Who is Deja Jackson? All about the woman mistakenly thought to be Ice Cube's daughter
Deja Jackson is often mistakenly thought to be Ice Cube’s daughter, but she is not related to him. Ice Cube, born O’Shea Jackson, is a rapper, actor, and filmmaker. He has four confirmed children but, Deja is not one of them. She is a former college basketball player, born to Erma Bryant and Larry Jackson. Learn more about her here.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Deja Jackson hails from Grinnell, Iowa.
- She played basketball in college.
- Her parents are Erma Bryant and Larry Jackson
- Ice Cube’s confirmed children are O’Shea Jr., Darrell, Kareema, and Shareef, who have mostly stayed connected to entertainment.
Profile summary
Full name | Deja Jackson |
Gender | Female |
Birthplace | Grinnell, Iowa |
Country | United States of America |
Nationality | American |
School | Grinnell High School |
College | University of Pennsylvania |
Height | 5 ft 8 inches |
Hair colour | Black |
Eye colour | Brown |
Father | Larry Jackson |
Mother | Erma Bryant |
Who is Deja Jackson?
Deja Jackson is a former American college basketball player. She played for the University of Pennsylvania women’s basketball team from 2015 to 2019. She was born and raised in Grinnell, Iowa, and attended Grinnell High School. At Penn, she earned a degree in communication with a minor in Hispanic studies.
Deja was a talented guard known for her leadership and consistency on the court. She stood 5 feet 8 inches tall and wore jersey number 22. Both her parents, Erma Bryant and Larry Jackson, played basketball at Liberty University.
Despite her athletic background, Deja Jackson is often mistakenly believed to be Ice Cube’s daughter. However, there is no connection between the two. The rumor likely stems from name confusion, as Ice Cube’s real daughter is named Kareema Jackson.
Who is Deja Jackson's mother?
Her mother is Erma Bryant. She played basketball at Liberty University, alongside Deja's father, Larry. The two likely inspired their daughter to pursue a career in the sport.
Source: Original
Deja Jackson's education
Deja Jackson attended Grinnell High School in Iowa, where she was a standout basketball player and team captain. After graduating, she joined the University of Pennsylvania.
At Penn, she balanced academics and athletics, earning a degree in communication with a minor in Hispanic studies before graduating in 2019.
What is Deja Jackson's height?
Deja Jackson is 5 feet 8 inches tall. Her height and quick movement made her a strong guard on the University of Pennsylvania basketball team.
What happened to Deja Jackson?
Nothing is publicly known about Deja Jackson’s personal life or current activities. It is unknown if she continued playing basketball. She is sometimes mistakenly thought to be Ice Cube’s daughter, but there is no connection.
Is Deja Jackson still alive?
There is no latest update about the former Penn basketball player, since her graduation in 2019. She is believed to be alive and committed to her career.
Another woman named Deja Jackson, a transportation expert, passed away in 2020, which has largely created confusion.
Who are Ice Cube Kids?
The American rapper/songwriter has four children with his wife, Kimberly Woodruff. They are a close-knit family, and each child has grown up mostly out of the public spotlight.
While rumors sometimes add extra names, only four are confirmed. Below is a summary of each of Ice Cube’s children.
O'Shea Jackson Jr
Source: Getty Images
O'Shea Jr (34 years in 2025) was born in Los Angeles on February 24, 1991. He launched his music career under OMG, started acting, and debuted in Straight Outta Compton. He has also featured in Den of Thieves, Ingrid Goes West, and Godzilla: King of the Monsters.
Darrel Jackson
Their second son, Darrel (33 years as of 2025), was born on December 3, 1992. He also pursued a music career and worked for Ice Cube's Lench Mob Records.
Kareema Jackson
Kareema Jackson was born on February 17, 1994, to Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff. She has largely stayed out of the public eye but has appeared alongside her father at movie premieres and awards events.
Shareef Jackson
Shareef Jackson, the youngest child of Ice Cube and Kimberly Woodruff, was born on June 1, 2000. He has mostly stayed out of the public eye and has only appeared in public on rare occasions.
These four children make up Ice Cube's biological family.
Ice Cube’s story
Ice Cube, whose real name is O'Shea Jackson, is an American rapper, actor, producer, and filmmaker. He was born in Los Angeles, California and was raised in a working-class family. His mother, Doris Jackson, worked as a hospital clerk, and his father, Hosea Jackson, was a groundskeeper at UCLA.
He later attended George Washington Preparatory High School in Los Angeles. Ice was an avid student who developed an interest in hip-hop during his high school years.
Ice Cube's age
He is 56 years old as of 2025. He was born on June 15 1969.
Early interest in music
Ice Cube's early life and experiences in South Central Los Angeles influenced much of his music, often addressing the African-American community's social and political issues. His transition from a member of NWA to a successful solo artist and later into acting and filmmaking reflects the versatility of his career. Below are some of his hit songs:
Source: Getty Images
Songs
- 1992: It Was a Good Day
- 1993: Check Yo Self
- 1993: You Know How We Do It
- 1993: Today Was a Good Day
- 1994: Bop Gun
- 1998: We Be Clubbin
- 2000: Hello with Dr. Dre and MC Ren
- 2006: Why We Thugs
- 2006: Go to Church with Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon
Films
Ice Cube has had a successful career as an actor and filmmaker in the film industry. Below are some of his films:
- 1991: Boyz n the Hood
- 1995: Friday
- 1999: Three Kings
- 2000: Next Friday
- 2002: Barbershop
- 2002: Friday After Next
- 2005: Are We There Yet?
Who is Oshea Jackson Jr.'s mom?
Oshea Jr.'s mother is Kimberly Woodruff. Ice Cube's wife keeps a low public profile despite her connection to a famous figure.
Kimberly met Ice Cube when she was a college student. They began dating in 1988, got engaged in 1991, and tied the knot on April 26, 1992. Marriages rarely last long in glamour, but Ice Cube and Woodruff's relationship is a rare exception.
Source: Getty Images
Who is O'Shea Jackson's wife now?
O’Shea Jackson Jr., Ice Cube’s eldest son, is married to Sonia Jackson. The couple has kept their relationship relatively private, and they occasionally appear together at public events.
What happened to Ice Cube's daughter Deja Jackson?
There is no verified information about a daughter named Deja Jackson being part of Ice Cube’s family. She is often mistakenly believed to be his daughter, but there is no connection.
Did Ice Cube's daughter pass away?
No. Ice Cube’s daughter, Kareema Jackson, is alive. The rumors about Deja Jackson passing away refer to a different person with the same last name. Ice Cube does not have a daughter named Deja Jackson.
The above clarifies that Deja Jackson is not Ice Cube’s daughter. Unlike his confirmed children, who have pursued entertainment careers, Deja has focused on basketball. She has chosen a path away from the spotlight and maintains a private life outside the world of fame.
Briefly.co.za recently published an article about the history of Tupac and Biggie’s beef: A detailed timeline. Hip-hop history will never forget Tupac and Biggie’s beef, a rivalry that shook the industry.
Its impact is still felt among artists like Nas, who paid tribute to the rap legends in his 1999 track We Will Survive. Their rivalry, central to the East Coast-West Coast conflict, escalated through diss tracks. Follow the above link for more about Tupac and Biggie's beef.
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Bennett Yates (Lifestyle writer) Bennett Yates is a content creator with over six years of working experience in journalism and copywriting. He graduated from the University of Nairobi (2017) with a Bachelor's in Information Technology. In 2023, Bennett finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. He has worked for Briefly.co.za for six years now. He specializes in topics like technology, entertainment, travel, lifestyle and sports. You can reach him via email at bennetyates@gmail.com.
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