Hip-hop legend Ice Cube drew one of the largest crowds on May 2 at RiverBeat Music Festival in Memphis.
He also got some of his loudest cheers of the night for comments on NBA players’ criticism of Memphis and calls for the Grizzlies to be moved to Nashville. He said the pro ballers should “never forget where you come from.”
“Some NBA players been talking s— about Memphis… F— that,” Ice Cube said during his set on the Orion Financial Stage at Tom Lee Park. “I got nothing but love for Memphis.”
See Saturday’s highlights from RiverBeat Music Festival in Memphis
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Fans dance as Turnstyles perform on the second day of RiverBeat Music Festival in Tom Lee Park in Memphis, Tenn., on May 2, 2026.
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During his RiverBeat set, Ice Cube — the NWA co-founder, solo star, actor and more — took the crowd on a nostalgia trip through some of his biggest hits.
Joined by longtime West Coast rapper WC, Ice Cube didn’t mess around, opening with the first verse of “Straight Outta Compton.” He followed with “Gangsta Gangsta” and “Dope Man,” along with a selection of other NWA greatest hits.
With more than 40 years of experience on the mic, Ice Cube easily holds his own on stage. Even as he moved onto the early 2000s with “Until We Rich” and “Go to Church,” his veteran stage presence kept the crowd hyped.
The distinctive edge to his voice has made him one of the most recognizable rappers from his era, and it’s hard not to grin hearing such an influential voice live.
For the closer, what else could wrap up an Ice Cube set besides “It Was a Good Day”? And the thousands in the crowd at RiverBeat showed they knew the song by heart.
Jacob Wilt is a reporter for The Commercial Appeal covering Dining, Retail and Real Estate in the Memphis area. You can reach him at jacob.wilt@commercialappeal.com.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Ice Cube slams NBA players criticizing Memphis during RiverBeat set