Instagram/@icecube
MC Ice-Cube, one of those legendary rappers, has stepped briefly into Minecraft, leaving the fans extremely bewildered at such a strange collab. A video featuring the Straight Outta Compton rapper was released on the official Minecraft IG account, and there has been no getting off the internet since.
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Cube maneuvers through the pixelated landscape with his signature aggressive personality. Chests are opened, creepers attack, bars are dropped-coupled with direct aggressiveness over Minecraft gameplay. “I’m not gonna let you go! Knocked a date, Creeper! Gotcha!” West Coast hip-hop style behind this campaign that calls out to all users to participate in the event #CubeClaim and asks the users to “lock in” when they hear the creeper hiss sound.
Dr. Dre had some crossovers into game culture; remember the “War of the Worlds” mobile game campaign? This, however… This is totally new for artists who have done everything from gangsta rap to family comedies.
Fans turned the comment sections from pure excitement to pure confusion. One social media user described the frenzy perfectly with: “from NWA to Not Wearing Armor,” a nod to both Cube’s legendary rap group and the in-game mechanic of not donning any protective gear.
The wit was most gratefully received by the community. Another user wrote: “Ice cube going for 100% completion,” to which another responded “just like snoop dogg,” acknowledging Snoop Dogg’s entrance into gaming and streaming culture.
Seapeekay, a content creator who appears to have been involved in the campaign, commented: “Seapeekay x @minecraft x @icecube name a more iconic trio,” indicating the partnership’s bridging of generations of entertainment.
The series didn’t sit well with everyone: One user moaned: “Dude you made Friday and next Friday and nothing good since. Stop,” affirming that even in blocky Minecraft, Cube can’t shake some from his fanbase.
The global Minecraft community had their own say, with Spanish speakers questioning gameplay mechanics and Portuguese speakers debating server issues that seemingly coincided with the release. One fan asked in Spanish: “Why was his inventory gold and not ice cubes??” proving that details matter, even in celebrity crossovers.
One of the oddest comments came from a guy who tried to sell Ice Cube his original lyrics for $1,000 and backed it up with a complete business proposal in the section below. Because seeing Ice Cube in Minecraft has to be the opening act for unloading the unsold rap lyrics.
This partnership is yet another example of how Microsoft keeps trying to keep mainstream celebs on the Minecraft radar, alongside other follow-up methods with artists and influencers. For Ice Cube, this could easily be yet another insane chapter in this long, long story of music, film, and now… block-based adventure gaming.
What’s next? Cube skin packs? Straight Outta Compton texture pack? The possibilities are limitless, and judging from the comments, what comes next is a welcomed prospect all around. Still, by all means, they’re probably still trying to get their heads around the idea of a gangsta rap legend fussing about creepers instead of cops.
That campaign is far from over, with the #CubeClaim exterior encouraging players to explore new modes of interaction within the game. Whether this establishment becomes a world or is just a fleeting internet cultural phenomenon is yet to be seen. What could be for sure is that nobody ever contemplated Ice Cube making his debut in Minecraft, and that’s what made everything possible.
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Sometimes the most random collaborations become the most memorable. And in gaming crossovers, this just might be the one. Or the diamond pickaxe. Whatever.
This story originally appeared on Celebrityinsider
