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Ice Cube’s Son O’Shea Jackson Jr. Takes Pride In Being A “Nepo Baby”

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O’Shea Jackson Jr., son of the legendary Ice Cube, recently spoke on being a “nepo baby,” and actually taking pride in it. Moreover, the 32-year-old spoke on The Kelly Clarkson Show about the debate surrounding the term, which refers to celebrity children with successful Hollywood careers. Of course, Jackson Jr. is one of the many starts in the recently released Cocaine Bear film, which might approach cult status soon. If it doesn’t, at least it was a fun and Pusha T-cosigned movie to look back on. Regardless, O’Shea actually made his film debut portraying his father in the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton.

With that experience in mind, he says the label is like a “badge of honor” for him. “I’m forever grateful for everything my dad had to do to get me the opportunities that I have,” he expressed. “And if I were to run away from that or shy away from that in any way, in my eyes, that’s disrespectful to everything he had to go through. He didn’t work as hard as he did for me to not accept and appreciate it. So, I wear it as a badge of honor.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. Is A Proud Nepo Baby

“At the same time, the door can be open but you’ve gotta walk through,” he continued after calling his dad his hero. “You know, a lot of people, they have an idea of what I’m going to be before I get to any set because of their idea of what my dad is. They think I’m coming to set entitled or I feel like I need to have a ‘posse’ of 15-20 people with me… you know… straight rap stuff. But I’m here to work. I pride myself on my professionalism.”

While some will hate on nepo babies no matter what, O’Shea actually makes some valid points with his remarks. After all, being a nepo baby, in theory, is only as bad as you make it with your attitude towards others and sense of entitlement. Also, this isn’t the first time he’s spoken on it. In fact, he auditioned to play his father two years before getting the role and pointed out how he switched agencies as well. Overall, he spoke earnestly about expressing gratitude for the door his father opened up, and about it being up to him to truly succeed out of merit. Regardless of your take, check back in with HNHH for the latest on O’Shea Jackson Jr. and Ice Cube.

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Ice Cube’s Son O’Shea Jackson Jr. Has Some Thoughts About Being Called A ‘Nepotism Baby’

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The debate about so-called “nepotism babies” is all the rage this week after a New York magazine feature detailing the current crop of kids in showbiz with famous parents. Of course, this is nothing new; most of “New Hollywood” when I was a kid in the ’90s consisted of the children of actors my parents grew up watching. But since this is the internet, and nobody remembers anything that happened more than 18 months ago — this holds up, feel free to test it — here we are, talking about a new generation of stars entering their families’ business.

One of the stars who was named in the article weighed in on the debate, offering a nuanced perspective a far cry from his observations about his favorite NBA team and taking “both sides” into consideration. O’Shea Jackson Jr., who is not only named after his father Ice Cube but also actually played him in Straight Outta Compton, noted on Twitter how it was a combination of his father’s advice and his own hard work that got him to where he is in his career as a respected and prolific actor (not a rapper, as his dad started out).

“My dad told me in a perfect world, I would play him in Straight Outta Compton,” he wrote. “I was already in college for screenwriting at USC. I accepted the challenge. And auditioned for two years before getting the role. After that it was up to me, he couldn’t hold my hand through my career. I had to get my ass up and make it work. From the roles I chose. The work ethic I put into them. My professionalism on sets and promo tours. Even leaving HIS agency and goin to find a team of my own. Once the door was opened it was up to me to walk through it and thrive.”

However, he admitted his dad did give him the support system he needed to be able to make those moves. “But none of that. NONE. OF. THAT. Happens that way without the love of my father. The work he put in to get us to a place of opportunity. And for me to ignore that or not accept and use as a guide would be foolish and disrespectful. I am grateful and I use his teachings daily.”

The 31-year-old Ice Cube doppelganger has appeared in a number of buzzy films and TV shows over the course of his career including Ingrid Goes West with Aubrey Plaza, Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and he’ll be appearing in next year’s internet-anticipated action comedy Cocaine Bear. Meanwhile, Ice Cube just put out his second studio album as part of the California supercrew Mount Westmore with Snoop Dogg, E-40, and Too Short.

O’Shea Jackson Jr. Chimes In On ‘Nepotism Babies’ Conversation, Talks About Playing His Father In ‘Straight Outta Compton’

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O'Shea Jackson Jr. Joins Cast of 'Flarsky' Starring Seth Rogan

For a while now there has been a conversation surrounding “Nepotism Babies,” or kids of famous celebrities who often shoot to the top of their fields without having to go through the same struggles as others who have tried to get into the industry. The New York Times recently published an article about Nepo Babies where they break down what the concept is. Nepo babies are also in the hip-hop world, look at Lil Romeo, Jaden and Willow Smith, and King Combs.

Ice Cube’s son, O’Shea Jackson Jr., also a Nepo Baby, responded to the NYT article by talking about his experience in working towards playing his dad in the 2015 biopic Straight Outta Compton and gave a more nuanced definition of a nepotism baby.

“My dad told me in a perfect world, I would play him in [Straight Outta Compton],” Jackson wrote. “I was already in college for screenwriting at USC. I accepted the challenge. And auditioned for two years before getting the role.”

He added that he realized his father couldn’t be with him every step of his career and had to work hard to achieve his own success. “After that it was up to me, he couldn’t hold my hand through my career. I had to get my ass up and make it work. … Once the door was opened it was up to me to walk through it and thrive.”

“But none of that. NONE. OF. THAT. Happens that way without the love of my father,” Jackson adds. “The work he put in to get us to a place of opportunity. And for me to ignore that or not accept and use as a guide would be foolish and disrespectful. I am grateful and I use his teachings daily.”

Jackson went on to tell people who are Nepo Babies or a part of generational talent or wealth to embrace it and never to let people diminish their accomplishments just because they are a product of nepotism.

“I say this to say. To the people who are 2nd, 3rd or any number of generational talent/wealth. Embrace that shit. Because it’s something that’s been happening for centuries. Do not let anyone get it in your head that you should feel bad or your accomplishments are less than what they are. Bust your ass! Do the work! And leave something for your kids to do the same thing! It is not a shadow for you to get out of! It is an empire to which you are growing! But it all starts with love of yourself. Love of those before you. A strong mind & WORK.”

O’Shea ended by saying that he wishes everybody would be able to give their child opportunities to succeed. “I wish everyone in this world to be able to present opportunities for their children to succeed. No matter how big or small. It’s something all parents work for. How many people you know working multiple jobs to put they kids through school. Making opportunities is a parents goal”

“Family first. May everyone who reads this, blaze a trail for their family to be able to walk in the future. And teach them to love themselves. To love their family. And pave the way for the next. Thank you that was my TED talk.”

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