O’Shea Jackson Jr. Bio
O’Shea Jackson Jr. (born February 24, 1991), also known by the stage name OMG, is an American actor, rapper, and songwriter. The oldest son of the legendary rapper and producer Ice Cube, he first drew widespread attention for his feature film debut in the 2015 N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, in which he portrayed his own father during the group’s rise in late-1980s Los Angeles. Over the following decade, Jackson built a versatile career across drama, comedy, and science fiction while continuing to release music under his OMG moniker.
Early Life and Background
O’Shea Jackson Jr. was born on February 24, 1991, in Los Angeles, California, to O’Shea Jackson Sr., known worldwide as the rapper and actor Ice Cube, and Kimberly Woodruff. He was raised in the San Fernando Valley alongside three younger siblings: brothers Darrell and Shareef, and a sister, Kareema. Growing up in a household steeped in hip-hop culture gave him an early familiarity with music studios, performance, and the wider entertainment industry.
Like his father, Jackson attended William Howard Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California, graduating in 2009. He went on to enroll at the University of Southern California, where he studied screenwriting, but he eventually left the program to pursue acting full time. His combination of formal writing training and a lifetime of musical immersion helped shape his early creative voice.
Path to Acting
Jackson’s first steps into the entertainment world came through music. In 2010, he and his brother Darrell were featured on tracks from their father’s album I Am the West. Two years later, under the stage name OMG, he released his debut mixtape Jackin’ for Beats, a ten-track project that earned positive notices from outlets such as Vibe. He continued building his musical profile with appearances in music videos for Pia Mia and the hip-hop duo Twenty88.
His transition to film began in June 2014, when it was announced that he had been cast as his father in the biographical drama Straight Outta Compton. Critics noted his striking physical resemblance to the young Ice Cube, and his father publicly described the casting as “spot-on.” The film, released on August 14, 2015, earned strong reviews and established Jackson as a serious dramatic talent.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. Career
Early Career (2009–2015)
Between his high school graduation in 2009 and his casting in Straight Outta Compton, Jackson focused primarily on music, releasing material online and contributing to his father’s projects. His mixtape work under the OMG name gave him a modest but growing fan base and allowed him to develop stage presence and lyrical skills.
His feature film debut in Straight Outta Compton arrived in August 2015 and immediately shifted his career toward acting. The performance drew praise for its authenticity and emotional depth, setting the stage for a string of varied roles in the years that followed.
Breakthrough (2015–2019)
Jackson’s breakout role as Ice Cube in Straight Outta Compton announced him as a leading-man prospect. He followed this with a scene-stealing turn as Dan Pinto in the 2017 dark comedy Ingrid Goes West, where he played the Batman-obsessed love interest of Aubrey Plaza’s title character. Critics at the Los Angeles Times, Vulture, and Collider highlighted his comedic timing and on-screen charm.
In 2018, he took on a more intense role in the heist thriller Den of Thieves, starring alongside Gerard Butler and 50 Cent. The following year proved especially busy: he appeared in the romantic comedy Long Shot with Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen, played the leader of the G-Team military squad in Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and portrayed the wrongly convicted Anthony Ray Hinton in the legal drama Just Mercy, opposite Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. He also played hip-hop pioneer Kool Herc on an episode of Drunk History in February 2018.
Notable Works and Milestones
Among Jackson’s most recognized projects are Straight Outta Compton, Ingrid Goes West, Den of Thieves, Godzilla: King of the Monsters, and Just Mercy. His television work includes the comedy series The Now with Dave Franco, the basketball drama Swagger on Apple TV+, and the Disney+ Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi, in which he played the character Kawlan Roken. In October 2019, he made a guest appearance on the debut of WWE SmackDown on Fox, and in May 2025, he made a special guest appearance on TNA Impact!.
O’Shea Jackson Jr. Family
Jackson is the oldest of four children born to Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff. His brothers Darrell and Shareef, along with his sister Kareema, complete the immediate family. He has a daughter, Jordan Reign Jackson, who was born in August 2017 with his former partner Jackie Garcia.
Personal Life
Outside of his work in film and music, Jackson is an avid fan of professional wrestling, anime, and Pokémon. He hosts a wrestling recap podcast called No Contest Wrestling and supports the Los Angeles Kings of the NHL and the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL. He continues to balance his acting career with occasional music releases under his OMG stage name.
