Ice Cube "THE BOMB” Minneapolis 1991

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We're commemorating the 30th anniversary of Ice Cube’s notorious concert at Minneapolis' First Avenue on March 4, 1991 with a powerful 11 color screenprinted poster by artist Mexifunk.

Several factors made this show one of the most infamous in rap history. March 4, 1991 was the day after the beating of Rodney King by the LAPD. Ice Cube’s album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, was the hottest rap album in the country at the time, and the show was over sold out. For most people at the show, police brutality wasn't just something they heard about in rap songs – chances were, many of Ice Cube's fans knew someone it had happened to, if they hadn't experienced it personally.

All of these elements converged, and the concert went down in history as one of the most violent shows ever held, with dozens of fights breaking out due to the energy and angst of the crowd. Despite the violence, many in the audience were blown away by Cube’s performance. "People never talk about the fact that it was a great show. Ice Cube – I'd go see him again in a heartbeat. One of the best hip-hop shows I've ever seen.” described attendee DJ Smitty.

“The art is inspired by all of the events going on at the time with Cube's song “The Bomb” as the backbone of it all. The print is a visual metaphor that relates to the social climate; a massive a skull-faced bomb encased in an ice cube with a lit fuze in downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by police, and ready to explode. It's a culmination of all Ice Cube's visual signatures mixed with his controversial lyrics and empowering persona.” - Orlando Arocena