anybody who’s in power. If anybody has a problem with that, it seems like a personal problem.”
When Cuomo asked how he could possibly trust Trump’s word, Cube replied, “I’ve never met Donald Trump. I don’t know what he’s going to do. I just know what he said he’s going to do. Both of them have a plan. Both of them say say they’re going to do something. Who knows whats going to happen after November 3. Nobody knows, from each side. We’re all hoping candidates keep their campaign promises.”
He then assured Cuomo, “I’m not trusting any of them. I’m just going by action. That’s all I’m going by. I’m not going by words, rhetoric, media spin — I’m not going by any of that. I’m not on nobody’s team. I’m not on team blue. I’m not on team red. I’m an independent person and I believe that’s what Black people need to do is become independent and we need to get something for our vote … I’m working with whoever’s in power. Whoever wins, they’ll hear from me.”
Cube then explained the motive behind the CWBA, saying, “My plan is broad. It goes beyond the public sector. It goes into the private sector — banks, even the movie industry. We gotta deal with a lot of different companies, corporations and even government when it comes to solving this problem. I believe it’s a bipartisan problem when it comes to Blacks in America and what’s going on.
“This is for both of them to solve … they seem to come together when it something that really affects America, and I don’t think nothing affects America more than the situation that Black America finds ourselves in. This country is coming apart at the seams, and it’s not going to come together unless we deal with this wealth gap.”
View this post on Instagram#CWBA #contractwithblackamerica
The Hip Hop legend also talked about police violence and how it’s “just part of our life here.” He continued, “Once we get some capital, we’ll be treated better. This is a capitalistic society and if you ain’t got no money — you see how people are treated on the street. Bottom line is, dollars bring dignity… we need to close this wealth gap.
“It’s not getting smaller. Do some research; this is the problem in America. Black people have no capital. We own half of a point when it comes to all the wealth in America — 13.5 percent of people living off half of a point. We can’t survive in America for another 100 years living like this.”
While Cube was thankful Cuomo invited him on his platform, he had a few words for fellow CNN anchor Don Lemon who, according to Twitter, basically called Cube ignorant following the interview.
“Thank you Chris @CuomoPrimeTime you’re a man of your word,” he tweeted after the show. “@donlemon that was some punks ass shit you just did. If you have any balls. I need to be on your show Monday night at 10pm. I’ll be ready.”
Thank you Chris @CuomoPrimeTime you’re a man of your word. @donlemon that was some punks ass shit you just did. If you have any balls. I need to be on your show Monday night at 10pm. I’ll be ready.
— Ice Cube (@icecube) October 17, 2020