Ice Cube on stage, wearing a black jersey and sunglasses, holding the microphone out and gesturing with his left hand towards the crowd.Ice Cube plays Benchmark International Arena in Tampa, Florida on Oct. 12, 2025. Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Three years after bringing his Big3 basketball league to the building, Ice Cube was back at downtown Tampa’s hockey arena—this time as a rapper.

The 56-year-old actor and co-founder of N.W.A. was supposed to play the room formerly known as Amalie Arena on Sept. 11, but postponed his “Four Decades of Attitude” gig to last Sunday when he was joined onstage by Lil Eazy-E, son of Cube’s late N.W.A bandmate Eazy-E.

Ice Cube performing in a black baseball jersey with white trim, wearing a cap and sunglasses, holding the microphone low and gesturing with his left hand.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs in a black baseball jersey under bright purple lighting, holding the microphone and looking out over the audience.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube sings intensely into a microphone, wearing a black jersey and sunglasses, with purple stage lighting creating a high contrast.

A rapper performs in a black collared shirt, wearing a baseball cap that reads "Compton" in white, and a large silver necklace pendant.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A rapper performs on stage wearing a black short-sleeved collared shirt with a red logo patch and a large silver pendant, with a blurred red background.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Profile view of a rapper on stage, wearing a black collared shirt, "Compton" cap, and sunglasses, holding the microphone in front of a blurred red background.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Close-up profile of Ice Cube singing into the microphone, showing his sunglasses and beard illuminated by red stage light.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Two performers are on stage in front of a giant video screen displaying the phrase "EAZY-E" in large, metallic red lettering.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Extreme close-up of Ice Cube's hand gripping the microphone and his face as he performs under bright light.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Extreme close-up of Ice Cube singing into the microphone, viewed from a low angle.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Extreme close-up of Ice Cube's face and hand as he sings into the microphone, showing his mouth wide open, illuminated from below by red light.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Side profile of Ice Cube performing in his "ICE CUBE" jersey, wearing a bandana and cap, with his mouth open as he raps into the microphone.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Extreme close-up of Ice Cube's face and hand as he sings into the microphone, against a purple background.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A group of concert attendees stand behind a barrier, smiling and taking photos/videos on their phones, surrounded by a large cheering crowd.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube sings into the microphone center stage, with dramatic stage lights flaring above him through a cloud of smoke.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performing on a dark stage, backlit by two intense spotlights, reaching out with his hand and leaning into the microphone.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle shot of Ice Cube performing on stage with a wide stance. The stage setup behind him features a large blue screen and DJ equipment.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube on stage, with a low-angle perspective, raising his left hand high while rapping into the microphone; his large figure dominates the foreground.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs vigorously on stage, holding the mic, with a large screen displaying the text "UNCLE JAMM'S ARMY PRESENTS IN CONCERT EAZY E."Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle, full-body shot of Ice Cube on stage, with a dynamic backdrop featuring text and black-and-white photos of his early group.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs on stage, holding the mic and raising his hand, with a vibrant LED screen backdrop showing text that includes "EAZY E" and "FRIDAY JULY 24TH 1987".Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle photo of Ice Cube performing on stage, gesturing with his hand while backlit by red and white light from the screen behind him.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs against a backdrop with a large blue field and yellow text that reads "POLICE LINE DO NOT CROSS" running across the screen.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube sings into the microphone on stage, with a backdrop showing a bright explosion of white and blue light over the "DO NOT CROSS" tape graphic.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle shot of Ice Cube smiling as he looks out over the audience, hands clasped together, with bright spotlights visible in the darkness above him.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle, close-up shot of Ice Cube on stage, holding the mic in his left hand and looking directly into the camera.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs center stage, pointing his index finger up, with a blurred image of himself projected onto a screen behind him.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Side profile of Ice Cube on stage, gesturing with his hand. The backdrop features black-and-white photos of a hip-hop group.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Full body shot of Ice Cube walking toward the front of the stage, holding a microphone, with a bright, dynamic light show and a video screen backdrop behind him.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

The stage is hidden behind sheer curtain fabric, with a projection on the fabric showing the tour name "TRUTH TO POWER ICE CUBE" and a montage of faces.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

A rapper performs on stage under red lighting, wearing a black shirt and cap, with the giant word "EAZY-E" projected in red script behind him.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube on stage, looking confidently at the audience while holding a microphone and gesturing with his left hand.Credit: Ryan Kern

Close-up of Ice Cube smiling widely, wearing a jersey, cap, and sunglasses while performing on stage.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Ice Cube performs, holding the microphone close to his mouth and raising his right index finger into the air.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Low-angle close-up of Ice Cube performing, holding the microphone with his right hand and placing his left hand on his chest, under red stage lighting.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Close-up of Ice Cube performing, wearing a dark baseball jersey with "ICE CUBE" written in white, sunglasses, and a cap, singing into a microphone.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

Close-up profile of Ice Cube performing, wearing a baseball jersey and cap, with his mouth open while singing into a microphone.Credit: Ryan Kern / Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

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This article appears in Oct. 9-15, 2025.

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Tagged: Benchmark International Arena, Ice Cube, Lil Eazy-E, live music in Tampa, Slideshow Gallery, Tampa Bay concerts

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief…
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