Denver served as the first stop on Ice Cube’s Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude Tour at Ball Arena last Tuesday. The evening was a sweeping retrospective of Ice Cube’s forty-year career in rap and entertainment, pairing his legendary discography with the confrontational social commentary and a stage presence that proved time has done nothing to dull his edge.
Fans clad in black flooded into the arena parking lot despite early door delays. Their patience was rewarded once the lights dimmed and “Before Hip-Hop,” a new track from his latest album, Man Up, filled the arena. Voice narration framed the night as a living documentary, Cube’s story told through his voice and music, supported by visuals of archival footage flashing across massive screens. The stage itself was built on two levels, with Cube commanding the lower floor and later ascending to the upper tier flanked by low riders — a testament to the West Coast aesthetic that shaped him.
The first wave of the set brought firepower: “Right Here, Right Now” into “Fuck Tha Police,” each met with roars that echoed across the venue. Then, in his own words, “Let’s take it back to 1987,” Cube dropped into N.W.A. classics “Dope Man” and “Boys-n-the-Hood,” “Gangsta Gangsta,” and “Straight Outta Compton.” Each track blended nostalgia with relevance, as Ice Cube reminded the crowd that the issues that fueled those songs remain alive today.
The narration carried fans into his solo career, introducing cuts like “Once Upon a Time in the Projects,” “Jackin’ for Beats” and “No Vaseline.” Between songs, Cube shared tributes to those who shaped his path, including John Singleton, who urged him into acting, and Eazy-E, whom Cube credited as the reason he stood on stage that night: “He was the ultimate showman. We love you Eazy-E.”
The second tier of the stage came alive with “Steady Mobbin’,” “My Summer Vacation” and “Ghetto Bird.” Screens behind him replayed footage from the 1992 LA riots, a sobering reminder of hip-hop’s long-standing role as social witness. The energy quickly shifted back into celebration with “Check Yo Self,” introduced by the infamous Friday movie clip and audio, followed by “We Be Clubbin’.”
Special guests fueled the night’s momentum. WC joined Cube to resurrect Westside Connection staples “Bow Down” and “Gangsta Nation.” Later, Scarface took the stage, adding Houston grit to Denver’s evening of West Coast dominance.
Despite occasional struggles to get the stadium crowd fully chanting along, Cube never faltered. If anything, it highlighted his legacy: four decades of anthems delivered back-to-back is less about sing-alongs and more about presence. He pressed forward with “Chin Check,” and “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It,” before shifting among other tracks like, “That New Funkadelic” and “So Sensitive.”
Around 11:15 P.M., Cube admitted he’d already run over time but still had one song left. The lights dimmed, the beat dropped, and the familiar opening of “It Was a Good Day” rolled over the crowd with a mini-blimp floating around the arena supporting the message behind the song. Thousands of voices cheered in unison, this time with no coaxing needed, closing the night on a high note that felt both reflective and triumphant.
Denver’s Ball Arena didn’t just host the first night of a tour — it became the first student in Ice Cube’s history course. The show proved to be a testament to Ice Cube’s resilience, influence and four decades of attitude that continue to speak truth to power.
All photography by Kiddest Metaferia.