Reviews (page 2 of 7)
Once upon a time in the projects, yo I damn near had to wreck a ho I knocked on the door It's Ice Cube come to pay a little visit to ya And what's up with the niggas in the parking lot She said, Fuck em cause they get sparked a lot I sat on the couch but it wasn't stable And then I put my Nike's on the coffee table Her brother came in, he's into gang-bangin Cause he walked up and said What set you claimin I don't bang, I write the good rhymes The whole scenery reminded me of Good Times I don't like to feel that I'm put in a rut By a young nigga that needs to pull his pants up He threw up a set and then he was gone I'm thinkin' to myself, won't this bitch bring her ass on? Her mother came in with a joint in her mouth And fired up the sess, it was sess no doubt She said, "Please excuse my house, " and all that I said, "Yeah" 'cause I was buzzed from the contact Lookin' at a fucked up black and white Her mom's bitchin' cause the county check wasn't right She had another brother that was three years old And had a bad case of the runny nose He asked me who I was, then I had to pause It smelled like he took a shit in his little drawers I saw her sister who really needs her ass kicked Only 13 and already pregnant I grabbed my 40 out the bag and took a swig 'Cause I was getting overwhelmed by BeBe Kids They was runnin' and yellin' and playin' and cussin' and tellin' And look at this young punk bailin' I heard a knock on the door without the password And her mom's got the 12 gauge Mossberg The nigga said, Yo, what's for sale? And the bitch came out with a bag of yayo She made the drop and got the 20 dollars From a smoked-out fool with ring around the collar The girl I was waiting for came out I said, "Bitch, I didn't know this was a crack house" I got my coat, and suddenly The cop busted in and had a Mac-10 pointed at my dome And I said to myself, "Once again, it's on" He threw me on the carpet and wasn't cuttin' no slack Jumped on my head and put his knee in my back First he tried to slap me up, wrap me up, rough me up They couldn't do it so they cuffed me up I said, "fuck, how much abuse can a nigga take" Hey yo, officer, you're making a big mistake Since I had on a shirt that said I was dope He thought I was selling base and couldn't hear my case He said, "Get out my face" and musta had a grudge His reply, "Tell that bullshit to the judge" The girl I was with wasn't sayin' nothin' I said, "Aiyyo bitch, you better tell 'em somethin'" She started draggin' and all of a sudden We all got tossed in the paddy wagon Now I beat the rap but that ain't the point I had a warrant, so I spent two weeks in the joint Now the story you heard has one little object Don't fuck with a bitch from the projects Yo man, motherfucking project with a name kinda chill Tell 'em Especially motherfucking ones in Walton South of New LA, boy Don't fuck around with 'em projects boy Rats will whoop your ass Quit that hoe man, I'll buss out and wild Straight up You can criticize that this album is misogynistic or dated and all that damn sure applies, but all that said it also tells one HELL of a story. 5/5
Amazing flow, awesome beats, rough lyrics. There were points I laughed out loud where I felt really bad for laughing (esp. You Can't Fade Me). But that's also one of the things that makes this album great - Ice Cube is genuinely funny when rapping about serious topics (police brutality, white supremacy, jail, gun violence - "Outside the South Central area...Few cared about the violence because... it didn't affect them." - teenage pregnancy, etc.). Plus, the album just rocks - it was a great listen in my headphones while rocking out cleaning my office. As I say with a lot of rap - THIS IS NOT WRITTEN FOR ME - so I'd never listen to it out loud where anyone else could hear. But I can't deny this is probably one of the best rap albums I've listened to on the 1001 so far and that's why I'm going with the 5.
Quite a fun album! I liked the production and really enjoyed Ice Cube's rapping. The content of the lyrics is controversial, but it felt raw and uncompromising. 'You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gaffilin'' was my fave.
i actually listened to The Predator album (1992) instead. which i loved.
The delivery is so sure of it self, and the beats are so smooth. A very angry dude, with opinions have maybe not aged all that well in all areas, but the album is an absolute classic, and for good reason.
The albums rules.
5/5. Hard to argue here, these songs flow so well and the scene by scene style creates a near perfect album. Each song talks about similar themes but has great beats, a little old school, but his anger and lines hit hard enough to make up for it. I understand that there is definitely misogyny that has not aged well here but to discredit the whole album is pretty confusing because you are paying attention to the problem that exists within the "projects" as a black man. Ice Cube, whether playing a character or as himself, this album has only aged well because Ice Cube is not someone to root for yet we just heard his trouble as living as a black man in America. He finds the need to have power over women because he has no power anywhere else, the irony of the title of "It's A Man's World." It is not an excuse to write or rap songs like that, I do not condone these morals, but as an album, it makes Ice Cube a confusing and complicated character, which shows that he views himself as the main character despite his many, many flaws. It's art honestly. Best Song: You Can't Fade Me, Endangered Species, Rollin' Wit The Lench Mob
An album that was probably great in its time, but the themes in the record have aged well. Aged in the sense that the issues Ice Cube discusses is so much more real to us as a society and a country.
Definitely of its time in the production and lyrics, but still a great album overall. 5 stars for me
30 years of awesome gangster rap
classic Ice Cube = 5*
Ice Cube at the peak of his powers
It is still amazing. Great production and incredible rap that stands the time
Very powerful
Old sKKKool, five star.
Old-school rap, although chockoblock with language not suitable for tender ears. It packs a mighty punch, unrelenting. But it is fantastic.
So so
CRAZY MF CALLED ICE CUBE
Favourite songs: The Product, A Gangsta's Fairytale, The Bomb, The Nigga Ya Love To Hate, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Rollin' Wit The Lench Mob, Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside), I'm Only Out For One Thang, Get Off My Dick And Tell Yo Bitch To Come Here, What They Hittin' Foe?, Once Upon A Time In The Projects Least favourite songs: Better Off Dead, The Drive-By, JD's Gaffilin' (Part 2) (fuck skits) 5/5
Great album. The features are fantastic. I feel like Ice Cube doesn’t get enough credit.
Ice Cube was the best rapper in N.W.A., and this album proves it. The lyrics are brutally honest, with emphasis on brutality, punctuated with brilliant observations and turns of phrase. What really sets off the album is the production by Public Enemy's Bomb Squad. The poet laureate of West Coast gangster rap paired with the Bomb Squad 's intense, clattering sample-scapes make for rich, rewarding, but not casual listening experience.
So much funk! What I love about the Wikipedia page is every(?) sample is listed by each song - absolute treasure trove of funk. Maybe there's 1001 albums to listen to on this album. I mean yeah, full of gangsta shit and far too close to the bone at times, I can't listen to much of this around my daughter for example because I'm not a cunt. But this is sheer quality. Just checked back my review of The Predator and I didn't mention that issue with the lyrics, there's more righteous anger in that (though it's far from absent here) whereas the focus here is stories of rolling around and being an absolute dickhead. That said, this is probably almost as good, just in a different way. The Public Enemy influence shines through on several tracks. Mind you, there's nothing here quite as absolutely shining genius as It was a Good Day, or When Will They Shoot? So yeah the predator is better, but this is very good. Early 90s rap is stuff I criminally ignored as a pre-teen (and since, aside from Public Enemy) so dead glad this project has forced me to check a lot out. Hardly any has disappointed. So much funk!
+1 star for rap album on this challenge +1 star for NWA member +1 star for album cover +1 star for KKK in title +1 star for mysogyny in lyrics summary - 5 stars ------------------- without jokes album is also cool. it have solid beats and hardcore flow. truly old school hiphop and gangsta rap classic. tracks added: 8 fav track: endangered species 9.5/10
ICE CUUUBE!
One of my fav rap albums, better than Straight Outta Compton. Awesome production, full of tasty early 90s sampling, great flow, just how I like it. Not too much else to say, just an outright classic. 5/5.
Thumping old school hip hop
Ice Cube leaves NWA and follows up with a great album and then influenced the genre again. I had not heard this full album before just a couple of songs. Not all the songs are Ice Cube rapping at a faster pace and being angry. A couple of the songs have a mellower beat. It is a different change of pace. Lyrically Ice Cube continues to address social and political issues in his unique way. Also the skits are unnecessary but those are on most rap albums. i enjoyed the album and I would listen to it again.
Another long overdue introduction to a hip hop legend. This album has aged beautifully. Ice Cube is not trying to be cute or too clever with the lyrics. It’s straight ahead hip hop that’s well produced with good lyrics. It’s really a wonderful album to listen to. It’s a man’s world is an interesting subversion and dismissal of the misogyny trope, I’m here for it.
it’s a legendary album for a reason. it does have some of the misogyny 90s hip hop is famous for, but it’s also the best album from one of the best artists of all time.
This album is such a great listen and can continually listen to over and over.
Classic
This is my definition of perfect hip hop production. Punchy, funky to the point and very quick. Obligatory problematic content disclaimer that is common of (almost) all 90s releases.
Han har oändlig karisma på denna skiva... ett av de aggressivaste, smartaste och roliga hiphop-albumen någonsin.
A classic, perfect for riding with the top down. Public Enemy production with a Chronic feel. Ice Cube is a legend
Unreal how good this is
He's a badass, and so is this album
I loved this album. However, it was really disheartening to hear how little progress we've made in the country with the same issues from this album in '90 still being very prevalent today.
pretty damn good this is real rap
Hella influential. Not sure I'd listen to again for fun but I enjoyed it.
3.5
For the record, I could name 25 albums on this list that are more misogynistic than this one. People on this site are just incredibly racist. That being said, it's a pretty good album. It's a lot funkier than a lot of stuff from the same year, but I could do without a few of the shorter songs. The skit about that's just stock gunshot sound effects was pretty funny, though. I also appreciate someone finally deciding not to make their album CD-length because they can. I feel like there's definitely better 90s rap albums on this list, but to be fair, the competition is 2Pac.
Solid
This album still hits hard.
I remember when this album was released after he left NWA. It was interesting because he went to the Bomb Squad to get production from them but it was also production from Sir Jinx. The music had an east coast feel kind of but it was also a west coast album. I have read that Sir Jinx was there to keep the music west coast. Another piece of information I remember reading was that Chuck D told Ice Cube to not diss them on the album in case he wanted to reconcile. But that didn’t happen. He got dissed by NWA on 100 miles and running and the next album. Ice Cube also got jumped by them at a conference I think new music seminar or something like that. It’s an interesting time. This album is good. The production sounds dated because hip hop always kind fell into certain eras. I used to be able to listen to music and tell when it was created because a lot of hip hop chased similar sounds. Not always but it did. A criticism of Ice Cube is that he would often mimic popular artists later in his career after his second album. But his rhymes are decent.
Enjoyed much more than the NWA album but perhaps not as much as the later more G-funk Predator that we already had. Rounding up towards the latter here since the Bomb Squad - one month after Fear of Black Planet release - are at the top of their game here.
Enjoyed more than I thought I would It’s got some humor. It’s aggressive. It was a big shift in hip hop compared to yesterday’s pull of Jungle Brothers.
Ja, so geht Rap
Oh man, I remember having my mind blown as a13-year old Midwestern kid listening to this with my brothers in the basement. This was a world completely foreign to me, and it was damn good listening. Mom and Dad had no idea. The infectious beats, the Cube aggressive delivery, the clever storytelling and fantastic lyrics. This one still sounds amazing. I'm never disappointed when Cube is playing.
Nice
Уже третий прослушанный альбом куба за эти полгода Злой чел Нигативный
Good clean family fun
A Gangsta's Fairytale adds a whole point to this one
Incredible stuff. I love the decision to have Chuck D and Flavor Flav featuring on different songs.
Классный, бодрый, дерзкий хип-хоп альбом. В общем-то много про него сказать сложно. Довольно типичный для своего времени, но это не делает его хуже. Я люблю хип-хоп 90-х и это отличное попадание. Не зря Ледяной Куб батя гэнста рэпа.
Hard driving beats, hard edged lyrics, hard not to like. I do love NWA, so no surprise these hit almost as strong.
Rating:★★★★ Loved it. I understand people being mad at some of the lyrics, and there were a few that make you scratch your head. Still a good album.
The actual problem with this album is that it is actually pretty good, and legitimately resonated with a massive part of the audience. The delivery of his voice is brilliant, and the samples are on fire for a younger audience at the time; it would seem as a fresh sound that builds on his work from N.W.A.'s Straight Outta Compton. For the younger male community (especially those who are black) who felt legitimate (and still do) disenfranchisement with the system, and that the world hated them, it would feel enlightening that these rappers were speaking on issues that resonated with them. However, AND A MASSIVE HOWEVER, this does NOT give any excuse to treat women like utter shit. Like, the misogyny in this album is inexcusable, and the extent to which it is prevalent is both subtly and plainly mentioned is disgusting. It definitely shaped the minds of the impressionable people who were a large proportion of his audience. The whole misogyny of the album really results in it losing most of its meaning, with it showcasing the issues that black people faced. Ice Cube, how are you supposed to emancipate a group if you are bringing another one down too?
I miss this sound of hip hop. Not the women bashing the style where you can tell they combed through records to mix with. The kind of style where you believe the stories actually happened. I'm sure not all of what he wrote happened to Cube but to someone he knew. Maybe it's cause I listened to this when I was younger and remember kids doing this in basements. Sure they didn't have the talent to make it but the sound takes me back. It might not hold up as well as I remember, rightfully so for parts but historically speaking these stories are important. Those that don't know history are bound to repeat it. History might not repeat exactly but it will rhyme.
Nice !
Definitely a fun listen. 3.5/5
Album 194. AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted — Ice Cube (1990) Wow, Ice Cube's debut album after N.W.A. Boom gangsta rap in the flesh: great flow, production and energy, misogynistic, angry. Ice Cube's flow is so great, delivery is so aggressive, I'm getting tired of it. It's monotonously tough and back-to-back as hell. Produced by Public Enemy's team and it shows. Dated and hard to listen to nowadays, but worthwhile dive into hip hop fundamentals. 4/5 Liked: — The Nigga Ya Love To Hate — AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted — You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gaffilin' (Medley) — Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside) — A Gangsta's Fairytale — Who's The Mack?
There's something with these big name rappers, and their "early material". Probably the certain rawness, yet not overly mainstream, authentic.
Very hip hoppity
Album 1,089/ 1,089. Strong album to finish this list on and a reflection of why I started to begin with. I wanted to listen to music I hadn't come across in the wild or wouldn't have taken the time to on my own. Cube is great, strong style, great rhymes, and cool cameo collabs.
Dope
The lyrics didn't necessarily age well, but the beat goes hard. Especially on the first few tracks.
I hear ice cube and I think of the mutant dog from Tank Girl. But... this is a good album.
Storytime... In the early '90s three 14 year old white boys headed to an Ice Cube concert. They were well out of place. It was one of the coolest, most outrageous, out of control concerts I've ever been to.
I'll take "Albums White People Shouldn't Sing Along With" for $500, Alex.
Good stuff! Thank goodness the racial issues he’s rapping about ended in the 90s. Much the same way civil rights issues ended in the 60s, right? Right?!?
I never heard this one and was pleasantly surprised. Ice Cube really holds his own as a solo artist and I never realized how socially conscious and political his work was. Don’t get it twisted tho, it’s also violent and misogynistic at times too but also moments of levity and humor. Powerful vocal delivery, strong aura and personality. Also, many great early 90’s rap star features/ collaborators pop up throughout and Cube has an entire track at the end giving respect and gratitude to other artists / homies etc. which I thought was a nice touch. If you listen closely you’ll hear a random Trump reference in there too, lol.
90s rap gotta be one of my favourite genres, so I'm always gonna be biased. Man ice cubes one of the greatest, this seemingless flow, his dry humour, the tales and social comentary. This guy was everywhere when I was a kid and you can see why. Absolute legend.
The lyrics can be offensive from today's perspective, but the sound is cool.
3.9 2x love the storytelling aspect, reminds me of Outkast early albums
Another solid one from Cube on this list. Lacks the hit singles of The Predator, but makes up for it by being basically unrelenting. t's a Man's World is like an updated version of Tramp by Otis Redding and Carla Thomas. Cube spits his usual misogyny, but at least here it's countered by Yo-Yo's acerbic comebacks. Didn't realize the original release was shorter and wound up listening to everything including bonus tracks and the last one on there is I Gotta Say What Up where he just shouts out people he fucks with and one of them is Afrikaa Bambatta. Well that pedophile just died, so he can rest in piss.
Ice Cube POPPED OFF. Normally not a fan of older hip hop but bro killed this one. Mans a poet and got goooood flow!
I could do without the lame skits but the rapping is good.
Really good beats wow
Solid album
Solid, though he does a lot better in his later albums. The woman-hating that is supposed to be all over this album really isn't that bad
INPUT = {"artist": "Ice Cube", "album": "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted"} LINEUP = {"men": 1, "women": 0} FEATURED_ARTISTS = {"men": 2, "women": 1} TOTAL_MEN = 3 TOTAL_WOMEN = 1 WOMEN_PERCENTAGE = 5 OUTPUT = "Score adjusted accordingly. 4/5"
Was good to revisit this album after a long hiatus. Classic of the genre, required listening if you like hip-hop. Lyrics are spicy to say the least, but you have to take the good with the bad to understand how complicated the world he describes is.
Better ones than this . Listenable tho
Greatness
It is great hearing the evolution of hip hop. Sometimes I prefer the older stuff.
This was a fun one. Way too much misogyny. Lotsa hype; a party record. The shows on this tour would have been pretty awesome I reckon.
monstrously produced, very well-rounded, hugely entertaining record during which i found myself hanging on Cube's words, wondering how sideways he'd approach the next line. the best stuff here uses that insane charisma to create a persona that still feels prescient - virulently angry, shamelessly prejudiced, a whirlwind of bad vibes that's loudly condemned and secretly revered by anything even approaching mainstream America. much has been made in the 1001albums comments of this record's misogyny, which is notable. far be it from me to be the Misogyny Arbiter, but it feels more like intentional (and poorly aged and clumsy) controversy-courting, as well as a part of Cube's general mistrust for nearly everyone. i don't blame anyone for being turned off by it, but between the man's 30-plus-year marriage and the fairly self-deprecating turn he takes on It's a Man's World, it goes down easier for me here than on other records. taken as a whole, i think this is a wonderful album of character work and a canny assessment of the place of hip-hop and Black men at the end of the American 20th century, AND it sounds good as fuck! i get what there is not to like, but also, man, what's not to like?
Do you think Cube even remembers being this angry after decades of success?
glad I had headphones. though did grow up more with the west side
422/1089 - Initially I was like "great, another West Coast Hip Hop album" and I remember being ambivalent on Ice Cube's "The Predator," but I liked the beat-variation and noisiness/energy of the samples and bars. Not a fan of skits in albums and I don't give a rat's ass about lyrics most of the time but "A Gangsta's Fairytale" reminded me of Andrew Dice Clay jokes and wouldn't you know it, it ends with a Dice sample.
Ice Cube enough said !!
After having listened and cringed to a few older rap albums as part of this project I was a bit worried about returning to this album. That said, one would never confuse it for something new and there are a few cringy moments but in all respects it’s still a decent album.
Great storyteller. Beats are amazing even after this much time
Ice Cube's first album after leaving NWA and it's just as aggressive as you'd expect. Ice Cube was good at calling out pretty much everything, including poor Arsenio Hall, or "the message to the oreo cookies" at the beginning of Turn Off the Radio. Although I wonder what 1990 Ice Cube would think of Ice Cube today........ Individually, the theme and message of the songs is pretty good. Once Upon A Time In the Projects tells the story about how he goes to visit his girl at her house, which ends up being a crack house that is raided while he's there. He's arrested and has to sit in jail due to a warrant. Can't be too mad at the cops or anything else in this situation because of course they'll arrest everyone there......but the message is to not date women from the projects. Turn Off the radio is another good one about how radio stations just won't play "gangsta rap" or music that is popular with the people. This is the one that starts with the message to the oreos, or black on the outside white on the inside. The audio sample of "what they think of us" samples the movie Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee. A bit unfair to use a movie to make this point. That scene is specifically a bunch of different races saying racist stuff about every other race, not only targeted at black people. I liked the Tom Brokaw style news report in The Drive-By that just says "people didn't care since it didn't affect them." Such a great line and you see this attitude today as well. Who's the Mack? is another interesting one telling us to basically question the motives of people we interact with because they're not totally honest. Then he ends the song also saying "i'm also the mack........but you can totally trust me" which is intentional and pretty funny. I think this is a great album, but the music doesn't hold up super well imo. It's not horrible, but definitely old school. The messaging is on point but a lot of people are just going to hear "bitch" and focus on misogyny or "gun" and focus on violence and miss the main point of the songs. You know how it is, people focus on whatever reinforces their own stereotypes. When I look at some of the reviews, I think of how the media reacted in 1990 when this album came out: with a lot of fear. There was so much outrage about the same shit people are upset about in the reviews here. Guess what? None of those outraged white people in the 90's listened to this album or tried to understand it........and something tells me that it's the same with these reviews. Overall, it's a good album and a significant album due the cultural impact it had at the time of release. I think The Predator is a better album though.
Overall a good album, very funny at times. I can't help but feel it goes on too long though. Nudges into a 4 for me, but a low 4 at that.
Angry, hard hitting, a statement album by a guy you wouldnt want to fuck with. This was the “escape from NWA” album. Not bad Then he did those kid movies and maybe the name Doughboy fits him better than I thought. I still support him though. He has a great mind and great opinions. The movies just remove a little bit of the serious tone and intensity from an album like this. Choice cut: You Can’t Fade Me
Sexism aside (and that’s at least somewhat dealt with by Yo-Yo), this is a solid album with fun cameos.
It’s rude AF, but it’s important. He doesn’t lie or sugar coat things. He will spit out misogynistic lyrics but then give Yo-Yo a chance to make her rebuttal. I appreciate Ice Cube for standing up and speaking out.
Great album.
Why is Ice Cube so angry?
strong stuff from Ice Cube
In times of police brutality and violence, this was an apt album. Genuinely enjoyed this so much more than I thought. Could do without the f'ing and jef'ing though.
F*ck Ice
Ice Cube is not a rapper I tend to listen to often, but it's always a fun time!
Honestly, I played this album yesterday on vinyl out of pure rage about the political climax in Amerikkka right now. It felt so good. Ice Cube is always true to the game!
Tää oli ihan hyvää tavaraa. En ole edelleenkään mikään puhelaulut ystävä, mutta tätä kuunteluunhan mielellään.
Don’t mind a bit of the Cube. His political stuff is really engaging, and there are some funny lines on here. Notwithstanding the crappy misogyny. The production was interesting, felt like it had an unexpected house music feel in there but with clever samples and beats over that. Perhaps not as strong as The Predator we’ve already had on the list but still a great listen and has that effect of making you feel pumped up. Turns out he’s maybe my favourite rapper, never knew I’d have one of those, get me!
Fuck yes. The perfect antidote to the blandness that is Doves. Pissed off Ice Cube before he became a parody of himself. Angry, funny and yes fairly dated rhymes, but it's SO extreme in places it becomes funny! It's easy to forget how good Ice Cube was, do yourself a favour and listen to this album again and remind yourself. Best Tracks: The Nigga Ya Love To Hate; Once Upon a Time in the Projects; Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside) (feat. Chuck D)
Grimy, funny, wow
7/1089
I didn't think I was going to like it, but I do.
8/10
theres a lot of great and poignant commentary on racism on here and i really like it. great production too. the misogyny obviously wack but im not surprised its 90s hiphop yall whatd you expect
Glorious beats and Ice Cube's rhymes.
You take the good with the bad with Ice Cube, the formerly ferocious and ferociously talented rapper who spends most of his time these days making crappy movies. His early solo albums are a mixed bag of blazingly great tracks and noxious misogyny (and occasional homophobia), both of which are plentiful here. You can't beat the Bomb Squad's production, though, no matter what Cube is saying. There needs to be more "Endangered Species" and "The Bomb" and less "You Can't Fade Me."
7/10
Yes, the lyrics are problematic but I can't resist the delivery, Chuck D's cameo, the Bomb Squad's production and the political songs that do carry a message that is still relevant today. Take away the macho bravado about women and this would have been an absolute masterpiece.
Solid album with a lot of really good songs and raw energy. I enjoyed this.
I’m at a 3.5 that I will bump up to a 4, but barely. Definitely one I’d rather leave at a 3.5. I know, I know, “it just hasn’t aged well” is often used too much as a catch-all to try and cover all excuses without elaborating further on what’s been done to try & actually fix the parts that haven’t aged well, but in this case, I think it’s a little warranted. A big part of it is the misogyny (perhaps most exemplified by “What I need to do is kick the bitch in the tummy” on “You Can’t Fade Me”), but even still, I’m inclined to think Ice Cube is just portraying himself as a hyper-sexist here to give some proper buildup to him finally “meeting his match” on “It’s A Man’s World” (which is a great track, by the way). That said, willingly portraying yourself as a hyper-sexist is still a little too bold of a choice, even for 1990, and it’s done in a way that carries over the worst aspects of N.W.A.’s group work at the time. Ice Cube’s worst lines on “Straight Outta Compton” feel amplified here, but that’s just it: he’s amplifying EVERYTHING about himself here. Bigger, bolder callouts in his verses, more unique production (shoutout to the Bomb Squad), skits between tracks, and his vocal tone as a rapper really comes across well here. It’s a super technically sound album, & at its most compelling, it stands up pretty well with some of the other early ‘90s rap albums we’ve gotten. The issue is that it’s only compelling about 75% of the time to my ears – never outright bad, but occasionally, I just don’t really believe in the tough guy act he’s putting on. Part of that is just modern day perception of the guy as someone who was acting in War of the Worlds & doing Minecraft ads on TikTok, so I can’t take his more violent threats here seriously. That said, I’m still willing to imagine his 1990 self, & when he’s got the proper conviction in his voice, I can feel Ice Cube’s frustration boiling through in a way that you can’t fake. It’s that level of conviction that makes & breaks this album, since it’s used on some really horrid lines & some really strong ones with a point to make too. That’s why it’s only compelling to me about 75% of the time, because the horrid lines just kinda pulled me out at points, though he generally recovered well. Ultimately, I think it’s a good album that “hasn’t aged well” for a couple of big reasons, but it’s also just a product of its time that can’t be changed, and frankly, it shouldn’t be criticized on that mark. You gotta take this era as it was, for better or worse, & trying to whitewash that at all cuts out some of the edge that brought these guys their notoriety. I did like it, for the most part, but a lot of these tracks can’t really be played nowadays, at least not in full. It’s enjoyable for what it is, and probably did a good job at “modernizing” the rap album in the 1990s, given the skits & transitions & the general pacing. I just think other albums of the era do it better & without the baggage this album brings with it, hence, it’s a 3.5 that I’ll bump up to a 4, even if I’d rather leave it there.
Had fun with this one
Still incredible after 36 years, and still very relevant. I'd put this album in with Strait Outta Compton and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back as a holy trinity of what's really going on in the late 80's and 90's. Yeah, some of the shit doesn't hold up with the insane PC world that we live in now, but overall it's a masterpiece. Also, N.W.A. sucked after Cube left.
If they spell out words to rhyme it cannot get 5
Ice Cube was a great rapper. Solid beats, good flow, good lyrical content. Most importantly a 90s rap album without skits
I never thought I would enjoy ice cube as much as I do, but I really like his music. I enjoyed this all the way through, a very easy listen.
Maybe it's nostalgia, but he sounds great on this album: I can see why the white folks were intimidated.
This album is an explosion. A combustible combination of The Bomb Squad's production and Ice Cube's trajectory. He's through the crucible of N.W.A. — exiting that gauntlet successful, still angry, and having learned a few things about being rewarded for your rage and expressing it. This is the sharper, riskier, and more politically volatile Ice Cube before the edges melted away and he became the cuddly post-Friday Cube. It was a different time. And yet, some might find it weighed down by the tendency of late 80s / early 90s rap to throw a skit or bit into the mix, and by just about every other rap cliche of the era. It might just be that this album is so thoroughly of its time that it defined it. So, if you can lay to rest whatever your personal preferences about how music and Ice Cube "should be," you might appreciate this classic of the genre (and maybe recognize that some of your taste might also just be prejudice).
Old school Ice Cube was epic... I was all about that era of gangsta rap.
Lots of on point humour and some very well-produced beats to sit behind the lyrical delivery. It gets just a little repetitive, and some of the lyrics maybe haven't aged too well. Ice Cube is practically an entire industry on his own, acting and producing many films, also making many more solo albums. It's interesting to hear what was essentially his second notable album, back near the start of his career. I would think four stars is fair, but a strong four.
90s rap always hits
Hhard hitting hip hop
Classic old school rap that doesn’t get old.
Great debut by Cube. Obviously this album would have received a lot more backlash if it were released today, with the misogyny that lingers throughout, but this album also speaks to issues of race which still hold strong today. Its not a party album, and it was not meant to be. It paints a picture of Cube in the culture he was immersed in, what he was exposed to and grew up around.
Probably my favorite Cube cassette back in the day.
Surprisingly good, especially the song with Flavor Flav.
Fantastic album by a fantastic rapper, I love old school gangsta rap and Ice cube is one of the greats!
# In-Depth Review: *AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted* by Ice Cube (1990) Released in May 1990, *AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted* marked Ice Cube’s explosive solo debut after his departure from N.W.A. The album is a landmark in hip-hop history, blending West Coast street narratives with the aggressive, sample-heavy production of Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad. It’s a politically charged, musically innovative, and often controversial record that helped redefine the possibilities of rap music in the 1990s. --- ## 🎤 **Lyrics: Anger, Insight, and Provocation** Ice Cube’s lyrical performance on this album is nothing short of incendiary. He channels his frustration with systemic racism, police brutality, and economic inequality into vivid, often shocking storytelling. Tracks like **“Endangered Species (Tales from the Darkside)”** and **“The Nigga Ya Love to Hate”** are scathing critiques of American society, delivered with Cube’s signature blend of humor, rage, and streetwise intellect. However, the album also contains **blatant misogyny and violent imagery**, particularly in songs like **“You Can’t Fade Me”** and **“It’s a Man’s World”**, which have drawn significant criticism. These moments complicate the album’s legacy, as they often overshadow its more insightful commentary. > **Verdict:** Lyrically, Cube is at his peak—raw, intelligent, and unfiltered. But the album’s more problematic content is hard to ignore. --- ## 🎧 **Music & Production: East Coast Meets West Coast** The production is a **tour de force**, primarily handled by the Bomb Squad (Public Enemy’s production team), with contributions from Ice Cube’s longtime collaborator **Sir Jinx**. This East Coast/West Coast fusion created a sound that was both **frenetic and funky**, layering dense samples, sirens, and chaotic rhythms under Cube’s booming voice. Tracks like **“AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted”** and **“What They Hittin’ Foe?”** showcase the Bomb Squad’s signature style—**noisy, layered, and urgent**—while **“Who’s the Mack?”** and **“Once Upon a Time in the Projects”** lean into smoother, soulful grooves, showing the album’s range. > **Verdict:** The production is groundbreaking. It’s a sonic assault that mirrors the album’s themes of chaos and resistance. --- ## 🧠 **Themes: Social Commentary and Street Realism** The album is steeped in **political and social commentary**, tackling issues like: - **Institutional racism** - **Police violence** - **Poverty and systemic oppression** - **Media misrepresentation** Cube doesn’t just rant—he **storytells**, offering grounded, often grim portraits of life in South Central LA. The album’s title itself is a play on the TV show *America’s Most Wanted*, suggesting that **America views young Black men as criminals by default**. Yet, the album also indulges in **gangsta bravado and hyper-masculinity**, which, while emblematic of the era, can feel **regressive and alienating** today. > **Verdict:** Thematically rich and still relevant, though some of its more reactionary elements have aged poorly. --- ## 🌍 **Influence: A Blueprint for Political Hip-Hop** *AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted* is widely regarded as **one of the most influential hip-hop albums ever**. It helped **pave the way for politically conscious rap** in the 1990s and beyond. Artists like **2Pac, Kendrick Lamar, and Killer Mike** have all cited Cube’s debut as a major influence. The album also **set the template for solo rap careers**, showing that an artist could thrive outside of a group and maintain creative control. Its **blend of activism and aggression** became a model for future generations of rappers looking to balance street credibility with social critique. > **Verdict:** A cornerstone of hip-hop history. Its impact is still felt in modern rap. --- ## ✅ **Pros** - **Lyrical Powerhouse:** Ice Cube delivers some of his most memorable and impactful verses. - **Innovative Production:** The Bomb Squad’s East Coast style perfectly complements Cube’s West Coast perspective. - **Cultural Impact:** Helped shape the sound and direction of 1990s hip-hop. - **Social Relevance:** Themes of racism, police brutality, and inequality remain urgent today. - **Cohesive Vision:** Despite its chaos, the album feels unified in tone and message. --- ## ❌ **Cons** - **Misogyny:** Several tracks contain deeply sexist and violent lyrics that detract from the album’s message. - **Pacing Issues:** A few tracks and skits feel like filler, slightly bloating the album. - **Shock Value Over Substance:** At times, the album leans on provocation rather than deeper analysis. --- ## 🏁 **Final Thoughts** *AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted* is a **flawed masterpiece**. It’s a blistering, intelligent, and musically adventurous album that captured the anger and energy of a generation. While some of its content is **undeniably problematic**, its **cultural significance and artistic ambition** are undeniable. For better and worse, it’s a **defining document of American hip-hop**—a raw, unfiltered scream from the margins that still echoes today. Essential listening for any hip-hop fan, but not without its baggage.
Gangsta!!!
The beats and delivery are so exciting that it's easy to vibe along with even the sketchiest lyrics
Another classic hip hop album. Not the best though. 4/5
Yes, some of the lyrics and themes are dated, but this is still pretty good.
It’s really good, just that it was a little long
Les prods te téléportent dans les 90's mais visiblement c'est bien d'être français et de pas comprendre les paroles haha
In the history of rap, this is an important one. I love hearing Cube post NWA, where he kind of takes the silliness of NWA and put its all into one record. Its still crass, heavy and explicit. But its also full of silliness and dark humor. I understand why this (and other) early gangsta rap scared parents and scared conservatives. Its visceral and dangerous, but its also meant to be somewhat comedic (darkly comedic). When you compare this Kendrick, its kind of an entirely different genre, where Kenny is serious, somber and emotional. There's obviously parts of this record that don't age well, and cause me to shift a bit in my seat. But such is the nature of this style of music, and especially in 1990. Rap is purely American, its part of our cultural DNA and this is a crucial building block.
really solid, i think there’s a diss track on here but i can’t remember who
Another great choice, and an album I'd been meaning to get to, since I've always liked Ice Cube and West Coast gangsta rap, despite never really hearing much of his solo albums. I want to check out some of the albums right after this one, as I think they get more of the harder edge and less of the late 80's/beginning 90's slight cheesiness to hip hop.
Ice Cube, fresh out of NWA with production from The Bomb Squad! This is pretty much everything I've ever wanted in hip-hop. Some GREAT (and powerful) social commentary on here. Conscious but aggressively so. I just wish some of the more misogynist sentiments were missing, but those seem to be something you just have to endure to enjoy a lot of hip-hop from this era.
Hell yeah, Ice Cube! I haven't too many of his songs, mostly just It Was A Good Day and You Can Do It, but I do like his style. This album had some really solid rap verses. Unfortunately he hadn't quite got the choruses right. This is a complaint I have with a lot of early rap songs, the rap is great but the chorus just doesn't tie it together as well. The Nigga Ya Love To Hate kicked us off nicely, and AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted followed nicely. That energy kept up through most of the album. A Gangsta's Fairytale was insanely fun, and I'm Only Out For One Thang was funny, with a nice cameo by Flavor Flav. It's A Man's World was a nice duet with Yo-Yo. Solid album, enjoyed it a lot. Best song: A Gangsta's Fairytale
H: 7.5/10 the album had a continuous sound that made you feel like you’re sitting with Ice Cube in a free style session. H fav song: Rolling wit the Lynch Mob or Amerikkkas most wanted Z: Hailey took my words! Production was tight and consistent throughout the project, weaving the themes within Cube’s storytelling like a mature spider. A true timepiece of the 90s, you can feel the influence he ushered in for the remainder of the decade. 7.5/10 Z fav song: A Gangsta’s Fairytale
Delivery can be grating, but iconic nonetheless. 4.
This is one of the handful of hip hop albums from the late 80s and early 90s that’s aged pretty well. It’s really more of a hybrid between West Coast and East Coast hip hop. Lyrically, it’s rooted in Ice Cube’s gangster narrative style, but what makes it stand out is the production. For this album, Ice Cube went out to New York and teamed up with The Bomb Squad, the same production team behind Public Enemy. As a result, the beats have that dense, sample heavy style that was signature to East Coast hip hop at the time.
surprised, not my sort of music but lowkey bangers
I prefered his second album. I like my music homophobic and misogynistic
Game changing. Great spin.
Catchy, high energy, no BS
Diss tracks and a statement from Cube after splitting from N.W.A. Say what you want, but he showed out.
Let me preface this by saying my first introduction to Ice Cube was in the feature film "Are We There Yet?" I've only now learned this film was universally panned. That being said, this was such a good album. Now I understand the sheer disappointment of ice cube becoming a sub-par actor, because as a rapper he was more thoughtful and more skilled.
One of the GOATs.
Solid album, but it definitely sounds dated with its production.
Great album. Eazy-E is still my favorite NWA rapper, but I can get down with some Ice too
STILL SPELL AMERIKKKA WITH THE TRIPLE K
Best member of nwa Will I listen to again: 69%
Not his best work, but wonderfully incendiary
Sometimes funny, sometimes groovy, always nasty and mean (in a good way). Not going to return to it, but its reputation is valid. Funny enough, collabs with PE folk are weak tracks.
4/5 it's great
i liked it, he got good rhymes and cool narrative flows
Very good, this is how I like rap to be. Even with the cringingly misogynistic lyrics.
De Bomb Squad-productie is soms wat aan de drukke kant, dat is niet altijd mijn stijl. Verder gewoon een uitstekende plaat.
Ice Cube’s delivery and flow are iconic, and his vivid and violent lyrics suit the vibe he’s going for even if they get a bit repetitive.
Ice Cube proves himself as a wordsmith and a story teller, on top of a talented rapper. Overall, and impressive and engaging rap album. However, my main critique is the same as the previous Ice Cube album, which is that it drags on.
I felt like this was a very strong debut rap album from Ice Cube! Many of the songs reminded me of N.W.A but sounded distinct enough to set them apart. I very much enjoyed this album listen!
I've got a soft spot for hip hop like this. Had never actually listened to this album. Pleasantly surprised. 4/5
a solid album
Fuck yes. Liked it better than The Predator, but maybe I was just more in the mood today, or the storytelling was more engaging in this one, idk. Hate to be THAT bitch but you gotta wonder what does Ice Cube think of the current rap scene. Can you believe just 30 years ago rap was THIS, instead of today's mumble bullshit? Yeah
Overall: 8/10 Cube is fun to listen to. It's still primitive hip hop in the way that he doesn't switch up his flow very often and the beats can be very repetitive, focusing on percussion. It doesn't matter though cause it's so entertaining. His lyrics are good despite being gangster stuff, which I generally don't love. There are times where he switches it up. Fav Song: A Gangsta's Fairytale Least Fav Song: You Can't Fade Me
great album, i nver listened to it before but like it much better than ever expected. What a beats. In doubt between 4 and 5 stars, decided to go for 4 since it does become repetitive at the end.
Great album, the misogyny has dated this a bit. Sad for the family man I guess.
Exactly what I expected
good stuff
I realize that this album is filed with misogynist bullshit, but it's very clear this is "his thing". The beats are great. And although I understand most people find them repetitive and "always" the same, I think it's big fun. Loved listening to this album.
This went pretty hard. First track a real jam, added to the rotation. 3.8/5
Solid album, I prefer east coast mostly
prob not gonna change my life but one of the v few albums that has made me laugh out loud. in public too!! hope no one else in the taco bell was paying attention. the fact that this happened on an album that also features both halves of public enemy featured on separate tracks kinda illustrates the breadth of ice cube's appeal certainly in this era...translating the near-invention (or at least first Perfection) of the gangsta persona in hip hop into equal parts proactive anger and absurd disarming humor. production also goes ridiculous, always a highlight even on the weaker tracks. and some of the best skit implementation ive ever heard on a hip hop record too! theyre memorable, snappy, and feel surprisingly natural...seems weird to even put them in the same category as aimless studio banter
Great, normally I dont like bomb squad but this is funky and fun.
I liked this way more than I thought I would!
I'm always thrown by how much Ice Cube sounds like Play from Kid N Play. This album is incendiary on many fronts and time has kind of made the music seem old school even though it was a breakthrough at the time. Kept me engaged throughout, even with the casual sexism--the track with Yo-Yo helps a little. I would go 3.5 on it, but bumping for relevance.
4/5.
Enjoyed 4/5
Great album, classic rap beats and an artist I already liked
4/5. Dobre, klasyczne. Takie lata 90. ale nie trafia tak prosto w duszę jak stary eminem np.
I fuck with Cube! Great album.
This website is so biased against hip hip, it's insane. This music is everything Eminem wanted to be. Transgressive and thoughtful but with an energetic, catchy flow. Has this album's lyrics aged well? No, obviously. But that's not really the point here. The point is that this album influenced a ludicrous amount of music since it's release over 3 decades ago. The Bomb Squad is the real star here, imo.
I’ve discussed my thoughts on Ice Cube previously with The Predator, and I won’t recount them again here. I like Ice Cube as a rapper, and that’s largely thanks to this record. For a few months in my early 20s, I would go to bat for this album as one of the Top 10 greatest hip-hop albums ever made. And then, for some reason, I let this album fall into the background, never really revisiting it, even for a song or two. Relistening to it now, I get why I was so passionate about this record, but I also get why I haven’t revisited it much after it first came into my life. First and foremost, the production on AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is flawless. The Bomb Squad are phenomenal in general, but there’s an argument to be made that this is where they peaked, even considering Fear of a Black Planet. This chaotic style of hip-hop production is always fascinating to hear. It’s always fun to catch the samples. Plus, it flows really well on this particular album. The fact that it’s varied and not just constantly running at 100 miles an hour and smacking you in the face, and does allow for chiller moments like “You Can’t Fade Me” and “Who’s The Mack?” showcase why this is a high-water mark of hip-hop production. And, once again, Cube is an incredibly strong rapper and lyricist. His pen is maybe not as strong as it will become over the next 4ish years, but it’s a huge leap forward compared to his work with NWA. The fact that he can make “Ya Love to Hate” catchy while also talking about how much society hates him proves his abilities as a writer. That said, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is a product of its time, and that may be its biggest shortcoming. For one, while Cube is a strong writer, his flow is so obviously of the time, and screams 1990. It is stiff– maybe the most stiff of any rap album included on this list. Once you get past the magic of the production, his flow stands out as the most glaring issue, and starts to ruin a lot of these songs. His rhyme scheme is basic, his rhythm is pretty standard for the era, and his lack of internal rhymes or flow switch-ups just make it start to feel repetitive. The fact that this problem is “solved” by his next record, Death Certificate, is a testament to the fact that Cube is/was one of the GOATs, but it is a real issue here. Even worse is his….lyrical topics. I think people who complain about problematic views on hip-hop records are real Tipper Gore losers, but like….you can’t ignore that Cube *really* seems to hate women on this record, along with other non-black people, although as a white women, I’m not going to get into that one much. I always used to say “It’s a Man’s World” does enough to balance out the misogyny, and Yo Yo brings some much needed levity to the issue, but today, it feels more like tokenism than legitimate self-critique. This issue does seem more nuanced on Death Certificate as it’s used as a storytelling device, and less of a focus on The Predator, but each of those albums then go ahead and underline the racism against Asians and some equally gross antisemitism, which is like taking two steps forward and three steps back in my opinion. Typically, I’m of the belief that these attitudes are par for the course in hip-hop’s complex history and you kind of need to just move past them while rolling your eyes if you’re ever going to enjoy the genre, especially because they’re rarely that deep, but the way Ice Cube presents it here, I think it may actually be that deep. Still, I can ignore it more than most, and even then, it brings this record down a notch for me. I still think overall, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is a great album. I think it’s an important record, and I still love the majority of the songs on here. It’s outdated, but sometimes, that’s part of its charm. I think if Death Certificate was also on this list, I’d be more forgiving of its two flaws. That said, as I’ve suggested, that album also isn’t without critique, and listening to Ice Cube because of this challenge has really made me reconsider whether he ever made anything perfect. But given what we’ve got, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted is still a great hip-hop album that showcases Cube’s skills over amazing production at a time when the genre was making a transition, plus, it contains plenty of songs you could still put on at a party. It deserves its critiques, but it also deserves its flowers.
Surprisingly enjoyed the more old school style and the cleverness in the lyrics.
With a few exceptions (basically just Wu Tang Clan now that I think about it), west coast hip hop tends to click nicer for me than east coast. I find that it tends to have funkier bass lines which never fails to catch my attention. This album generally follows suit here, making for a fun listen with some definitely questionable lyrics. I’ll admit that A Gangsta’s Fairytale got some chuckles out of me though. There are other tracks with much more thought provoking lyrics, but my dingus brain remembers that one most fondly. That might make it sound shallow, but it’s still a good listen.
Very much enjoyed it! I do love old skool hiphop & intelligent rap.
Little long, it couldve been tighter but the anger boils over.
i kind of get the feeling that Ice Cube was being held back by NWA, because he really demonstrates a lot more of his personality now that he's the main focus. of course, he does sometimes get a little too crude for his own good -- "I'm Only Out for One Thang" and the following track really are the pinnacle of that whole "hip-hop is misogynist" thing (and aren't as good as the tracks surrounding it), more so than "You Can't Fade Me" and its pregnancy story. Ice has a knack for storytelling and getting you invested in whatever he's stuck doing, and the interludes/skit type things are mostly pretty funny. it really is no wonder he got into acting. this, alongside both Sir Jinx and the Bomb Squad basically doing production magic over as many choppy, crushed little samples as possible makes the whole record jitter with such energy, like a fly under a bottlecap. i wasn't in the mood for something that felt "old school" today, but as it turns out, it's as forward thinking as you could possibly get with the technology. some bars here never age, and neither does the production.
Ice Cube shows off his mastery with this album. I’m not a fan but it’s potentially the best in the genre. You may not like what he says, but given today’s political climate, it’s wise to listen. As far as social commentary goes, it doesn’t get more real.
I only listened to half of it. Not really my style. I don’t want to give it a low rating though because it’s probably a really well made ground breaking album but….
Not as solid as NWA but still one of the best hip hop solo projects to emerge from NWA
Solid
"Few cared about the violence, because it didn't affect them." -- there's alot to unpack with regard to the lyrics content and context and I'd prefer to let the music speak for itself with all of that. Musically speaking, this is some of the best rap music I've heard.
3.5
As hard as they come
Lo he dicho muchas veces en esta lista. ¡Me encanta como suena el rap/hiphop de los 90. Me guardo: "The Nigga Ya Love to Hate", "The Nigga Ya Love to Hate", "You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gaffilin", "A Gangsta's Fairytale" (featuring Lil Russ) y otra más que no estaba originalmente "Endangered species" con Chuck D.
AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted showcases Ice Cube's talent following his departure from N.W.A. This album is the first and the best of Cube's solo career, delivering pure hip-hop and hard-hitting gangsta rap. His lyrical prowess takes centre stage, with narratives beyond the cliché street themes. The album opens with the bold line, “Fuck You Ice Cube!”, setting a self-reflective tone, while tracks like “You Can’t Fade Me” inject humour into his brash storytelling. It was downhill from here.
First time listening to OG gangsta rap. Really great insight into racism and Black struggles in the early 90s. Favourite track: The n**** you love to hate
Solid
It's funny that the bad reviews for this album all cite some sort of misogyny as the problem, yet they don't seem phased by the racism, classism and what not. If you're not against all forms of oppression you need to need to relisten to this album because Cube's talking about you. You may not like the truth he's spewing but you need to hear it. Not Cube's best solo effort, but what he has to say is important. 4/5
Really solid beats and sampling, with sharp and vital narratives. Just the sound and tone maybe a little too one-note, especially over a long album.
4.0
Get off my dick and tell yo bitch to come here
Making his way from the West Coast to the East to team with the Bomb Squad (and becoming briefly aligned with Public Enemy in the process), Ice Cube gives his attentive audience a one and a half one-off, where his militant, tell-tale rhymes are bedded with the ricochet mish-mash that made New York rap amongst the most innovative music of the late 80s/early 90s. It's a bit of a shame that Cube never really went back to this style afterwards because here is where he was at his most boisterous sonically. Favorites: The Nigga Ya Love to Hate, AmeriKKKAa's Most Wanted, You Can't Fade Me/JD's Gafflin, Once Upon a Time in the Projects, Turn Off the Radio, Endangered Species, I'm Only Here for One Thang, Rollin' Wit' the Lench Mob, It's a Man's World.
Of its time yo.
I like his debut better than the Predator. More consistent, better beats. Wicked, pumping beats. Still powerful lyrics (he is sharp as hell) mixed with misogyny. Couldn't figure out what he was trying to do with It's a Man's World - trying to give voice to women and ironically acknowledging their status, or just patronizingly putting them in their place. I like the song but... Favorite tracks were the title track, Once Upon a Time in the Projects, Endangered Species, and Rolling wit the Lench Mob. There aren't many artists who deliver lyrics with the ferocity, clarity, and intelligence of Ice Cube. But sometimes those lyrics. Sigh.
pretty good
Love this era of hip hop. Feels oddly innocent and nostalgic looking back
some lines/songs have not aged too well, but pretty much all of them go soo hard, with the NWA type energy and beats which I like a lot. Favorite songs: pretty much all of them, especially at the start. Overall around 8/10
80/100. An aggressive, politically charged album with strong energy. While solid overall, it lacks major hits, and some lyrics haven’t aged well.
Fun listen. Really liked the samples here and Ice Cube spits some great lyrics. May be misogynistic but Bitch is just a really nice word to say.
Hard hitting lines... and some downright comical! Many wtf moments but fun tracks all the way through, and serious commentary at its core
Better listen than I expected.
Ice Cube is indeed in the motherfucking house. 4
It’s good, but the hate against women at times has not aged well at all, so I have to retract a star for that.
Idk I liked it enough
Wild, creative, and offensive as hell. Some of the lyrics are remarkably fucked up, but Ice Cube has such a flow and creative mind that the things he's saying are just incredible. The album is brought down by a fair bit of filler, which is a shame because it's really excellent otherwise. Top tracks: The Nigga Ya Love To Hate, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Once Upon A Time In The Projects
Not one while listening to this did I ask “Are We Done Yet?”. In fact, when it was done, I was like, “We’re Done Yet?!?”. FANTASTIC album
i love ice cube and his first four album - this album came out when he was 20 and believe it or not ... there is some immature shit on here! but it reminds me of being an angry teen which is a feeling ive been tapping into more and more as of late
Beats are sick, lyrics hard hitting. Ice cube’s flow is a bit outdated but what do you expect from one of the first in the game
This album is while Ice Cube still raps mostly like he’s attacking the microphone. Most of the album is hard and fast in terms of his rapping, but 30+ years later it doesn’t stand up for me like it once did. I personally prefer Ice Cube’s stuff on The Predator and later albums once he found more of a settled down groove for his flow. Still this album is super important in Gangsta Rap and the west coast scene for the time.
Love this.
lo arriba que empieza, uf
It feels like Ice Cube was most of the way there. He clearly knows that the system of power is what is producing the awful outcomes in his community, but still chooses to denigrate the women suffering from the same systems of inequity. Loved the Flave feature. Didn't really care for the spittin'
Great rap album
Aww... basically all nostalgia for me. The stuff I listen to as a 13 year old. Not recommended for everyone. But it definitely showed me another world.
Liking the early hip hop albums
Ice Cube is another personality I recognize instantly, but I'd never actually heard his music. I knew him more from movies, honestly. The album is good. Smart, audacious (the title alone is so good), and frequently funny. Some of the rhymes will be living in my head rent free for awhile. “They asked me did I like Arsenio?, about as much as the bicentennial.” - I will continue to laugh at that. However, the misogyny and lyrics around women are hard for me to get over. Cant give it a full 5 stars because of them.
masterful storytelling by one of the originators of gangsta rap.
He’s pretty corny these days but man, current rap ain’t the same as this shit was back in the day.
I has zero interest in this album when it was released. And listening now it’s fantastic.
Felt like I was listening in on exciting gossip for half of it which was fun, otherwise enjoyed more than I thought because not usually my fav genre
I don't enjoy Ice Cube's solowork anywhere near as much as his stuff in NWA. Some pretty questionable lyrics throughout. Some of his rapping and storytelling was great, but I couldn't find myself getting very into any of the songs. They all felt like they were missing a little something. Listening to it after Orbital however has made this feel like a 4* even if that might be a bit too generous
This was good fun
Sure like a lot of 90s rap it feels a bit dated at this point, and there's definitely a lot of stuff here that would be considered problematic today, but there's also a ton of social and political commentary that is absolutely ON POINT. Ice Cube's raps are intense and passionate, and the beats compliment them perfectly. Really killer debut for him.
I though about passing on this album, mainly because the genre has never been my cup of tea, but hey, nigga has rhythm! Glad to stand corrected. 7/10
Ice Cube is the definitive gangsta rapper to me. Doesn't have any of his jams to me but so consistently strong throughout. Can't believe he starred in kids movies after some of these lyrics, specifically You Can't Fade Me.
Ice Cube might be the most aggressive rapper of all time. He never fails to confront you with his lyrics, theme, and flow. Naturally, this style does lead to his litany of controversies over the years, but man it is fucking fun to listen to in a record.
Cube’s first solo effort is a furious declaration of West Coast independence made all the more memorable by its idiosyncratic East Coast production.
Can’t deny there’s a beat. Might not listen to it around my wife.
He recycles a few lines from NWA, the production sounds pretty dre-ish despite apparently being the bomb squad and Dre's cousin. Lotsa misogyny, casual violence. But - some true strong words on social conscience here and once again serves as rebuttal to the fat conservatives of today who like to dream a world where race relations were hunky dory or getting better from the 80s forward. Really proves how instrumental cube was to NWA. I only found out embarrassingly late that he was writing pretty much everyone's lyrics.
Depraved as all fucking hell. Fun as fuck to listen to though.
Full of mysogyny and political commentaries by a now child movies icon? Its clever but the lyrics are sometimes..yeah. Its full of great production and bangers. A 5 doesnt seem right but a 4 also doesnt, but neither a 3. 4 it is I guess.
Very cool and classic
These beats are hot, the production is so funked up
Respeckt
Ah, here we are, my second and final Ice Cube solo album. I really enjoyed The Predator, and given the title of this album, I think I'm going to enjoy this one as well. Right off the bat, this album snagged my full attention. The beats and samples are fantastic. The use of predominantly funk beats and samples serve a stark contrast to the dark lyrical tone of the album, and I felt like it made the lyrics really stand out. Granted, the lyrics to funk songs can be political and dark as well, so maybe this album just picked up the funk torch and ran with it in a way. Speaking of running with things, Ice Cube takes his reputation as an asshole, and doubles down on his rough reputation on this album. His voice is as fierce as ever, and his lyrics are incredibly raw. The cheerful backing chorus of 'Fuck you, Ice Cube!' on "The N**** You Love To Hate" was my second favorite part of the album, falling just behind the lyric 'You ask me, did I like Arsenio? About as much as the Bicentennial.' A dig at Arsenio Hall and the black experience in America in the same breath? Perfection. When I was looking up some of the lyrics to these songs, one of the lyrics websites featured an ad for Jack in the Box, starring none other that Ice Cube. Outstanding. The production work by The Bomb Squad was great, although the sound was a little bit too busy at times. In other ties to Public Enemy, the guest appearances by Flavor Flav and Chuck D were great as well. While this album's political themes are handled expertly, with the sneering anger I've come to expect (and appreciate) from Ice Cube, there's certainly a bit of misogyny on here that I don't recall being on The Predator. Surely Ice Cube addresses the misogyny on this album in the future? Oh, he does? And does he allay my fears that he's an actual misogynist in real life? Ah, he basically doubles down on it. Well then, that's pretty unfortunate. I did mostly enjoy this album, but it did become a one trick pony over the course of its run time. However, I think it's a solid example of gangsta rap, while not being as good as The Predator.
Magnificent. A powerful debut album from Ice Cube after he split with NWA, this is filled with banger after banger, with production by Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad. Continuing the inner city themes but taking them to a whole new level, it’s a terrific original statement.
I love 90s rap but I never gave Ice Cube a deep listen. All of these tracks tell a story and, while some are definitely dated, I think he's got some good social commentary about being black and poor in LA
Great production lots of stuff going on
Amazing and not my thing
Finally. something objectively enjoyable.
Not sure how this wasn't on my radar back then. Maybe cause it's West Coast and that was a bit too gangsta for middle of Canada me. Now I put this one on and pretty quick, I'm like this a Public Enemy album with Ice Cube rapping. Very political. And look up the production and its the Bomb Squad. Throw in some Flavor Flav and Chuck D in the middle. This would have worn out my CD player in 1990.
8/10
The good kind of early 90's rap. Flows that are simple but effective.
The lack of contraception seems to be at the root of a lot his problems. All jokes aside, I enjoyed this; going to listen to Yo-yo has never heard anything by her.
Fantastic production and story telling.
Great old school rap from Ice Cube from before he became cuddly. He’s super angry here and keen to prove a point. The Bomb Squad handling production duties is inspired and Chuck D and Flavor Flav even drop by for cameos. I liked this a lot.
Ice Cube’s early stuff is a blind spot for me. Not for long after this listen 👌
Angry, funky, classic, crucial and a poet.
Yesterday I spoke about a hip-hop album that didn’t know how to fully embrace its inspiration and become its own thing at the same time. Today I listened to the opposite. By 1990, Ice Cube had already proven himself. N.W.A were still technically together, and they had brought a huge change to the culture of hip-hop and the way it was ultimately received by the public. That context is important. Because it makes up the backbone for much of this album’s material. Ice Cube just didn’t really care, and he wasn’t going to let people judge his music without saying something about it. Many of the songs on this album directly tackle the criticism that he and his group were facing. Gangster rap was starting to become more common place in the mainstream, and people were not happy about it. But that doesn’t stop this album from being just as in your face, intense, and vulgar as other stuff they had put out. Except it might not be on exactly the same level. Because something feels missing. Maybe it’s just the result of Cube being on his own, but there is a certain power absent from the sound of the album. The beats are still great though. Dr. Dre may not be on production. But Da Lench Mob does a great job, and almost reaches the same heights. I might just be misremembering what Dre’s production really sounds like, but these instrumentals definitely use more rock, funk and jazz samples. Cube’s lyricism is as sharp as ever. And as a debut record, this definitely made me understand why he of all people has still had such a presence in rap culture. Rating: 7/10
Definitely liked this more than I thought I would
Yeah, sure, the over the top misogyny undercuts the message of racial equality cube was pushing for, but the production, the pacing, and the flow is so here that I still ended up having a great time.
For its time, a 5.
Solid
AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted hits hard right from the start with Ice Cube getting fried in the electric chair and stop for all 49 mins. Yes finally a hip hop album under and album. Angry, hard hitting, culturally significant and album post N.W.A. 8.0/10
Interesting, not what I expected from cube.
He's not a fan of bitches or hoes.
i find i really enjoy this era of rap. the beats and the rapping are bombastic and aggressive, and that really appeals to me for whatever reason. so i did enjoy myself with this album. the only thing is that a lot of the lyrics and verses are pretty dated by today's standards, like 'it's a man's world' - a song based on an argument with ice cube playing (?) a sexist. even if it's for show or to prove a point, it still leaves a little bit of a bad taste in my mouth.
Nothing changea
Good rap album by Ice Cube. Some of the lyrics did not age that well (a bit misogenic), other lyrics provide a socio-political conscious and gangsta rap statement about the situation in The Projects L.A.
Godt, lille 4/5
Biggest surprise of this entire project is how much I love late 80's and early 90's hip hop. I guess I should have known I would, because I've always liked the hits, but going deep into the albums, there's a lot of great stuff that I missed.
Not surprised to find this album here. Also not surprised that I had heard none of the songs on it, as mainstream radio wasn’t about to touch this disc with a 69-foot pole back in 1990. Doesn’t make it less of an historical (and prescient! - hello LA riots) album. Ice Cube sounded so angry on some tracks that he sounded a bit winded, and I didn’t mind it.
klogere mænd end jeg har sagt det: "ved ikke hvad det er, men han er fanme bare sur!" Hvad kan man tilføje til det! Den med Chuck D er en kæmpe banger og samlet set er det et mere konsistent album end Straight Outta Compton imo. Gode beats!
Vildt fede beats, og Ice Cube lyder virkelig cool (hæhæ)
Pretty cool 🥶
Never listened to it before, but it was SO GOOD!
A wild album. Hard hitting lyrics, Cubes iconic flow, classic 90s production its everything you want it to be. There are some lyrics that do not stand the test of time and some that are just flat out awful but the moments that reach for something more than calling for violence against women transcend and make you feel the anger that he is expressing.
A lot of anger and violence on this one. I guess it was a snapshot of life at the time for a portion of Americans. This said, Ice Cube is one of my favourite rappers. His voice and delivery is outstanding.
I like this era of rap a lot. Ice Cube is a legend but I honestly was never a huge fan. It's still pretty good though. Was going to give it a 3 but a 4 seems better. Hell, I'm tempted to give it a 5 for all the whining about the lyrics among other users.
For a gangsta rap album from 1990 this offers very polished production, if simplistic by modern standards. Cube also breaks from the basic subject matter that had already worn tired, and instead explores more complex storytelling and subversive material. Definitely my fave solo Cube album. Favorite tracks: The Nigga Ya Love to Hate, A Gangsta’s Fairytale, It’s A Man’s World
I like the beats
3.6
When it doesn’t hit it just sounds like a very aggrieved man yelling too close to a microphone but the beats and when cube cools down it works well. He’s super sus though and probably an op 4/5
Never really listen to ice cube before but I kind of knew to expect. I think this album aged pretty well and had a ton of energy and a lot of fun songs. It probably could have been one or two tracks shorter, but I really did like it more than I thought I would.
Great production. Cohesive. Though listening to the lyrics is hysterical in the fact that Ice Cube would later go on to star in “Are We There Yet”.
Great classic hip hop album. Clever lyrics, interesting listen.
So creative and so cutting edge especially for the time. I enjoyed all of it but it started to get repetitive towards the end. Started really strong tho and I love the radio stuff he plays around with
Decent