The Ice Cube Scholarship is a half-tuition scholarship presented to a McNally Smith College Music Technology applicant every academic year.
Award
The half-tuition scholarship is applied toward a degree in Music Technology. Renewal is automatic as long as the student achieves a grade point average of 3.0 for each semester’s work and enrolls full-time for up to four years. Books, course materials, room and board are not included.
Additional Submission Guidelines
Applicants must also submit up to two demo recordings that they have produced, arranged, and/or recorded. The two pieces should be selected for their stylistic contrast, musical interest, and technical/creative expression. The submissions total running time should equal no more than 4 minutes. Applicants must also describe the individual participation in detail of each of the recordings. Space to do so is provided on the universal application. Applicants must submit their demos using the universal online application.
The "Ice Cube Challenge"
The McNally Smith College of Music Scholarship Selection Committee will select up to five finalists for the “Ice Cube Challenge.” Ice Cube will then present those finalists with a basic starting point, a beat, and hook line. The finalists will fill in the bass line, arrangement, and lyrics. They are to use this opportunity to showcase their talent/skills/creativity to develop a song. Ice Cube will review the projects and choose a winner based on what he likes best and who shows the most potential.
About Ice Cube:
Ice Cube first came to public notice as a singer and songwriter with the controversial and influential band N.W.A. His compositions with that group included many of the classic cuts from their debut LP Straight Outta Compton (Ruthless/Priority, 1989), including the tracks "Gangsta Gangsta" and "Express Yourself". His solo albums started with AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (Priority, 1990). His second solo album, Death Certificate (Priority, 1991), a concept album about the fall and rise of the Black man, sold two million copies, and his subsequent solo outputs (six albums to date total) has sold over ten million copies. He has also discovered Yoyo, Del, K-Dee and Mack 10. He has also produced, written, toured and recorded with Public Enemy, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, George Clinton, The D.O.C., Michel'e, Big Daddy Kane, WC & The Madd Circle (which spawned the solo career of Coolio), former N.W.A. bandmate Dr. Dre and Cypress Hill. He has also recorded with two post-N.W.A. side-project bands, Da Lench Mob (Guerillas In Tha Mist, Street Knowledge/East-West, 1991) and Westside Connection (Bow Down, Priority, 1996).
The multi-talented Ice Cube started his career in music and now is one of the most recognized hip-hop stars in the recording industry. Already an established musician, Ice Cube made his screen debut in Boyz N the Hood. Now the veteran of over twenty films, his versatile career includes starring roles in such films as Three Kings and the highly successful Friday and Barbershop franchises, which he executive produced. As a proud father of four, it was only a matter of time before actor-producer-musician Ice Cube found himself in family film territory.
On May 4, 2006, Ice Cube visited McNally Smith College for a tour of the campus, a Q & A session with students and staff, and to inaugurate the Ice Cube Scholarship. He also visited the campus again on Septemeber 11, 2008 to present the 2008 winner with the scholarship as well as answer students' questions.
Scholarship applications are due March 1, 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year.
Complete the online application here.