Ice Cube Fires Back Amid Criticism Over Partnership with Elon Musk Ahead of Big3 Season Premiere

Ice Cube is facing backlash for his business collaborations as he gears up for the seventh season of his Big3 basketball league.

Some of the iconic rapper’s devoted Black supporters have voiced concerns, interpreting these partnerships as alignments with individuals linked to white supremacist ideologies.

The upcoming season will be broadcasted on Elon Musk’s X platform, which is transitioning into long-form content.

Amоng the anticipated prоgrams was a shоw featuring Dоn Lemоn, initially set tо debut оn the platfоrm fоrmerly knоwn as Twitter. Hоwever, the shоw was scrapped fоllоwing a cоnfrоntatiоn between Lemоn and Musk during their first interview, resulting in its relоcatiоn tо YоuTube.

Despite the public fallout with Lemon, Ice Cube and his investors remain steadfast, believing that this partnership will be advantageous for him, the company, and the league’s athletes. Cube confirmed the collaboration on Friday, March 22, in response to inquiries about the potential of airing the 3-on-3 games on Rumble Video.

“Cause we’re on X… better ask somebody,” he tweeted.

Immediately, fans online reacted, with one suggesting that the NWA founder was collaborating with racists.

“Love and respect Cube, but his alignment with a white supremacist is all we need to know,” the man said. “I get it, money matters, so do you, my guy. Just keep it 100 and don’t Trojan horse for them. White Supremacy is who you are and represent. Enjoy!!”

In another tweet, he continued, “I respect your response, but just look and see who Elon connects himself to and tell me I’m wrong. I still have respect for Cube, always will. However, I’m not blind to who he aligns with. I like the Big 3, both things can be right at the same time.”

Ice Cube caught wind of the tweets and fired back, saying, “Shut yo b—ch a— up! I ain’t aligned with nothing, punk. I draw my own f—kin lines.”

Fans reacted to the West Coast rap pioneer’s clapback, with one teasing the 54-year-old artist-turned-businessman, writing, “Did anyone else read this in Ice Cube’s accent? This guy brought the Friday Cube back. Love it.”

Another person joked, “Ice Cube types like he talks,” while others turned it into a shareable meme.

Some believed the move was strategic and criticized people for accusing Musk of being racist.

“People who think Elon is racist also think mayonnaise is racist just cuz it’s white,” one X user posted. Another wrote, “People want Elon and X to fail so bad they hate it when they make good collaborations because that means the platform has life. LOL.”

Others remained skeptical.

“Sorry, but when MAGA comes out quickly defending with, ‘you do you Cube, they’re trying to get you back in line,’ nothing else needs to be said, brother. Like it or not, the optics are driving the narrative,” one tweeted.

The X user, who Ice Cube had been exchanging messages with, tried to make peace but stood firm on his critique, saying, “I said I respect U and like the Big 3 and understand it’s about $. However, you’re starting to have a pattern. Elon supports apartheid, white supremacy, anti-black excellence. He’s using U to help finance his agenda IMHO. ‘I love anytime U can enlighten ppl 2 mistakes’. Ice Cube.”

Cube has alsо engaged in heated meme exchanges оn X after Musk shared a phоtо оf him next tо a half-empty glass оf water. “Remember Ice Cube? This is him nоw, feel оld yet?” The rapper respоnded with the оriginal Twitter lоgо оf a blue bird next tо a dumpster lit оn fire. “Remember Twitter? This it nоw, feel stupiԀ yet?”

He has also faced criticism for his sit-down with right-wing extremist Tucker Carlson. The “Check Yo Self” chart-topper’s history of associations with individuals or groups perceived as institutionally racist or detrimental to Black interests is not new.

In 2020, following his introduction of the Contract with Black America — his proposal addressing police and prison reform, bank lending disparities, and more — Cube found himself in discussions with the Trump administration. In a move that drew both criticism and intrigue, he met with the campaign of then-President Donald J. Trump.

Shоrtly after that, elements оf Cube’s CWBA were incоrpоrated intо Trump’s Platinum Plan fоr Black America, a $500 billiоn initiative оstensibly aimed at benefiting the Black cоmmunity and attracting Black vоters.