Ice Cube recently teased that his performance at this year’s Coachella could see a reunion of his seminal hip-hop group N.W.A.. Fans not heading to Indio were likely hoping to get a preview of that show at this weekend’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, when Cube will be inducted alongside fellow N.W.A. members Dr. Dre, DJ Yella, MC Ren, and the late Eazy-E. Now, though, word has come straight from Ice Cube’s mouth that the rap luminaries will in fact not be performing at the ceremony.
“Nah, we’re not performing,” Ice Cube told the New York Times. “I guess we really didn’t feel like we were supported enough to do the best show we could put on.”
When asked if the organizers were the ones failing to provide the proper support, he responded, “Pretty much, yeah. We wanted to do it on a whole other level, and that just couldn’t happen. But we’re totally honored, humbled and appreciative to the Hall for even just considering us, inducting us and inviting us.”
Still, he confirmed that the current plan is for all four surviving members to be present when Kendrick Lamar inducts them into the Hall. “I believe everybody’s going to be there. As it stands now.”
Of course, N.W.A. won’t be the first inductees to pass up the chance to perform at the ceremony. Chicago frontman Peter Cetera won’t be joining his bandmates when they’re inducted this year, KISS canceled their performance in 2014, and Van Halen’s 2007 appearance was called off for numerous reasons. Axl Rose skipped the ceremony entirely in 2012 when Guns ‘N Roses were inducted, as did Diana Ross in 1988 when the Supremes went in.
The RaRHoF ceremony will be held at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 8th.
