by H.W. Fowler | Feb. 4, 2004

When Ice Cube first roared straight outta Compton with '80s gangsta-rap godfathers N.W.A., the nasty young poet hardly seemed like Hollywood star material, much less a big-time producer and family man in the making. But the former O'Shea Jackson says that he now has more in common with the hardworking, homeloving hairdresser from Barbershop 2: Back in Business than he does with the 'hood's gangbangers, whom he used to represent.

Still the real deal--always cool, hard when he needs to be--Ice Cube lets loose about barbershop philosophy, his takeover as the face of XXX and what ties him to Frank Sinatra.