Ice Cube and O’Shea Jackson Jr. had X turnt up with their clap backs at a music critic. The father and son didn’t mince words as they responded individually to Dejon Paul‘s argument that Cube hasn’t done enough to advance rising Los Angeles rappers. In response, the comment section had a ball watching Cube and O’Shea pop off while Paul doubled down on his stance.
RELATED: Ice Cube’s Son O’Shea Jackson Jr. Jokes About Dad’s Dance Moves At BIG3 Game, Then Defends Him (VIDEO)
Music Critic Calls Out Ice Cube’s Contributions To L.A. Rap Scene, Son Responds
Dejon Paul, a music critic with credits including Complex, recently led an interview with Ralfy The Plug that included comments about Drakeo The Ruler’s reach and how he could’ve outsold Az Chike if he had major-label backing. O’Shea responded to an X post quoting the interview and calling out its wording.
“What’s the point of tryna tear Az Chike down tho. Why not just talk about how big Drakeo would’ve been with a major behind him,” O’Shea wrote.
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In response, Dejon Paul brought Ice Cube into the conversation, challenging how he’s shown up in the rap scene since his peak days. He posted:
“No one is tearing AzChike down, I said LA rap needs another game changer like Drakeo and his fans said he couldn’t outsell Chike. More importantly, why hasn’t your father @IceCube w/ all his multi-millions and resources signed or developed any new LA rappers this decade or last?”
No one is tearing AzChike down, I said LA rap needs another game changer like Drakeo and his fans said he couldn’t outsell Chike. More importantly, why hasn’t your father @IceCube w/ all his multi-millions and resources signed or developed any new LA rappers this decade or last? https://t.co/IR3g813Rrw
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
When an X user replied to Dejon by writing, “Because he doesn’t have to,” the music critic turned up the heat on Ice Cube and O’Shea Jackson Jr. “Just like I don’t have to base
my interview questions off how Ice Cube’s son feels. I can ask whatever the f**k I want to ask just like Cube can ignore these new LA rappers and do absolutely nothing for them,” Paul responded.
just like I don’t have to base
my interview questions off how Ice Cube’s son feels. I can ask whatever the fuck I want to ask just like Cube can ignore these new LA rappers and do absolutely nothing for them.— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
Then, in response to another comment, Dejon Paul made a comparison to Jay-Z and his ability to develop East Coast artists while maintaining an active career with Roc Nation.
Jay Z has several businesses but Roc Nation has still signed and developed east coast rappers over the past decade or so.
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
Critic Continues Exchanging Words With O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Neither O’Shea of Dejon Paul let up after that last exchange. Jackson Jr. circled back to defend what his father has done for others in the entertainment industry, including film and most recently, sports.
“My father has given opportunities his ENTIRE CAREER. For 40 years. In both fields of music and film. And has picked up another career where he continues to give opportunities with THE BIG 3. But that’s just still not enough is it? Because he hasn’t gambled on somebody in 15 years it’s somehow him to blame. Right,” O’Shea replied to Dejon.
Paul held his stance in his response to O’Shea, arguing that the rising L.A. rappers need help from the OGs. The critic even looped Snoop Dogg into the conversation, writing, “No it’s not! These new LA rappers need help, and OG’s like Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg keep dropping their weak trash flop music instead of signing and developing the next wave of LA rap and putting some money behind them. Your father has time and money to drop this 🗑️ though.”
In two additional tweets, the music critic alleged that other L.A.artists, including the late Nipsey Hussle, have also called out OG West Coast rappers about their support for the rising rappers. Also, he challenged Ice Cube to reach out directly, rather than letting his “hatchling” take the mic.
Glasses Malone, Nipsey, K-Boy and them already publicly called out Ice Cube and the west coast OG’s for gatekeeping and not supporting new LA rappers in the late 2000’s. It’s called the New West Movement. I’m not saying anything new! Do your research.
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
I’m not trying to go back and forth with Ice Cube’s daughter about LA rap. Tell Cube to hit me! I beef with the main boss, not the hatchlings. I went back and forth with Snoop Dogg this year, not his sons.
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
Meanwhile, O’Shea gave Dejon some advice on his approach of the topic and separately reminded the music critic that Ice Cube is also an independent artist with no major label ties right now.
“Also another way to handle that. ‘You know fans always comparing, we wasn’t tryna tear Chike down just a topic from our fans. Side note. Is there a reason why pops hasn’t signed any new artists?’ Instead of ‘why he don’t help when he got all that,'” O’Shea Jackson Jr. wrote, to which Dejon Paul responded, “I don’t talk like that. I’m not a nice person.”
Also another way to handle that.
“You know fans always comparing, we wasn’t tryna tear Chike down just a topic from our fans.
Side note. Is there a reason why pops hasn’t signed any new artists?”
Instead of “why he don’t help when he got all that”
— O’Shea Jackson Jr (@OsheaJacksonJr) October 5, 2026
In a separate tweet, Dejon Paul also made it clear he has no plans to adjust his interview style or questions, no matter what anyone says.
I don’t give a fuck what y’all say. I’m not changing my opinion. I’m going to keep asking rappers whatever the fuck I want to ask them during my interviews. And there’s nothing y’all can do about it but bitch and complain like some hoes. End of the story.
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
Ice Cube Enters The Chat, Critic Digs Deeper With Insults
Finally, amid O’Shea and Dejon’s X replies to each other, Ice Cube entered the chat. He responded directly to the tweet Paul tagged him. In a short paragraph, Cube explained his work commitments and lack of time to develop artists.
“Because I’m an independent artist who’s not retired or semiretired. I write, produce and perform my own music. I write, produce, direct and star in movies. I also produce the soundtracks. I produce television as well. I’m also the co-founder and CEO of my own professional basketball league called the BIG3. It’s unfair for any rapper to be signed to me and expect the kind of attention they need to be successful. People like you, will always criticize people like me for not using my talents and resources in the way they see fit. Mind your own business cause the first time something is produced that you consider “wack” you’d be asking everybody ‘Why’d they working with an old a*s nigga like Cube!?’ Stop trying to cause problems in L.A. and keep it pushing.”
But the explanation did nothing to deter the music critic, who called the explanation “excuses” and accused Ice Cube of wanting to gate keep.
“Excuses! You don’t want to see the new generation of LA rappers shine, neither does Snoop Dogg. Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, and Birdman are putting new Southern rappers on, but our west coast OG’s have excuses. You can easily hire people to run your record label since you’re so busy,” Dejon Paul wrote.
Excuses! You don’t want to see the new generation of LA rappers shine, neither does Snoop Dogg. Gucci Mane, Yo Gotti, and Birdman are putting new Southern rappers on, but our west coast OG’s have excuses. You can easily hire people to run your record label since you’re so busy. https://t.co/FdutWXCsoj
— Dejon Paul 🏁🏆 (@dejonpaul_) October 5, 2026
For several tweets after, Dejon took shots at Ice Cube, even claiming to have personally witnessed the rapper leaving his own brother behind in the hood. Cube also replied to a post Paul had shared in reply to O’Shea. Cube wrote, “Sold more than yo sh*t. When do you drop?” To that, Paul called himself a journalist and Ice Cube a “studio gangsta,” who “rapper all that tough sh*t but was a buster.” Also, he claimed Cube got knocked out and his chain snatched. “You faked like you was a hardcore gangsta to sell records. Stop the cap,” Paul added in a tweet.
