Ice Cube & Deon Cole – Goin’ Back To the Barbershop

Updated: Mar 27, 2020

Ice Cube at the “Barbershop: The Next Cut” premiere at the Pearl Theater in Philadelphia.

Ice Cube & Deon Cole

Goin’ Back To the Barbershop

by Rachel Disipio and Jay S. Jacobs

Ice Cube, whose early career as a member of the groundbreaking gangsta rap group NWA was dramatized by Hollywood with last year’s hit film Straight Outta Compton, is looking back again. At this point in his career, Cube is probably as well known as an actor as he is as a rapper. Surprisingly, particularly for those that remember his menacing scowl in early videos and films like Boyz ‘N the Hood, it has turned out that the guy is a natural comedian.

He started showing off his comic chops in the Friday films, but he really changed everyone’s perception of him with the 2002 film Barbershop. Playing an aging, hard-working guy who is just looking to run a small business and carve out a little happiness for himself, Cube softened the edges he had shown in earlier films like Trespass, The Player’s Club, Anaconda and All About the Benjamins.

With an all-star ensemble including Anthony Anderson, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve, Michael Ealy, Troy Garity, Keith David, DeRay Davis and a scene-stealing Cedric the Entertainer, the film because a huge success, spawning a sequel a couple of years later. Cube also produced the 2006 spin-off Beauty Shop with Queen Latifah.

Ice Cube and Deon Cole at the “Barbershop: The Next Cut” premiere at the Pearl Theater in Philadelphia.

Twelve years on from the last Barbershop film, Cube decided to go back home again. Once again he was joined by Anderson, Thomas, Eve and Cedric. Joining in for this go-around are a group of some of the most talented actors (and rappers) on the scene, including Common, Nikki Minaj, Regina Hall, Tyga, J.B. Smoove and Deon Cole. Comedian Cole has worked on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Lopez Tonight, and is currently on the series Black-ish and Angie Tribeca.

At the Philadelphia premiere of Barber Shop: The Next Cut, we caught up with Ice Cube and co-star Cole on the red carpet to briefly discuss the new movie.

Can you tell us a little bit about the film?

Ice Cube: It’s a great movie. It’s a funny movie. An all-star cast. It’s about a shop in the south side of Chicago, and it’s going through problems, you know? It had to become unisex, so now it’s a beauty shop and a barber shop.

Deon Cole at the “Barbershop: The Next Cut” premiere at the Pearl Theater in Philadelphia.

Deon Cole: It’s a movie set on the south side of Chicago. It focuses on the relationship between a father and a son, in addition to the struggles of growing up in this day and age, with the violence going on in Chicago.

Ice Cube: They’re dealing with issues in the neighborhood and trying to be a positive force in the movie.

This is the third film in the series. How does this one compare to the earlier ones?

Ice Cube: It’s better. (laughs)

Better, huh?

Ice Cube: Yeah.

What would you consider to be your favorite scene in the film?

Deon Cole: Man, there is just so many of them. It’s so hard to pick one. Each scene makes me feel a different emotion, so it’s really hard to pick just one.

Ice Cube at the “Barbershop: The Next Cut” premiere at the Pearl Theater in Philadelphia.

We’re in the city of Brotherly Love. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia?

Ice Cube: Oh, the people. The people, they know what they like. They know what they don’t like. You don’t come wit’ it, you’re gonna get booed. So that’s great.

How has Philadelphia been treating you?

Deon Cole: It’s amazing. I love being here. There is so much love. The fans are great.

Who is your favorite character in the film if you had to choose just one?

Deon Cole: Ice Cube, obviously, because he hired me. Thank you very much Cube!

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