Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati (outdoor) | Cincinnati OH
Compton Comes to Cincinnati!
Seeing Ice Cube perform at the Hard Rock Casino Cincinnati on September 14th was an experience! It was my first time at their outdoor venue, and —it was standing room only (ugh, not my favorite). But, hey, I decided to go with the VIP standing room area, and in hindsight, it was worth it. I managed to snag a spot that was basically second row, center stage. If I had a seat, it would have been a prime spot, so I couldn’t be mad at that!
Now, I have to admit, I’d never seen Ice Cube before. In fact, I didn’t know much of his music, I know more of his acting gigs. But there I was, surrounded by the obvious day-one fans who knew every song, every move, every lyric. Meanwhile, I was just grooving along like I was in the know! When the beat is hot (and trust me, it was), you can’t help but bounce to it.
Ice Cube put on a great show! As he put it himself, there were no fancy gimmicks—just him with the mic, some big screen visuals in the background, and two giant inflatable hands on each side of the stage throwing up the iconic “Westside” sign. Pure, raw, and real! He took us on a ride back through the 80s, 90s, and every era his music has touched, giving us all the hits. At one point, he shouted out Ohio and Cincinnati especially, showing love to Bootsy Collins and P-Funk, saying he wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them. Talk about paying homage!
Even for those of us (me🙋🏽♀️) who didn’t know many of his songs, it was still a fun night. The best part? The crowd! As far as I could see behind me, it was jam-packed with people. And I have to make a point to say, despite the bad rep of gangster rap, there was zero drama—just a bunch of fans enjoying a perfect summer evening outdoors. It felt like a big family BBQ where everyone was just kicking back and having a blast! 🎶
