Ice Cube says his son could've been hated

Ice Cube (right) and Son O'Shea Jackson.

The critical and box office success of Straight Outta Compton has saved Ice Cube's son O'Shea Jackson, Jr from being maligned and hated, says his famous father.

Ice Cube has told the Kyle and Jackie O show that his son put his own reputation on the line in the movie which is a a biopic about Ice Cube's 80s hip-hop group NWA.

Jackson took acting classes in preparation to play his father and Cube says, had the movie bombed, his son would have been part of the fall out.

"I'm proud of him, he did a great job," Ice Cube said.

"We could mess up our legacy if we didn't do it right and my son could go from having this pretty cushiony fluffy, just rollin' with life kind of a deal, to being scrutinised and everyone telling him how much he sucks in the movie, over the internet.

O'Shea Jackson, Jr. as Ice Cube and Corey Hawkins as Dr. Dre, in the film Straight Outta Compton. Photo / AP

"He could have gone from being a cool dude to being one of the most hated guys out here, so there was a lot at stake."

Ice Cube says he sometimes winds back the clock at home and listens to the music NWA released and there's no censored version of one of their gangsta rap protest songs about the LAPD.

"Every now and then, I got to reminisce and bump the old records," he said.

"I don't think you should make a clean version of F the police ... it defeats the purpose a little bit."

Cube may not be a fan of the police but he's certainly a fan of rapper Kanye West.

West announced at the MTV Video Music Awards that he would make a run for president in 2020 and he can count on Cube at the ballot box.

"I'm voting for him ... Kanye for president. Sounds like a good idea to me," Cube says.

A scene from the movie Straight Outta Compton.

As for the current leader of the US, Barack Obama, Cube says he's "not a wimp".

He admires the President for heading to Alaska to learn how to survive in the Great Outdoors with Bear Grylls for three days.

"He seems like he can do it, he don't seem like a wimp," Cube said about Obama.

"No (I wouldn't do the show). I enjoy my modern amenities too much. I came from Compton where we were strugglin', why should I put myself in peril."

Cube reckons Grylls may struggle to survive in Compton, California where the members of NWA grew up.

"Let me bring Bear Grylls to Compton and see how long he survives. He'd be laying in his own piss."

- AAP