Reviews (page 3 of 8)
Very good protest album, thought a lot of the songs and the inserts were really powerful. Some of the tracks weren’t my thing, but there were some I really enjoyed. Wikipedia says it samples Predator 2 which I haven’t seen - would be interesting to relisten having seen that. Fav song: When Will They Shoot? Least fav: Don’t Trust ‘Em
Not a huge fan of the interludes but some bangers of songs in there. Specific rating - 4.5 Fav song- it was a good day Least fav-wicked
Gangsta rap isn’t my preferred sub-genre, but when it’s this good, this important, I get it! The back half of this album is especially solid - catchy, funny, creative, painting incredible stories. Enjoyed myself immensely listening to this.
Some of the delivery is a bit dated, but the beats and general content are still fckn awesome. Driving round stoned with your mates music
Today was a good day for a loud album, quite happy with the way this one panned out. I'm not the biggest fan of that 80s rap style where you yell but enunciate as well as you can and kind of box up your words so they punch/match with the beat, but that's what this is and— it's still pretty good.— There's strong social messages and extremist ideas. You can really hear Ice Cube's youth and pain, hence the loud vocals, beats, and generationally learned misogyny. It's a documented moment in time, and it's sad that a lot of it the record is still relateable decades later in 2025. Everything is well produced, well mixed, well executed. The skits aren't chores, they fit with the vibe of the music. Dated, hard hitting hip-hop. I see how it's still an influence. Put this one on to fuck shit up. 3.6/5
This is basically your typical early 90s East Coast gangsta rap with a message, which isn't really any different from other albums like it. I guess what makes this one stand out is Ice Cube's pretty fun and playful way of rapping, and the music has a kind of funky groove.
First time listening to this for me. The top tier rap albums from this period are some of my favorite in hip hop history and this is right up there. It Was A Good Day is the obvious highlight and arguably one of hip hops finest moments. I enjoyed the album as a whole, I think it’d be an all timer if it were a couple songs shorter.
I was skeptical going into this, as I recently reviewed the N.W.A. album and found it to be only pretty good, compared with other recent listens from artists like Public Enemy and A Tribe Called Quest. But damn if this isn’t a blast. The production is so catchy, loud and addictive throughout, which helps to get past some of the unpleasantly misogynistic lyrics that pop up here and there (but thankfully not the majority of the album). Honestly, it’s hard not to get angry listening to this in 2025, realizing that the situation and culture of racism that prompted this album are still very much present. Art like this helps you process and get through while bopping your head. Must-listen #212.
Not my favorite Cube album, although his dissent would be remarkable with and after his next release. While there are high points here and the actual raps (misogyny and homophobia aside) are solid. However, the g-funk is creeping in and while it accentuates the fun of a track like It Was a Good Day…. It undermines the anger of his takes regarding a post riots LA. The venom of Death Certificate and Amerikkka was supported by Sir Jinx and the Bomb Swuad adding a soundtrack that met the lyrical content, here the swing towards a sound more fun for the augmented mind counteracts the lyrical content. As a result what could have been greats…. Doesn’t quite work.
I'm a white, middle aged Australian. This album feels somewhat anachronistic to me. I can't identify with Ice Cube's anger and the casual misogyny and violence turn me off, I can appreciate the spirit of protest on the album. I can't imagine what it is like to live in an environment seething with the racism, inequality and police violence that marked his life in America. The highlights for me were Check Yo Self, Now I Gotta Wet Ya and the It Was A Good Day.
Aggressive west coast hip-hop/gangsta rap. Ice Cube is hugely talented, the lyrics are politically charged, the beats are ahead of their time ('92). Standout is "It Was a Good Day".
Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: 💀🚬🔲 Production: 🥩😎👊 Music: 🦅🐷🎯 Rating: 🧊🧊🧊(🧊)/5
Horrible cover making me dread the first listen. But it’s not as bad as feared, with actually many good tracks.
Great introduction to hip-hop, well written lyrics and sticky melodies so as the message that is trying to get through, a fantastic album. It Was A Good Day is something else.
Today, It was a good day, because I got The Predator by Ice Cube and you better check yo self if you don’t think this album is wicked.
7/10…hip hop
I'd be inclined to say I'm more enthusiastic about "hip-hop" than I am about "rap", if that makes sense. In my head, Ice Cube has always been more of a rap star and personality than a hip-hop artiste during his solo career, but The Predator is solid enough both from a straight-up rap delivery point of view and from a creative standpoint. There are decent, funky breaks and beats throughout this album - politically charged and released amid the height of racial tensions in 90s America, it never gets bogged down in it's own themes and manages to be interesting throughout. As ever with this sort of thing, I'm obviously not the target audience, but this is definitely an album I'll be adding to my own hip-hop collection. Not absolutely blown away by something totally new and revolutionary, but - yeah - I liked this much more than I thought I was going to...
I have a better appreciation for hip-hop as protest music. It makes you think, and it vibes like FUCK. 10/10.
Waffled between 3 and 4, but decided to go high, since it's a lot more cerebral album that it initially seems. I also prefer the production on this to his other solo album we've listened to.
Thought this might not hold up but was the perfect mix of catchy, sometimes throwback beats with blistering lyrics - that are sadly still way too relevant.
Solid. Ice Cube has great flow.
I kinda like how early sample/turntable-based hiphop is often built around tight 1 bar loops, which gives it kind of an obsessive, relentless sound.
Super fun, 90s rap best rap
Massive personality, fantastic production and, despite some issues, a strong message, still important 20 years later. Also, not a bad album for a 23 yr old. FS: Check Yo Self
There’s something about 90s rap that I love… it’s hot, it’s hard and it hits… Cube’s voice is smooth, rapping effortlessly about issues that are still prominent today. You can hear his emotion in each song and he articulates himself well, I also love the interludes in between songs. I do love his clapback in Fuck ‘Em with media clips (although don’t love the accusations thrown at him lol) throughout the song. The best way to respond to haters. Gangsta’s Fairytale 2 is also super fun and love Don’t Trust ‘em.
Täähän oli kerrassaan väkevä! Muutama hyvä hitti ja julkaisuajankohta huomioiden ajankohtainen. Uujee! 4/5
Keskimääräistä parempi ysäriräp-levy, joka toimii vieläkäin eikä tunnu yhtä ylipitkältä kuin muut aikalaisensa. 3.5/5
pretty good l.a. hip hop record. 2 of ice cube's most classic tracks on it. I just remember seeing him at a festival before he check yourself and after he played good day yelling "how y'all doing? Good? Damn right good, NEXT SONG" in really quick succession
I gave the last Ice Cube album on this list a two, but I really enjoyed this one. The beats were jazz inflected and the rhymes made me laugh on more than one occasion. Maybe I should go back and listen to AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted to see if I stand by that two - this is a strong four, almost a five.
Was good but not the biggest fan of west coast rap so 7/10
Great album, not much else to say except it's a shame a lot of the messages in this album are still valid today, sadly.
While I'm not a hiphophead, I have a soft spot for 90's rap, and this is definitely something I can get down with, even as a person that from time to time likes to have his breakfast with some hog. But what can I say, Ice Cube's a pimp.
Horrible
Unfamiliar with your game Mr Cube
Ich muss sagen, das ich das Album zum Teil schon sehr mochte und mir der doch sehr andere Musikstil zu gesagt hat. Oft habe ich auch die Texte ertragen (bzw. fand die Perspektive interessant), aber zwischendurch fand ich es so schlimm wie eminem
Fine album.
It can be fun to be this angry toward white people and cops for an hour
could i write poetry to this? y
Possibly my favorite of the 90's Rap/Hip-Hop albums we've heard so far.
If you want to hear classic gangster rap, this is it.
His best imo
“Ice’ll cream your ass like Haagen-Dazs” accidentally very prescient. This shit rules, though I’m eavesdropping at best.
Great album, almost every song hits hard
Excellent album that peaks in the first half but it enjoyable throughout. Highlights are When Will They Shoot, Wicked, and The Predator. Let down slightly, as most rap albums are, by the constant skits and interludes.
Parts of this album are just so strong. The politics and lyricism is so strong when he has a point, but when he doesn't it just feels like he wanders off into random misogyny and violence for violence's sake. I know that was part of the first wave of gangster rap (I was alive and there), but in retrospect it really sticks out as taking away from the greater messages. It's one of the reasons that, outside of individual songs, I sometimes feel like gangster rap struggled to be either political or casually about drugs and violence. Albums like this one can lack a strong point of view due to lack of editing, and that is just more obvious now. We've been spoiled by bands like RATM, and at no point could you imagine Zach de la Rocha jumping from an anti-capitalist protest song to praising weed and guns. Anyway, the tracks that had a point of view and message were very strong. I guess they could have just cut half, it would have been closer to a Chuck D missive against the police and corruption, and maybe that's not want Ice Cube wanted at the time.
It is amazing how little has changed since this album was made. Both in it sounding ahead of its time, but also in terms of the political back drop for black Americans. Really good album
Ice Cube sounds tough, but not at the expense of a head nodding, digestible album. I didn’t realise that hip hop that hits this hard was released (just) before I was born. The Predator has a pretty flawless first half - vicious, sharp, groovy beats which Ice Cube delivers clinical rapping on top of. Wicked goes super fast, the rapping is exhilarating. It Was a Good Day feels like it’s from a different universe. Super chill beats with a smooth rap which slowly unfurls on top of it. The second half isn’t as perfect but nothing that spoils the vibe. A very impressive effort.
Dropped off a bit 2/3 throigh but otherwise all of this is great. Hard, fun, heavy.
Some real bangers on this album
Hardcore and visceral
Satme nogle bangers på! Generelt meget højt niveau mht. beats, mere eller mindre lige så god som AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. Synes måske vi bruger lige nok tid på at benægte antisemitisme på den her Cube
This albums fucks
I think Cube's flow is pretty peak for 90s gangster rap. Ugh this genre and era is always so challenging but I respect the hell out of these artists knowing how fine a line it is between rapping about violence vs actually being violent. It's so easy to hate or dismiss this music. I definitely don't 'like' it, haha, but no doubt it belongs on the list. And of course all the gnar is why It Was A Good Day is such an incredible track. 3.5
Man, 90s Gangsta Rap goes hard. Partly, I'm amused. If you were to go back to the 90's and tell people that Ice Cube would be doing family friendly movies, and Ice T would be playing a cop on TV you'd get the biggest stares. No one would believe you. How could these angry young men become those people? I'm not sure how they did it either, I'm guessing going from life being an everyday struggle to being financially secure probably does good things to the mind. Anyway, I'm not a huge fan of "skits" between songs, which this album is definitely guilty of to some extent, but it's really the only negative I would share. I hope today will be a Good Day. Though, research has shown his good day was likely January 20, 1992.
Cold
Started really well, thought it was starting to lose momentum but then had an incredibly strong ending.
Great album that holds up years later.
Excellent stuff here. Much more mature rapping than just talking about partying, sex, drugs, and violence towards women. 3.66/5 = 4 stars
Better than AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. 3.5/5
It's remarkable how much more I liked this album than AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted. Maybe it's that the beats are really sick here or maybe it's how politically focused it is following the Rodney King riots, I'm not exactly sure. But I really despised that other album and didn't feel that way here. It's still way more gangsta rap than some of my favorite hip hop, but this time feels mich more representative of the black experience in L.A.. It Was a Good Day is the best and most well known here, but I liked a couple more and all the news clips between songs were way more interesting than skits normally are.
Favorite songs: Check Yo Self, It Was a Good Day, When Will They Shoot?, Gangsta's Fairytale 2 Least favorite songs: The First Day of School, I'm Scared, Fuck 'Em, Integration (fuck skits), Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha 4/5
This is a conscious album? But still the style of 90's rap, like it could be a Biggie or definitely any other west coast rapper album. I get that it's culturally significant, and it's a fun overall listening experience, but outside of "Today was a good day", "Check yo self", not many repeats for me
I think the highs on here are better than AmeriKKKa's most, but it isn't as consistent (particularly in the latter half of the album)
Surprenamment intéressant
Tough brutal with a message for all
I had no idea Ice Cube was this good solo. I've kept this on rotation for days and it's yet to get old. He covers incredibly powerful subject matter but the beats are superb and varied throughout. It brings a lot of fun and uptempo numbers to draw you in, then smacks you in the face with fearless, up-front commentary on equality, racism and police brutality. It's just sad that this message is still relevant over 30 years later.
Musikalisch gse esch es sehr okay. Meischtens halt eifach ergend e Beat ohni vel Melodie ond är rapt ergend öppis dröber. Es esch zwar voll guet gmacht, ech vermesse aber no chli ergend e Melodie. En Usnahm vo dem esch "It was a good day". Dete heder, wies för e Hiphop typisch esch, eifach ei Melodie glooped. Das ged i dem Song e völlig neui Dimension ond macht ehn min Liebling us dem Albom. E wiitere ponkt won ech eigentlech emmer fühle esch t Positivität. Meischtens esches emmer rächt negativ ond god om Gwalt oder Rassismus, aber ned i dem Song. Wie de Tetel suggeriert esches e sehr positive Song. Das brengt mech grad guet öbere zo dem wo das Albom au zo öppis speziellem macht. Es esch extrem Politisch. Es esch während de Onruhe vo Los Angeles im Johr 1992 veröffentlecht worde. Debi esches klar of de siite vo de Protestierende. Es god emmer weder om Rassismus, falschi Ascholdige ond Gwalt. Die vele Samples won är denne hed verschlächtered zwar de erschti Idrock, es macht deför es ufmerksams lose omso enteressanter. So chammers meh als e auditivi Dokumentation aluege ond bechond so es idröckles Beld vo dere Ziit.
Unbelievable production and songwriting. 4/5
Solid 90's West Coast rap. Some of the references and word choices are a bit outdated, but that's to be expected. Good production and Ice Cube sounds good. 7/10
Never listened to this whole thing before but somehow knew a lot of it. 3 epic all timers and a whole lotta N-words. Forgot how good of a rapper he was (only see him as an actor anymore)
Ice cube has such a great flow and lyrical style. It Was a Good Day. Obviously a little outdated on the lyrics in some ways (homophobic) but also completely still on the nose for other lyrics (police brutality, ACAB)
it wonders me that the album is a year older than me and when it comes to the "good day" it just send me away day-dreaming.
I enjoyed this. Top-notch sampling. 4/5
Pretty sure I'd only ever heard a couple tracks on that album. It's a great example of hip hop from the early 90s west coast.
Damn. I can't believe it's almost 30 years later and we're still dealing with the societal issues Ice Cube brings up in this album. Favorite songs: It Was A Good Day, Check Yoself, Wicked! 4⭐️
Was expecting something less varied musically. The tracks with samples and no vocals still interesting / disturbing. Definitely missed out on this growing up.
Very Zeitgeisty 1992 LA gangsta rap. Some nice touches throughout, loved the piano outro to Dirty Mack .
Wow, that was really good. Laconic in parts, varied enough. unexpected and a real treat for me.
Includes the iconic songs "it was a good day" and "check yo self". Definitely NSFW. Powerful lyrics/stories.
Truly groundbreaking stuff. Holds up well. Helped to define a generation.
3.75
The Predator is Ice Cube at his sharpest — politically charged, aggressive, and lyrically fearless. Dropping in the wake of the L.A. riots, this album doesn’t pull any punches. It’s intense, angry, and still incredibly relevant. Ice Cube uses his voice as both a weapon and a warning, delivering some of the most potent verses of his career. Standouts like “When Will They Shoot” and “Now I Gotta Wet Cha” hit hard with gritty production and focused rage, showing Cube’s ability to balance street realism with razor-sharp commentary. “It Was a Good Day” is the album’s most iconic track — smooth, reflective, and a rare moment of calm in an otherwise hard-edged record. “Say Hi to the Bad Guy” closes things out with a defiant swagger, cementing Cube’s image as hip-hop’s unapologetic antihero. While a few tracks don’t quite hit the same mark, The Predator holds up as one of Ice Cube’s strongest solo efforts — a powerful mix of storytelling, social critique, and West Coast attitude. A must-listen for anyone serious about ‘90s hip-hop. Favorite Track: "It Was a Good Day"
Solid 90s hip hop.
Chewing on that ice pred style
high energy and overall fun. it's crazy because i mostly know ice cube from tv but that was admittedly just a small part of his life! didn't love the f-slurs, cmon man
i liked this album more than most of the other early 90s hip-hop we've gotten on this list, but it still drags a bit just because there are so many tracks here. but the beats are solid, the message is clear (and still rings true today, unfortunately), and ice cube sounds great here. i'll certainly come back to the highlights here. favorites: when will they shoot, it was a good day, gangsta's fairytale 2, check yo self
Ice Cube's use of his instrument is top level here. Sonically most of the album's beats hold up. The misogynistic lyrical content, is immature. The Predator flops, Cube's vocals and the beat don't mesh. It Was A Good Day stands out and holds up. A cohesive album of a very specific time and place in America.
3-4
Topics sadly still as relevant as ever. Good Album, great flows and bars. It was a good day is one of the greatest Rap Songs existing. (3.5/5.0)
And mama cooked the breakfast with no hog. Classic album.
That's quite a funky rap album for commenting so much about racial discrimination, police violence, and the media portrayal of Ice Cube himself. When I listened to N.W.A and Ice Cube I somehow always got back to reading about the 1992 LA Riots and it's nerve-wracking to think about the issues that ended up in this happening. All in all, I'm not that much into rap anymore, but if I get into the mood again, Ice Cube is definitely on the list of artists I go back to.
4.5
This is basically your typical early 90s East Coast gangsta rap with a message, which isn't really any different from other albums like it. I guess what makes this one stand out is Ice Cube's pretty fun and playful way of rapping, and the music has a kind of funky groove.
kinda wild to hear an insert on a 1992 album where ice cube doesn't all that strongly refute his anti semitism considering the obviously and heavily anti semitic poster's madness he's been experiencing in recent years. an all time rap album that has been making a case for it being an all time exercise in separating the art from the artist since its release
I am a fan of this one (except the mysiogny, why does that always have to be a musical theme!). There are a lot of issues discussed, its not too fast but also not too slow. He has emotion to his voice and his rhythms are obvious at times but not at others.
“I got a right to be hostile man, my people been persecuted for 400 years!!!” - Prophets of Rage, Public Enemy This project is making me an Ice Cube fan. I really like his beats, music, samples, and the way he raps. I think there were lots of thought provoking sound bites tucked between the tracks talking about racism in America. The homophobic misogyny is not cool though and those are my least favorite songs. Skip on those. It was 1992 and these artists are all reflecting the people and culture of their time and place, good and bad. I hope that more and more people of today are working towards a more harmonious society that accepts and celebrates our differences. Check yourself before you wreck yerself.
This was a near 5 for me. Great lyrics, important racial issues addressed, so many incredible hooks. Favorite was Check Yo Self. Is that where Shoop (one of the best songs of all time) came from?? To answer my own question after a deeper dive, seems they both sampled an old song called I’m Blue (The Gong Gong Song) by the Ikettes. Today I learned…maybe, seems to be some conflicting info on this. Anyway, then the bitches and hoes became a thing later in the album. Which was annoying. Overall really enjoyed though!
Cool
Never heard before but good
This isn't my vibe but the songs were memorable and notable. Didn't finish it but liked the ones I listened to.
Not a big fan of Gangsta rap...but like this one!
Lots of anti-police rhetoric. You can tell Rodney King is prevalent
love the production on this one. would definitely want this album in my vinyl collection.
Really liked this album, potent with good songs
Very awesome… brash as ever, fantastic production - had a great time listening to this one (for the first time!)
So awesome, I only know this guy from Anaconda (2025) so this was a pleasant surprise
Ice cube is the goat !!
I own a couple Ice Cube albums but not this one, so some of these tracks were unfamiliar to me. I liked it, Cube is a bit underrated as a lyricist in my opinion. It’s been said in here before but the skits/interludes are so bad, some of these seemed particularly long.
This album has some really good tracks on it and I like the more laid back west coast style on this album -- I also appreciate the lyrics on this one more than previous Ice Cube or NWA albums as they tend to be, overall, a little more mature.
Cube has some great bars and I enjoy his style a lot more than other rappers. Some classics on here.
A good listen. Solid instrumentals and vocal work. I think it lacked cohesion overall, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. 'It Was A Good Day' is a classic and a favorite.
Ice Cube so (literally) cool
Ice Cube was one of the artists I was interested in the hearing the most since he is an important part of hip-hop history, and hip-hop is the genre I find the most interesting to me. I can’t say I’m disappointed by this at all. Production kicks, flows are confident and entertaining, and lyrically there are good things to be said here. This album talks racial tensions and how they still have effects on people, hip-hops place as a genre of “violence” and “hate”, all in ways which are digestible and entertaining for the listener to hear. I don’t think this is the best rap album from this year (“wink, wink, Chronic”) but It certainly is a very fun and enjoyable album. Looking forward for more from Cube, especially NWA. Rating: Very Good (Light ☆☆☆☆) Favorite Tracks: Wicked, Now I Gotta Wet ‘Cha, The Predator,
Yeah, this album is brilliant. I don't listen to a lot of rap music but goddamn.
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I admit it is very much of an era that I like for nostalgic reasons, but it still feels very relevant and compelling.
The beats and political commentary in this are very strong.
I went into this rather biased. First, I was in the mood for hip hop. Second, I'd heard several of the songs from this album before and enjoyed them. Listening to the entire record, I can now be sure that the songs I'd heard previously were the best off the album. It was nice to get a full picture of the album. This album has a strong political message, despite the fact this is essentially 'gangster rap'. It's rap that is saying something meaningful. Particularly enjoyed the Malcom X references. Some new discoveries I enjoyed:We had to tear this motherfucker up and Say Hi to the Bad Guy. Definitely not the album to start with for a hip hop beginner! Having said that, classics like Check Yo Self and It was a good day are likely to help newbies warm to Ice Cube. This is a solid hip hop album.
couple bangers...today was a good day!
This is probably one of ice cube’s best solo albums. The samples are powerful and entertaining. The beats are super chill, and the rapping is super memorable and almost catchy. Not to mention this album contains one of his biggest hits “it was a good day” which is also my personal favorite song of his. My only complaint about this album is it is not a no skip album. Despite how much I like the samples, they take the place of interludes in this album and a lot of them overstay their welcome. Near the end of the album I started to think “should I find a playlist of this album that excludes the inserts?” Which was only because I wanted to give this album a higher score. But that wouldn’t make sense cause it’s a core part of the vibe of the album. Overall I think even if this album didn’t have the inserts (or just less of them) it’s still as close to a 5 as you can get without actually being a 5 star.
just fantastic. i still maintain that 'it was a good day' has potentially the best beat in rap history.
What an album! Song after song by an MC at the absolute top of his game. So many classic tracks and an album that doesn’t let up from start to finish. 4.5 stars.
Ice Cube sits in a very weird place in hip-hop history. His most consistent run lines up with the strange ✨Golden Age✨ period, which is kind of an important point to consider. If you believe the Golden Age lasts between the release of Run-D.M.C’s Raising Hell up to the December 1992 release of The Chronic, then you see it as a ~formative~ time period, one where being a well-rounded MC was less impressive than being the First™️ to do something. If you see the period extending to April 1994 (following the release of Illmatic and Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik), then you probably see that era as a great time period for hip-hop *albums*, but also a period before the *focus* of hip-hop revolved around the individualized skills of rappers themselves, which is why there are so many groups during that time. And, if you extend it to the death of Pac and Biggie, that brings the timeline up to a full decade and change through the end of 1997, and at that point, you’re just nostalgic for a time period before any Real Hip-Hop™️ could be recognized by a blonde girl working at the Abercrombie at her local suburban mall. Each answer progressive gets more controversial, but I’m not here to debate historical definitions. What matters is that the further in time you extend the Golden Age, the more you lessen the impact and importance of Ice Cube. And I think that’s wrong. In the earliest scenario, The Predator may be final great album of hip-hop’s Golden Age. (I’m ignoring the other unique anomaly of the Pharcyde’s debut, released a week later, for the sake of convenience, and also because it’s kind of a slow burn in comparison.) And in many ways, The Predator works as an obituary. For one, the relevance of Rodney King and the LA riots permeate this record, and sees Cube in direct conversation with those topics. Whether it’s on “When Will They Shoot?” or “We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up,” the targeted death of Black Americans– a topic Cube always discussed– are specific to these news items. In some ways, these conversations are part of the reason hip-hop had to stop being buttoned-up and production-focused and move to lyrics and gangsta imagery, and although Cube never existed in the former category, the narrower topic focus throughout The Predator helps him close the case. But this album is also a memorial for a production style and album structure that basically went extinct after 1992. The seamlessly blended interludes, the DJ-centric beat development, and even the sample choices themselves– hip-hop had to shed these elements as it grew into the mainstream. In retrospect, that makes The Predator seem bigger yet tighter than anything before it, or anything after it. This creates a hip-hop record that is quintessentially 1992, yes, but the package is so well-constructed that it becomes timeless. It’s a great hip-hop album, front to back, and that alone validates The Predator. Now, if we go one step further and extend the Golden Age to 1994, The Predator reveals that Ice Cube belongs in the GOAT conversation. Before Illmatic, there’s really no competition. Rakim is skilled, but his influence arguably outshines his longevity; 2Pac won’t really enter this conversation until 1995; and while Big Daddy Kane and LL Cool J may have been popular choices, their style has aged poorly. Ice Cube, on the other hand, remains consistent, from NWA to Lethal Injection. He obviously grows as a lyricists, he tackles more complex subject matter, and his pure skills improve with time, but he starts his career higher than anyone. By the time we get to The Predator, his skills have improved so much that it would be insane to not place him on a pedestal. While he does have some of his old-school flair (“Gangsta’s Fairytale 2”) and a bit of the misogyny that held him back on his first few albums (“Don’t Trust ‘Em”), there’s a sharper focus to all of it that brings out the best in him. Whether it’s on the title track, “Wicked,” or “Say Hi To The Bad Guy,” Cube’s pen is pointed. Meanwhile, songs like “Check Yo Self” and “Who Got The Camera?” show his ability to change flows easily, all while preserving his authenticity. And he does it all with only one feature! Sure, Cube may rap like it’s 1992, but his skill level is undeniable, and he sounds so singular to only himself, that it circles back to timeless. The Predator sees Cube at his absolute best as a technical rapper, untethered from some of the problematic pitfalls of his earlier albums, highlighting why he has a claim to the GOAT conversation, not only in comparison to his peers, but across the entire hip-hop canon. The only thing lacking is the popularity and impact of the long Golden Age, which obviously, The Predator provides. The majority of the credit is thanks to the huge cultural touchstone “It Was A Good Day,” which is still referenced, listened to, and revered by people of all backgrounds. But there’s also the small impact of lines like “it’s on like Donkey Kong," as well as the more clever seamless use of skits. I mean, this album DEBUTED at #1 and went platinum only two months after it dropped. If you want to measure hip-hop’s greatest period by cultural cache, The Predator might actually be the first to hit that achievement based solely on its quality. To me, The Predator is not only an important hip-hop album, it also validates the importance of Ice Cube in the overall history of hip-hop. Sure, he’s there thanks to NWA, but his solo material is just as impactful, if not more. While I will admit that I find the 1992-ness of this to be a little fatiguing, especially with its length, and like, also, Ice Cube does still share a misogynistic worldview that I find hard to listen to, The Predator is a very, very, very solid hip-hop record. It deserves of flowers, and shows why Cube deserves them, too. I may personally think AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted and Death Certificate have higher highs, but Cube is never as well-rounded as he is here. Essential canonical listening.
Ice Cube has always been angry but The Pedator might be his most angry and certainly most focused album. Coming right after the Rodney King riots, the focus of his anger is obvious. Yet the best song might be the happiest of all the early 90s rap classics, It Was A Good Day, the complete opposite of When They Shoot and We Had to Tear this Motherfucka Up 8.5/10
I only knew the singles from this album, so I wasn't expecting it to be really a cohesive examination of racial tension in America tied together with soundbites from 30 year old news broadcasts and interviews (and Predator movies). The blatant racism and ignorance and the increasingly frustrated response remains a familiar theme.
"наших блэд дюдс притесняют все дела" ахх альбум, а так прикольно, фанки щит я бы сказал.
Great Album!!! It’s was very relevant for its era.
Is this the same guy from the acclaimed films "Are We There Yet" and "Are We There Yet 2"?
mjög gott
While clearly of the early 90s in terms of style, this one feels more like a blueprint than an imitator. I think it's safe to say that Ice Cube was the most talented member of NWA (Dr. Dre being a talent as well, but maybe not as much of a polymath) because this is a beeline from Straight Outta Compton. The high energy stuff is the best, the gangsta gangsta stuff has aged a bit, and some of the funkier beats get a little one note, and there's some filler (gangsta fairytale is not fun to listen to), and it's a little bit sad that it's still relevant, but you know what? Good album. Someone else said "best while driving in your car" and that's where I felt like I should be sitting when I was listening.
Most of it really sits on the border of like but not love besides the big hits but that might change as I listen more. This was one of my favorites so far of this era of rap but the genre as a whole still isn’t really my thing. Still has a great flow between songs and didn’t find it stalled like some of its contemporaries. Rating: 3.6
What kind of a cop killer are you?
One of the best albums, and intro/first song combo ever.
Pretty classic, and sad that things haven’t changed all these decades later
I had never heard any of these songs going in. Ice Cube is one of the few rappers that actually sounds believable when they say that they're a badass. There's some great messaging in the lyrics on this album, and also some truly horrible takes, mainly revolving around how women are treated. The song Check Yo Self sounds almost identical to Shoop by Salt N Pepa, which I find hilarious.
Enjoyed! 4/5
Really good album. Enjoyed it.
4.0
Good music, but like a lot of post-CD revolution albums, it feels a little bloated.
lyrically relevant even today, but not something id want to revisit
3.5
Almost the opposite to urban hymns. No familiarity for me and definitely not aimed at me. There were aspects I didn't like but the album kept me consistently intrigued and I'll listen again. Just about meets the 4 threshold
Solid dated hip hop
Not familiar with this at all. But with the usual Gangsta rap excessive violence and mysogeny aside, I really liked it. There’s something about his delivery (similar to Chuck D) which is super direct and sort of authoritative, which just screams ‘you ARE gonna fuckin listen to what I’m saying’. Yeah some of it’s a bit too much, but the political anti-racism stuff is really powerful, and sadly still relevant. I really liked a lot of the beats and production as well (some real head nodders in there), there are defo some similarities to Cypress Hill of the same time. I can feel me listening to other albums, nice discovery this one.
Black America is a cauldron either boiling over or in the process of boiling over. 1992 was the year in which things seemed to spill out past the point of no return. The acquittal of three of the four police officers who brutally pulverized Rodney King which resulted in the L.A. riots and the murder of LaTasha Hawlins in a Korean owned supermarket once more reinforced how wretched everything was here. As had become standard procedure, Ice Cube was there to document it all. The Predator, coming at the tail-end of Cube's imperial phase, is chock full of bare knuckle hostility and a relentless tension that is ceaseless. Not even a brief reprieve from the world in which Ice Cube lived in seems safe enough to enter into fully. A record of its time yet still poignant. Favorites: When Will They Shoot?, Wicked, Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha, It Was a Good Day, We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up, Dirty Mack, Check Yo Self.
Yeshhhhhh 💨
Enjoyed this more as the album progressed, especially It Was A Good Day and Check Yo Self.
This was a solid album. Enjoyed more than I expected.
This album was very popular when I was young. I remember listening to it and thinking that I was super cool and different. This was a very influential album with great lyrics and beats. It reminds me of the 90's and high school times.
this album is pretty dope all around. a few specific items i want to point to. - the beats on this album are sick. every track feels fresh and has you grooving along with it. - this album is so strong politically. Politics and hip hop go hand in hand. I appreciate the lyricism of say, Kendrick's 'To Pimp A Butterfly', but Ice Cube does it in such a raw way. I appreciate the use of skits especially on this album, showing additional context to the happenings in 1992 and what Cube was going through as he was releasing music. - lyrics. I think one thing that I suffer from (perhaps a product of my time) is that I can get bored with the rhyming schemes on earlier rap albums. not to say its bad by any means, but growing up in a different era of rap gives me a lot of appreciation for internal rhyming and different structures that come out more in the late 90's and 2000's. obviously we wouldn't have that without Cube and NWA paving the way, but its a personal gripe of mine. All in all, a well produced album that is strong and a great listen. Cube is an ultimate story teller, and this album shows exactly where he shines best.
Great album with a lot of gangsta rap iconic moments. The same way Ghostface Killa is the best rapper from Wu Tang, Ice Cube is the best rapper from NWA. Made as a snapshot in time during the race riots, the album has an aggressive and violent message. Ironically, the best song is almost like a dream sequence apart from the rest of the album in “It Was a Good Day.” A fun listen, with a lot of shock value.
Knowing Ice Cube more as an actor and then taking a deep dive into his music career is a wild ride. There is a lot of violence portrayed in the lyrics, but knowing the history explains why. It’s a huge moment in American history and this album serves as a voice of those experiences living through police brutality in LA in the early 90s. Great beats with a clearly old school style, but it never felt dated. Really enjoyed this album and will come back regularly for a few songs.
NSFW lots of very foul language but awesome and angry, I dug it
What happened to this dude? This is incredible.
Rap from 92 that has aged pretty well, I think. I like It Was A Good Day quite a bit, it has an air of gratitude that isn't often found in hip hop / rap. The album is kind of long and Ice Cube's style doesn't change much throughout the album, but I felt like I was just bouncing along with the songs. I didn't get bored or wish it was over early.
One of the few rap records I liked. Even the filler didn’t bother me as it does in most rap records. Highlight: It Was a Good Day
Angry, well delivered - exactly as you'd expect. The selection of samples really wins this.
I wish it had No Vaseline on it, that's the best Ice Cube song. Good album still. Will I listen to again: 50%
I was hesitant to get into this while driving (hip hop is not my go to), but I really vibed with this, 4* CHECK YO SELF BEFORE YOU WRECK YO SELF
I wonder if I hadn’t already heard Straight Outta Compton first, if I would have given this a five. Because it’s excellent. But SOC was out of this world excellent. So I guess this is a 4.5. Which i can’t give sadly. I think the difference is that this doesn’t have quite the musical range of the earlier album. Still, I started the day with Ice Cube so chances are it’ll be a good day.
fire album, lots of good fun tracks, i like rap albums like this
I'm not sure if I ever listened to this album end to end before. I should have. "When will they shoot" is an incredibly intense opener to an album that is still relevant in most ways, and the album never really slows down.
Solid album. Lots of angst and energy. Enjoyed.
Was ready to hate this, but The Predator was surprisingly good! Ice Cube only rarely throws out slurs about women and seem to have dialed back on the antisemitism as well (although he makes the point REPEATEDLY that he didn't really hate jews to begin with). The timing of the release just after the LA '92 riots creates interesting context, and the segue from 'It Was A Good Day' to 'We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up' hits hard.
This is the sort of material that makes Ice Cube worthy of a spot on this list. His debut was a misoginystic mess, but on The Predator Cube proves his worth as both a lyricist and rapper with an impeccable flow. I have some problems with the production side of the beats, but this is still a solid record.
Ice-T yesterday, Ice Cube today. I’ve got a lot of money riding on Vanilla Ice coming up next 🤞
crazy that this was my first experience of the rodney king riots in music that wasn't from the perspective of a white person.
Very solid album. Interesting perspective on the 1992 LA riots.
ice cube was really on a roll
first track...the way nthg makes sense. i think i get it. sad the "im scared" insert........omg. thats exactly how they sound god theyre so stupid...... oo wicked is nice....o i guess not. nvmd. i dont rlly like his flow here fuck em is so funny smh check yo self AND it was a good day are both on this album?? wow cool album
Not a big hip hop fan, but this was a decent album - some classic tracks on there, but a good listen
Some of his best work here. Not sure it’s his best album, but influential. An enjoyable listen. Quality hip hop. 4/5
Nice flow, a few bangers I saved immediately. Wicked, It was a good day. Gotcha wet ya is a bit silly now Good flow throughout with some serious messages on races towards the end
I never feel comfortable rating rap albums. I am a 50+ year old white guy that doesn't get it. Totally on me. Having said that, I really admire the production value, passion, righteous (legitimately so) anger Ice Cube brings here. At the same time, it is just hard to listen to for me. Not because of white guilt, but because it is just a relentless album.
Generally my favourite type of hiphop, and sadly still a relevant album politically.
This rules. Might be Ice Cube's finest album and one of the best hip-hop albums of the early 90s. Written around the time of the '92 LA Riots, the lyrics are still relevant today and the production, mostly from DJ Pooh and DJ Muggs, is fantastic. 4.5 Stars.
Great album. I always preferred Ice Cube’s flow to most 90s era rappers. 4 stars 8.6 out of 10
Very nice classic gangsta rap album.
Good album. Ice Cube is a genius. Enjoyed it.
Lots of good tracks on here. Angry, both the beats and the lyrics. I really like When Will They Shoot and Wicked to start things off. It Was a Good Day is obviously a banger but We Had To Tear This Motherfucka Up right after goes hard. Wasn't familiar with a lot of this record. Gangsta' Fairytale 2 another deep cut I vibed with. Check Yo Self isn't as good as the remix but still a solid addition. I don't know if this is the best Cube record but you could do a lot worse.
This was sooo much better than I expected woah. Looove this era of hiphop
I think discounting the misogyny and homophobia et al (a big ask I know!) and the cultural commentary that isn’t something aimed at me (also a big ask), I think production wise and musically this is the best hip hop album we’ve had, helps that It Was a Good Day is one of my favourites
Cube solo > Cube with NWA.
Pleasantly, this album is more than It Was A Good Day and Check Yo Self.
hard
Very good!
I quite dig it. The music is often catchy and the rapping is pretty distinctive and snappy
Yes. This is ace. An excellent balance of rage and lolz. Cube calling a penis Jimmy is something I will never forget. Also, so good to hear Today Was A Good Day on my ride to work.
Great album. Favourites- wicked, the predator, it was a good day, dirty Mack, check yo self
True 3.5
Really interesting album - his flow is smooth and the raps are really well-written. When Will They Shoot? and It Was A Good Day were the stand-outs. Minimal skits, and strong political messages.
Never listened to ice cube properly before. He's got a great voice and flow. I always mention that I don't really like gangsta rap and the tropes that come with it whenever it comes up...... However, there is enough social commentary here that comes with the stuff I don't like, that cube gets a pass. The guns, bling and bitches are there, but there is a message too Also pretty depressing that the issues he's rapping about have not changed at all in the 32 years since it's release. "Was a good day" was the only track I knew, but don't think it was necessarily the best. Highlights: When will they shoot Wicked Now I gotta wet ya We had to tear this mothafucker up Check yoself Say hi to the bad guy 4, still too much gangsta stuff for a 5
Album qui repose sur une sélection fouillée d’extraits médiatiques pour appuyer sa critique sociale. La voix d’Ice Cube est agréable, son débit posé et habile, volontaire, même lorsque rapide, en dépit de la révolte et de la conviction, palpables
Classic 🧊
So, so good. This album along with Ice T's OG and Dre Dre's The Chronic are the trifecta of early 90s rap. Paced the way for groups like Wu Tang and the like.
pretty classic sounding rap. im not well versed in rap so i dont have much to say, i enjoyed it. 7/10
"The Predator" is the third studio album by American rapper Ice Cube. West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, political hip hop and hardcore hip hop are the listed "Wiki" genres. The album was released just after the 1992 LA riots and many songs comment on the racial tensions in the US. The album title is a reference to the movie "Predator 2," and, yes, there is a great Arnold Schwarzenegger sample. Many producers were used including DJ Pooh, Sir Jinx, Torcha Chamba and DJ Muggs. The album received positive reviews and, commercially, was a massive hit debuting at #1 in the US. It hit #73 in the UK. The first song "The First Day of the School" sets the album tone with an excerpt from the movie "American Me" where a bells rings and people get body searched before going into prison (school). This blends right into "When Will They Shoot?" This is more funky with scratching. Ice Cube is commenting on white power. The first single "Wicked" opens with Don Jangwarr introducing Ice Cube. The music reminds me of "Straight Out of Compton" but has a much tighter and harder beat. Don't mess with Ice Cube. The album switches gears for a song in "It Was a Good Day." it's a happy song as Cube imagines a great day. Great sampling of the Isley Brother's "Footsteps in the Park, pts. 1 & 2." Cube is driving around, playing basketball and best of all, he didn't have to use his AK. Great rhyme of chronic with Supersonics. We go right back to harder, tighter beat in "We Had to Tear This Motherfucka Up." Commentators describe the result of the Rodney King trial and, well, Cube goes off on the LA cops. The best sample has to go the use of Steely Dan's "Green Earrings" repeated throughout "Don't Trust 'Em." A quick, funky song. Cube can't trust women. The third and final single is "Check Yo Self." An interesting sample of a horn carrying the melody. It's layered with women singing. People better check yo self before you wreck yo self. I do remember this album coming out right after the LA riots. It was big. Ice Cube is no doubt a forceful rapper. There are a lot of brilliant and funny pop references. Heck, this album is credited with "It's on like Donkey Kong." Yes, a lot of songs focus on the LA riots and police but there's also songs on women, rap braggadocio and just having a good time. The music also has a little variety: songs with tighter beats, more laid back and chill, funky and even soulful. This a very good album and worth a listen if just for his rhymes.
I kind of want to give this five stars, but the ‘kid’s’ voice in the fairytale song is beyond annoying. I especially liked the instructional intro About being processed into prison, and I felt like the song ‘Don’t trust ‘em’ also had some very good advice. 😂
I didn't get a chance to listen to the whole thing, but I loved what I heard. And this was my first Ice Cube experience. Clearly I need to check out his first two albums as well.
Don’t listen to rap much but this seems like a classic.
The predator It was a good day Dirty mack Check yo self
probably 4.5 so great
Damn. And here I’ve always know Ice Cube for “Are We There Yet?” and for being maybe the most famous Raiders fan. Joking aside… In many ways this is still unrelentingly relevant today. In some ways it hasn’t aged well, too. But for the most part this album’s overall message of anti-racism and the misunderstanding of black culture by white people rings as true today as it did then. But, having been only 9 days old on the day this album was released, I can only guess that its message is better and more widely received today than it ever was back in 1992. The music itself is a great listen. Great backing tracks that don’t get old, song lengths that don’t overstay their welcome, and a delivery from Cube that just flows. His delivery is aggressive and angry, though it does come across a little softer at times. Given the message here though, his anger is justified and makes everything here more believable. Anybody back then that didn’t understand why black artists, specifically rappers, were so angry simply didn’t understand the plight of African Americans in this country that persists to this day. I think this should be a required listen for everybody and it’s a shame I didn’t hear it until now. For an artist I always knew as a personality and celebrity but never for his music, I was very happily surprised here. 4 stars. Standout Tracks: When Will They Shoot?, Now I Gotta Wet ‘Cha, It Was a Good Day, Check Yo Self, Who Got the Camera?, Say Hi to the Bad Guys
solid hip hop album with tough lyrics and some great beats too 4/5
This is a good album. Minus one star for misogyny, etc.
what can i say, cube does it again. i really jive with the production on ice cube's records. really cool, really funky. ice cube's rapping is aggressive and he sounds cool as all hell when he's rapping. i think as with a lot of other rap of this era, it is a little bit dated in terms of "acceptable" terms etc. but the content of his rapping is still on point and still extremely relevant 30+ years later. whereas 'ameriKKKa's most wanted' gets a little too caught up in the whole "ice cube is a sexist" thing, i think this one is a lot more focused on the political statements, etc. which i think makes for a better, harder hitting experience.
База
Ну рэп у меня всегда идёт с -1... здесь +1, потому что надеюсь, Егор наконец-то научит нас правильно произносить название всех реперских акронимов. NWA? как это читается-то... It Was A Good Day легендарный щит конечно
A direct response to the 1992 LA riots, and even if the impact has lessened somewhat with time these lyrics still hit fairly hard. How much and how little has changed.
4 stars, pretty damn good stuff.
A 90s rap album classic!
Et godt vredt album i kølvandet på nwa
Nice and agressive album. Ice Cube does not hold back on this one. Not completely my cup of tea, but the album is a strong statement.
Pretty good. Surprised Ice Cube isn't more talked about.
This record was really good. Pretty much every beat was fire, the flow was solid and there was a rich social criticism throughout. Honestly it’s a 4
Pretty good. It Was A Good Day is a great song, and the rest of the album is solid overall. Although the inserts/skits aren’t really my thing. This album might be the first one we’ve come across in this project where every song is labeled “E” for explicit in my music app of choice. I should not blast this album while driving around with my windows down.
Album is a solid 3. It was a Good Day is a 5 star song. So I’m going 4.
Angry Cube is dabest Cube
Man I love Ice Cube. Run run run from the Ghetto bird. Don't run run run from this album.
i'm so glad this came to us so close to the chronic. These two records couldnt be further from each other (except for the funky worm again.) It's hard looking back to say which is a better record. I think Predator is a way better record than mama said knock em out.
Better than the last album
Yeah, hard as fuck
High anger high energy rap that is a fine example of the genre.
4-
A good, classic hip hop album back from an "interesting" times. Few very nice songs, with some darker, almost psychedelic beats. A surprisingly good album and a rare 4 stars from me for this genre.
first listen solid and some thought provoking conversations on black culture
Felt like this was slightly lighter on the 90s rap tropes like sex skits etc. than some of Dre´s albums. Didn't listen to the lyrics very well otherwise, but I really like the general vibe you get from this album. I like that there are some "lighter" songs like 'Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha' and 'Dirty Mack' that brings your mood up. Then you also have the 'It Was A Good Day' type songs that are just really heavy and cool. There is a much better version of 'Check Yo Self' than I found on this album, shame it wasn't here. Definitely one of Ice Cube's better songs. Anyways, overall high standard on the album, I like it!
Me sentí un negro del bronx conduciendo un low rider
Enjoyed this. Not my favorite Ice Cube album, but great nevertheless.
4.5. Very good, just not on the level of DC.
Great album. A bit less of the misogynistic content of earlier albums, which can be a little tough to handle in a more modern context, and more socially conscious. Very energetic and exciting production and samples. Really good album.
Great album, great samples. Who doesn't love this album? Assholes, that's who.
Untouchable flow and deliver by Ice Cube. He goes hard as ever.
Some ok bars on this. Not my favourite rapper or album.
One of the best hip hop artists Top tracks: It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self
Ice Cube’s flows can lead to the project feeling a little bland but the sample-rich production and his scathing verses make up for it.
I've always liked Ice Cube. I remember when Today Was a Good Day was in heavy rotation on MTV. I prefer his 1st album but this one's solid too.
Un álbum seminal de Hip-hop interpretado por una de las figuras más importantes del género. Sus temáticas, sorprendentemente actuales, son un reflejo de que los problemas raciales estadounidenses no han progresado lo suficiente. De todas formas, algunos comentarios antisemitas hacen que el LP sea un tanto controversial, difuminando sus políticas y el mensaje contestatario de Ice Cube. En tanto a lo sonoro, la producción de "The Predator", se escucha inmortal y nostálgica. Recomendable para cualquiera que quiera ahondar en la evolución de esta corriente artística.
Armageddon is near.
Great album. Today was a good day is an all time fav of mine. Doesn't quite hold up to the other West Coast classics of that era though. 4/5
#120. This shit slaps. It kinda faded at the end but pretty fucking good overall. The lyrics are still pretty relevant today too. Shit never changes. 4/5: excellent
“Classic” hip hop records are completely ruined by intros, outros, interludes, skits and inserts. Ready to Die, 3 Feet High and Rising, and The Predator are three albums I can think of that suffer and lose integrity for this crime. They’re stupid and aged like fruit. I think the best thing about The Predator is the lack of guest appearances. It’s just Cube dropping bars that are hard as nails and for me it’s his plateau. I, for one, am all for the N-word, homophobia and misogyny. It paints an important portrait of a time in America that should be used as a learning opportunity. Aside from the regrettable Gangsta’s Fairytale 2 and the inserts this album is a certified banger
The beats are next level. I was bouncing my leg to this like a sheep stuck in an electric fence. Fucks. Indubitably. Another banger from Ice Cube, best known for being Captain Dickson from the cult classic "21 Jump Street", and for having a four paragraph long section titled "Conspiracy theories and antisemitism" on his Wikipedia page!
I really enjoyed this album despite not really being a fan of most hip hop music. The combination of heavy political lyrics, sick beats, and sampled conversations of Malcom X were surprising well done. I am aware that some topics might be sensitive to some, but this is an album that is a product of its time and should reviewed as such. Despite that, I highly recommend at least a listen even from those who don't enjoy hip hop. Favorite Song(s): "It Was A Good Day", "When Will They Shoot", "Check Yo Self", "Who Got The Camera?", "The Predator"
Alright, this was good. I definitely can see why it's on the list. I could be wrong, but Ice Cube seemed to quote several other famous rap songs. Or maybe it's the other way around, I don't know. I'm not knowledgeable about rap. I'm not into rap but I found myself bopping my head to some of the songs while I was driving. That's a win in my books.
When I was younger, I was always afraid of the gansta rap genre, and really felt uncomfortable with the language and imagery they used. Now that I'm older, I'm not scared, but I'm still uncomfortable. Not because of the language or imagery, but the fact that in the intervening decades, nothing has changed. Regardless, this is an important album.
Cause shotgun bullets are bad for your health!
1. The First Day of School - N/R - skit. 2. When Will they Shoot? - 8.8 - great lyrics and beat. 3. I'm Scared (Insert) - N/R - skit 4. Wicked - 8.2 - beat gets repetitive after a bit. lyrics are great once again. 5. Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha - 7.8 - basic flow. still great lyrics. 6. The Predator - 8.4 - not much to say that hasn't been said. 7. It Was a Good Day - 9.7 - awesome story, 90s LA stuff. 8. We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up - 8.5 - best flow on the album imo 9. Fuck 'Em (Insert) - N/R - skit 10. Dirty Mack - 7.7 - great beat, but weaker lyrics. 11. Don't Trust 'Em - 7.5 - Meh lyrics and chorus. 12. Gangsta's Fairytale - 7.5 - nothing special. 13. Check Yo Self (feat. Das EFX) - 8.4 - best lyrics, carry the chorus and beat. 14. Who Got the Camera? - 6.9 - weird flow. meh. 15. Integration (Insert) - N/R 16. Say Hi to the Bad Guy - 8.6 - funny. great skits, good lyrics.
Something irresistible about early 90s West Coast Hip Hop
This album was incredibly politically charged. It sounded like it had to a lot with police brutality and MLK Jr’s vision and subsequent death. There were many times where there were samples from “Police Officers” and other government figures that were corrupt. I wonder what is real and what isn’t. Nonetheless, I thought the album was pretty good. I enjoyed it and I understand what it meant to the people listening to it at that time, but it’s not something I would actively listen to. It’s a simple type of rap that I enjoy listening to.
Really into this! In a rush so can't do the track play by play, but loved that interview(?) tape cut from track 2. Beats are really good.. catchy but in a different way than, say, a melody that gets stuck in your head.
Damn. This hits hard. It's sadly relevant today as there are still huge racial issues between cops and minorities. Lots of uncomfortable truths. It Was A Good Day and Say Hi To The Bad Guy are total bangers. Solid, solid stuff.
Funky and poignant - it feels a completely authentic snapshot of post LA riot Los Angeles. Bar the misogyny - that let’s face it - the vast majority of hip hop of the era reveled in - it’s a banging album. One of the best of the era - possibly up there with the Chronic.
Things I've learnt: 1. Ice Cube has an A-K 2. It's a good day for genocide 3. Nothing ever changes. 4. Ice Cube has an A-K It was a good day.
Amazing artistic time capsule of what was happening in the early 90's. Easy to forget how raw Ice Cube was after getting used to seeing him in Disney movies for the last decade.
Essential 90s hip hop, right here. Is what a good rap album should be. Great bars, great beats, MEMORABLE bars and lyrics, it’s amazing. The things Ice Cube is raising hell about are still happening today, says a lot. There’s things that big it down (misogyny, homophobia), and a few tiny things that throw you out of it, but they’re minor problems. Loved this a lot and may come back to it.
Early 92, filled with phrases that got lifted by espn
Really good. Love his style, even if it's the same on every track.
Definitely a great album. One or two songs miss a little for me. One song has a talking part that uses the Nword over and over. It just took me out of the album for awhile. But, overall, a very good album.
The First Day of School (Intro) - N/A When Will They Shoot? - 8/10 I'm Scared (Insert) - N/A Wicked - 5/10 Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha - 7/10 The Predator - 6/10 It Was A Good Day - 10/10 We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up 8/10 Fuck 'Em (Insert)- N/A Dirty Mack - 7/10 Don't Trust 'Em - 7/10 Gangsta's Fairytale 2 - 8/10 Check Yo Self - 9/10 Who Got The Camera - 7/10 Integration (Insert) - N/A Say Hi To The Bad Guy - 7/10 Favourite Songs - It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self, When Will They Shoot? Least Favourite Songs - Wicked, The Predator Score - 7.6/10
A classic
Honestly a pleasant surprised. Instrumentals are dope and energy is high. Check Yo Self and It was a good day were the highlight of the album for me
Wouldn’t seek this type of music out, but really appreciated the lyrics and also the layered complex music and snippets from recordings
This album is angry. I'm not even going to get into the whole police brutally thing, but the anger comes across in every song. Also Predator and Good Day are bangers.
Some fun songs with a few meh ones every now and again
couple of great songs here
This is much stronger than his other album on this list. The anger and frustration is palpable and still rings true today.
Brutal and unflinching from start to finish. I like 80-90% of this very much and it would easily be 5-stars if there were a few less interludes and it was about 2-3 tracks shorter. It was a Good Day was the theme of the 1990s and the video was fantastic.
I can only imagine that Ice Cube had me, a white suburban man blowing leaves, in mind when he wrote and released this album. listened to this twice through and while there were certainly some standout moments (Wicked, The Predator, Today Was A Good Day, Year This Motherfucka Up) this album runs a little long for my liking and ran together at points. The beats on the album are solid and the recorded interludes actually tie things together more than distract as some skits so. This is fine west coast gangsta rap with plenty of direct references to the Rodney King trial and the fall out that followed the verdict. There are many direct references to police brutality and inequality between black and white communities. At the same time you get stories about gang rivalry and women tricking men out of money. Ice Cube puts a solid release together here standing alone from NWA. Hard to believe his character arc eventually brought him to make crappy family comedies. This one is a solid 3.5 to me. I'll round up.
Ice Cube
This is an awesome album and artist. Love this old school hip hop with the skits between tracks. Great listen!
Didn't know Stg Tutoola used to be a rapper back in the day ;) It Was A Good Day listening to this album!
I'm not a rap fan, but there's no denying Mr Cube is talented.
yes sir, this rage and good music but for my people please, thank you
A classic of 90s gangster rap, strongest as a demonstration of the anger of Rodney king era los Angeles
Incredible production. Some beats remind me of Daft Punk/disco inspired stuff.
First time hearing this album from front to back. High Energy, good production, powerful lyrics and over course Cube's delivery is incredible. It's a landmark album.
One of the better 90s rap albums on this list so far. Great energy. Great beats. The lyrics are still poignant for today's troubles and the anger is palpable.
Good album, the misogyny jarrs but the anger is sadly still relevant.
Again, there's so much content on Ice Cube's albums, I struggle to digest it all. The -isms feel intentionally uncomfortable. Musically, there's a layer of cinematic soundscape that I easily get lost in. But lyrically, it's not a world I wanna be in. Fuck, it's 2024 and doesn't feel much has changed for Black Americans.
Starts strong but the 2nd half isn't as good. Not bothered about the inserts either, they could be removed and it wouldn't affect anything. Added a couple to my main playlist.
Ice Cube, The Predator 1992 4.5* if I could do half stars. It's a great album with some classics. Top tier: - "Wicked" - "It Was a Good Day" - "We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up" Second tier: - "When Will They Shoot?" - "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" - "Dirty Mack" - "Don't Trust 'Em" - "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" 1. "The First Day of School (Intro)" Ice Cube 1:20 3* because it ain't music. But dang, I hadn't heard this in years since listening to this as my first ever CD. Brought back some memories, man. 2. "When Will They Shoot?" 4:36 4* Jam track. I haven't heard this since I used to listen to the CD. Forgot how good this track was. Ice Cube's hard rhyming style comes out strong here. References O.P.P. and made me smile. My head's bobbing. 3. "I'm Scared (Insert)" 1:32 4. "Wicked" (featuring Don Jagwarr) 3:55 5* Everything slaps on this track. Great treble whine, bassline, drum track, rhymes. 5. "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" DJ Muggs 4:03 4* Intro goes hard. Song bounces throughout. 6. "The Predator" DJ Pooh 4:03 3* Not bad, interesting that this was the album's namesake track, as it's not even in the top 25%. 7. "It Was a Good Day" DJ Pooh 4:19 5* Still the best track on the album. 8. "We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up" DJ Muggs 4:23 5* Another amazing track that does capture the rage in LA after the Rodney King verdict. 9. "Fuck 'Em (Insert)" Sir Jinx 2:02 Just a cutscene, but captures the media's coverage of Gangsta rap at the time. 10. "Dirty Mack" Mr. Woody 4:34 4* Decent track, lots of saxophone. The "happiest" sounding track on the album but the lyrics are anything but. 11. "Don't Trust 'Em" 4:06 4* Not bad, not great. Love the samples. Not Ice Cube's strongest work. 12. "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" (featuring Lil Russ) 3:19 4* Not bad, not amazing. Produced well, good samples. 13. "Check Yo Self" (featuring Das EFX) 3:42 4* Love the Das Efx appearance on this track. Good jam. 14. "Who Got the Camera?" Sir Jinx 4:37 3* Not a track that grabs me, but definitely an Ice Cube song. His sharp-tongued critique of cops over a driving beat is a thing of beauty. 15. "Integration (Insert)" Ice Cube 2:31 A cutscene, not much to rate here. Good beat. 16. "Say Hi to the Bad Guy" Sir Jinx 3:19 3*, has the maybe? humorous bit about them killing a donut grabbing cop.
Good stuff, diggin' the growing and cyphers.
Lit beats (bar some typical repetitiveness of rap)
A lot of the rap albums on this list suffer from being of their time and haven't aged well (I said as much on the previous Ice Cube album) but this album is full of content that is relevant to our modern world 30 years later. Yeah some bits haven't aged well, but it's outweighed by the overall message. Sad to see in the 30 years since it was released, the themes and message is still just as relevant today as it was in the early 90s.
Ice Cube’s Predator is like a cold ice cube in my proseco on a hot summer day!
Ice Cube’s message is heard loud and clear here.
Really solid album displaying that classic, 90s West Coast, Ice Cube sound. Plenty of great lyrics, addressing the tension felt day to day and through more impactful events such as Rodney King. Songs that stood out: “The Predator”. Classic songs: “Today was a Good Day”. 4/5
This ripped. Thought it was going to be a bit too old school for me to really enjoy with it being 92'. But I didn't really get bored even for a second. Chalk it up as a big win for the old school hip hop category that I admittedly was unsure about when I started!
Solid album with a message.
Good album, much more what I'd listen to
Know the hit, never actually dove deep into the solo works of each member of NWA aside from Dre, Sorry Ice and Eazy E... prove me wrong? I thought the lyrics were great here, and I Learned he was the main ghostwriter for NWA which is pretty cool. Explains why I like them... Overall a solid 4 I'd say.
He's cool, and I'd be cooler if I listened to more ice cube
I was bobbin
4/5 - Powerful and great
What a phenomenal fuck you album. As the LA Riots raged in 92, white America was legitimately scared of Ice Cube and The Predator was his response to his critics in the media and politics, to his former bandmates in NWA, to the LAPD, and to anybody else who wanted to hide behind the pearls they clutched as an excuse to not listen to what he was saying. Side one has an indisputable line up of bangers. "When Will They Shoot?" was my favorite track at the time and remains one of the greatest album openers in hip-hop history. Next up "Wicked" takes the then hottest shit Bomb Squad style production and throws in some dancehall flavor to make a song so badass that nu metal bands would be covering it in a few years. DJ Muggs drops in for a couple of songs and then of course, the ubiquitous "It Was a Good Day," which would be elevated to the rarified pantheon of rap songs that even people who don't listen to rap know and like. Nothing wrong with side two, except that it can't live up to side one, which has to have been a conscious decision since side one is packed with Pooh and Muggs songs and they only have one song each on side two. Muggs's "Check Yo Self" is the only undeniable classic and it's nice that we finally get an appearance from the diggity Das EFX after a couple of shout outs. As a 15-year-old mark for a good novelty song, I loved "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" at the time. As a 40-something year old, I still think it's cute and love that Taste of Honey bass loop, but it does come off as a bit of a goofy attempt at a Slick Rick storytelling song. I also greatly enjoy that Cube considers Mr Rogers and Bebe's Kids to be fairytale characters.
Absolutely drips with anger and energy. Fabulous album.
Listening through the lyrics of some of Ice Cube’s songs, it’s tough to get behind his message. While well known for his advocacy against police brutality (especially in the wake of the Rodney King beating), he throws daggers at other demographics to the point that he suppresses the mission he hopes to achieve. There are plenty of nineties rappers who didn’t do this, or at least not to the same degree. At the end of the day though, Ice Cube is one of the most influential West Coast rappers who came to prominence in the late eighties and early nineties, and his beats speak for themselves. The South Central LA classic “It Was A Good Day” is one of the most iconic songs of both the era and the genre, still inspiring artists and athletes alike with lines like “Last week fucked around and got a triple double!” The soul-tinged “Check Yo Self” has also stood the test of time, and the turntable-dominated “When Will They Shoot?” is a nineties DJ’s dream. The Predator has more depth than I would’ve thought, ranging from the booming words of civil rights activists to the hilariously donut-themed anti-police “Say Hi To The Bad Guy.” Ice Cube’s music wouldn’t stand a chance today, and it shouldn’t, but this album has some great beats and its influence could be heard throughout the rest of the decade.
firat half of the album is real angry. Second half real chill. overall liked it especially after good day
Great 90's hip hop from an artist I knew one song of. An interesting glimpse about the culture from the time period
Looooooovvvv los álbumes que empiezan con intro. Comienzo 10/10. "Cause yo us Uncle Sam is Hitler without an oven" 🥴☠️. Obviamente desde ya se que no voy a conectar realmente con el tema del álbum directamente. Boca abierta en varias unidades de ocasiones, tanto por la letra como por la producción. Too notch. Discazo a pesar de que no suele ser mi género go to.