Rapper-turned-actor ICE CUBE captured our attention with his motion picture debut, Boyz in the Hood; made us take notice of the importance of an education in Higher Learning; and cracked us up nonstop with joke after joke in films like Friday and Next Friday.

Report Card
Ice Cube is a noted genius when it comes to acting, writing, directing, and producing box-office hits. Would you believe he's never received any formal training? Not a single class! His fancy film flavor is a combination of his hunger for being influential in the movie biz and his go-for-it showcasing of skills early on.

Now, Ice Cube is able to return the favor to up-and-coming actors, like Mike Epps -- both creatively and financially.

"John Singleton gave me a shot," Ice Cube explains. "[So when] I saw Mike [Epps] in a comedy club and he blew up the spot, I gave him a chance."

Growing Earns High Grades
"Growth is good," Ice Cube reveals when asked about his music-to-movies transition. "With movies, I've been able to grab a new audience. After a while, rap plays out. I've been doing it for 15 years. This is a natural progression for me."

Ice Cube is quick to note that it's not mandatory to attend film school to be a director, however, he advises you employ one simple suggestion: "In this [film] business, you're going to have to prove yourself. So, get a camcorder and put something together that's special."

In that case, Ice Cube gets an A+ for awesome work!

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