Did you know that Ice Cube studied architectural drafting before getting into rap? Yeah, me neither, but apparently he did, and now he’d like to tell you why he loves Los Angeles…and why he loves Charles and Ray Eames.
I like this a lot. I enjoy when my interests fold in on each other in unexpected ways.
Update: I missed this yesterday, but the New York Times also has an interview with Ice Cube about making this video. Best quote: “You don’t want to live in nothing I draw. I got a certificate. For a year. In ’88. I don’t think I picked up a T-square since.” (Thanks, Catherine!)
Speaking of which, have you seen Eames: The Architect and the Painter yet? Evan and I went to see it at the IFC Center a couple of weeks ago, and we really enjoyed it. The movie (narrated by James Franco, yay!) more about their lives, motivations and work processes than it is an exhaustive look at their output, and that’s what makes it so interesting. If you have the chance to see it in the theater, GO. It’s a fun hour and twenty minutes.
If you can’t see the movie in the theater, you can catch it on December 19th at 10:00pm on the PBS series “American Masters,” and after that on PBS on demand.
51 Comments
Amazing! I agree with you about when worlds kind of collide or something…it’s like a weird moment when you realize maybe the whole world is really connected behind the scenes Truman-Show style! Not really, but it’s always cool to think kind of like that, I guess. I’ve been a fan of Ice Cube since I lived in CA in the 1990s and he was of course all over the news for his music (and more!). Speaking of Charles and Ray Eames, did you know in 2008 the USPS issued a set of stamps commemorating many of their iconic designs? I randomly came across it yesterday and thought it was cool, and of course I wondered how the heck I missed it. Great post, as always! 🙂
I was a pretty big NWA fan back in the day (still am, actually), much like other alternative-smalltown-white-kids-with-angst. Heh.
And yes, we bought several sets of the stamps! I blogged about them back then. 🙂
Ha, nice to know there was (and still are) people like me. I started listening to the Beastie Boys in junior high/high school and then once I got to CA, I had transitioned to NWA among others (mostly artists that can be classified as “rebellious”) and my parents were certain I had lost my mind! Ah, fun times. And duh, OF COURSE you knew about the stamps! I didn’t start reading your blog until maybe 2009 or so, but one of these days while bored at work and reading your archives, I would have found your post anyway! 🙂
Not that I know a lot about Ice Cube, but this side of him I didn’t know. I’m going to see the last showing at a local (Michigan) theater tomorrow night, and really looking forward to it. But thanks for the heads up on PBS. Now I can record it as well!
Thank you, thank you, thank you. The Ice Cube video made my day. I’ll have to catch the film on PBS, but thank goodness for American Masters for picking that up. PBS streaming video has saved my evenings so many times.
Have you seen the poster?
http://www.rearrangeddesign.com/2011/10/collecting-eames-exhibit.html
I was able to snag one for myself. I love it.
Nice!
ahhh that ice cube video is so awesome (and i just love his voice). thanks for sharing as i’m sure it’s not something i would have come across on my own!
I’m so delighted to have seen this post! Having been a long-time fan of the Eames’s and Ice Cube (did you know he still produces albums almost every year?) – I hadn’t realized that he had an architectural background too!
My word! Loved this!
This is brilliant !!!! Thanks for posting.
The Ice-cube video was great. After that I saw a video -in the same series- of Anthony Kiedis and Ed Ruschka driving through LA and talking about their work and the similarities between them. What a great series of video’s, going to look at more tonight. Thanks.
P.S. Hi Anna, sorry to bother you about this but what does this small print mean?
“Please note that your profile name links to your site/blog. Using the comment field to promote your site/blog is considered spamming.”
It means that if you put a link to your site/blog in the comments field, it’s considered spam and I will either remove the link or delete the comment. There are a lot of folks who will leave very short comments on posts (like “Nice!”) and then paste their link into the comments underneath just to try to promote their site. There are even some who put a whole “signature” under their comment like it’s an email, complete with blog link, twitter link, etc.
Instead, users should use the field marked for a website URL to include that info. Entering a URL in that field automatically turns their name into a link, which is standard among blogs.
That sounds pretty rude.
What sounds rude? My little statement, or people using the comments field for spam? I don’t want to come across as rude, I just want people to respect this space!
Oh sorry, I mean that people would do that sounds rude. Sorry.
OK, I was hoping that’s what you meant. Phew! 😀
Favorite line: This is going green 1949 style, bitch.
That was going to be my subject line, but I guess this is a family blog 😉
Have you read his NYT interview on the subject, also? “You don’t want to live in nothing I draw.” Hee.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/garden/ice-cube-on-eameses-and-his-hometown-qa.htm
Oh, that’s great! I’m going to update the post. Thanks!!
Aw, I love when he just kicks up his feet on their 670.
STILL haven’t seen the movie. Maybe tomorrow night…I’m such a loser.
What? You are a loser. Do you want to go tonight? I’ll see it again.
I saw the movie at IFC as well. Really enjoyed getting a glimpse of their life and James Franco’s voice is so pleasant to listen to. Wouldn’t have minded to be “exploited” at the Eames office as one of the interviewed people put it. I think it was Jeannine Oppewall…
I LOVED Jeannine Oppewall’s commentary about the exploited also being the exploiters. She’s a trip…I really like her.
I loved that comment too!
IF you are in the LA or actually the whole of CA try to catch some of the Pacific Standard time exhibits. They have been amazing. The one at LACMA actually has the whole Eames living room installed – Nicely done Ice Cube. I am not sure if this is considered spamming – NB not my blog – but this shows some amazing shots of the exhibits in San Diego and there is a lot of eames on this site so hopefully relevant
http://esotericsurvey.blogspot.com/2011/10/san-diegos-craft-revolution-open-for.html
Oh my gosh, definitely NOT spamming Melinda! I’ve had that little line there forever—it’s really just to prevent people from leaving meaningless comments for no reason other than to have a reason to post their blog URL. Even if that were your blog, you’d be sharing the link for a relevant reason.
And now I’m off to check it out! 🙂
This is the coolest. I used to live in LA and I just loved it there. I lived in the Miracle Mile neighborhood (in a teeny tiny apartment), was in my early 20s and just had so much dang fun.
Thanks for sharing. I will definitely catch it on PBS.
jbhat
this is SO rad
As a former L.A. resident, I love to hear others appreciate LA with all its complexities. Ice Cube clearly knows and understands LA. And it’s too friggin’ cool that he’s into the Eameses.
This makes me love him that much more.
LOL that was the best. Who would have thought? I love the way he describes the different freeways. As a New Yorker that has now been living in the California desert for 9 years I have such a love hate relationship with LA. There is so much to love with the architecture, lifestyle, the diversity of food, the weather, the unique neighborhoods and unique natural landscapes. From mountains,valleys, cities, desert, coastal areas, it is such a unique place to live. But driving the 110 and 405 will make you go insane!!!
Thanks for a wonderful post.
Sandra
Hi Anna
Talking of your interests folding in on each other, you really should check this out – I saw it and thought of you!!!
I’ve loved your blog in 2011, keep up the great work 🙂
Steph
this entire post is marvelous. can’t wait to see the eames movie when it comes to pbs. continue to thrill, anna!
Thanks Anna I really enjoyed this post!
Hi, a long shot – but are you the same person who used to have another blog (that I for the world can’t remember the name) of about 7-8 years ago? You had a ferret (or two) that was ill. And you got married around then too?
I loved that blog you see, and been waiting if the author would start a new blog since she closed it down 🙂 And then I stumbled upon Door Sixteen and something felt familiar…
If you are not the same person, sorry if I sound crazy! 😀
Hee! Yes, that’s me. It was called Absolutely Vile. 🙂
This doesn’t have anything to do with Ice Cube or Eames but I found this Swedish online store that has the cutest blankets and rugs with your name on it (no, seriously). Personally, I think it’s too expensive (especially since you have to ship it from Sweden) but I figured it might be something for you.
http://shop.britasweden.se/en/
Cute, Sandra! 🙂
I love this video, but I’m really here to say thank you for staying ad-free. I appreciate it more and more as time goes by…especially around the holidays when every post all of a sudden feels like “a moment from our sponsor.”
Always was, still am, always will be. 🙂
Oh Happy Days! I can read your posts directly from Reader now! Which means, I can read your posts from my work computer while I am on the road. 🙂
You couldn’t before? That’s weird. I’ve never had any problem seeing my posts in Reader?
It was weird because sometime earlier this week your blog loaded in my reader with 20 some “new” posts and then magically I could read each post in it’s entirety through Reader. I’m not questioning a thing. I like it this way!
I’ve never been able to read your posts in Reader either. Happy to hear it works now.
So weird! I’ve never heard of anyone having a problem with it before now.
As an architectural engineering major in college – – and somebody who wishes she had a graphic design degree, this Eames movie looks fascinating. Absolutely thank you for sharing.
Watching this on American Masters right now and totally loving! Thank you so much for posting– I’d not have seen this, otherwise.
Speaking of … great little blog post regarding Eames (Inspiration: The 15 Things Charles and Ray Eames Teach Us). Enjoy! http://goo.gl/F6RMY