Entertainment

Ice Cube hopeful over onstage reunion for NWA

Ice Cube and his son OShea Jackson, who stars in Straight Outta Compton
Ice Cube and his son OShea Jackson, who stars in Straight Outta Compton Ice Cube and his son OShea Jackson, who stars in Straight Outta Compton

Rapper Ice Cube said he is hopeful he can reunite the original members of NWA for a performance at one of the world's biggest music festivals.

The Straight Outta Compton star has previously spoken of his desire to bring together DJ Yella, MC Ren and Dr Dre on stage during his solo set at Coachella in California this month.

The gangsta rap pioneers disbanded in 1991 and have not performed together with Dr Dre for more than 25 years.

Speaking at the premiere of his new film Barbershop: The Next Cut in Los Angeles, Ice Cube remained tight-lipped about the planned reunion, but told the Press Association: "I hope I can pull it together."

The rapper-turned-actor said the movie, which features a predominantly black cast, showed progress in the debate about a lack of diversity in Hollywood.

He told reporters: "You've got three major studios, MGM, New Line, Warner Bros, putting time, effort, money to open it up at the Chinese theatre. It gets no bigger than this.

"That's what we want. We just want to have the big stage like everybody else, that's all."

Ice Cube also denied he had banned his son O'Shea Jackson Jr, who portrayed his father in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton, from dating reality stars the Kardashian sisters.

"I didn't say no Kardashians," Ice Cube said.

"It ain't my choice, but I don't think they can handle him."

Barbershop: The Next Cut is set for release in the UK on April 19.