Reviews (page 5 of 8)
The only song I really loved was It Was A Good Day and I think that's the general consensus given that this one song has more streams than all the other songs on the album combined. Not really my go to music - I feel like this was written for a certain audience and as a British Grammar School girl that's probably not me.
He's singing about a lot of stuff that is unfortunately still relevant today which makes it a lot easier to connect with this. I don't normally like rap but this was surprising ok.
Nice idk
Some really, really good songs on here like When Will They Shoot?, It Was A Good Day and Check Yo Self. It kinda feels like every track where Ice raps like rent is due is followed by a very... okay (at best) track. It's 90s gangsta rap so misogyny is (unfortunately) rampant on the record, which is incredibly hypocritical on a record which is primarily about the struggles of a black man growing up and living in America, but I digress. The themes that are topical in terms of the broader theme across the record (a.k.a. racism) are very well laid out, and it's kind of scary to see that very little has changed in nearly 3 decades. If a few weaker tracks were cut from record I could give this a higher score, I feel like. But 3/5 as it stands.
Pretty solid, some goood songs
It was great
Well, that was a powerful experience …. Not one I necessarily want to repeat, though. It was interesting as a reaction to the Rodney King verdict and subsequent unrest. I added “It Was a Good Day” to my Generator playlist.
I’m very hit and miss when it comes to rap but I didn’t mind this. The intro (“The First Day of School”) is pretty hard-hitting, and the other Inserts scene-set, highlighting themes like police brutality, racial injustice, and the LA Riots. It samples lots of R&B artists (and Queen), so the melodies are strong against a hard-hitting batch of lyrics. I also appreciated there was a real lack of misogynistic themes here (at least when compared to others of the era). Oh, and this album is the origin of the phrase “it’s on like Donkey Kong”, so that’s fun.
There are some really catchy beats and hooks on here, with some casual misogyny and violent posturing that gets a little tiring after the nearly hour long run time of this album. I see why this was huge at the time, but I can’t say it’s aged particularly well.
Couple bangers
nice beats fav song: When Will They Shoot
Bra, men bli my det samme
What an intense album! Not a big rap guy but these lyrics painted a picture of the time in a vivid way.
A little too long. Not bad though
Wow. Such 90s beats. Throwback. I think he samples from salt n pepper? Why are all the albums by dudes? Where’s the 1000 best albums by women? I’d sign up for that.
Another Ice Cube record? I’m 2/3 of the way through this list and have gotten two Ice Cube records and zero Tupac. Nonetheless this one has its virtues. The beats go hard and so does Cube, mirroring the social unrest he references with his own ultraviolent attitude. By the time “It was A Good Day” comes on it’s a breath of fresh air. There’s less of the relentless misogyny in this one, which isn’t to say it’s not there. There’s a bizarre presence/absence of self-awareness exemplified by the sample of Ice Cube on a talk show failing to seriously address the claim that he’s reinforcing the racist image of Black violence. I’m somewhat ambivalent about the whole thing, but it’s definitely not a bad record.
high 3 mixed listen. he doesnt pull of the songs about shooting people for me.
Nice listen if you're in the mood for 90's hip hop.
I got bored
This was alright. Definitely has some bangers
It's decent enough. Good beats and rhymes. It's just the lack of variation that makes this no more than a 3
Ice Cube is either prophetically conscious about the injustices that plague black America, or frustratingly misogynistic in ways you may have never even heard before. The dichotomy is jarring, but nothing new for 90's rap. He holds a strong vocal presence for the whole album, constantly high-energy. I'm not the most educated on it, but some of these songs seem a little cold and east-coastish, like "Wicked". Some of the tape and tv recordings at the beginning/end of songs were my favorite part. Firm 3/5
not my favourite hip hop album but its still pretty peak
This wasn't actually that bad. I expected more of that stupid Gangsta stuff. Yes, still a lot of anger and violence, but one has to see it in the context of the '92 L.A. riots.
Ice Cube's best performance, apart from 22 Jump Street
Ice Cube had something to say and the message carries to current time. He doesnt outdate himself like some rappers.
Here's my review for AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted: "Much like the Public Enemy album I got previously, this feels a lot like a transition album from old-school to new school. It has some of the more new-school, complex rhyming and flow (Although still some of the old-school, simplistic = staccato flows). The beats are definitely on the more old-school side as well. Overall, it's solid, but not what I really look for in hip hop. A little too old-school for me." Yeah, not really feeling anything different on this one. I will say, I think I like the beats and instrumentals a little more on this one. They're less oldschool, but it's still just too old-school for my tastes.
вообще даже немного
Another record that I've overlooked, despite my brief dalliance in gangster rap in my late teens. This was good and I actually liked it more than Straight Outta Compton. Good listen, but I doubt I'll go back to it often.
Pretty decent stuff and obviously it has incredible messages about racism in it. Not really for me this kind of music but the message still should be heard
Above the curve for 80s/90s rap albums and I like its use of media clips and samples. Also, apparently it’s the origin of the phrase, "It's on like Donkey Kong."
It was pretty good! Not really my thing, but still fun enough to listen to.
sorry i am dissing ice cube - he is great, and there are great tracks on this album, but his melody always comes from someone else - good samples but not feeling it
many swears
I'm usually terrible about reviewing rap albums. So all I'll say here is that listening to the lyrics of it, it sounds like it was written this decade and not 30 years ago.
Tbh I only listened to half this album, it’s decent but not for me
I’m not the biggest fan of Rap but, this album was okay. If I was a history teacher and talking about the Los Angeles Race Riots of 1992, I would use this album.
3.5 stars. It’s not bad, but this version of early 90s, West cost gangster rap has never been my favorite. The songs I already knew remain the highlights. The rest is whatever
Yesterday's album for me was Snoop's debut album, which I went outside the norm for and gave only two stars. Besides a couple hits, it felt very same-y. The Predator is the exact contrast to this. Ten minutes offers more texture and interest than yesterday's entire album.
I’ve been digging 90s rap and hip hop lately but I just didn’t vibe as much with this album.
Et klart højdepunkt af den hiphop vi har lyttet til. Der er noget mere interessant over det her. Både beats, og lyrik virker som om det har været et sjovt og legende album at lave.
Middelmådig Gangsta Rap
became a bit repetitive at some point but is pretty good overall
Male rap isn’t my fav genre. Able to capture some of the messages within the songs but feel like I missed out on so much more.
I've always felt like Ice Cube was the raw edge that Dre and company lost when NWA broke up. Ice Cube's lyrics are raw and real. There's a hard edge that even if you don't listen to the lyrics you can hear in his tone. The downside is that he did have the sick samples/beats and hooks that Dre's crew was known for. I'm curious what it would have looked like if they had stayed together.
Jak na rapowy album, jest on zajebisty!
Un álbum muy decente. Ice Cube tiene un ritmo muy agresivo acorde con el estilo gánster de la época. It Was A Good Day es un excelente clásico y de paso hay varias canciones más que tranquilamente podría guardar para escuchar de nuevo.
alright
Hmmm. Mixed on this cube. Sounds good though.
Didn't really feel like my thing, but beats were good. Lyrics clear. Nothing annoying going on, just didn't vibe with it.
Musically amazing, lyrically very clever, but really misogynistic
Definitely listenable, can appreciate but had a hard time getting into it. My Gangsta Rap days may have been left in the past.
Rap de los 90, nunca había escuchado a Ice Cube. Mola
Okay, out of all of the things I’ve learned in this so far- it’s that I was wrong about “gangster rap”. Crazy in hindsight how much MORE socially conscious it is than 99% of hip hop today. That all being said…this one is a little bit of a one trick…it’s great but just kinda the same note.
Thank god a rap album and its the actor icon himself :)))) The album cover slays hard omg very cool love it. Okay so very relevant themes got it. Great intro, almost flying u into the first song ooofff. Love the early 90s gangster rap genre (apart from the misogyny....) When Will They Shoot? and It Was A Good Day best songs on the album Thus far, album feels like a whole experience, A REAL storyteller at work sounds so cool combined with the inserts etc. Really sets the scene and conveys the message. Self expression to the max. Jezus christ i do not fuck with the misogyny, especially near the end of the album good godd. I understand the importance of the album very much, but this is unnecessary and disgusting ewwww WOOOOWOWW DROPPING SLURS LEFT AND RIGHT?????? It is very interesting to see that It Was A Good Day is his most streamed song and thus also the most streamed song of this album. It feels like a good positive vibe, like a break from the politically loaded songs. A song that definitely ties into the rest of the album, but is so inherently different.....
2026.01.10.
This was fun to listen to but nothing special
Solide
Not really my thing but does have one of the greatest songs of all time in “It Was a Good Day”. Overall enjoyed it more than I thought it would would.
This was ok, with an nteresting and powerful theme. I like Ice Cube and wanted to like this album, but it fell a little short to me.
Bom
And my first album of the year is...a very political 90s rap album, complete with mandatory misogyny and violence. If these rappers would just stick to political messaging (which is nearly always excellent), they would have better albums. But there's always a song like "Don't Trust 'Em" that's loaded with anti-woman sentiment, as well as violent fantasies. Admittedly, they're part of the experience, but it's still a bad look for Ice Cube and his contemporaries. Ultimately, this is a good album, but not a great one. While some songs remain prescient today, others are off-putting with violence and misogyny. The beats are consistently excellent, but I just can't give this album more than 3 stars; it's composed of some great songs, and some terrible ones that need to be cut. The album also suffers from being overlong, as is common with this era of rap.
Cool beats, keeps interesting enough
Good but not fave old school rap
2.75 - He loses .25 b/c a breakfast wtih no hog is worse than one with
Love some 90s hip-hop. Solid album. There are better, there are worse.
Hardcore hip hop! Man back in the day this was the shiz, but nowadays it is a tough listen with a 1 year old at home. I had to shut it down after about 30 sec of the first track, F this and GD that every other word. I get it you are mad but lets expand that vocabulary to express those feelings! jj Cube is a good lyricist the beats are okay and the storytelling is fantastic. I do hate the skit interludes, I could do without those in most albums. They are aight on the first listen but kill the replay-ability of the album for me. Not a fan of his cadence on some of the tracks. This album has a couple hits and a lot of mediocre tracks.
Great energy, not for casual listening and a lot for a middle aged white lady but enjoyed it and made me much more thoughtful than I expected
I’ve never really been into hip hop, but I enjoy this and other early hip hop more than today’s type of hip hop.
IT WAS A GOOD DAY Best Song: It Was a Good Day Rating: 6.5/10 Stars: 3
Solid as hell. No complaints, Ice Cube traverses his era of culture as good as anyone. A friend told me that you gotta parse Ice Cube with some Eazy E and unfortunately, I think he's right. It Was A Good Day kicks this up to 3.5.
I like ice cube but this was 6 7
It was a good day
3 out of 5. A lot of his lyrics still ring true today and well spoken.
Works best on tracks with intense lyrics and themes, as well Good Day. Great snapshot into 1992. Some songs and lyrics I don't want to bother with mixed in though.
Despite having some clear messaging and great hits, the album didn't quite flow together super well. I would still recommend it, but only to fans of old school rap.
now your name is just ice cube
Pretty nice.
If the book is gonna have 2 Cube albums, it should be his 1st 2. This is still good don’t get me wrong, but it’s definitely a dip.
It’s a good-to-great record that marks the time it was released in, the post L.A. Riots time when gangsta rap was big. The good songs are great, the skits are not.
Amazing hip-hop album, great raw feel, and direct and hardcore lyrics.
I don't listen to a lot of Ice Cube, so I don't know a lot other than It Was a Good Day and Check Yo Self, but this wasn't bad overall. 3/5
Not too bad. I don't care too much for this period in rap, but this was pretty listenable compared to its peers. Either that or I'm warming up to it. Still, it was too long at an hour. 2.75/5
It Was A Good Day - such a classic
Cube was always a bit more complicated than his fabricated gang banger image allowed, bringing in a somewhat paranoid and skewed political view that overlapped with (and guested on) Public Enemy records, alongside an incredible sense of just older than juvenile sense of humour. On his debut and the follow-up, this was loud and clear, but by the release of The Predator he was just coming off Lollapalooza ’92 - the one with grunge all-stars Pearl Jam and Soundgarden (and very of the moment headliners RHCP) - basically as white an audience as you could find. This gangsta rapper guise had always been a part of his identity throughout NWA, but here it takes centre stage. I’m not sure he threads the needle of the movie character predator acting as symbol or metaphor for South Central rioters rising up or if it’s just a really bad-ass, largely unkillable creature standing in as rapper taking out his rivals as his lyrical focus is kinda all over the place, but the real import, as had been the case dating back to Compton, is getting white teenagers to buy his albums as adolescent rebellion. But the move to something like a kinder, friendlier gang banger is already in the works with It Was a Good Day - he’s only a few years away from Friday at this point, after all.
it's not bad. it's a vibe. makes me feel like the wrong mf to fw
Solid album with some stand out tracks, very influential
This is the first album I've listened to by War of the Worlds 2025 star Ice Cube. The album is OK, but it's the relationship between Ice Cube's struggle and the LA riots of the early nineties that makes this album so significant. This is the rare hip hop album where I found the "insert" tracks to really elevate the listening experience.
Meh album, though it gets bonus points for being a good day (I'm leaving, I know where the exit is).
3.4 Surprisingly good, I always presumed Ice Cube after NWA would have gone downhill, but it sounded a bit fresher than I expected. Bit more Cypruss Hill than NWA, but I'd argue even more enjoyable than the former. Some good beats although they lean toward the simplistic, case in point being the albums highlight, today was a good day, cracking sample from the Isley Brothers but when it boils down to it is the same 7 seconds clip repeated ad infinitum. Makes it the kind of thing that is enjoyable to listen to the first 10 times, but after that there's nothing new to find in it. The number of skits was unnecessary though, trim them and it might have reached 4* rounding up territory
Initially I was like why is this album so long but when you listen this is way more than just another rap album. Love the energy on this! Love the mix of rap, radio show snippets & predator 2 film clips. It’s an album capturing a moment in history - politically, culturally and musically.
This wasn't bad, could do without the interlude talking bits.
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
Production is lo-fi but lush. Great horn samples throughout. Melancholic synths create an interesting contrasting background to the otherwise grateful and positive "It Was a Good Day" and sound like they inspired a lot of Kendrick's tracks, like Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe. Lots of commentary about police brutality. "I know it sounds strange but could you stop thinkin with your dick for a change?" Plenty of casual misogyny / objectification of women. *Who Got the Camera
Enjoyable. Had his hits and some societal commentary.
3.5
Receiving this one the same week as The Chronic made for an interesting comparison. A much more in-your-face edgy delivery than the laid back style of Dre/Snoop. At times it even sounds industrial. Crazy that the two albums were released within a month of each other. Interestingly I think it’s Cube’s style that cuts right to the bone and probably helps deliver the message better. But I put this one and the same camp as The Chronic.
This was good, even though it’s dated I feel like it’s aged better than a lot of rap/hip-hop of the 80s/early 90s. His voice is solid on this
Thought I would like this more than I did. Maybe I wasn’t in the right mood or setting but the songs up to It Was a Good Day felt a little bland and repetitive. Maybe on a different day I’d feel different but this didn’t hit with me. 2.75
If there's one thing I want in an album it is references to Predator...2! Lol. I thought this was pretty good. A bit corny talking about triple doubles and stuff. Nice to get it the same week as The Chronic. I'd say I enjoyed the latter a bit more so I am rounding down on this one. 3.25/5
284/1089 - Smart decision to create dissonance between all the layers of the beats for an angry effect. Overall, it was ok.
nicht so mein stil von hip hop .. aber trotzdem gut produziert, und sehr nahe am zeitgeschehen.
An interesting album. Ice Cube tackles race in the aftermath of Rodney King and the LA riots. This aspect of the album is poignant and important. He also, however, continues the misogyny that plagues rap music til this day. Overall, its a good album that is as relevant now as it was when it was made. 3.5/5 Probably will listen again
Not as bad as i feared. Early 90’s rap seems a bit tame now!
This was good. Head nodding beats. Slightly less shock value than AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, which is the only other Ice Cube album I’m familiar with. But yeah, enjoyed this.
It's hard for me to imagine what it must have been like when Cube released AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Death Certificate, and The Predator in the span of two and a half years, immediately after an acrimonious split from NWA. I imagine they were as revelatory as they were controversial. I'd heard AMW before listening to this, alongside the obvious standout singles here, but that's more or less the extent of my experience with Ice Cube's solo work. I was surprised that this hadn't aged *worse* than it has (and parts of it have aged poorly, given the homophobia and sexism that was rampant in rap at the time). The production is really solid throughout. I'm just not sure it's *essential* listening, especially when Death Certificate - by most accounts the best of the three - isn't here.
Enjoyable stuff
Hadn't heard this album since elementary school. Still hits good.
The predator is politcal and on the nose. Definetly an important album within America's troubled history. It's worth listening for the 'preaching integration, but practising segregration' quote only. Though musically I feel like it's one of the weaker hiphop albums in this list. It's cool, no doubt, but pales is in comparison with projects from (for instance) Public Enemy.
In a lot of ways, an update of previous record on this list, Straight Outta Compton.
Pretty good. Pretty nostalgic. Nothing I will actively seek out.
I was vibing, but I didn’t like it assss much as other 90’s rap
It Was A Good Day is a great song. Rest are ok 3/5
Boh...
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
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.
Good background music but idk if I’d listen to it otherwise. Except for ‘It was a good day’ which is an absolute banger
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
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.
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.
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.
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
Very dope and creative
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
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…
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.
Some classics, social commentary still relevant
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
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.
It was fine. A few songs that I liked bit it's mostly just not my type of music
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.
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
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
enjoyed it was a good day, the rest are not my style, but still quite decent album. 3
Pretty good.
pas trop rap d’habitude mais là pas mal, bonnes percussions, j’ai kiffé l’intro
Pas mon style mais pas mal
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.
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.
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
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.
OK, beat hits home a little, but not a complete hook for me
Liked it more than I thought I would!
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.
Interesting catchy and accessible and some political points that are unfortunately still salient today. Could do without the sexism though.
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
Talented Cube.
Good instrumentation on most tracks. Some that stood out were the title track, It Was A Good Day and Dirty Mack.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Good rap
Rip Malcom X. First media in the ice cube universe that I've enjoyed.
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.
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.
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.
Fede beats, men ikke lige så consistent som den sidste vi havde med ham
Felt like a thug, today was a good day.
Rap, kann man anhören - muss man aber nicht!
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
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
Pretty good, not my favorite from the era.
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
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
Better than I expected. More a protest album than gangster rap. Good workout album.
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.
I'm not usually into hip-hop, but this was quite enjoyable to listen to.
Some great socially aware tracks and some others that haven't aged perfectly. All around a good listen. 3/5
Today's album was a good album.
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?
Faded in my memory, good energy and beats though. Will need to revisit.
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 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
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.
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.
der eiswürfel halt dezentes Album aber nicht crazy fav track WhEn will they shoot
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
The lyrics are strong and necessary, and the text insertions are cool, but somehow sounds the songs very repetitive as the bits as well.
3.2
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 project is making me detest albums with skits and interstitials
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.
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.
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.
Probably my favourite of the gangstas of the era. A lot the samples and music is just perfect.
This is powerful music. I didn't give it a fair chance when it came out. Which is a real shame because it is so brilliant, insightful and moving. But, I love and appreciate it now.
The first half blew my mind. The second half was a drag.
I guess it was a good day.
Quite enjoyed this 7/10 it was a good day is a good song
Early hip hop highlight. Hard beats and political rhymes.
Hip hop is still very much not my thing generally, but I found thus much better than his stuff with NWA. Not gonna come back to it most likely, but not sad I listened to it.
Meh, it's 90s rap
…It was a good day….
Rough message rough time great sound
i think this guy doesnt like anyone really
Great rhythms, punchy, aggressive music, overall very good flow - it didn't sound almost one hour long. Very important lyrics about societal issues that are still relevant today. The profanity and calling women b*tches and h*es are a bit too much (to me as a girl...) though. But overall I liked it.
Listening to Ice Cube caused me to ponder whether I should change my approach to rating albums on this 1001 album list. Up to now I’ve assumed that the list included just “music”, not comedy albums, etc. But this album seemed to be making a commentary or political statement. Musically I would rate it like other rap albums so far (two stars). Factoring in its emotional/social impact it gets a better rating.
As good or bad as his other albums depending on your view of rap.
He has a few issues with women
There's some really good stuff here addressing real issues that are just as prevalent if not more today. Its powerful and its also just good rap (IMHO). I have a hard time giving anything over 3 stars with misogynistic lyrics & most rap is a tough one with those, this album included!
Something about Ice Cube's energy and delivery that just really sells his music for me. Didn't love every track, but overall I thought it was solid.
It was alright
The Dodger connection makes it higher but I just find rap boring
solid album all the way through but no standout tracks for me except the inevitable Good Day
Not the best rap album of its time, but solid
What is being said and the social messaging in Ice's raw and truthful lyrics are still relevant today and really shows a lot hasn't changed. The beats and music go well with Cube's spirited delivery and though I'm not a fan of rap and hip-hop, this one was worth the listen.
"When will they shoot?" is depressingly contemporary even though it was released over 30 years ago.
Pretty good but the misogyny brings it down
YMMV with gangsta rap, but I thought this album held up pretty well. 3.4
Well produced and performed, but outside of my interests.
Good old school rap. How it’s meant to be. 3.5
Very aggressive and exciting with fast beats that drive the whole thing along, good stuff!
Decent rap album 1001 album worthy: Yes 15/29
Better than some of the other similar albums we’ve had. Whichever coast this is I think it’s probably the coast I prefer for my rap.
Funny he pretty much exclusively plays cops now
Ice cube goes hard!
December 8, 2024 HL: “It Was a Good Day”, “Wicked”, “Who Got the Camera?” Worst I can say is that it feels like more of the same from Ice Cube, though there are some great tracks, with "Wicked" probably being my favourite. The sampling of vocal critics of Ice Cube & hip-hop music in general is often funny (if infuriating to sit through), though sometimes the album gets caught up in justifying its own existence rather than making good, sociopolitical tunes. That seems to be a gripe I share with different 90s rap albums, so maybe that's on me for not living through the media backlash. I wonder whether that one line "Now I Gotta Wet'cha" directly led to the seminal DK Rap
I wasn't in the mood for this, but I appreciate the significance of the album's message.
Enjoyed, really like the use of loops, also not the quickest lyrically so I can actually follow it.
Better than expected
Nice, chill, accessible rap with political commentary folded throughout. It isn’t the most musically exciting album, but it was enjoyable and I am glad I listened to it.
Good music but struggled to get over the misogyny
Disclaimer...rap is not my favorite. I can appreciate the anger given how badly black people are treated in major cities. But ultimately it is just angry music... The story isn't lost, but it doesn't offer a pathway to anything better
Basic bitch music..
Full on, with the light touch of "It Was A Good Day", the more soulful swing of "Check Yo' Self", new beats from DJ Muggs and DJ Pooh, but over it all Ice Cube, King of the Gangstas, Voice Of The Streets.
amerikkkas most wanted still remains one of his best work. The Predator comes in a time where the genre as a whole was still in the height of 'gangsta' street music, and as much as Cube is the lyricist it just falls a bit flat with some of the same themes and tones from his prior work. Some noticeable classics that came from this record like It Was A Good Day and Check Ya Self.
Wicked, The Predator,Check Ye Self and of course It Was a Good Day are great tracks. The rest of the album is fine, kinda sounds at times like NWA outtakes.
Good Day is a classic. Wasn't a bad album, maybe a little long.
Liked it more than I expected. Not my favorite genre, but the messages in this album still resonate quite strongly, 30+ years later. Loses maybe a star for being a bit too same-samey the whole way through the album, but it's still not bad.
Not bad, I'm not a real rap fan but I've heard much worse
Do I really need to listen to this?
Top 3 Songs: 1 - It Was A Good Day (7) 2 - When Will They Shoot? (2) 3 - Check Yo Self (13)
Alright, though a lot of the lyrics seemed to swing between arguing he was not misogynistic and then saying misogynistic things. Sans lyrics, the rhythms were good.
It was a good album
Gangsta rap är inte för mig Bästa låtarna : now i gotta wet cha, it was a good day, gangstas fairytale 2, who's got the camera
Hm, so ein guter Rapper, aber das Album ist definitiv nicht sein Bestes :-/ 3 von 5
bin kein so hip hop fan, aber da waren tatsächlich paar gute nummern drauf
3.5
# Album Name: The Predator # Artist: Ice Cube # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Not bad. Tolerable. I like the earlier rap albums compared to the majority of the new(er) stuff. It just feels more raw, less cheesy i guess. Even though im not a huge fan of the genre i can see why it took off. Although no track stood out to me, the album was tolerable. # Top Tunes: None that stood out. # Would I listen to it again? low chance but Probably background music if anything.
Album is part 'bitches & hoes' and partly racial commentary after the Rodney King beating where the 4 officers were acquitted. It Was a Good Day Check Yo Self (samples 1963 recording of "I'm Blue" by The Sweet Inspirations, (written by Ike Turner))(same sample as the following year's 'Shoop' by Salt 'n' Pepa)
Old school gangster rap
Pretty good album, High 3 low 4 stars not quite sure where I'd put it.
Pretty hit or miss, some really good songs and some that were kind of annoying or overbearing. Some of the inserts came at a time where I was enjoying the music and it came to a screeching halt
mid ngl
I like the heavy beats and Cube’s delivery. I don’t care about the interludes and skits but I like quite a few of the actual songs despite it not being my musical scene. Some moments made me cringe but I’m surprised how danceable it was. DJ Pooh is a based name! Highlights: “When Will They Shoot” & “Dirty Mack”. 3.5 stars.
A pleasant surprise. Excellent boom bap, aggressive, angry, lairy hip hop. Ice Cube has one of those voices that conveys the menace he carries. You just know that the guy has lived everything he raps about. It does nothing more than accentuate the hostility that black Americans face on a day to day basis. Excellent album, not one for the kids though.
Ice CUbe's flow and beats have assuredly taken influence from other west coast rappers at this point, and because of this influence Ice Cube's lyrics and flows feel punchier, more aggressive, on this album, and that alongside some great lyrics in the first half, it wouldn't be difficult to compare this to some of Public Enemy's best work! ...at first. Unfortunately, the album quickly devolves into having the same issues as his prior work: "Women suck and my life is monotonous." There are some new ideas here that keep things feeling fresh, and the beats are stellar, albeit homogenized, but after a while you start to realize that the album seems to lift every radical idea from an earlier, stronger hip hop album, and those influences become copy-and-paste jobs. It can be a good time in a bubble, but with any outside context this album loses a lot of its standing. It Was a Good Day stands out because it flips the script while still putting in everything Ice Cube is known to spit about, but the rest of the album doesn't follow suit, and you start to piece together why the album only had one hit of that magnitude.
As a white European, most of it is lost on me. You could hear the anger and the beats were goood, but I wouldn't listen to it again
This is really not up my alley, but I get it, and I get why it's looked up to. There are some songs I did like most noatably the opening track "When Will They Shoot" and "Check Yo Self". But for the most part thus taps into thoughts an emotions I'm not exactly comfortable with. I also think that in a way it's supposed to take me there. I may not like listening to it, but I do respect it's place in musical discourse. (5.75) ★★½
Good beats. Bad skits. Has at least one top drawer song with It Was A Good Year.
Not my sort of sound
Wow. Ugh. I have no words.
Ice Cube doing his thing
“The Predator” does show a bit of an evolution of Ice Cube, and the incessant shouting and unbridled anger that marked his debut is much reduced here. That evolution would continue, of course, to the point where today Cube is an accomplished actor and businessman. The course of the careers of Cube, Ice T, and Snoop Dogg are such a bizarre thing that could only happen in modern America.
The transition from It Was A Good Day to We Had to Tear this Motherfucka Up is a real gut punch. How are we still having the same conversations almost 30 years later?! That being said, the album sounds 30 years old and not in a good way.
The misogyny of these early hip-hop records does not age well, but everything else about this is a great listen. And he fucked around and got a triple double, so how can you even argue with that?
It was a good day to listen to this record....
With how many mediocre albums Ice Cube has on this list I would have to guess he is British
3/5
Production feels bland and dated aside from a few tracks. The album is mainly carried by Cubes performances however lyrically, it's not very subtle. Although I do grant that the lyrics probably hit way harder at the time of its release.
The First Day of School (Intro) n/a When Will They Shoot? 2.7 I'm Scared (Insert) n/a Wicked 3.2 Now I Gotta Wet Cha 3.3 The Predator 3.4 It Was a Good Day 4 We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up 3.1 Fuck 'Em (Insert) n/a Dirty Mack 3.2 Don't Trust 'Em 2.8 Gangsta's Fairytale 2 2.7 Check Yo Self 2.8 Who Got the Camera? 3 Integration (Insert) n/a Say Hi to the Bad Guy 2.9 Score: 3.091666667
Not my favourite, but not terrible.
The angry beautiful poetry of early nineties west coast rap. Ice Cube does amazing work here, even though it’s not something I would reach for today.
Not into the gangsta rap but - conflicting - I like Ice Cube
A strong start to the album, that have my attention. Through the songs it was like they wanted me to listen, and I did. It felt like the an album calling for a wake up call from both sides of the debate. I would not listen to it again