Ice Cube Feels Frozen Out by Oprah

June 1, 2006 — -- If the big guns of the hip-hop scene had their way, Oprah Winfrey's career, to steal the title of James Frey's fictionalized memoir, would be in "A Million Little Pieces."

With the fallout from her ill-fated endorsement of Frey's best-seller still ringing in her ears, as well as stinging criticism from rappers Ludacris and 50 Cent, Winfrey has a fresh foe from the world of popular rap: Ice Cube.

"I've been involved in three projects pitched to her, but I've never been asked to participate," Cube said in July's issue of FHM.

Cube headed the cast in the 2002 movie "Barbershop," the tagline of which is "Everyone's gettin' lined up." Well, not necessarily for Winfrey's show.

"For 'Barbershop,' she had Cedric the Entertainer and Eve on, but I wasn't invited," the 36-year-old rapper-actor told FHM. "She's had damn rapists, child molesters and lying authors on her show. And if I'm not a rags-to-riches story for her, who is?"

Cube, who has also starred in the movies "Friday" and "Three Kings," said that Oprah seems to have a problem with hip-hop.

50 Cent seems to agree. Last month, New York-born 50 claimed Winfrey rarely invites rappers on her talk show. "I think she caters to older white women," he said.

Ludacris, aka Chris Bridges, began the anti-Oprah sentiment in the May issue of GQ magazine, where he complained the talk show host was "unfair" to him when he appeared on her show with other cast members from best-picture Oscar winner "Crash."

Nevertheless, Pulitzer Prize-nominated columnist Gregory Kane expressed his view on BlackAmericaWeb.com that Winfrey's booking policy represents nothing more sinister than common sense "demographics."

Contacted by ABC on Wednesday, the word from Winfrey's production company Harpo was that the media mogul had made her position perfectly clear when speaking May 11 to New York City radio station Power 105.1.

"I listen to some hip-hop. I've been accused of not liking hip-hop and that's just not true," Winfrey told DJ Ed Lover. "I like 'In Da Club' ... love that, love Jay-Z, love Kanye [West], love Mary J. [Blige]. Mary J. is one of my friends."

For those involved in the rap scene, however, personal feuds are nearly as important as an oversize gold chain. 50 Cent believes a spat with Winfrey is not without its benefits.

"I'm actually better off having friction with her," he said.

Was it mentioned that Ice Cube's latest album, "Laugh Now, Cry Later," hits shops June 6?