Ice Cube (O’Shea Jackson) is an American hip-hop artist and entertainer originally from South
Central areas in Los Angeles. Ice Cube began his hip-hop career with the group C.I.A and later with N.W.A. In late 1980s, he decided to pursue his career as a solo who produce, write, and
direct his own music album.  

In 1991, Ice Cube released his second album, Death Certificate, which became controversial amongst due to “racial charged content”. The lyrics of this album contained “drug dealing, racial profiling, and the right to keep and bear arms” that was everyday story for people in South Central. The album was ‘Hot’ to general audiences who loves gangsta rap and hip-hop culture. However, for many Korean Americans, the content of his song, Black Korea, was
disturbing and racist. According to The New York Times Ice Cube made an official apologies to his
bias comments on Korean shopkeepers in Los Angeles during the 1992 L.A Riot and how Korean (shop owners) were “ignorant flourish and described as chop-suey-eatin”.

For many years, there were uncomfortable racial tensions between Korean store owners and African American customers mainly in South Central Los Angeles. Personally, Koreans were ignorant about an African American history, a community, and an environment of South Central. Also
for African Americans, they viewed Korean Americans as a coolie, heathen, and inferior over other ethnic groups. Two ethnic group had to clash each other because of strong negative stereotypes that was already built within their values and perspectives in American society. Both communities were victims of the L.A Riot. There were no win or lose, but only scars of American multiracial society. In order to understand other groups and maintain peaceful community, the whole social system has to
change; this includes bias and segregation of urban planning, employment opportunities, ridiculous real estate price tag, and a lack of Ethnic Studies program in K-12 public education. 

*Warning* "Black
Korea" contains an uncomfortable racist lyrics.

"Black Korea":

• Portrays racial conflict between Korean merchants and African American customers in South Central
• Criticizes the death of Latasha Harlins by Korean store owner
• Story telling of “oriental stereotypes” and Korean merchants’ prejudice against African American customers