Hip Hop veteran Ice Cube has announced that he will be working with ESPN to create a documentary about the Los Angeles Raiders and the origins of the team. The programme, which will explore the transition of the NFL team from Oakland to Los Angeles, is entitled ‘Straight Outta L.A.’ The documentary will also look at the incongruent “marriage between the NFL’s rebel franchise” and the city of angles.
In a statement, Ice Cube explained his originally attraction to the Raiders’ black and silver:
“In 1980, Ronald Reagan was elected president, few white kids were listening to Rap and I was an 11-year-old kid in South Central Los Angeles. I was into sports and watched as many games as I could on TV—the Lakers, USC Football, UCLA, but I hadn’t developed a connection to any particular football team. That fall, something clicked as I watched the Oakland Raiders.”
The hip hop heavyweight then continued to explain how the Raiders became embedded in hip hop culture, stating “The music, lyrics and images that I created with N.W.A as a solo artist and as an actor helped turn the Raiders into something more than a football team.” Finally, he highlighted the significance of the team, maintaining “It’s been 21 years since we released ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ but to this day, kids all over the world buy Raiders gear, imitate the Gangster Rap style and try to connect with the South Central L.A. vibe that we brought to the masses.”
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