The Predator

Boh...

0/5

7/10

Angry record, funny too. It Was a Good Day will always be one of the best songs ever.

J’ai été agréablement surprise : les premières notes de la première chanson laissaient entendre que je n’aimerai pas, et au final c’était vraiment sympa!

This album makes me want to slowly remove my glasses several dozen times while staring at my computer with an astonished expression and eventually join an anti-government rebellion with my hacker son to save the planet from an alien invasion. Highlights: When Will They Shoot, The Predator, It Was a Good Day, We Had to Tear This Mothaf**ka Up, Who Got the Camera

Highlights: When Will They Shoot?, Wicked, It Was A Good Day

"today was a good day" is his second greatest achievement (after using amazon prime to save the world)

Love It Was. Good Day but all of the media clips spliced into every damn song gets old in a hurry. I’m glad he included the song that warned me about getting robbed by a big bottomed ho. I’m at high risk of that.

In his interview, Cube says he wants rap to open communication and understanding with white people. Decades of this repetitive, rather boring preachifying, while accurate, recitation has done nothing to advance that agenda - and it's no fun for me. There's not enough musicality here.

Good background music but idk if I’d listen to it otherwise. Except for ‘It was a good day’ which is an absolute banger

Did not expect this to be the Cube album in this list (Death certificate and Amerikkka’s most wanted are more lauded) but I think it might be his best. His first two solo albums felt like Cube rapping over public enemy beats, but this album (and the subsequent lethal injection and west side connection album) slow things down a bit to match his cadence and, to n my opinion, Cube finally finds a sound of his own a decade into his career. Then in the late90s he becomes more of an actor and really neuters his music career. It’s kind of fascinating to listen to the star of the “Are we there yet?” franchise delivering some of the most violent and politically charged lyrics of 90s rap. You’d never guess that in 20 years he’d be way closer to Kevin Hart than Zack de la Rocha. It sure didn’t seem like an act, did the money just make him soft? Does he still have all kinds of political opinions that he just keeps to himself? I’d love to hear a long form interview where Gerald about how he got from the Cube we hear on the album in 96 to the CEO of the Big 3 league. Anyway, I forgot how great he was, this is close to a 5. PS - I’ll bet Mits FM loved the baseline on “Tear this mutha fucker up”

4.1 When will they shoot is a burner. I would think ice cube would be a top five rapper for me. Would that be a hot take? PS the bass sample for tear this mother fucka up is pretty cool and pulled from get down by gene Russell (have a listen to that song, it rips)

This is fun G-funk stuff and everything, but can I get a little more funk with it or something? Idk, just doesn't do it for me like 2Pac/Biggie/NWA. Solid, but meh.

True story: I in fact saw the Goodyear Blimp on Sunday and said "today was a good day" to another woman looking at it, who said she just said that to someone else, and this album came up on Tuesday. Not my cup of tea but you have to give it up for a song that is inextricably tied to a delightful life event for over three decades now.

★★★½

The first half is unbelievable, it’s hard hitting and exhausting and poignant. The second half is a lot less impactful and some of the tracks don’t say much, sort of rely on tropes that haven’t aged well.

Not really the type of music I like and this is unlikely to change my mind. Can't really give it a fair rating so just sticking it in the middle.

Absolutely incredible.

Mer rap. Såå tråkigt.

I was underwhelmed by Fear Of A Black Planet yesterday, and I gotta admit, I’m not in the mood for another hour long early 90’s hip hop album, but I’ll try to give it an honest effort. And…same takeaway as Public Enemy. Definitely some good stuff, and my rating reflects that, but it just drags on way too long. I think it would be a much stronger record with 3 or 4 tracks cut out. 4/5 Highlights: When Will They Shoot? Now I Gotta Wet ‘Cha It Was A Good Day Check Yo Self Say Hi To The Bad Guy

Would buy

Classic

World politics. Love. Self reflection. Be hard in a crazy world. He's got everything in this album. Something was bound to stick. 2 out 15 ain't bad.

Great album

Thought this album was a good switch up in genre from the previous albums we have had. The overall vibe was chill and enjoyable to listen to. I actually liked the samples/played in between songs. It Was a Good Day - Classic song and most best part of the album.

-it’s so cool to see the star of war of the worlds 2025 giving music a try <3 -a lot of mixed feelings on this one -I never listen to lyrics so I really made an effort to, obviously very culturally significant and maybe even more so today (weeeee) - it was a good day a classic for a reason, but the rest was so so so repetitive and boring at times -I like some rap but am super picky with what I like and I just can’t help but feel like most is just slam poetry set to hooks from the 50’s they didn’t even write so sue me!!!! Best wishes, the whitest person alive

man i LOVE ice cube! one of my fave 90s rappers - had real shit to say and was a real champion for his people in both culture and politics. "it was a good day is bound to guarantee exactly that. as a full album i'm struggling with what to give it. it's good but a bit long and some tracks sound pretty much the same. also i wish "you can do it put your back into it" were on here i would have added a star just for that song i love it so much! i would play this while gang banging around california and you can interpret that however you wish homie

I've always liked Ice Cube's music. Though I haven't listened to him in a while. Shout out to Fire Marshall Bill. Also loved that he talks about his dick several times a song and then implores others to stop thinking with their dick, two sentences later another dick reference. Angry, proud, 90s rap. Several classics including It was a good day and ... Check yo self. It's a wonder that he went from this, and No Vaseline, to Are We There Yet? I guess we live in a round world and a Cubes gotta eat.

Very dope and creative

Listened to this a few years ago, gonna enjoy this rewind 6.8/10

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

Incredibly powerful first half about police brutality and racism. Actually thought the inserts were used really well- especially compared to how they have been on a lot of other hip hop albums. Became a little hard to remember how good and moving I found it when the focus seemed to detour into misogyny. There are a few songs I could cut out of the album to make it something I really enjoyed but as it is I cant help but feel he let complaining about women ruin what could have been a great album. Favourite song: Who Got The Camera? Least: Don't Trust 'Em

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.

An angry album with heavy things on its mind. Cube isn’t my favourite MC, but these beats are untouchable. As the bad behaviour policy requires: cha-ch-ch-check yo’self before…

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

You can imagine the sense of dread which set onto me after receiving this album, as hip hop is largely not my thing. Overuse of N-bombs, muthafuckaz, drug/gangland themes, too lengthy and lacking in variety are all criticisms you could level towards this one as well. However, there are actually some very enjoyable funky, groovy beats and dirty bass to be had here if you're able to dissociate from what he's rapping about, and he has a very tidy flow/delivery. It's got that "smoked out" type of vibe going on. I'm really not qualified to go into much more depth on this sort of stuff, and I'm highly unlikely to consciously return to this, but I'd imagine there's far worse out there.

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 a fan of ice cube.

Some classics, social commentary still relevant

Nothing too interesting music-wise but I appreciate the antisemitism and misogyny.

Another excellent rap/hip hop record. Huge production that is necessarily bold and serious which never really loses intensity even within it's more soulful moments. This is like James Brown meeting Trent Reznor who decide to dig into a healthy dose of Parliament/Funkadelic grooves, while successfully addressing the political climate of the day. (It's still very relevant now, unfortunately.) Personal bonus points for predominantly, and appropriately, sampling 'Green Earings' on 'Don't Trust 'em.

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.

Second listen you can just skip all the boring skits. Its pretty okay, decent even. I was a bit gutted when it was the album for today as I'm not gonna find out more about Ice Cube from listening to this, its not too much different than his previous, it doesn't take big swings, its just fine

Guys, I got “Today Was a Good Day” on my birthday!

The beat is catchy but a polished turd is still a turd

Simple y llanamente; cine🚬

I’ve very much reached old school gangsta rap fatigue with this challenge. The socio-political issues are still relevant, and I’m sure this album was important for its time. But the medium of the message is just really not appealing to me. It Was a Good Day sounds like it should be a chill good time if you don’t listen too closely to the lyrics. Check Yo Self - same sample as Shoop? I’d rather just listen to Salt-n-Pepa.

This was better than Straight Outta Compton, but it wasn't good. The best song on this album by far is It Was A Good Day, and the internet agrees. It has 1.5 billion streams on Spotify and nothing else on the album cracks 50 million. I love the instrumental on that track, the little vocal snippet in the background, and that guitar line i just perfect. You could probably still cut a verse and make it better, but it's a good song overall. Back to the rest of the album... I think the instrumental vibe is a big improvement on the sound of N.W.A. It feels more timeless than his former group. I also like how it's very directly confronting Ice Cube's reputation at the time and the backlash he faced for his lyrics etc (even including interview snippets). Also he goes right into the Rodney King police brutality incident and subsequent riots. The album feels like a little time capsule for 1992. It's very interesting. However, like Straight Outta Compton, this album is way too long. Some of these tracks need to be shortened or cut. Also... even though the subject matter is compelling, the actual tracks themselves are often mediocre. O and some his lyrics just suck and don't age well and just aren't enjoyable when being heard for the first time in 2025. Overall, I'd say this record is a good stepping stone for rap and an improvement over the 80s gangster rap... but it's still not for me. This style would improve immensely over the course of the 90s and I prefer later albums in this style. That Nas record was definitely better.

Più di un'ora di rap è troppo.

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.

2/5 not my genre but I can tell he's clearly much better at making music than he is at making movies

Enjoyed this but no reason for it to be 56 minutes. Remove a bunch of the ‘inserts’ and the weak tracks on the 2nd half and this would gain a star.

No, it does groove but is way to repetitive and honestly, after 50%, it started to test my patience...

It was fine. A few songs that I liked bit it's mostly just not my type of music

Evergreen beats

Hard to take this album seriously after the disaster that is War of the Worlds. A lot of this album comes off as a little try-hard when listening with modern ears, but there's still some good flows in there.

never forgiving Ice Cube after the War of the Worlds incident

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".

This album has a LOT to say, specifically about racism against Black people and police brutality in particular. But that's not all! It also has a lot to say about women being leeches, Asians being stingy, gays being perverts, and Jews being... well, the usual things they're accused of. Lyrically alone, it's a very useful album to understand the arc of social politics in the US leading into the 90's, where overlapping movements splintered into sectarianism. It explicitly endorses Apartheid, or something close to it, more than once. It moves from endorsing Black women as CEOs to calling them whores. Still, he's got a good sound, a good flow, and solid beats. "It Was a Good Day" holds up enough for me to forgive the Laker pandering.

Classics

So many reviews of this album are like "look, I get this was important politically and personally to Ice Cube but did he have to use so many bad words?" Anyways, this album aged well. 4.5/5.

I mean this just instantly packs a punch. Political, forceful and fierce. Good to understand the connection to the riots and not good to see that things are just about the same 30+ years later 😡 “The wet T-shirt contest, Motherfucker! 🔫 “ A few tracks in and feel it’s a vibe. Good, solid beats, good, fierce lyrics, flow and samples but maybe got the idea? Would maybe listen again, but not blown away. Does its thing very well but not expanded in myself (3.5)

loops and loops

check yo self

enjoyed it was a good day, the rest are not my style, but still quite decent album. 3

Pretty good.

Not for me.

pas trop rap d’habitude mais là pas mal, bonnes percussions, j’ai kiffé l’intro

Pas mon style mais pas mal

Gear: Grado Hemp Artwork: 💀🚬🔲 Production: 🥩😎👊 Music: 🦅🐷🎯 Rating: 🧊🧊🧊(🧊)/5

It’s 2025 and the USA is entering full out fascism and white nationalism. Thirty plus years later, and this album still rings true with its themes of racism, segregation and how Black America look to gangs as support systems in a failing system.

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.

Ice Cube's best album, but does anyone really believe that at 5-foot-8 that he was freaking brothers every way like MJ on the court? Suspect.

Jak dla mnie może lecieć w tle, typowe lata 90., Ola nie była zachwycona

I’m just not super into the whole Ice Cube vibe. Album over all is fine.

There's It Was a Good Day and then there's the rest of the album.

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.

Loved the beats but must admit that in some of the songs the lyrics were a bit offputting. It is a generational thing, I am sure.

7/10…hip hop

As I get older I like this album less and less. Huge Ice Cube fan but this album ain’t that great really.

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...

not so bad as I thought

I’m a big hip hop fan but I need to say that this album was a slight disappointment for me. Truthfully expected more from Cube but overall it was a solid listen

It lacked growth from his previous work, re-listening in 2025 it really sounds dated, only real highlight was, "It was a good day"

drei minus

I have a better appreciation for hip-hop as protest music. It makes you think, and it vibes like FUCK. 10/10.

Listening to this like “this sounds like DAS EFX.” Then my man showed up on a track!

It’s no NWA

Ice Cube has amazing delivery. “It was a good day” is a classic. I also knew “check yourself”. I didn’t know the rest. The vibe reminded me of other acts from the time, like Cypress Hill (which are mentioned). I would rate this higher but I’m not really into the vulgar stuff.

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.

Nick Persons, played by rapper Ice Cube, is a selfish player who owns a collectibles sports shop in Portland Everything in his life is perfect until he meets Suzanne Kingston, a businesswoman who has something he hates - children: Lindsey and Kevin. They become friends and share good moments with each other. But his peaceful life gets altered when she asks him to drive Lindsey and Kevin to Vancouver. After they miss a plane and train, they drive. Unfortunately, Lindsey and Kevin hate Nick, and he has to try to make it to Vancouver, unaware of the terror and torture he is in for.

festival season is so funny bc saw ice cube live the same weekend i saw mcr ⭐️

what’s 9+10? 21 Jump Street You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain

Actually enjoyed it much more than I expected to, although it dragged on too long. Ice Cube just isn't enough of a charismatic or inventive rapper to enjoy listening to for an hour. But there are some legitimately interesting sounds here even when his flows drag on and he starts talking about how NOT anti-semitic he is for the fifth time Fav song: When Will They Shoot? or Wicked

OK, beat hits home a little, but not a complete hook for me

Liked it more than I thought I would!

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.

It's only 2 years newer than his other album in the book, but it sounds a lot less outdated. Still sounds old (production), but the flow is so much better.

Super fun, 90s rap best rap

Ice Cube doesn’t get the credit he deserves for his innovation. The Predator is an excellent representation of the climate of the times.

Abhorrent. Nearly got me arrested.

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

Interesting catchy and accessible and some political points that are unfortunately still salient today. Could do without the sexism though.

Are you telling me Ice Cube came up with “it’s on like donkey kong”?!

I saw Ice Cube at a music festival in 2016(?). It was pouring down rain and I was drunk off cheap alcohol. I had limited exposure to his music at that point, and I can't say that I spent much time afterwards diving in. It's not really relevant to this review, but I'm sharing it anyway.

Never listened to a solo Ice Cube album before. Pretty good, the message still stands even if the music (and lyrics!) are a bit dated in 2025

I listened to this album while running, beside an inky black ocean, on a late evening in late Makaru. I might have gasped here and there at some of the lyrics (was this the origin of “on like donkey kong”?) but for the most part it was heavy “meh”. Men performing masculinity like this has always been tedious; here in 2026 it’s been commoditised and packaged up to the point of sheer, pathetic banality. Only “It was a Good Day” really stood out as something I’d ever want to listen to again. Imagine my joy, then, when I followed up on the sample and discovered the Isley’s Brothers’ “Footsteps in the Dark”. Full circle.

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

okayyy!!

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

Talented Cube.

Good instrumentation on most tracks. Some that stood out were the title track, It Was A Good Day and Dirty Mack.

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.

Not bad, It Was a Good Day is of course a classic. This one seemed a bit more focused than his other entries we’ve listened to. High 3.

Harsh and violent. How did he turn into a mainstream actor? Great job remaking his image.

Man does this guy hate the police. He’s got his talking points and sticks to them. His anger is palpable and so soon after the Rodney King Verdict quote understandable. Of course lots of the other stuff aged terribly.

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

Mais rap e hip-hop... Não consigo perceber porque é que isto é importante! Só para os palermas dos americanos!

A lot better than many of others of this genre, included on the list. Quite a bit of musicality involved but still littered with the obligatory mutha fuckers and Niggas

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

It's kind of hard to rate these 90s rap albums because alot of them follow the same formats, themes, etc. Ice Cube is just a terrific rapper in this album and that eclipses him over some of the other rap album's I got.

Fine album.

The Predator ‘There’s a new girl on my street, and Imma introduce her to my meat’ Before listening I wasn’t sure I was up for another Ice Cube album, even if it has It Was A Good Day on it, after not particularly enjoying AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted. But I actually liked it, sonically I much preferred it to that album and while it does suffer from some of the same issues - the relentless rapping about sex and mention of bitches and hos - it has much better grooves and samples. Don’t Trust ‘Em is a good example of those two things, fantastic beat and groove, musically brilliant but an egregious number of bitches. When it’s more pointedly socially engaged like on When Will They Shoot?, The Predator, Who Got The Camera? or Integration, it’s excellent, the hooks and beats underscoring the words and samples, and it's notable how the things he raps about - racism, violence, police brutality etc - are still depressingly relevant. And when it refrains (for the most part) from racism and/or misogyny you get the truly excellent It Was a Good Day, a superb West coast sound with a kind of sad lyric - a good day is when someone you know doesn’t get shot. I really like the production (shout out DJ Pooh!), the samples and beats are excellent throughout, there are some very good songs; When Will They Shoot, Wicked, The Predator, It Was a Good Day, Check Yo Self and Who Got the Camera, but there’s so much aimless misogyny. On balance, the good just about outweighs the bad, and I would listen again so I think it sits right in the 3s. 🧊🧊🧊 Playlist submission: It Was a Good Day

On one hand this album was released after the LA riots, social temperature at boiling point, racial divided, brutality, and Ice Cube railing against oppression. And on the other hand it was inspired by Predator 2. Has there ever been a more hilarious juxtaposition in music? It feels like an important statement for the time, although it seems confused. And now not only do I see Ice Cube as the godfather of gangsta rap, but of the 'Summertime' subgenre (It Was a Good Day', although ironic, feels like it birthed a thousand lightweight imitators, like Will Smith's Summertime). Maybe one day he'll be held accountable for these crimes. That all aside, there's a DJ Muggs infused mid-high tempo feel on many of the tracks, alongside some hard hitting lyrical commentary (in fits and starts). I think it's better than Amerikkka's Most Wanted.

It's a really good album.

I guess this album is on the list to remind everybody that there are a lot of terrible and horrible music out there which can only be feared.

A little more monochrome than I remember but it’s a protest record by concept. Definitely a document of its time. A lot of Parliament Funkadelic. LA riots feature in a few songs.

It can be fun to be this angry toward white people and cops for an hour

Just ok

I mean, cubes solo work is criminally underrated. This one is a top 25 rap album and changed how I thought about racism towards black peoples in America This runs a bit long but the beats also fucking bang hard 3/5

I like the beats and the political and social consciousness. I really dont like the misogyno and violent braggadoccio.

could i write poetry to this? y

Possibly my favorite of the 90's Rap/Hip-Hop albums we've heard so far.

Good rap

If you want to hear classic gangster rap, this is it.

His best imo

The singles are all legendary, but back half of this is a slog. Cube is always operating at the same high level, but he really benefits from the super consistent production on most wanted and death certificate which just isn't here

Rip Malcom X. First media in the ice cube universe that I've enjoyed.

“Ice’ll cream your ass like Haagen-Dazs” accidentally very prescient. This shit rules, though I’m eavesdropping at best.

Cube was the best rapper in NWA, but I’ve never loved his solo stuff. It’s not that he got bad at rapping, it’s just a bit much I guess. It’s a bit samey throughout the record. It kind of felt like getting yelled at for an hour. The exception of course being Good Day, if he mixed in a few more like that to give the audience a break it would’ve made the album flow better. I would like to know more about what was going on at the time of recording because I felt like I wasn’t understanding some of the things he was talking about. Is he like super antisemitic? That’s how it came off to me.

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.

Absolutely enjoyed this one thank you Ice Cube

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.

Fun, in-your-face, offensive, and crude in places but a raw reflection on life and racial tensions in America. Second half felt it could have been trimmed a bit.

I really liked some of this, great hip hop, made me want to get up and dance, the start was electric. The second half dropped off too much for me. Strayed into macho nonsense without anything musically interesting enough to forgive it. Low 3.

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

Not my thing

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

Need to listen to it again another time. Liked the sound and stuff, but couldn't listen to the music that much. but I like some other artists of the genre more than him.

I like the rhymes and Rythms. It has good flows and combines different sounds.

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

Fede beats, men ikke lige så consistent som den sidste vi havde med ham

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.

Felt like a thug, today was a good day.

Rap, kann man anhören - muss man aber nicht!

Schlimmer geht nimmer und von Musik kein Schimmer.

It's a fine album, but only a couple of really good songs. The production is not my favorite. Ice is a great rapper, but I don't really care for a lot of the beats.

I love hois acting but his music is too dark for me, sorry

Another nope from me. I need to hear something musically interesting to engage me. This is low grade music with all the emphasis on the lyrical content - which is fine for most people. Not me.

Of all the hip hop artists to get multiple albums on this list, why Ice Cube? This is a very angry album, but amongst that anger is one of the chillest rap songs of the 90s. "It Was A Good Day" is such a gem easily the stand out on this album though I do enjoy the more political stuff as well. Overall a good listen. Favorite track: It Was A Good Day 3.5/5

⭐️⭐️/5. Just not a big fan of early hip-hop as sacrilegious as that is.

New York hiphop on minun kuppi teetä niin odotukset oli alhaiset. Tämä onkin täynnä sanomaa tuon ajan Amerikan Yhdysvaltojen ongelmista joista cube tiesi. On historiallinen paikka tässä maailmassa ehdottomasti

This album really is a mixed bag. In one way, it's very misogynistic, and dare I say a trip back in time to the 1950s(or should I say 2020s). In another way, it's very progressive for its time, particularly when it comes to systemic racism, and police brutality. The production is hit, or miss. The songs themselves can be boring, or catchy. Favorite Track: "Check Yo Self".

Dated at this point, but still good

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.

Pretty good, not my favorite from the era.

Excellent stuff here. Much more mature rapping than just talking about partying, sex, drugs, and violence towards women. 3.66/5 = 4 stars

The guy from Boyz n the hood, Barbershop 2 and XXX: Return of Xander Cage made music? All kidding aside Ice cube has done a lot of good songs throughout his career. I have problems separating the artist from the art though and the shit he has done since 2020 leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

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.

Good stuff

Classic gangsta rap, and it still sounds great now more than 30 years later. It Was a Good Day really stands out for its positivity, and puts the rest of the album into even starker contrast. One of the defining albums of a generation.

01) The First Day of School (Intro) - 4,0 02) When Will They Shoot? - 6,0 03) I'm Scared (Insert) - 4,0 04) Wicked - 7,0 05) Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha - 6,5 06) The Predator - 6,5 07) It Was a Good Day - 7,0 08) We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up - 7,0 09) Fuck 'Em (Insert) - 5,0 10) Dirty Mack - 6,5 11) Don't Trust 'Em - 6,5 12) Gangsta's Fairytale 2 - 6,5 13) Check Yo Self - 8,0 14) Who Got the Camera? - 7,0 15) Integration (Insert) - 4,0 16) Say Hi to the Bad Guy - 6,0 TOTAL: 6,09 (61/100) Current ranking: 460/597

Can't pretend that I enjoyed this, but I hated it a lot less than I thought I would! Parts of it were even OK. Shows how important it is to listen. I've found several albums here that I expected to hate or thought I hated, but I'm glad I listened to them.

Hopefully no one's gonna wet'me because of this review, but I hear this as kind of generic gansta rap. I haven't really listened hip hop music ever and this album didn't make me to want me to listen to it either. Many good samples from some 70's funk songs, but those were done by some other people and not by person whose name is written in the album cover. I would rather listen the samples without the rap in top of it. Not for me.

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

For mye skyting, Kompis ble redd

I like the movie with Schwarzenegger better..

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)

Negatives: Like many a rap album, it’s too long, and there isn’t enough variation or musicality in the beats to keep the ears interested over that time. Positives: That said, the production still has more going for it than the likes of Straight Outta Compton. Plus, Cube is just a very good rapper: nice phrasing, easy to listen to, and his lyrics contain a good blend of politics, humour, and of course ‘gangster shit’. Also, I found out today that he coined the phrase ‘it’s on like Donkey Kong’, which I never really thought made much sense but has had impressive cultural reach regardless.

All the NWAs eh. My low reviews for hip hop theory immediately disproven haha. "the wet t-shirt contest, motherfucker" has to be a contender for corniest bar. 60% sure this is where hail Mary mallon got their gag from. Ifykyk Very glad skits are mostly over. Was just listening to Ready to Die. So much nonsense before the raps start. Anyway, this was a good record.

Not really the fun energetic old school rap that I enjoy, this seems to be a bit more aggressive and to the point. That being said there are a couple classics on here.

I’ve heard worse.

Surprenamment intéressant

Ice Cube is a fraud.

Album de rap, molt fora del meu estil però. Ell denuncia la brutalitat policial i el racisme que es viu a estats units així com l’us tan estès de les armes. Els beats de estils diferents afegint instruments com saxo i piano un estil més jazz i ritmes de reggue es facil a l’orella encara que no t’agradi el rap. Tornaria a escoltar cançons d’aquí? Segurament no però ha sigut un estil que no havia tocat, el rap dels 90 va marcar molt l’actualitat i el gènere i aquest es un super bon exemple de com s’usa per denunciar injusticies socials.

Tough brutal with a message for all

i've never really dipped my toes into non-instrumental hip hop (so, i'm familiar with the likes of dj shadow or j dilla, but not ice cube) but this was a fun listen, with good flow and wordplay. i also appreciate the skits being shorter here compared to some other hip hop albums.

The Predator is peak angry Ice Cube, back when he was a menace, not a meme. Some tracks still hit, but the whole thing feels like a time capsule from when dudes wore Raiders hats and said “biatch” with a straight face. Time hasn’t been too kind to Cube or the beats—but hey, nostalgia’s a hell of a drug.

Strong in places, some good choices of samples, but there's quite a bit of profanity and some misogyny plus a bit of gang-banger posturing which drags down my rating.

Gets an extra star for "It Was A Good Day," otherwise it's street-hardened gangster rap, and like some of those, it's got some sentiments that have aged poorly. Falls well short of classic to my ears.

Loved this album

This is the hundred thirtieth album I’m rating. I never really liked Ice Cube that much but maybe I just haven't listened to enough of him. Adding to my Playlist - When will they Shoot?, The Predator, It was a Good Day, We Had to Tear this Mothafucka Up, Dirty Mack, Don't Trust 'Em, Gangsta's Fairytale 2, and Check yo Self, Who Got the Camera?. Not Adding to my Playlist - The First Day of School (Intro), I'm Scared (Insert), Wicked, Now I gotta Wet 'Cha, Fuck 'Em (Insert), Integration (Insert), and Say Hi to the Bad Guy. When will they Shoot? -This feels so old but there's something very charming about it. All in all I liked 9/16 songs. A lot of those horrible interludes in rap except Ice Cube calls them inserts. Still a really good album though.

Decent some classics but a lot of non notable songs 2.5

Chills, a true masterpiece in its genre. Not the biggest fan but the talent is simply undeniable. Would give it 3.45 if I could (again, ratings are based on personal taste)

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.

This dude acting like he's this influential prophetical lyricist when half of the songs are just about fucking bitches and killing gangstas, and then using snippets of speeches and interviews with no context, then calling that riveting social commentary. I do kind of like it, though.

Excellent album, topics are still relevant and the little skits in-between songs encapsulate the general responses to his music. It's quite ironic that a lot of the reviews on here mention things like the swearing/violence making then dislike it

Such a powerful album. Cube was probably at his peak with this one

Very very good album, very familiar listen with some of the best rap songs ever on here.on the verge of a 4 or 5 out of 5. 9/10 (5/5).

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.

Wasn't feeling the beats on this one

Unbelievable production and songwriting. 4/5

Better than I expected. More a protest album than gangster rap. Good workout album.

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)

I’m no fan of rap or hip-hop, but this is pretty good. It’s not all good by any means, but there’s some really good stuff here. It’s generally the more angry tracks that feel more authentic to me - and the fact that the anger comes from a point of frustration, oppression and a real feeling of injustice in society gives it a real edge that hits. I’m not likely to go back, but I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

No thank you. There are musically interesting rap tracks hidden under layers of skits, intros, outros and just aggressive nonsense. When he does break out a tune (today was a good day) it shows the value but its only a rare glimpse

rly enjoyed ice cube's debut as a kind of freeform demonstration of the various aspects of his personality but its p clear that the LA riots became a channel for something more focused, and harder-hitting on the whole id say...probably more exhausting than AMW (tho there there is some funny levity, im here for the gangsta's fairytale tracks on these records!!!) but even that is kind of contextualized within the engineered (and vigilantly maintained) disposibility of blackness in the united states. public enemy is a clear influence, tho the (amazing) sample choices are less Disorienting Oddball and a bit more gritty and earthy. its prob not an essayic record but its still an extremely compelling insistence from gangsta rap on its Right To Exist and a rejection of all the things the white gaze attempts to create, pointing out the throughline between respectability politics and the justification of innocent bloodshed etc etc. again kind of an exhausting listen, the darkness rly hangs in the background of even the less overtly heavy stuff, but on the whole even better then AMW imo!!!

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)

I'm not usually into hip-hop, but this was quite enjoyable to listen to.

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.

Some great socially aware tracks and some others that haven't aged perfectly. All around a good listen. 3/5

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.

Hit & miss album

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.

Today's album was a good album.

Truly groundbreaking stuff. Holds up well. Helped to define a generation.

I liked this much more than the other Ice Cube album I got. Pretty good! It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self (+The Message remix, which I probably preferred) 3.5?

3.75

I really liked this album, it had been years since I listened to this, and have a different perspective in my older years. There is a lot of rage against the inequality of the era, and having lived through it I can understand the music better now than I did when I first heard it. Incredibly underrated songs that I have a new appreciation for. And It Was A Good Day is just a great song.

Not much to say. I just did not find it enjoyable.

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.

Faded in my memory, good energy and beats though. Will need to revisit.

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

Does what it's going for well. Good flow, good lyrics. Doesn't blow me away but good to include despite being of its time. Not too sure what to do with the album but it makes sense to be on the list.

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.

Ice Cube was my favorite member of NWA and I had this album on CD in the 90’s. I think gangsta rap’s expression of anger at racial injustice spoke to my anger at the world stemming from clichéd teen angst. Ice Cube’s rhymes were often clever and occasionally insightful and his beats and samples were varied and catchy. This is a good album.

Ice Cube is one of those people that I've always been aware of but have never gotten into. I know he's said to have some great hip-hop records, but don't know what else to expect. The contrast of title of the first track and its context already shows what will maybe be a constant theme. The lyrics probably won't be a big part of this initial review as I can't tell what they say that well. That being said When Will They Shoot is already amazing. I have no idea what that sample is but fuck is it good. The interlude shows what is probably the main point of the album and yeah. Not too much has changed. Again, Wicked's sample is so cool. And I do like the track as a whole. Elphaba and Glinda sound so different (that was stupid I regret it). Now I Gotta Wet'cha kinda came and went without leaving a mark. The title track is actually pretty cool. But these samples, while still great, are starting to sound too similar. It Was A Good Day is by far the most streamed song, and I get why. This is a sudden change from the more "aggressive" instrumentals that came before. This is nice. Ok that sex description was unexpected but kinda original so I'm not mad at it. HE SAID FAGGOTTTTTTTT. song bangs. Fuck'em oh ok The instrumentals in this record stop me from ever being bored, but the rap is often not enough to peak my interest. Maybe because I don't fully understand what he's saying at a first listen. After all, as far as I can tell, Ice Cube's delivery is great. That being said I actually like Don't Trust'Em, even if I don't love what I can tell from the lyrics. Ice Cube's storytelling is impressive, even if I'm not following every lyric. Was not expecting a smurfette reference from this record but hey. Check Yo Self is, unsurprisingly, a banger. My country was just mentioned as a comparison for a racist country yeyyyyy. Don't disagree though. While I did enjoy this album, I can't help but feel like I'm missing something. Maybe if I was a bigger rap fan I'd enjoy it even more. That seems to be true of every genre, so why not here. I do think that, with more time, this could get better and better for me. As I said earlier, I'm not in the best circumstances to interpret the lyrics with the depth that they deserve, and since that's a major part of the record I can't claim that this is the best of reviews. So yeah, this one's on me. Bye

3-4

I don't mind this kind of hip hop but when you have social commentary in your album about white people being intimidated by the songs and black hip hop stereotypes and then go on to prove them right it's just not a good look.

The Predator by Ice Cube is a disappointing album. The music is repetitive and lacks creativity, while the lyrics are filled with violent and offensive language. The overall experience is unpleasant and fails to engage or entertain.

Pretty powerful record, with some of Ice Cubes biggest hits, but in the end it's not one of the best of the era for me. The beats come of as too strong and bassy most of the time, in my opinion. The rapping style is pretty solid and the voice has a nice, strong color. The flow is somewhat basic, but still manages to deliver fun and engaging songs, with some tricks here and there. Lyrical themes deal with the struggle of black people in America and in that regard the album manages to deliver the message pretty well and clear. It's filled with raw energy, violence, gang life, police, drugs, sex and everything that goes with that. Ironically, probably the best song on the album, It Was A Good Day, stands out in both style and themes. It's more positive than negative, has an easy going funk beat and doesn't talk about violence, racism and every day struggles, at least not most of the time and not in an intense way. Didn't know Check Yo Self was on this, this is another standout song for me. Would give it 3.5 if I could.

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)

Couple good ones in this album but overall probably won’t be listening to again. Mr Cube doesn’t have the voice for rapping and a lot of his beats are shit. Better at acting.

Honestly 90s rap was also kinda corny to me, but this one actually was interesting and kept my attention. Lots of energy and catchy beats. Strong start “with when will they shoot?” And a classic in the middle with “it was a good day”. The rest of it had some vibes but was some of the commentary or story parts were a bit cringey (end sequence of “Say hi to the bad guy”). Overall had a good time with this and probably had a lot of good commentary on social issues in LA in the early 90s but I’m no historian. 7/10

Definitely an album that deserves a second listen to really appreciate what Ice Cube is cookin up. His political statement on police brutality and its effect on the black community is prominent throughout. His instrumentals are simple but effective, creating a flow very similar to Geto Boys. Ice Cube shines being an in your face rapper, making sure he’s heard through the whole album. Song wise, every song is a banger. It was a good day is simply the top song on the album, with it being the only chill song to boot. Overall, 9/10 album and will definitely listen again when I get pulled over by the police.

Don’t get me wrong I like the Cube. But I’ve realized through this listen I don’t like the Cubes voice and flow for 50+ minutes. Maybe I’m looking at it from a modern rap lens. For me by the end it gets monotonous a bit and just some variety on the delivery more would help me or features or something. Lyrically it’s great, the beats great, but for me that doesn’t carry it enough. It was a good day is an all time, that’s at least a star on its own. An extra star for 21 Jumpstreet, he was great in that. Final star because I like calling him Cube.

Definitely a strong album already, before even getting to "It Was a Good Day" and "Check Yo Self". Powerful delivery with great lyrics and some great beats

Read the reviews and Wiki first and as I suspected this cretin represents everything not only that I hate in music but more wider in general society as well. Politics and music is fine but when this degenerates into misogyny and gangster behaviour I want nothing to do with it. So in that spirit I will not pollute my streaming service with this sewage. 0/5 27/4/25

And mama cooked the breakfast with no hog. Classic album.

der eiswürfel halt dezentes Album aber nicht crazy fav track WhEn will they shoot

Eigentlich echt solides klassisches HipHop Album, aber beim zweiten mal hören ist mir aufgefallen, dass das Album schon sehr antisemitisch und sexistisch ist, was irgendwie nicht zu den anderen Messages passt und dass Ice Cube dauernd auch irgendwie sagen will dass er missverstanden wird. Top: When will they shoot Flop: Don‘t trust ‚Em (sexistische Version von Sherane)

favorite track: It was a good day. Overall score: 7.2/10

wanted to bop to it a little more, but it was good. 3.5

1. zchool - 0 2. zhoot - 2.5 3. zcared - 0 4. uuicked - 2.5 5. uuet - 1.5 6. predator - 2 7. good - 3.5 8. tear - 3 9. fuck - 1.5 10. mack - 2.5 11. truzt - 2 12. gangzta - 1.5 13. check - 2 14. camera - 1.5 15. integration - 1.5 16. guy - 2.5

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.

The lyrics are strong and necessary, and the text insertions are cool, but somehow sounds the songs very repetitive as the bits as well.

Boring repetitive soundtrack of single bar repetition, with violent racist angry foul-mouthed poetry being shouted over the top. Sums it up perfectly.

Not my cup of tea

3.2

I love the album

4.5

Мясо нахуй

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.

Loved this back in the day. Not an album I’d regularly return to, but it does have a place in history as it grappled with what was going on in the world at the time.

This style of rap is not my favorite, with its specific tempo, plodding rhythms, and rhyme scheme. 2.5

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

this project is making me detest albums with skits and interstitials

It Was a Good Day is really a standout here

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.

On the one hand you have Ice Cube rapping on the injustices towards the black community, which I am 100% united in solidarity with. On the other hand you have Ice Cube occasionally rapping misogynistic and homophobic bullshit. Ugh! Being angry at cops and “the man” is justified beyond words. Taking it out on women and gay humans is NOT ok. Fortunately, with a little internet research, it appears he’s matured on those topics since these albums came out. Take all of that away, and I ask myself “would I come back to this?” Probably not. His brand of gangsta rap seems clunky to me. I certainly recognize his importance for its time. Highlights include Check Yo Self, Wicked, and It Was A Good Day.

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!

I may not have been in the right headspace for this, but i didn't really like it. There's nothing I can pinpoint, but it wasn't clicking.

ну, все понятно

Whatever.

Cool

One of the better hip hop/rap albums I've gotten so far. The messages are unfortunately still very relevant today. The mysogyny is unfortunately as prevalent as it always is in this genre.