Ice Cube’s career has involved various feuds. From Jerry Heller to Eazy-E, he has not always got on with everyone. However, in 2013, it was unveiled that he had a strange and unfortunate connection to someone working on Grandtheft Auto V.
Developed by Rockstar Games in 1997, the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) franchise is one of the most popular action-adventure video games of all time and generates a lot of excitement when new editions are announced.
The game sees players take on the role of a criminal and anarchist who’s charged with the mission of successfully partaking in different criminal activities. From shootings to drug dealing and joyriding, the game is thrilling for youngsters.
Set in various fictional cities such as Liberty City, San Andreas and Vice City, users attempt to climb up the rankings of a criminal organisation. However, over the years, GTA has incorporated hip-hop into its gameplay. From radio stations to characters and background music, the developers have long called upon figures like Dr Dre to musically contribute to the product.
However, for the fifth edition of the video game, GTA’s developers, Rockstar, employed LA native Shawn Fonteno to provide the voiceover for the Grand Theft Auto V’s main character, Franklin.
Unfortunately, prior to becoming a voice actor, Shawn Fonteno was a rapper emceeing under the name “Solo”, and upon the game’s release, it was unveiled that the West Coast native had once been caught up in a business feud with Ice Cube, which ended in violence.
During a segment on the Beef 2 DVD, Fonteno alleged that Ice Cube started a fight at a traffic light with Solo. Detailing it, he explained that he knocked out Ice Cube (real name O’Shea Jackson), then stated, “[I]Whooped his ass. Somehow, his chain fell in my hand.
He continued, “I don’t know how it got in my hand, but it fell in my hand. Then, all of a sudden, his Rolex start jumping off and coming into my hand. I dunno how that happened.” Thereby insinuating he robbed Ice Cube.
The incident occurred while Jackson was having a feud with the collective Cypress Hill. Meanwhile, Solo was very loyal to his friends in Cypress Hill. When interviewed by TMZ in 2013 about the fight, Fonteno explained, “We both hustlers homie, it is what is, you know what I’m sayin’? He’s from South Central, I’m from South Central, that sh*t’s over with man.”
You can watch Shawn Fonteno’s interview below.
