Ice Cube | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Ice Cube is one of the most crucial artists in rap history. A razor-sharp lyricist, alternately furious and humorous MC, and accomplished producer, Cube laid the foundation for the legacy of pioneering gangsta rap group N.W.A by writing "Boyz-N-the-Hood" for partner Eazy-E and making his first big splash as an MC with the subsequent "Dope Man." After N.W.As Straight Outta Compton (1988) infiltrated suburban America and attracted the scrutiny of the FBI with "Fuck tha Police," Ice Cube launched a solo career that has entailed five platinum albums and one platinum EP, including AmeriKKKas Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992). A month before Cube released the first LP in that series, he appeared on Public Enemys critical "Burn Hollywood Burn" and within a year aided in the disruption of the tracks target with a co-starring role in John Singletons Boyz N the Hood. While Cube added to his filmography with projects such as the Friday franchise, directorial debut The Players Club, and Barbershop, he devoted less time to music. He continued to record occasionally as a solo artist and member of Westside Connection, and extended a streak of RIAA-certified releases that lasted through Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006). The next decade, Cube and Dr. Dre co-produced the acclaimed Straight Outta Compton (2015), a biographical film about N.W.A, whose resurgence culminated with an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cube soon returned with his first solo album in eight years, Everythangs Corrupt (2018). Raised in South Central Los Angeles, California by working class parents, Ice Cube, born OShea Jackson, became involved with b-boy culture in his early teens and in high school began writing rhymes. Cube rapped at parties hosted by Dr. Dre, who soon produced his first recordings: Stereo Crews "Shes a Skag," released on major-label Epic in 1986, and an EP by C.I.A., issued in 1987 on the small independent Kru-Cut. Stereo Crew and C.I.A. also featured K-Dee, while the latter added Sir Jinx. Along the line, Cube met Eazy-E through Dre, and that trio, along with Arabian Prince, formed the first lineup of N.W.A., bolstered soon thereafter by MC Ren and DJ Yella. Eazy and music industry veteran Jerry Heller set up Ruthless Records, launched later in 1987 with a pair of 12" releases: Eazys "Boyz-N-the-Hood," and an EP from N.W.A. containing "8 Ball" and "Dope Man." Cube was the MC only on "Dope Man," but he was credited as sole lyricist on the three tracks, all of which demonstrated the writers flair for pointed narratives illustrated with irreverent humor. By the time the Macola label expanded the Ruthless tracks for the compilation N.W.A. and the Posse, Cube had headed to Arizona to study architectural drafting at Phoenix Institute of Technology. After he obtained a one-year degree, he returned to work on N.W.As Straight Outta Compton and Eazy-Es Eazy-Duz-It. Released by Ruthless in August and September, respectively, 1988, the albums gradually crept into the mainstream, thanks in significant part to word of mouth and eventual support from Yo! MTV Raps. Nine months after its release, Straight Outta Compton peaked at number nine on Billboards R&B;/hip-hop chart (trumping Eazy-Duz-It, which in March topped out at number 12). The extreme lyrical content of "Fuck Tha Police," courtesy of Cube and MC Ren, attracted scrutiny from the Los Angeles Police Department and eventually the assistant director of the FBI office of public affairs, who sent the group a strongly worded letter. Deep conflicts with Jerry Heller prompted Cube to leave N.W.A in late 1989. He went to New York with fellow producer Sir Jinx and recorded his first solo album, heralded by an appearance on Public Enemys "Burn Hollywood Burn," with the Bomb Squad. Released on Priority in May 1990, AmeriKKKas Most Wanted was an instant Top 20 Billboard 200 hit and went gold within four months. While the albums production and Cubes mike skills were praised, the often violent, homophobic, and misogynist lyrics were criticized, particularly by the rock press and moral watchdogs. Even amid such controversy, the album was hailed as a groundbreaking classic -- led by the title track, a number one hit on Billboards Hot Rap Singles chart -- and established Cube as a recognized individual force. He began his own corporation, which was run by a woman, and by the end of 1990 co-produced a 12" for Yo-Yo and released the platinum Kill at Will EP. Yo-Yos Make Way for the Motherlode, produced entirely by Ice Cube and Sir Jinx, arrived the following year, as did another Cube-related project, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, the debut from cousin Del the Funky Homosapien. Moreover, Cube made his widely praised acting debut in John Singletons groundbreaking urban drama Boyz N the Hood, titled after the song he wrote, filmed in his native South Central Los Angeles. Cubes first album may have been controversial, but its reception paled compared to that of his follow-up, Death Certificate. Released in October 1991, just after the debut went platinum, Death Certificate was more political, antagonistic, and vulgar than its predecessor, causing more scrutiny and outrage. In particular, "No Vaseline," a vicious attack on N.W.A and Jerry Heller, was perceived as anti-Semitic, and "Black Korea" was taken as an instruction to burn down Korean-owned grocery stores. The songs provoked a condemnation from the trade publication Billboard -- the first time an artist had been singled out by the magazine. None of this prevented the album from reaching number two and going platinum with momentum maintained well into 1992 by "Steady Mobbin," a Top Ten rap hit. During 1992, Cube also performed in the second Lollapalooza tour to consolidate his white rock audience, executive-produced Da Lench Mobs radical Guerillas in tha Mist, and that December appeared in Trespass and released The Predator. Cubes third album, The Predator, became the first to debut at number one on both the pop and R&B;/hip-hop charts. Promoted with three Top Ten rap singles -- the ferocious Los Angeles riots response "Wicked," the steady-rolling "It Was a Good Day," and the Das EFX collaboration "Check Yo Self" -- the album eventually went double platinum. Lethal Injection, Cubes fourth album, was released in December 1993 and became the rappers third straight LP to debut within the Top Ten of the pop and R&B;/hip-hop charts. Its biggest single, "Bop Gun (One Nation)," paid tribute to the enduring influence of Parliament-Funkadelic and featured leader George Clinton. By the end of that year, Cubes production discography included more material from Yo-Yo, as well as Kams Neva Again. Having released four albums in four years, Cube took a break from making solo LPs, but during 1994 reunited with Dr. Dre for "Natural Born Killaz," recorded for the Murder Was the Case soundtrack. Also that year, the November release Bootlegs & B-Sides bundled stray cuts. Cube was visible as ever throughout 1995. He acted in Singletons film Higher Learning, wrote and starred in the cult classic stoner comedy Friday, and appeared on tracks by Westside Connection partners Mack 10 and WC. Bow Down, Westside Connections first album, followed in 1996, narrowly missed the top of the pop chart, and went platinum on the strength of the hits "Bow Down" and "Gangstas Make the World Go Round." In 1997, Cube starred in the action thriller Dangerous Ground and in the surprise hit horror film Anaconda, and contributed music to the soundtrack of the former, including "The World Is Mine," joined by K-Dee and Mack 10. Another anthology, Featuring...Ice Cube, was out that December. The Players Club, Cubes directorial debut -- which he also wrote -- premiered in 1998, promoted with a Top Ten soundtrack featuring his own "We Be Clubbin." That November, just after he made a featured appearance on nu metal leaders Korns "Children of the Korn," Cubes solo LP dry spell was broken with War & Peace, Vol. 1, the source of another rap number one, "Pushin Weight," and an additional Korn collaboration, "Fuck Dying." Like all his previous LPs, it went platinum. Film work resumed with Next Friday, written and produced by Cube, who also reprised his starring role from the original and was present on the soundtrack. War & Peace, Vol. 2, containing a collaboration with Dr. Dre and MC Ren on "Hello," followed in March 2000 and completed his prosperous phase with Priority Records, swiftly summarized with Greatest Hits in 2001. Between studio albums, Cube devoted most of his creative energy to films. David ORussells Three Kings, John Carpenters Ghosts of Mars, and Tim Storys Barbershop, as well as a third Cube-written Friday film, Friday After Next -- among several other titles -- all appeared in theaters before he returned to music with Westside Connections second album, Terrorist Threats, in December 2003. Signed to EMI, Cube lengthened his solo discography in June 2006 with Laugh Now, Cry Later. In the Movies, a compilation of soundtrack cuts, was put together by Priority for a 2007 release. The following August, Cube returned with Raw Footage, his seventh consecutive solo studio album to enter the Billboard 200 and R&B;/hip-hop charts within the Top Ten. Yet another catalog title from Priority, The Essentials, appeared in 2008. Cubes September 2010 effort I Am the West was a family affair, with sons Darrell Jackson (aka Doughboy, named after Cubes Boyz N the Hood character) and OShea Jackson, Jr. (aka OMG) among the guests, who also included longtime associate WC. By the end of 2011, Cube had also acted in and/or produced a multitude of projects for the large and small screens, including Are We There Yet?, Beauty Shop, Friday: The Animated Series, and The Longshots. In 2012, Cube announced the imminence of a tenth solo album, Everythangs Corrupt. Despite several singles issued across 2013 and 2014, its release was delayed as Cube focused on film and television pursuits, as well as the legacy of N.W.A. Along with Dr. Dre, Cube worked on a biopic about the origin and rise of the trailblazing group, with son OShea Jackson, Jr. cast to portray him. Named after their breakthrough album, Straight Outta Compton was released in 2015 to critical acclaim. The film made over $200 million worldwide, and was nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Original Screenplay. The film inspired Dr. Dres solo album Compton, which included Cube on the track "Issues." A Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction followed for N.W.A in 2016. A 25th anniversary reissue of Death Certificate was released the next year by Interscope, Cubes new home. The week of the 2018 midterm elections, Cube issued the single "Arrest the President," a prelude to the characteristically scathing, humorous, and funky Everythangs Corrupt, which finally arrived the next month. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 19 Title: Kill at Will Released: 1990 Tracks: 7 Duration: 21:56 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 Endangered Species (Tales From the Darkside) (remix) (04:10) 2 Jackin’ for Beats (02:57) 3 Get Off My Dick and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here (remix) (03:39) 4 The Product (03:35) 5 Dead Homiez (03:55) 6 JD’s Gaffilin’, Part 2 (00:32) 7 I Gotta Say What Up!!! (03:05) |
 | Album: 2 of 19 Title: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted Released: 1990-05-15 Tracks: 16 Duration: 49:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Better Off Dead (01:03) 2 The Nigga Ya Love to Hate (03:13) 3 AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (04:08) 4 What They Hittin’ Foe? (01:23) 5 You Can’t Fade Me / JD’s Gaffilin’ (05:12) 6 Once Upon a Time in the Projects (03:41) 7 Turn Off the Radio (02:37) 8 Endangered Species (Tales From the Darkside) (03:21) 9 A Gangsta’s Fairytale (03:16) 10 I’m Only Out for One Thang (02:11) 11 Get Off My Dick and Tell Yo Bitch to Come Here (00:56) 12 The Drive‐By (01:01) 13 Rollin’ Wit The Lench Mob (03:43) 14 Who’s the Mack? (04:35) 15 It’s a Man’s World (05:26) 16 The Bomb (03:25) |
| AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted : Allmusic album Review : When Ice Cube split from N.W.A after the groups seminal Straight Outta Compton album changed the world forever, expectations were high, too high to ever be met by anyone but the most talented of artists, and at his most inspired. At the time Cube was just that. With AmeriKKKas Most Wanted the rapper expanded upon Compton, making a more full-bodied album that helped boost the role of the individual in hip-hop. Save the dramatic intro where a mythical Ice Cube is fried in the electric chair, his debut is filled with eye-level views of the inner city that are always vivid, generally frightening, generally personal, and sometimes humorous in the gallows style. Ripping it quickly over a loop from George Clintons "Atomic Dog," Cube asks the question that would be central to his early career, "Why there more niggas in the pen than in college?," while sticking with the mutual distrust and scare tactics N.W.A used to wipe away any hopes of reconciliation ("They all scared of the Ice Cube/And what I say what I portray and all that/And aint even seen the gat"). "What Im kicking to you wont get rotation/Nowhere in the nation" he spits on the classic "Turn Off the Radio," which when coupled with the intoxicating Bomb Squad production and Cubes cocksure delivery thats just below a shout, makes one think hes the only radio the inner city needs. The Bomb Squads amazing work on the album proves theyve been overly associated with Public Enemy, since their ability to adapt to AmeriKKKas more violent and quick revolution is underappreciated. Their high point is the intense "Endangered Species," a "live by the trigger" song that offers "Its a shame, that niggas die young/But to the light side it dont matter none." This street knowledge venom with ultra fast funk works splendidly throughout the album, with every track hitting home, although the joyless "You Cant Fade Me" has alienated many a listener since kicking a possibly pregnant woman in the stomach is a very hard one to take. Just to be as confusing as the world he lives in, the supposedly misogynistic Cube introduces female protégé Yo-Yo with "Its a Mans World" before exiting with "The Bomb," a perfectly unforgiving and visceral closer. Save a couple Arsenio Hall disses, AmeriKKKas Most Wanted is a timeless, riveting exercise in anger, honesty, and the sociopolitical possibilities of hip-hop. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 19 Title: Death Certificate Released: 1991-10-29 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:04:44 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Funeral (01:37) 2 The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit (02:48) 3 My Summer Vacation (03:56) 4 Steady Mobbin’ (04:09) 5 Robin Lench (01:13) 6 Givin’ Up the Nappy Dug Out (04:14) 7 Look Who’s Burnin’ (03:53) 8 A Bird in the Hand (02:17) 9 Man’s Best Friend (02:06) 10 Alive on Arrival (03:11) 11 Death (01:03) 12 The Birth (01:21) 13 I Wanna Kill Sam (03:22) 14 Horny Lil’ Devil (03:42) 15 Black Korea (00:46) 16 True to the Game (04:10) 17 Color Blind (04:29) 18 Doing Dumb Shit (03:45) 19 Us (03:43) 20 No Vaseline (05:13) 21 How to Survive in South Central (03:40) |
| Death Certificate : Allmusic album Review : If Ice Cubes debut was a shocking attack that proved the N.W.A legacy would be stronger divided, his sophomore effort was a new kind of superstar pulling off the miraculous, a follow-up that equals its classic predecessor and tops it in some peoples books. With a million copies of Death Certificate preordered, Cube was no longer the rock critics darling. A million people listening was dangerous, especially since he was now slithering his influence into the suburbs. If the black rage didnt get you, the misogyny of "Im gonna do my thing, with your daughter" probably would. Here, one of raps greatest storytellers is able to draw hatred in under a minute with the short and direct "Black Korea," an angry protest song concerning Korean grocers that got him dubbed "racist" and "Ice KKKube" by some. The track is an extreme representation of how a much sharper and cutting this album is when compared with his debut, and even though the intro announces the full-length is divided into a "Death Side" and "Life Side," both are equally bleak. With the CD format, the two sides are indistinguishable and run over the listener with fast tales of drug dealing, drive-by shootings, and women who go from "Ms. Thing to Ms. Gonorrhea." This would be numbing if it werent for the rappers amazing lyrics, ground-shaking delivery, and insight like when "A Bird in the Hand" deals with the irony of selling crap to buy diapers ("Gotta serve you food that might give you cancer/Cuz my son doesnt take no for answer"). A bit of sweet relief comes with the brightness of the great single "Steady Mobbin" and with the nostalgia and slow tempo of "Doing Dumb Shit." "True to the Game" ("Aint that a bitch/They hate to see a young nigga rich") is arguably the quintessential Cube track and if all this werent enough already, the N.W.A diss "No Vaseline" hangs off the album like a crowd-pleasing, Brick-sampling encore. Although next years Predator would be a bigger hit, Death Certificate brings to a close the mans trilogy of perfect albums that began with N.W.As Compton and explodes into a supernova right here. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 19 Title: The Predator Released: 1992-11-17 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:12:24 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The First Day of School (intro) (01:19) 2 When Will They Shoot? (04:36) 3 I’m Scared (insert) (01:32) 4 Wicked (03:55) 5 Now I Gotta Wet ’cha (04:03) 6 The Predator (04:03) 7 It Was a Good Day (04:19) 8 We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up (04:24) 9 Fuck ’em (insert) (02:02) 10 Dirty Mack (04:34) 11 Don’t Trust ’em (04:06) 1 Gangsta’s Fairytale 2 (03:19) 2 Check Yo Self (03:42) 3 Who Got the Camera? (04:37) 4 Integration (insert) (02:32) 5 Say Hi to the Bad Guy (03:20) 6 Check Yo Self (“The Message” remix) (03:54) 7 It Was a Good Day (remix) (04:27) 8 24 Wit an L (03:25) 9 U Ain’t Gonna Take My Life (04:08) |
| The Predator : Allmusic album Review : Released in the aftermath of the 1991 L.A. riots, The Predator radiates tension. Ice Cube infuses nearly every song, and certainly every interlude, with the hostile mood of the era. Even the albums most laid-back moment, "It Was a Good Day," emits a quiet sense of violent anxiety. Granted, Ice Cubes previous albums had been far from gentle, but they were filled with a different kind of rage. On both AmeriKKKas Most Wanted (1990) and Death Certificate (1991), he took aim at society in general: women, whites, Koreans, even his former group members in N.W.A. Here, Ice Cube is more focused. He found a relevant episode to magnify with the riots, and he doesnt hold back, beginning with the absolutely crushing "When Will They Shoot?" The songs wall of stomping sound sets the dire tone of The Predator and is immediately followed by "Im Scared," one of the many disturbing interludes comprised of news commentary related to the riots. Its only during the aforementioned "It Was a Good Day" that Ice Cube somewhat alleviates this albums smothering tension. Its a truly beautiful moment, a career highlight for sure. However, the next song, "We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up," eclipses the relief with yet more calamity. By the time you get to the album-concluding "Say Hi to the Bad Guy" and its mockery of policeman, hopelessness prevails. The Predator is a grim album, for sure, more so than anything Ice Cube would ever again record. In fact, the darkness is so pervasive that the wit of previous albums is absolutely gone. Besides the halfhearted wit of "Gangstas Fairytale, Pt. 2," you wont find any humor here, just tension. Given this, its not one of Ice Cubes more accessible albums despite boasting a few of his biggest hits. It is his most serious album, though, as well as his last important album of the 90s. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 19 Title: Lethal Injection Released: 1993-12-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 55:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Shot (intro) (00:54) 2 Really Doe (04:28) 3 Ghetto Bird (03:51) 4 You Know How We Do It (03:52) 5 Cave ----- (04:17) 6 Bop Gun (One Nation) (11:05) 7 What Can I Do? (04:51) 8 Lil --- Gee (03:48) 9 Make It Ruff, Make It Smooth (04:17) 10 Down for Whatever (04:40) 11 Enemy (05:22) 12 When I Get to Heaven (04:27) |
| Lethal Injection : Allmusic album Review : Following the relentless intensity of his early-90s albums, particularly his post-Rodney King statement, The Predator (1992), Ice Cube reclined a bit and put his rap career on autopilot beginning with Lethal Injection, the last album he would record for five years. Yes, its a disappointing album, but its not terrible by any measure. Even if Ice Cube is a little devoid of substance here relative to his rabble-rousing past, hes still a talented rapper, and he has one of the West Coasts premier producers, QDIII, joining him for almost half the album. Unfortunately, much of what made Ice Cubes early-90s albums so electric -- his thoughtfulness, wit, hostility, energy, and social consciousness -- is sadly in short supply. For compensation, Ice Cube offers a few standout singles, namely "You Know How We Do It" and "Bop Gun (One Nation)." The former follows the successful template that worked a year earlier with "It Was a Good Day" -- a laid-back G-funk ballad laced with an old-school funk vibe; the latter clocks over 11 minutes, an epic ode to George Clintons P-Funk legacy. These two songs undoubtedly rank alongside Ice Cubes best work ever. There are a few other songs like "Really Doe" and "Ghetto Bird" that also stand out, but even these songs sound rather lackluster relative to Ice Cubes previous work. Hes obviously not interested in making an album as daring and ambitious as The Predator again, and you cant really blame him. After all, Ice Cube had delivered three brilliant albums, and a similarly brilliant EP as well, Kill at Will (1990), in just three years, not to mention his then-burgeoning role as an actor. He deserved a break. But at least he took the time to craft two standout singles that alone make this album worthwhile for fans. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 19 Title: Bootlegs & B‐Sides Released: 1994-11-22 Tracks: 13 Duration: 57:28 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Robbin’ Hood (Cause It Ain’t All Good) (05:03) 2 What Can I Do? (remix) (04:25) 3 24 Wit an L (03:23) 4 You Know How We Do It (remix) (04:22) 5 2 n the Morning (03:59) 6 Check Yo Self (remix) (04:33) 7 You Don’t Wanna Fuck Wit These (Unreleased ’93 Shit) (03:28) 8 Lil Ass Gee (Eerie Gumbo remix) (05:18) 9 My Skin Is My Sin (04:44) 10 It Was a Good Day (remix) (04:27) 11 U Ain’t Gonna Take My Life (04:08) 12 When I Get to Heaven (remix) (04:39) 13 D’Voidofpopniggafiedmegamix (04:51) |
| Bootlegs & B‐Sides : Allmusic album Review : As Ice Cube albums became few and far between once the rapper turned actor, Priority Records started gathering up a few compilations, one less interesting one being Bootlegs & B-Sides. The 13 tracks are mostly throwaways, not necessarily bad but not necessarily good either. The few gems buried here are remixes of Cubes biggest hits: "Check Yo Self," "It Was a Good Day," and "You Know How We Do It." The others will interest mainly completists. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 19 Title: Featuring…Ice Cube Released: 1997-12-16 Tracks: 12 Duration: 50:43 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Bend a Corner Wit Me (04:00) 2 Natural Born Killaz (04:49) 3 Bow Down (03:31) 4 Bop Gun (One Nation) (04:50) 5 Check Yo Self (03:56) 6 Endangered Species (Tales From the Darkside) (03:24) 7 Trespass (02:56) 8 It’s a Man’s World (05:29) 9 West Up! (04:47) 10 Game Over (04:03) 11 Wicked Wayz (04:07) 12 Two to the Head (04:46) |
 | Album: 8 of 19 Title: War & Peace, Vol. 1: The War Disc Released: 1998-11-17 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:10:25 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Ask About Me (03:04) 2 Pushin’ Weight (04:34) 3 Dr. Frankenstein (04:54) 4 Fuck Dying (04:03) 5 War & Peace (03:17) 6 Ghetto Vet (05:04) 7 Greed (04:28) 8 MP (00:49) 9 Cash Over Ass (04:21) 10 The Curse of Money (03:39) 11 The Peckin Order (03:20) 12 Limos, Demos & Bimbos (03:50) 13 Once Upon a Time in the Projects 2 (03:04) 14 If I Was Fuckin’ You (03:28) 15 X-Bitches (04:58) 16 Extradition (04:43) 17 3 Strikes You In (04:28) 18 Penitentiary (04:12) |
| War & Peace, Vol. 1: The War Disc : Allmusic album Review : Considering that he hadnt delivered a full-fledged solo album since 1993s disappointing Lethal Injection, maybe it shouldnt have been a surprise that Ice Cube returned hard in 1998 with War & Peace, Vol. 1 (The War Disc), since five years is a long, long time to stay quiet. What was a surprise was how ambitious the album was. The first installment in a proposed double-disc set, The War Disc is a cacophonous, cluttered, impassioned record that nearly qualifies as a return to form. Designed as a hard-hitting record, it certainly takes no prisoners, as it moves from intense street-oriented jams to rap-metal fusions, such as the Korn-blessed "Fuck Dying," with its seething, distorted guitars. Its a head-spinning listen and, at first, it seems to be a forceful comeback. Upon closer inspection, The War Disc falters a bit. Not only does the relentless nature of the music wear a little thin, but Cube spends too much time trying to beat newcomers at their own game. His lyrical skills are still intact, but he spends way too much time boasting, particularly about material possessions, and his attempt to rechristen himself Don Mega, in a Wu-like move, simply seems awkward. Even so, the quality of the music -- and the moments when he pulls it all together, such as "3 Strikes You In" -- sustains War and makes it feel more cohesive than it actually is. The key is purpose -- even if Cube doesnt always say exactly what he wants, he does have something to say. That alone makes War & Peace, with just one album completed, a more successful and rewarding listen than the typical double-disc hip-hop set of the late 90s. | ||
 | Album: 9 of 19 Title: War & Peace, Vol. 2: The Peace Disc Released: 2000-03-21 Tracks: 18 Duration: 59:55 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Hello (03:51) 2 Pimp Homeo (insert) (00:35) 3 You Ain’t Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It) (04:06) 4 The Gutter Shit (04:29) 5 Supreme Hustle (04:22) 6 Mental Warfare (insert) (01:02) 7 24 Mo’ Hours (03:27) 8 Until We Rich (04:14) 9 You Can Do It (04:19) 10 Mackin’ & Driving (insert) (00:27) 11 Gotta Be Insanity (04:00) 12 Roll All Day (03:15) 13 Can You Bounce? (03:53) 14 Diner With the CEO (insert) (00:49) 15 Record Company Pimpin’ (04:46) 16 Waitin’ ta Hate (03:38) 17 Nigga of the Century (04:14) 18 You Can Do It (instrumental) (04:20) |
| War & Peace, Vol. 2: The Peace Disc : Allmusic album Review : The second volume of Ice Cubes War & Peace album finds the multi-talented veteran MC evolving beyond a mere gangsta rap artist. Of course, Ice Cube doesnt admit his maturity, starting the album off with an excellent song titled "Hello" featuring MC Ren and Dr. Dre. The Dre-produced song has the ex-NWA members rapping "I started this gangsta ****/and this is the ************ thanks I get?" and reinstating their thug stance. Besides this opening song, Cube also is heard later on the album rapping to "keep in gangsta," yet for as much as Cube flexes about being hard, he has actually evolved into a wiser, more composed artist than the hate-fueled gangsta found on his early albums. Some of the songs on War & Peace, Vol. 2 such as "Record Company Pimpin" reflect the deep insight he is easily capable of injecting into his lyrics. Unfortunately, for every contemplative moment on this album, there are also plenty of songs such as "Can You Bounce?" and "Hello" that reduce themselves to simple, lucid attempts at hit singles. These songs -- along with the slightly more thought-out, radio-friendly "Until We Rich" -- are wonderful songs, rich in hooks and full of strong beats, but they dont really fit in with the rest of the album. The fact that Ice Cube churned out two albums of content during his lengthy absence from the rap world in the late 90s makes the two volumes of War & Peace overly eclectic. What made albums such as Straight Outta Compton and AmeriKKKas Most Wanted such strong albums were consistency; Dr. Dre and the Bomb Squad, respectively, were able to map out an overall musical feel for these albums with their signature styles and unique motifs. Instead of having a fully realized sound such as the aforementioned albums, the revolving door of production on War & Peace that includes Dr. Dre, Puff Daddy, and One Eye for One Eye among others makes this album sound very undeceive in terms of style. Cubes rapping sounds great with plenty of ideas that extend outside of simple gangsta motifs and slick rhymes full of wit; however, the constant changes in the album from hook-laden hits to denser, message-filled songs and from stark, minimal beats to up-tempo dance-rap make this a sometimes brilliant yet ultimately spotty, multi-dimensional album that needs more focus. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 19 Title: Greatest Hits Released: 2001-12-03 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:08:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Pushin’ Weight (04:34) 2 Check Yo Self (remix) (04:15) 3 We Be Clubbin’ (04:46) 4 $100 Dolla Bill Y’all (03:39) 5 Once Upon a Time in the Projects (03:41) 6 Bow Down (03:26) 7 Hello (03:51) 8 You Can Do It (04:19) 9 You Know How We Do It (03:52) 10 It Was a Good Day (04:19) 11 Bop Gun (One Nation) (radio edit) (04:47) 12 What Can I Do? (remix) (04:25) 13 My Summer Vacation (03:56) 14 Steady Mobbin’ (04:09) 15 Jackin’ for Beats (02:57) 16 The Nigga Ya Love to Hate (03:13) 17 In the Late Night Hour (03:57) |
| Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Although the 17-track Greatest Hits covers all phases of Ice Cubes solo career in an extremely balanced fashion, it isnt quite the last word on one of the most seminal figures in hardcore and gangsta rap. It is definitely a worthwhile purchase, since it collects all the best singles from Cubes more uneven latter-day efforts; there are also two new cuts (although "In the Late Night Hour" has a lot of rewritten N.W.A. rhymes) and a couple that have never appeared on an Ice Cube album: the soundtrack contribution "We Be Clubbin" and the Westside Connection single "Bow Down" (which are nice for collectors but not all that essential). That occasional filler makes it all the more frustrating that the classic "Dead Homiez" is inexcusably nowhere to be found, and that it apparently wasnt possible to license Cubes duet with Dr. Dre on "Natural Born Killaz." Selection issues aside, the singles from the post-Predator era prove that in his best moments, Cube could be a credible radio-crossover artist and keep up with contemporary production trends. As a storyteller (a facet of his work thats underrepresented here), Cube had a knack for keenly observed detail, as evidenced on "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" and his laid-back masterpiece "It Was a Good Day." Still, it doesnt quite add up to a truly classic compilation. Perhaps the problem is that while Greatest Hits is a fine, listenable portrait of Ice Cube the sometime hitmaker and full-time hip-hop celebrity, it doesnt completely capture the provocative, incendiary qualities that made him an icon in the first place (for that, listeners will have to go back to AmeriKKKas Most Wanted and Death Certificate). For a fully fleshed-out picture of Cubes career, though, Greatest Hits is a very good place to go. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 19 Title: Laugh Now, Cry Later Released: 2006-06-06 Tracks: 20 Duration: 1:04:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Definition of a West Coast G’ (intro) (00:14) 2 Why We Thugs (03:44) 3 Smoke Some Weed (03:46) 4 Dimes & Nicks (A Call From Mike Epps) (01:06) 5 Child Support (04:01) 6 2 Decades Ago (insert) (00:14) 7 Doin What It pose 2 Do (04:08) 8 Laugh Now, Cry Later (03:37) 9 Stop Snitchin (03:15) 10 Go to Church (04:00) 11 The Nigga Trapp (03:49) 12 A History of Violence (01:09) 13 Growin Up (03:55) 14 Click, Clack – Get Back! (03:10) 15 The Game Lord (04:10) 16 Chrome & Paint (03:27) 17 Steal the Show (04:12) 18 You Gotta Lotta That (04:06) 19 Spittin’ Pollaseeds (05:04) 20 Holla @ Cha Boy (03:31) |
| Laugh Now, Cry Later : Allmusic album Review : As Ice Cubes 2006 Laugh Now, Cry Later was landing in stores, all the chatter was about whether or not Cube was back, and whether or not he could recover from a couple of lackluster solo albums that came out years ago. Did his major contribution to Westside Connections satisfying 2003 album Terrorist Threats slip everybodys mind and do we have to consider that release "slept on"? Laugh Now picks up right where Terrorist Threats left off, and while Cube does a little "this is why Im important" posturing on the excellent "Child Support," this isnt a forced "Im back" effort in the least. After a short intro, Cube goes right for the upper classes throats with "Guns and Drugs," a track that acknowledges that there was a George Bush in office when he began his solo career, theres a George Bush in office as he returns to it, and he doesnt much care for either. Switching gears, the following club track "Smoke Some Weed" gives everyone the finger in a much less socially conscious manner. The tracks rain stick and East Indian vocal loops constructed by producer Budda give the album its most riveting beat, the competition supplied by various upstarts and, surprisingly, Lil Jon, who upstages the heralded Scott Storch and his underwhelming contributions. Lil Jon tweaks his usual crunk juice and blends some West into his South for the low-riding "Go to Church" and "You Gotta Lotta That," both with Snoop. Just as satisfying, "Doin What It Pose 2 Do" is a modern banger thats well aware of the 2006 success of folks like Bun B and Z-Ro. Its only when Cube jumps on the "Stop Snitchin" bandwagon that he sounds the least bit unnatural. He also scores a lyrical triumph with the title track, but unlike his early classics, Laugh Now stumbles occasionally and fails to keep the momentum going through the whole fourth quarter. This is his first effort on his own independent label, so if the album lacks a little final product-minded polish, it trades it for a homegrown feel thats distinctively direct. Strip a couple redundant tracks and youve got that bitter, edgy, and sharp Cube album you hoped for. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 19 Title: In the Movies Released: 2007-09-04 Tracks: 16 Duration: 1:02:29 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 You Can Do It (04:19) 2 We Be Clubbin’ (04:46) 3 Natural Born Killaz (04:13) 4 Anybody Seen the Po-Pos?! (03:55) 5 Friday (03:48) 6 How to Survive in South Central (03:40) 7 $100 Dolla Bill Y’all (03:39) 8 You Know I’m a Ho (04:17) 9 The World Is Mine (03:09) 10 Ghetto Vet (04:36) 11 Maniac in the Brainiac (04:34) 12 The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit (02:48) 13 Roll All Day (02:59) 14 Higher (04:31) 15 Trespass (02:56) 16 Right Here, Right Now (04:10) |
| In the Movies : Allmusic album Review : Since Prioritys 2003 compilation Greatest Hits grabbed some of the most important tracks this West Coast G gave to soundtracks, their 2007 Ice Cube collection In the Movies isnt the grand discography helper it could have been. Its best for the faithful fans who bought all the albums but not all the soundtracks Cube landed on or those who dont mind a little redundancy as long as they get to take a nostalgic ride back to the 90s when the hip-hop soundtrack was king. Tracks from Murder Was the Case ("Natural Born Killaz"), Boyz N the Hood ("How to Survive in South Central"), I Got the Hook Up ("Ghetto Vet"), The Players Club ("We Be Clubbin"), and Friday ("Friday") prove Cube was on the best of them, often with the soundtracks key cut. The rest of the set is more archival than vital, but theres nothing here that suggests the rapper was taking the Hollywood money and running. Even the low point -- "Right Here, Right Now," the collaboration with dance producer Paul Oakenfold for the Blade 2 soundtrack -- deserves a C+, and while including the 1991 track "The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit" on the collection because it landed in the 2001 film Scary Movie 2 seems like cheating, it is an amazing cut. | ||
 | Album: 13 of 19 Title: Raw Footage Released: 2008-08-19 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:10:37 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 What Is a Pyroclastic Flow? (00:54) 2 I Got My Locs On (03:43) 3 It Takes a Nation (03:26) 4 Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It (04:41) 5 Hood Mentality (05:11) 6 Why Me? (04:00) 7 Cold Places (04:12) 8 Jack n the Box (04:22) 9 Do Ya Thang (04:04) 10 Thank God (05:28) 11 Here He Come (04:32) 12 Get Money, Spend Money, No Money (04:07) 13 Get Used to It (04:25) 14 Tomorrow (03:40) 15 Stand Tall (03:46) 16 Take Me Away (04:02) 17 Believe It or Not (03:11) 18 Don’t Make Me Hurt Ya Feelings (02:45) |
| Raw Footage : Allmusic album Review : Dealing with the good, the bad, and especially the ugly, Raw Footage is an appropriate title for Ice Cubes eighth album. Some kind of subtitle that mentioned the yin and yang of life would have made it perfect because the tracks here are as inclined to paradoxes as the man himself and offer just as few excuses. If you want insight into how a man justifies making family fun movies by day and hardcore rap by night, the only answer offered is that you grow up in this cruel world and you deal any way you know how, something that drives the great "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It." This key track may not be "fair and balanced," but its honest and revealing as Cube embraces what he wants from the good -- a literate life that damns those who "read your first book in the penitentiary" -- and the commonly accepted bad as he attacks Oprah and everyone else who has a problem with hardcore rap using the "N" word. The 187 in "Why Me?" could be a metaphor for the attacks from Cubes detractors ("You want to take the life God handed to me/Send it back to him cuz you aint a fan of me") while "Jack in the Box" suggests hes already won the war with "Fool, Im the greatest/You just the latest/Im loved by your grandmamma/And your babies." The albums guiding principle, "only thing I expect is self-check," is dropped in "Get Money, Spend Money, No Money," but the great news is that all these standoffish and self-serving rhymes are written with that whipsmart wit and sit on a bed of wonderfully minimal beats from lesser knowns like Young Fokus and Emile. The only time things sound slick are when an Eddie Kendricks sample meets Angie Stones vocals on "Hood Mentality," or when the so-big-in-2008 Young Jeezy shows up for the disappointing and out of place "I Got My Locs On." The bombastic intro and interludes with Keith David could go too, but otherwise this no-answers, gritty ego trip will satisfy his fans while pushing everyone else away even further. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 19 Title: The Essentials Released: 2008-09-16 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:12:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Go to Church (03:51) 2 A Bird in the Hand (02:12) 3 Ghetto Vet (04:38) 4 Greed (04:28) 5 Supreme Hustle (03:37) 6 It Was a Good Day (04:20) 7 Spittin’ Pollaseeds (05:04) 8 Rollin’ Wit the Lench Mob (03:44) 9 The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit (02:49) 10 When Will They Shoot? (04:35) 11 Why We Thugs / Smoke Some Weed (live) (06:15) 12 Givin’ Up the Nappy Dugout (04:13) 13 A Gangsta’s Fairytale (03:01) 14 Check Yo Self (03:42) 15 What Can I Do? (04:20) 16 War & Peace (02:58) 17 Dead Homiez (03:53) 18 Cold Places (04:12) |
| The Essentials : Allmusic album Review : Replacing 2001s Greatest Hits, Ice Cubes 2008 compilation The Essentials sticks with the post-N.W.A solo releases -- no Westside Connection tracks here -- and updates with tracks from the West Coast legends later releases. The bad news is that "Cold Pieces" is chosen off 2008s Raw Footage instead of the superior "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It," plus the great "Bop Gun" is missing -- but thats it for big blunders. "It Was a Good Day," "Check Yo Self," and the early burner "Dead Homiez" are all here, along with the slept-on classic "Greed" and the fan favorite "Rollin with the Lench Mob." Release dates are shuffled into a running order that makes sense and while the liner notes are minimal, the essay from hip-hop writer Soren Baker is informed and insightful. Buy this along with the 2007 collection In the Movies and youve got a great portable collection, but the problem with compiling Cubes discography are the three vital albums -- AmeriKKKas Most Wanted, Death Certificate, and The Predator -- that kicked off his solo career. Put a box around those three, throw in a disc of singles, and youve got the real essentials -- but this will do in a pinch. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 19 Title: I Am the West Released: 2010-09-28 Tracks: 16 Duration: 49:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 A Boy Was Conceived (intro) (00:26) 2 Soul on Ice (03:39) 3 Life in California (04:02) 4 She Couldn’t Make It on Her Own (02:58) 5 Urbanian (02:25) 6 Y’all Know Who I Am (02:18) 7 Too West Coast (02:58) 8 I Rep That West (04:31) 9 Drink the Kool‐Aid (03:09) 10 No Country for Young Men (04:13) 11 It Is What It Is (03:21) 12 Hood Robbin’ (03:45) 13 Your Money or Your Life (03:23) 14 Nothing Like L.A. (03:20) 15 All Day, Every Day (02:21) 16 Fat Cat (02:54) |
| I Am the West : Allmusic album Review : While his 2008 effort Raw Footage brought aggression and bitterness, I Am the West leans back a bit, assured in its status and wisdom, showing hip-hop how to grow old both gracefully and gangsta. Ice Cube’s first album since turning 40 masterfully lays it all out on key track “No Country for Young Men.” This witty, rapid-fire damnation of the ringtone rapper generation and their foolishness declares them “bitches” with “Rappers go to jail like Oprah go to Gayle/Stedman’s policy: Don’t ask don’t tell," along with a laugh-out-loud Redd Foxx line that shouldn’t be spoiled. Making the case that his generation fought the power while the 2010 crew was just fighting itself happens elsewhere, and when you combine this with the “we’ve got a bigger problem now” attitude of “Hood Robbin’” -- high-tech and high-finance corporations are widening the gap between the classes -- and the sage advice of “Your Money or Your Life” -- “This world, so trife/Your money or your life/Keep your kids, keep your wife/Your money or your life” -- you’ve got a layered argument against misdirected priorities and their devastating consequences. Cube suggests there are more choices than burning out and fading away when he dedicates a song to his wife of 21 years and explains how she’s enriched his life on “Nothing Like L.A.,” but the real proof is in all the vital yet lighter cuts that keep the message-filled album from being ponderous. Flashy production drives the infectious "She Couldnt Make It on Her Own," featuring fine contributions from Cube’s sons Doughboy and OMG, while big daddy himself has put an entertaining, Kool Keith-like spin on his punch lines this time out, dropping odd stingers like “Internationally known/You about to smell my cologne” (“Soul on Ice”) and “You about as lethal as a mojito/Be my amigo, eat my burrito” (“Too West Coast”). Add the usual Keith David narrations and the hard-hitting, full-bodied production the West Coast favors and the album is anchored by tradition, becoming an unassailable cocktail of talent, experience, and growth. Most won’t have the skills to follow his playbook, either on or off the field, but Cube’s utterly unique I Am the West shows the younger generation how to cross 40 while retaining their freedom and baller status. Middle age hip-hop is born here, and if the game follows his lead, it will be one monster of a genre. | ||
 | Album: 16 of 19 Title: 10 Great Songs Released: 2012-04-03 Tracks: 10 Duration: 41:52 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Amerikkka’s Most Wanted (04:04) 2 Check Yo Self (remix) (03:55) 3 It Was a Good Day (04:22) 4 Wicked (03:56) 5 Pushin’ Weight (03:55) 6 You Know How We Do It (03:49) 7 Steady Mobbin’ (04:12) 8 You Can Do It (04:21) 9 Really Doe (04:27) 10 Bop Gun (One Nation) (04:48) |
| 10 Great Songs : Allmusic album Review : Its aptly titled, but when it comes to Cube, is that all you want? To paraphrase the West Coast legend, you better check yourself before you squander your dough on this small slice of the rappers massive output, but this disc is part of the 10 Great Songs series, so Cube falls under the same rules as Paula Abdul, Trace Adkins, and Queensrÿche (and it seems like just yesterday that gangsta raps "popular acceptance" was being argued). On that level, its a success, and a fine, quick pickup if thats whats in order. Besides, any disc with "It Was a Good Day," "Check Yo Self," and "Bop Gun" on it could only be bungled down to a B+, and only if the rest was dreck, which certainly isnt the case here. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 19 Title: Icon Released: 2013-10-08 Tracks: 11 Duration: 00:00 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (?) 2 Check Yo Self (remix) (?) 3 It Was a Good Day (?) 4 Wicked (?) 5 Pushin’ Weight (?) 6 You Know How We Do It (?) 7 Steady Mobbin’ (?) 8 You Can Do It (?) 9 Really Doe (?) 10 Bop Gun (One Nation) (?) 11 What Can I Do (remix) (?) |
| Icon : Allmusic album Review : If ever there was an artist deserving of having a compilation called Icon, its West Coast hip-hop legend Ice Cube. Gathering just 11 tracks from the rap great, the compilation is essentially a repackaging of the 10 Great Songs collection with "What Can I Do?" tacked onto the end. While the selection here is solid, the inclusion of radio edits is less than ideal. That said, its still an incredibly solid collection, and if the labels keep adding to it one track at a time like this, it might eventually grow into an Ice Cube compilation of unknowable power. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 19 Title: Remain Calm Released: 2015-04-06 Tracks: 17 Duration: 53:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Drop Girl UZ (03:58) 2 Sic Them Youngins on ’em (03:22) 3 The Position (03:17) 4 Rebel Music (remix) (03:38) 5 Cali Boy (03:18) 6 Reckless in the Booth (02:02) 7 How I Act in a Low Low (05:25) 8 Betta Betta Run (03:57) 9 Hit Some (00:29) 10 Ready to Die (03:52) 11 This Here Ain’t the Same Old (03:31) 12 Play Ball (03:35) 13 New Order (02:28) 14 Architect of Gangsta Rap (02:21) 15 The Shit Mane (01:44) 16 Are You a Grown Crack Baby (02:59) 17 Come and Get It (03:16) |
 | Album: 19 of 19 Title: Everythangs Corrupt Released: 2018-12-07 Tracks: 16 Duration: 56:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Super OG (intro) (00:38) 2 Arrest the President (03:53) 3 Chase Down the Bully (04:06) 4 Don’t Bring Me No Bag (03:37) 5 Bad Dope (03:22) 6 On Them Pills (03:58) 7 Fire Water (04:21) 8 Streets Shed Tears (04:01) 9 Ain’t Got No Haters (03:26) 10 Can You Dig It? (04:22) 11 That New Funkadelic (03:54) 12 One for the Money (02:21) 13 Still in the Kitchen (03:25) 14 Non Believers (03:47) 15 Everythangs Corrupt (03:17) 16 Good Cop Bad Cop (03:28) |