Reviews (page 6 of 9)
Not as bad as I thought! It would get a better rating if most of the songs weren’t so misogynic.
A direct response to the 1992 LA riots, and even if the impact has lessened somewhat with time these lyrics still hit fairly hard. How much and how little has changed.
I feel so bad giving this a 2, especially when I see all the reviews here. But I rate for myself and how likely I am to listen again, and I won't. There's nothing wrong with it, I appreciate the lyrics and how important this album was at the time, and I like that he is very political. But I'm not a fan of hip hop and I'm always just waiting for it to be over. I much preferred the Wu-Tang.
Another classic 90’s hip hop banger.
4 stars, pretty damn good stuff.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
I appreciate the artist, the importance of the music to the genre and that it resonates with so many people. It simply doesn’t do much me, particularly at this point in life.
Thoroughly discomfiting, and at times painful; it is a literally brilliant artistic reflection on the moment - the horror of the L.A. Riots of 1992, and the long and deep tensions that ignited them.
A 90s rap album classic!
there's definitely stuff here that didn't age, uh, gracefully, but there's a lot more that's still very relevant and sonically it's just so fuckin heavy and powerful
Really funny how he went from rappin about gangbangin and bangin hoes with his very descript dick to being a nazi and doing kids movies. The best song on the album is also about not doing any of the above listed things and it’s great. Rest of the album is extremely repetitive but kind of crazy how he could say the same things over and over in different ways. 5/10
Et godt vredt album i kølvandet på nwa
Rap from the 90's.
It fits the name very well.
This is really not my thing. But I will say, Ice Cube has a commanding flow that's pretty excellent and impossible to dismiss. An album with a really compelling sound, creative use of sampling and righteous fury. Fave Song: Wicked, Check Yo Self, I'm Scared, It Was a Good Day
Nice and agressive album. Ice Cube does not hold back on this one. Not completely my cup of tea, but the album is a strong statement.
the beats are okay but don't generally resonate with lyrics.
Pretty good. Surprised Ice Cube isn't more talked about.
1.5 I’m sure there’s probably some very important lyrics on this album but as always lyrics don’t mean that much to me. The music matters so much more and it’s awful on this album. Every song is literally a 2 measure beat that loops for the entirety of the song
This record was really good. Pretty much every beat was fire, the flow was solid and there was a rich social criticism throughout. Honestly it’s a 4
Classssssssiccccccc!! The beat on Wicked is absolutely insane. It Was A Good Day will never ever get old. Check yo self still bangs. It’s cohesive, he’s actually saying something other than the usual, and as I mentioned, the beats are absolutely insane!
Too noisy.
Worth a listen but not an album I’d revisit
Pretty good. It Was A Good Day is a great song, and the rest of the album is solid overall. Although the inserts/skits aren’t really my thing. This album might be the first one we’ve come across in this project where every song is labeled “E” for explicit in my music app of choice. I should not blast this album while driving around with my windows down.
I appreciate some of this, as a reaction to racism in the US it is powerful and vital. I just wish it wasn’t riddled with the sexism and homophobia so much hip hop of the 90s was.
This was alright. It had Good Day on it. Also, it’s pretty frustrating to hear some music from so long ago and realize how little progress we’ve made as a society since then.
Some of this is feels loud to me like heavy metal. Title track gives his voice room to breathe. It was a good day is a 90s classic. Overall, this is better than expected. It’s still a lot of bitches and hos, though. Don’t Trust ‘Em is annoying and degrading. The non-stop misogyny throughout is off-putting at best. It’s too much of the he-man woman-haters club. Giving up on the rest of this.
Gotta love that 90's rap. They don't make em like the used ta
Album is a solid 3. It was a Good Day is a 5 star song. So I’m going 4.
Angry Cube is dabest Cube
Man I love Ice Cube. Run run run from the Ghetto bird. Don't run run run from this album.
i'm so glad this came to us so close to the chronic. These two records couldnt be further from each other (except for the funky worm again.) It's hard looking back to say which is a better record. I think Predator is a way better record than mama said knock em out.
Better than the last album
Yeah, hard as fuck
High anger high energy rap that is a fine example of the genre.
4-
Doesn’t feel that interesting tbh, just some meh hip-hop that was considered revolutionary when it came out because of the message it was trying to get across
A good, classic hip hop album back from an "interesting" times. Few very nice songs, with some darker, almost psychedelic beats. A surprisingly good album and a rare 4 stars from me for this genre.
Musically, it was quite good - maybe a 4.5/5. However, it was incredibly misogynistic and violent. Clearly the writer felt that people who criticize his music for its misogyny and violence are bigoted, and surely some of them are, but he is also clearly very bigoted, especially when it comes to women. As such, I can't give it anywhere near a 4.5/5. I can give it a 3, *maybe*. Maybe a 2. Hmm...
A few classic songs, but lots of corny rhymes and skits. Rap has evolved so much that some of the early classics aged poorly. Very influential album, but not something I want to listen to other than the classic songs
It was ok. Unfortunately my rating system is based on my replay-ability and I just wouldn’t put it back on much, if at all. 2.5/5
first listen solid and some thought provoking conversations on black culture
Felt like this was slightly lighter on the 90s rap tropes like sex skits etc. than some of Dre´s albums. Didn't listen to the lyrics very well otherwise, but I really like the general vibe you get from this album. I like that there are some "lighter" songs like 'Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha' and 'Dirty Mack' that brings your mood up. Then you also have the 'It Was A Good Day' type songs that are just really heavy and cool. There is a much better version of 'Check Yo Self' than I found on this album, shame it wasn't here. Definitely one of Ice Cube's better songs. Anyways, overall high standard on the album, I like it!
Pretty decent 90s rap. I enjoyed Ice Cube's flow, the rhymes and samples good. Also a minimum of skits which i appreciated after some of the other 90s rao albums. However, no songs really stood out except "Today Was A Good Day". So even high quality but nothing that really stood out gives this a strong 3.
An enjoyable listen for a genre I don't always enjoy - I find a lot of the songs blend together, which funnily enough makes songs like It Was A Good Day stand out even more as great songs. Fav songs: - It Was A Good Day
Indispensable
no me gusta este estilo 🫨🫠
No me gusta Ice Cube pero respect
Las letras me han parecido horrorosas
Me sentí un negro del bronx conduciendo un low rider
I knew that I wasn't going to like this album so I decided to have fun with it. I stopped listening to a song when a profanity, the "N" word or any word that degraded women appeared in the lyrics and/or title. That album went by REALLY fast!
Not a fan of the language and lyrics but some of the music and sampling was interesting
Enjoyed this. Not my favorite Ice Cube album, but great nevertheless.
I liked it!
3/5. Love the passion, anger, and truth coming from Ice Cube. There are some great songs and lyrics, and even the skits don't seem out of place which is rare. They are all good but they all have similar sounds and lyrics that it does feel repetitive. No doubt, these messages need to be said multiple times for everyone to finally understand, even 30 years later, and the 1000s of years before. I think there could have been more focus on fewer songs with tighter rapping and songwriting because I do lose interest through some of the songs. It's good, deserves to be on the list, but not as enjoyable as an album itself.
Good stuff. Enjoyed the trip back in time.
4.5. Very good, just not on the level of DC.
Another great rap album, if you like rap. I prefer this to Cypress Hill. Nothing else to say. I'm not feeling gangster rap shit right now.
Another crappy rap album. N bombs and f bombs galore.
Formulaic
Before Listening: I don't really like NWA but I enjoy Ice Cube. I saw that this album has 'It Was a Good Day', which is one of my favourite raps songs and coincidentally I've been listening to it a lot in the last few days. I'm excited for this one and so far on this list I've liked a lot of the rap records. After listening: I mean, it's alright. Other than the singles I feel nothing really stood out to me. Unfairly, I think anytime a rap album is political I feel they're ripping off Public Enemy. Maybe this album doesn't resonate with me (because I wasn't around during the Rodney King shooting and the subsequent riots) and that's why it falls flat? Maybe people will feel this way about American Idiot and not understand the prevailing views and feelings at the time? You know what, I have no idea what the fuck I'm talking about.
Great album. A bit less of the misogynistic content of earlier albums, which can be a little tough to handle in a more modern context, and more socially conscious. Very energetic and exciting production and samples. Really good album.
A fine 90s hip hop album akin to most early gangster rap. But suffers as usual from the 'doesn't belong on this list' factor. I respect ice cube but he has maybe 1 top 1000 album and this ain't it
Great album, great samples. Who doesn't love this album? Assholes, that's who.
It was pretty catchy.
9/10 Excellent Amazing historical document that captures the early 90s in America A gangsta rap album about gangsta rap, media criticism, the events around the LA riots, and Ice Cube himself Deeply true and insightful, the interludes are so strong Excellent instrumentals, Ice Cube style and flow is outstanding Flies by, it is propulsive and engaging Best: Check Yo Self
unbekannt
Classic 90s hip hop. Ice cube comes hard in the paint. Notable tracks include today was a good day and say hi to the bad guy.
Untouchable flow and deliver by Ice Cube. He goes hard as ever.
Lots of anger/frustration that needed to be expressed. I recognised my privilege when I noticed my shock at the constant N word drops (I guess Ice Cube had heard it many times, and not always in great contexts). So yeah, not a word that comes up often in my white girl world. An important album in response to rampant racism in the USA in 1992 (and every other year before/since I guess). I acknowledge its place in this 1001 list (seems more deserving than the Peter Framptom album I just (mostly) listened to) but it's not a genre I usually choose as it doesn't speak to my lived experience. This album was hard work for me but I wanted to give it my best go.
I'm reasonably ok with this, it's a journey and an education as well as powerful rhythm, but it's not really my thing. I do wonder what my white self is meant to do with a clearly black American statement records from a time when race riots started to erupt. Do I look at Aboriginal issues with a similar eye? Do I look at my own behaviour? Do I just appreciate what I can from this or do I ... I don't know what do I? A record that has you thinking is a good piece of work. Maybe this is what makes a good album? 3 stars.
Reminds me of my younger days. 3.5/5
Important album. Powerful voice. But not the kind of thing I'll just throw on for fun.
Solid to listen to but nothing catchy yet. It Was a Good Day is catchy now.
Some ok bars on this. Not my favourite rapper or album.
One of the best hip hop artists Top tracks: It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self
Ice Cube’s flows can lead to the project feeling a little bland but the sample-rich production and his scathing verses make up for it.
I've always liked Ice Cube. I remember when Today Was a Good Day was in heavy rotation on MTV. I prefer his 1st album but this one's solid too.
Swearing, listened for 5 seconds
Decent
Un álbum seminal de Hip-hop interpretado por una de las figuras más importantes del género. Sus temáticas, sorprendentemente actuales, son un reflejo de que los problemas raciales estadounidenses no han progresado lo suficiente. De todas formas, algunos comentarios antisemitas hacen que el LP sea un tanto controversial, difuminando sus políticas y el mensaje contestatario de Ice Cube. En tanto a lo sonoro, la producción de "The Predator", se escucha inmortal y nostálgica. Recomendable para cualquiera que quiera ahondar en la evolución de esta corriente artística.
Despite the heavy subject material, I thought this album was pretty entertaining. It was funny (though probably only with 30 years hindsight and my white privilege), lyric-forward, with interesting loops and the newsreel inserts were also good.
Lord, have mercy on my soul. Je comprends l'impact culturel mais doux Jésus, je suis pas capable, je suis clairement pas le public cible. Sorry.
3/5
Interesting insight into a different culture. Hip Hop is still not for me though. Music sounds like lofi style but in hifi.
Looooved this
Armageddon is near.
I'm in two minds about the inclusion of this album into the list. On the one hand, it's well-crafted hip hop from the golden age of the genre, with a lot of topical points mixed with the expected braggadocio, and the whole is still relevant or at least interesting to hear today. The DJ Muggs-produced cuts are unmistakable, and they provide a fun listen. On the other hand, I feel like there's not much in the record that hasn't been heard elsewhere, and often in an even more striking fashion. Musically speaking, what DJ Mugg produced for Cypress Hill or House Of Pain is surely more memorable than his work for Ice Cube, for instance--as good as said work is. And lyrically speaking, you had rappers who went further and better when they explored the topics Ice Cube is exploring here. Maybe it's my *relative* bias against west-coast rappers influencing me too much in this case. And maybe it's because the rich history of hip hop is not limited to this "golden age" and particular place in the US, which means that other times and geographical areas "represented" in the genre should be included in this sort of list. Singles "It Was A Good Day* and "Check Yo Self" are admittedly nicely done. But the whole shebang is surely "dated" for younger ears, and it's not as if the record was truly groundbreaking in any sense at the time (contrary to NWA's *Straight Outta Compton* or some Dr. Dré-produced records--closely related to Ice Cube, of course, and featuring him in many instances). The thing is, hip hop evolved extremely *fast* in those years. Wu Tang Clan released their debut the year after, and it wouldn't be long before acts such as Outkast, Snoop Dog or Eminem changed the game, once again. When facing such formidable competition, I'm not sure there will be room left for any Ice Cube records when I reach the end of my own list. 3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. Which translates to an 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5 + 3) Number of albums left to review: 290 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 313 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 172 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many other records are more important to me): 230
Great album. Today was a good day is an all time fav of mine. Doesn't quite hold up to the other West Coast classics of that era though. 4/5
Complicated feelings about this one... but... :shrug:
early on 90ies Rap vibes
Schlimmer Rap
I like the beats. I was not familiar with the riots in reference and understand the passion but the language, aggression and misogynistic views don't sit well with me. But then I'm an old white guy.
#120. This shit slaps. It kinda faded at the end but pretty fucking good overall. The lyrics are still pretty relevant today too. Shit never changes. 4/5: excellent Song added to playlist: It Was A Good Day I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
“Classic” hip hop records are completely ruined by intros, outros, interludes, skits and inserts. Ready to Die, 3 Feet High and Rising, and The Predator are three albums I can think of that suffer and lose integrity for this crime. They’re stupid and aged like fruit. I think the best thing about The Predator is the lack of guest appearances. It’s just Cube dropping bars that are hard as nails and for me it’s his plateau. I, for one, am all for the N-word, homophobia and misogyny. It paints an important portrait of a time in America that should be used as a learning opportunity. Aside from the regrettable Gangsta’s Fairytale 2 and the inserts this album is a certified banger
again pretty good but nothing too groundbreaking in my opinion. It feels like good background music to me. from what I was paying attention to it does seem like this album has some real meaning behind it at least
Blah blah hasn’t aged well blah blah cringe lyrics whatever. This was as fun as any of the other ice cube albums Ive gotten and keeps up the characteristic great sampling and features. It was a good day is obviously the main standout but when will they shoot and now I gotta wet cha were also great. There were maybe a few too many “inserts” but at least they were interesting news clips.
Spotify would not play because of \"explicit lyrics\" for which reason it should receive a 1/2 star at best
why are most rappers always “fucking hoes”?
The beats are next level. I was bouncing my leg to this like a sheep stuck in an electric fence. Fucks. Indubitably. Another banger from Ice Cube, best known for being Captain Dickson from the cult classic "21 Jump Street", and for having a four paragraph long section titled "Conspiracy theories and antisemitism" on his Wikipedia page!
Cold
old school rough all explicit
Not my thing. I tried
I'm more familiar with Ice Cube's acting career than music so this will be interesting. Starts off very aggressive and I feel that will stay through most the album. I get the idea behind being a scary gun gangster, but for me the fictional aspect is in conflict with the authenticity that I may be wrongly expecting. On the other hand, reading these lyrics and actually sounding intimidating maybe says more about how he transitioned to an actor. "It was a good day" had a nice break from being so violent. It is kind of wild reading the comments on these songs and how these songs are still relevant 30 years later. I've just had a sheltered suburban life I guess. "Check Yo Self" comes off as a silly version of the rest of the songs, in a good way. Or maybe that is just me. Favorite track:"Check Yo Self" 2/5
Front to back bangers. A phenomenal album.
His impact is crucial and undeniable on the Rap genre as a whole. I personally have just never been too big a fan of it in practice and enjoy a lot of other artists from this era of Hip Hop much more. "It Was A Good Day" is still fantastic, though.
I really enjoyed this album despite not really being a fan of most hip hop music. The combination of heavy political lyrics, sick beats, and sampled conversations of Malcom X were surprising well done. I am aware that some topics might be sensitive to some, but this is an album that is a product of its time and should reviewed as such. Despite that, I highly recommend at least a listen even from those who don't enjoy hip hop. Favorite Song(s): "It Was A Good Day", "When Will They Shoot", "Check Yo Self", "Who Got The Camera?", "The Predator"
me gusto wena vaina.
It was a good day 5/5 kitaratausta.
Gud dae
Alright, this was good. I definitely can see why it's on the list. I could be wrong, but Ice Cube seemed to quote several other famous rap songs. Or maybe it's the other way around, I don't know. I'm not knowledgeable about rap. I'm not into rap but I found myself bopping my head to some of the songs while I was driving. That's a win in my books.
Second Ice Cube album served to me here offers more of the things I couldn’t stand in the previous one.
When I was younger, I was always afraid of the gansta rap genre, and really felt uncomfortable with the language and imagery they used. Now that I'm older, I'm not scared, but I'm still uncomfortable. Not because of the language or imagery, but the fact that in the intervening decades, nothing has changed. Regardless, this is an important album.
Cause shotgun bullets are bad for your health!
Not my style, but enjoyed the overall sound of the album. Not a fan of talking insert pieces as they disrupt the flow of the album, but obviously important topics that still ring true 30 years later.
This was honestly a sleeper album for me. I've known about it for years but only bothered to really listen to the one track. Although it's older, it sounds fresh from a musical perspective and the message is still sadly relevant today. A solid piece of a old school hip hop that I'll definitely be returning to again. Standout Tracks: When Will They Shoot, Wicked, It Was a Good Day, Check Yo Self
Holy smokes this was great.
Non son moito de Ice Cube pero a verdade que o disco estivo medianamente ben, algunha canción moloume pero sen máis.
Pretty good album, not my usual
1. The First Day of School - N/R - skit. 2. When Will they Shoot? - 8.8 - great lyrics and beat. 3. I'm Scared (Insert) - N/R - skit 4. Wicked - 8.2 - beat gets repetitive after a bit. lyrics are great once again. 5. Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha - 7.8 - basic flow. still great lyrics. 6. The Predator - 8.4 - not much to say that hasn't been said. 7. It Was a Good Day - 9.7 - awesome story, 90s LA stuff. 8. We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up - 8.5 - best flow on the album imo 9. Fuck 'Em (Insert) - N/R - skit 10. Dirty Mack - 7.7 - great beat, but weaker lyrics. 11. Don't Trust 'Em - 7.5 - Meh lyrics and chorus. 12. Gangsta's Fairytale - 7.5 - nothing special. 13. Check Yo Self (feat. Das EFX) - 8.4 - best lyrics, carry the chorus and beat. 14. Who Got the Camera? - 6.9 - weird flow. meh. 15. Integration (Insert) - N/R 16. Say Hi to the Bad Guy - 8.6 - funny. great skits, good lyrics.
Too many cuss words for me.
Too vulgar for my virgin ears
Something irresistible about early 90s West Coast Hip Hop
This album was incredibly politically charged. It sounded like it had to a lot with police brutality and MLK Jr’s vision and subsequent death. There were many times where there were samples from “Police Officers” and other government figures that were corrupt. I wonder what is real and what isn’t. Nonetheless, I thought the album was pretty good. I enjoyed it and I understand what it meant to the people listening to it at that time, but it’s not something I would actively listen to. It’s a simple type of rap that I enjoy listening to.
Not for me
Might have been revolutionary in its time but, for me, this old school sound ultimately just falls somewhere in the indistinct middle of the rap pantheon.
Thoughts before listening: I know this is a classic, but I've never listened to it. "It Was a Good Day" is an all time 90s rap banger so that will be awesome to hear. I'm sure I'll enjoy this, but as always the lyrics will be hard to connect with. Review: This is not what I was expecting...this definitely isn't a party album. "Good Day" is one of only a handful of songs on here that use the West coast laid back funk sound of Dr. Dre that Ice Cube came from in NWA. Much of the album reminds me more of Public Enemy's sound collage hard rock style with relentless beats and raps that are angrily spit out with almost a punk rock attitude. This is a very pissed off album heavily inspired by Rodney King and the resulting riots, and while not always a fun listen it is very effective. This is a 3 star album. "Good Day" and "Check Yo Self" are getting added to the playlist.
My rating says it all. Scale: 5 - My absolute favorites. 4 - Albums I like. 3 - It was ok to listen to but I wouldn't seek it out. 2 - Didn't like. 1 - Absolute shit.
Really into this! In a rush so can't do the track play by play, but loved that interview(?) tape cut from track 2. Beats are really good.. catchy but in a different way than, say, a melody that gets stuck in your head.
Blegh
Yes. I listened to this whole thing. Well, okay… at least the first 45 seconds of every track. So I can confidently say that I tried, but this just wasn't for me.
Damn. This hits hard. It's sadly relevant today as there are still huge racial issues between cops and minorities. Lots of uncomfortable truths. It Was A Good Day and Say Hi To The Bad Guy are total bangers. Solid, solid stuff.
Ég fíla ekki rapp eins og margar aðrar stjörnugjafir hjá mér hafa gefið í skyn. Þessi aftur á móti virkaði betur fyrir mig en aðrar rappplötur. Eitt lag sem ég fílaði alveg vel og hef af og til hlustað á sjálfur. Restin dregur það þá niður úr þremur í tvær.
Not my thing at all
p697. 1992. 1 star. The usual foul mouthed tedious (c)rap. Sample lyrics: fuck, nigga, motherfucker, shit, bitch, whore. No thanks.
Feel like I need to add the qualifier that I’m not the target audience for this music but man, I found this boring. Some interesting sociopolitical nods in the inserts, but the songs themselves don’t have anything like that to back it up or flesh it out.
Q-Tip described this as a "voice for the angry and unheard during the 90s", which feels like a pretty apt description to me. Let's get one thing out of the way to start. This album has "It Was A Good Day" on it, which is definitely one of the most iconic rap songs of all time. It's great, full stop. It's also a pretty big thematic departure from the rest of the album. Two songs before this Ice Cube has "gotta wet 'cha" and then he's just describing this nice day getting a triple double on the court. It's a bit of thematic whiplash. The rest of the album is a bit less accessible to me. This came out not long after the '92 LA riots, and "We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up" confronts this directly. It's a bit hard to place my current version of Ice Cube (in like comedy movies and TV commercials) back in this time. I'm struggling to rate this one. It has one iconic song, a handful of pretty strong songs that I think capture the moment in time pretty well, and then a bunch that are fine but don't stand out much to me. A few other random notes. Apparently "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" is where the phrase "it's on like Donkey Kong" came from. Similarly, "check yourself before you wreck yourself" came from "Check Yo Self". It's interesting how little phrases like this can work their way into culture. Favorite song: It Was A Good Day Other: When Will They Shoot?, Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha, We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up, Gangsta's Fairytale 2, Check Yo Self 12/29/23
Not my thing
Funky and poignant - it feels a completely authentic snapshot of post LA riot Los Angeles. Bar the misogyny - that let’s face it - the vast majority of hip hop of the era reveled in - it’s a banging album. One of the best of the era - possibly up there with the Chronic.
It won't make me like rap, but it was the most interesting rap album so far. I even didn't feel like skipping every second song.
Things I've learnt: 1. Ice Cube has an A-K 2. It's a good day for genocide 3. Nothing ever changes. 4. Ice Cube has an A-K It was a good day.
American rap is not a genre I listen to, but this album on the one hand is a piece of social history linked to the difficult living conditions of black people, BLM before BLM, secondly it is a great album in itself. The sampling and mixing are amazing and energetic.
It's just not my style of music.
Amazing artistic time capsule of what was happening in the early 90's. Easy to forget how raw Ice Cube was after getting used to seeing him in Disney movies for the last decade.
3/5 Best Track: Who Got the Camera?
He sounds so aggressive in most of these songs lmao
im just not an enjoyer of old school hip hop like this YNN
Ugh.
Essential 90s hip hop, right here. Is what a good rap album should be. Great bars, great beats, MEMORABLE bars and lyrics, it’s amazing. The things Ice Cube is raising hell about are still happening today, says a lot. There’s things that big it down (misogyny, homophobia), and a few tiny things that throw you out of it, but they’re minor problems. Loved this a lot and may come back to it.
powerful messages! loved the storytelling, good vibes in the music too, enjoyable listen but not too much stood out to me. loved Dirty Mack for the vibes and Don't Trust Em cause wowww powerful!
So violent and antisemitic and misogynistic. Not my cuppa. And was never for me anyway so I don’t even feel qualified to comment or rate.
Early 92, filled with phrases that got lifted by espn
Really good. Love his style, even if it's the same on every track.
Definitely a great album. One or two songs miss a little for me. One song has a talking part that uses the Nword over and over. It just took me out of the album for awhile. But, overall, a very good album.
Thought i'd listened to this before but apparently not the whole thing, though I'm very familiar with his first 2 albums and NWA. You could definitely make the argument that from '88 and that first NWA classic to this album in '92, Ice Cube was the best rapper doing it, and his skill is obvious all over this thing, though I do think it's my least favourite of his work up to this point. That doesn't mean much though considering that's such a high bar, his attitude and anger comes through just as potently as on any of those albums. I just need more time to sit with it, the anger feels more focused and directed on this one compared to the last 2 where he was just calling out anyone and everyone. Worth some re-listens.
Loved this album as a kid ha
I respect the work & the skill. It's not for me though.
For a lot of the gangsta rap records that are out there, at least this one tries to break it up with different songs as opposed to constantly hammering the tough-guy, hard-beat type. It's a secret shame of mine that I'm not that big a fan of "Today Was A Good Day"; Ice just sound stilted and I'd rather listen to "Between the Sheets" instead of the sampled version. Lyrically, it hasn't aged super well, but the energy is commendable. Favorite track: "Wicked"
The First Day of School (Intro) - N/A When Will They Shoot? - 8/10 I'm Scared (Insert) - N/A Wicked - 5/10 Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha - 7/10 The Predator - 6/10 It Was A Good Day - 10/10 We Had To Tear This Mothafucka Up 8/10 Fuck 'Em (Insert)- N/A Dirty Mack - 7/10 Don't Trust 'Em - 7/10 Gangsta's Fairytale 2 - 8/10 Check Yo Self - 9/10 Who Got The Camera - 7/10 Integration (Insert) - N/A Say Hi To The Bad Guy - 7/10 Favourite Songs - It Was A Good Day, Check Yo Self, When Will They Shoot? Least Favourite Songs - Wicked, The Predator Score - 7.6/10
A classic
he always has some duds in my opinion but that's true for so many in that transition between the late 80s and early 90s. and when an Ice Cube song hits it HITS
He’s obviously a hip hop legend and the songs have a powerful message but I can’t get over the fact the songs are so repetitive musically. It was a good day is a nice sample but it’s so fucking boring after a few minutes, and you’re just left sitting there listening to him talk about how he had sex once.
I think I wanted to dislike this album but it's pretty solid with some really good standouts. All the 1-bar loops for backing tracks get really tiring through.
It was fun to get this album so soon after Dre’s The Chronic. Dre’s production on that album is so much more unique compared to this very generic effort. The more serious, societal focus of the lyrics is admirable, but it comes off as inauthentic.
Ice Cube releases his first #1 solo Album with "The Predator" and it is no surprise. Straight Outta N.W.A., the rapper and actor brings us an album with many qualities that are missed in modern rap. The storytelling, different topics, every song has its place on the album, the MC attitude of connecting and introducing the songs, meaningful interludes... Included in the project, "It was a Good Day" broke the barrier between famous rap songs and famous songs. It is a bop. Personally, I enjoyed the album a lot. I had a couple laughs throughout the album and I could vibe to a lot of songs.
Ice Cube té un estil molt curiós i no m'extranya que sigui vist com un dels artistes de rap més importants de la història. Dit això, no és per mi. Només un parell de cançons d'aquest àlbum (It Was a Good Day, per exemple) m'han agradat prou com per escoltar-les regularment
need for collection. fan-fucking-tastic piece of social history.
Classic Ice
Mediokrer Gangster Rap
Honestly a pleasant surprised. Instrumentals are dope and energy is high. Check Yo Self and It was a good day were the highlight of the album for me
Wouldn’t seek this type of music out, but really appreciated the lyrics and also the layered complex music and snippets from recordings
I felt like there was a lot of serious and meaningful stuff inspiring the song lyrics, but musically, my brain can’t really enjoy it or even analyze its merits/flaws. I don’t know how to rate this. That’s all I’m gonna say
This album is angry. I'm not even going to get into the whole police brutally thing, but the anger comes across in every song. Also Predator and Good Day are bangers.
This album is a great oldie but doesnt really hit for me now because im not into the harder style of rap that much, im more of a fan of lyrical rap now. It was a good day will always be a bop though
This album is filled with some strong messages, delivered in a questionable way. Mostly aggressive fast beats are used, but there are the few that give a break from that and freshen up the album a great amount. Delivered us the classic It was a good day, which is a timeless song. Personal Favorites: It was a good day, Gangstas Fairytale 2
Some fun songs with a few meh ones every now and again
Really good flow as always, for some reason I don’t like this album as much as his stuff in NWA, maybe it blends together too much Between 3/4****
Some good songs in here but lots of filler
Really enjoyed this.
couple of great songs here
Great passion and fire. Ew to Farrakhan. Beats get same-y, but a few hot tracks here. Best song: It Was a Good Day
Boh sì ascoltabile
This is much stronger than his other album on this list. The anger and frustration is palpable and still rings true today.
One time I saw Ice Cube open for Snoop Dogg at an arena show, and during his set he went on this prolonged rant about how even though he’s in family movies, he’s still hard. Personally I think it would have been more wise to not repeatedly remind the crowd that he’s in a bunch of family movies, and just sorta let them suspend disbelief. Anyway it’s neat to hear his stuff from before, when he’s still got this legitimate piss and vinegar about him. Not my favourite, but good.
Som clássico já, nask
-ICE CUBEEEEE -so excited to listen to this album -when will they shoot is A BANGERRRRR -some of these songs sound similar but the beats are hard -IT WAS A GOOD DAYYYYY -mfin ICONIC beat and song right here omg -i like the inserts between the songs with the talking -dirty mack is a favorite for SUREEEE -the childrens story references in gangstas fairytale 2 is interesting -overall i enjoyed it, some of the lyrics were iffy (but it was the 90’s) -giving it 3 stars
It might be a great album but not my genre.
Brutal and unflinching from start to finish. I like 80-90% of this very much and it would easily be 5-stars if there were a few less interludes and it was about 2-3 tracks shorter. It was a Good Day was the theme of the 1990s and the video was fantastic.
Not for me, but musically and lyrically excellent.
I can only imagine that Ice Cube had me, a white suburban man blowing leaves, in mind when he wrote and released this album. listened to this twice through and while there were certainly some standout moments (Wicked, The Predator, Today Was A Good Day, Year This Motherfucka Up) this album runs a little long for my liking and ran together at points. The beats on the album are solid and the recorded interludes actually tie things together more than distract as some skits so. This is fine west coast gangsta rap with plenty of direct references to the Rodney King trial and the fall out that followed the verdict. There are many direct references to police brutality and inequality between black and white communities. At the same time you get stories about gang rivalry and women tricking men out of money. Ice Cube puts a solid release together here standing alone from NWA. Hard to believe his character arc eventually brought him to make crappy family comedies. This one is a solid 3.5 to me. I'll round up.
Not really into the beginning of this album. Getting better at The Predator and obviously It Was A Good Day is a classic jam. Little worried about the end of this album because it is a lot of songs I have never heard before. 2nd half definitely not as good. Overall I give it a soft 3
Feels like a generic rap album. Didn't get much from it. There were some good beats, but they were that 90s style where they're too prominent while also being too repetitive. There was some good flow especially at the beginning.
I understand the lyrics and why music like this was written in the 90s. But just purely musicly i don't really like this style of rap. Ice Cube only has one type of singing voice and the beats didn't really do it for me.
Pretty solid gangster rap album with the classics Wicked, Check Yo Self, and of course It Was a Good Day. Little choppy throughout and had a ton of interludes it felt but when he’s on he’s on
Ice Cube
Þetta er frekar feit plata. Elska It was a good day sem er alveg eitt af þessum stóru 90's hip hop lögum sem lifa vel í dag. Check Yo Self líka bouncy. Restin af plötunni smá hit and miss, en verð þó að gefa klakanum það að það er skemmtilegra að hlusta á hann bölva rasískum yfirvöldum kanans og vandamálum ghettosins heldur en þessi ríðulög sem maður þarf að hlusta á í mörgum 90's rappplötum. 3,5 nær ekki alveg upp í 4 hjá mér
Náði því miður ekki að hlusta nógu vel á þessa, enda kominn með óverdós á rappi. It was a good day er gott lag og Wicked fannst mér geggjað lag. Hlustaði nokkrum sinnum á það.
Too many skits. Bad length because of it. It Was A Good Day is one of the best rap songs ever. Ez 3.5
super predator
Good Day is obviously the best song here but there's some other solid tracks. 3.5
Favorite Tracks: Check Yo Self It Was A Good Day
Good album!
It Was A Good Day and Check Yo Self bolster an album that I've always found difficult to vibe with even thought I've always appreciated Ice Cube.
This is an awesome album and artist. Love this old school hip hop with the skits between tracks. Great listen!
I enjoyed listening to most of the tracks, but I don't think I'd listen to the full album again. I can hear so many influences from other music/ians and can tell this influenced many to come after this album. I was really interested to read about what was happening in LA just before the release of this album and can hear it reflected passionately in the lyrics. Also cool to hear the same song sampled in 'Check yo self' as in Salt-n-Pepa's 'Shoop' ('I'm Blue' by The Sweet Inspirations) though I looked it up and its totally outrageous that Salt-n-pepa don't seem to be on the 1001 list at all?!? Fave track: We had to tear this mothafucka up (nice Cypress Hill Vibes)
So, it was a good listen, but also a bit tiresome.
Didn't know Stg Tutoola used to be a rapper back in the day ;) It Was A Good Day listening to this album!
I will sound super white if I try to go into details here so I'll just say I quite enjoyed it
When Will They Shoot was my favorite. Good early 90's West Coast rap album and the first full Ice Cube album I've heard. Not as good as The Chronic though.
It's 90s gangsta rap. I like a song or 2 on the album, it's just pretty intense for the ride to work.
Not important enough to be on this list. Many people will say this is important due to societal topics being mentioned. Yet... this type music creates more societial ills. Such as the embrace of violence, misogynistic language, and helping popularizing racially explicit terms to a wider non-african american audience. Such attitudes can only cause divisions between people and lessen the percieved value of human life. He could have used his voice to help overcome many issue in his community and America in general. Concerning the music... Wicked is nothing but another example of the overused funky worm sample. Good Day is a hip-hop classic of course. Check Yo Self sampled "I'm Blue" by The Sweet Inspirations... that sample was later popularized with the the song Shoop by Salt-N-Pepa. Das EFX is always a treat to hear even though their popularity was short lived. Who's Got the Camera is a clever song about police brutality. Honestly when this was released I wasn't impressed and thought it was Cube's weakest release at that point. I'm still not impressed.
Easiest 5 star of my life
I'm not a rap fan, but there's no denying Mr Cube is talented.
yes sir, this rage and good music but for my people please, thank you
Cube has great flow and rhymes as usual. The thing that stuck out to me is how race relations are discussed on this record versus the discourse that we hear today. Today's language around racism and equality issues is so academic compared to the real talk on The Predator. The beats don't stand out too much here.
ganz easy, aber schon einfach 0815 90s hiphop
Raw, honest and unfortunately still very relevant.
A classic of 90s gangster rap, strongest as a demonstration of the anger of Rodney king era los Angeles
Incredible production. Some beats remind me of Daft Punk/disco inspired stuff.
Too obscene for me, I’m aftaid to say!
First time hearing this album from front to back. High Energy, good production, powerful lyrics and over course Cube's delivery is incredible. It's a landmark album.
One of the better 90s rap albums on this list so far. Great energy. Great beats. The lyrics are still poignant for today's troubles and the anger is palpable.
I thought it was fine. This was a big deal when I was younger.
Good album from ol icey, thoughtful lyrics and good beats. Does postmark his eventual decline though.
Good album, the misogyny jarrs but the anger is sadly still relevant.
Again, there's so much content on Ice Cube's albums, I struggle to digest it all. The -isms feel intentionally uncomfortable. Musically, there's a layer of cinematic soundscape that I easily get lost in. But lyrically, it's not a world I wanna be in. Fuck, it's 2024 and doesn't feel much has changed for Black Americans.
Pas trop mon style même si ça m’a quand même ambiancé
Interesting. First two songs hit hard. Rest was ok.
Starts strong but the 2nd half isn't as good. Not bothered about the inserts either, they could be removed and it wouldn't affect anything. Added a couple to my main playlist.
Not for me.
Ice Cube, The Predator 1992 4.5* if I could do half stars. It's a great album with some classics. Top tier: - "Wicked" - "It Was a Good Day" - "We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up" Second tier: - "When Will They Shoot?" - "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" - "Dirty Mack" - "Don't Trust 'Em" - "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" 1. "The First Day of School (Intro)" Ice Cube 1:20 3* because it ain't music. But dang, I hadn't heard this in years since listening to this as my first ever CD. Brought back some memories, man. 2. "When Will They Shoot?" 4:36 4* Jam track. I haven't heard this since I used to listen to the CD. Forgot how good this track was. Ice Cube's hard rhyming style comes out strong here. References O.P.P. and made me smile. My head's bobbing. 3. "I'm Scared (Insert)" 1:32 4. "Wicked" (featuring Don Jagwarr) 3:55 5* Everything slaps on this track. Great treble whine, bassline, drum track, rhymes. 5. "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" DJ Muggs 4:03 4* Intro goes hard. Song bounces throughout. 6. "The Predator" DJ Pooh 4:03 3* Not bad, interesting that this was the album's namesake track, as it's not even in the top 25%. 7. "It Was a Good Day" DJ Pooh 4:19 5* Still the best track on the album. 8. "We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up" DJ Muggs 4:23 5* Another amazing track that does capture the rage in LA after the Rodney King verdict. 9. "Fuck 'Em (Insert)" Sir Jinx 2:02 Just a cutscene, but captures the media's coverage of Gangsta rap at the time. 10. "Dirty Mack" Mr. Woody 4:34 4* Decent track, lots of saxophone. The "happiest" sounding track on the album but the lyrics are anything but. 11. "Don't Trust 'Em" 4:06 4* Not bad, not great. Love the samples. Not Ice Cube's strongest work. 12. "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" (featuring Lil Russ) 3:19 4* Not bad, not amazing. Produced well, good samples. 13. "Check Yo Self" (featuring Das EFX) 3:42 4* Love the Das Efx appearance on this track. Good jam. 14. "Who Got the Camera?" Sir Jinx 4:37 3* Not a track that grabs me, but definitely an Ice Cube song. His sharp-tongued critique of cops over a driving beat is a thing of beauty. 15. "Integration (Insert)" Ice Cube 2:31 A cutscene, not much to rate here. Good beat. 16. "Say Hi to the Bad Guy" Sir Jinx 3:19 3*, has the maybe? humorous bit about them killing a donut grabbing cop.
Good stuff, diggin' the growing and cyphers.
Pretty good. Not my favorite style of rap but the message and relevance is important.
Tweede ice cube album op rij!
Lit beats (bar some typical repetitiveness of rap)
Production on this is killer - It was a Good Day is a certified classic. When will they Shoot comes out swinging. Its hard to remember that this is the same Ice Cube that now does family movies. There are some weaker tracks here but overall it is a great classic
Pleasantly surprised by this. Too much misogyny on some tracks though
A lot of the rap albums on this list suffer from being of their time and haven't aged well (I said as much on the previous Ice Cube album) but this album is full of content that is relevant to our modern world 30 years later. Yeah some bits haven't aged well, but it's outweighed by the overall message. Sad to see in the 30 years since it was released, the themes and message is still just as relevant today as it was in the early 90s.
What a classic. Love me some Ice Cube.
Great expression in the lyrics and well done rhythms. The beats is the iconic rap beats that was common for the fellows from nwa
Enjoyed some of it
Ice Cube's early solo career, repetitive lyrics about homies, gats, AKs, bitches, punk ass niggas, and cars notwithstanding - it is gangsta rap after all - is pretty damn listenable. And so is this.
Incredible. Aggressive, in your face. This must have been another mind-blowing album back in '92. I was six, so this was definitely off my radar, but this probably SHOCKED a ton of people. With the prison samples and all the racial content, this album is amazing.
Great. But not for me, sadly.
Ice Cube’s Predator is like a cold ice cube in my proseco on a hot summer day!
not the best 90s hip-hop album, not even the best ice cube album. still pretty great. but I'm a harsh critic.
One of the best intro songs I've ever heard. Flawless album.
Ikkje nåken høydare
seriously
Ice Cube’s message is heard loud and clear here.
I have a terrible feeling that these lyrics are going to be timeless. Who Got The Camera might be the best due to how hard it leans into the message. Today Was a Good Day will always be great too.
Lyrically charged. Ice cube flow is as good as ever. 3 stars
Deze rap vind ik zelfs leuk. Geeft me het gevoel alsof ik naar het begin van een Amerikaanse cartoon/90’s film kijk. (When Will They Shoot) Tijdens The Predator (6e nummer op het album pas) vond ik het wel erg saai worden. Erg veel herhaling. Wel leuke achtergrondmuziek, maar niet om zelf op te zetten.
U žanru koji mi je najdulje vrimena bija najdraži moran bit strong. Neda mi se uru vrimena slušat o rasizmu i politici. Osim toga Ice Cube mi nikad nije lega. Da buden najiskreniji da nije Today was a good day, bilo bi 1.
I’ve cubes lyrics in this album gi so damn hard and are relevant even 30 years later.
Nah. I disagree that this is an album I need to hear.
Really solid album displaying that classic, 90s West Coast, Ice Cube sound. Plenty of great lyrics, addressing the tension felt day to day and through more impactful events such as Rodney King. Songs that stood out: “The Predator”. Classic songs: “Today was a Good Day”. 4/5
love it when grown men fight with rhymes
When I was a kid all I heard was the violence. Now I have a bit more context I hear more emotional range. I hear hyper vigilance and vulnerability. Violence is only ever directed at white supremacists. There's no real cussin'. No real misogyny. It's a mature piece of work, even quite funny sometimes. Even the title seems like a wry wee joke. Still, I'm an East coast guy and the production ain't always my favourite.
This ripped. Thought it was going to be a bit too old school for me to really enjoy with it being 92'. But I didn't really get bored even for a second. Chalk it up as a big win for the old school hip hop category that I admittedly was unsure about when I started!
I like the variety in this album, Today Was A Good Day is definitely my favorite. Not my favorite, but still really enjoyable.
Crazy how he went from this to being a Republican in the span of a few years, but I guess money changes people. He also went on to play a few cops in movies too... The production is a lot better than the NWA days, but that stands within reason. The flows and style are a lot better than those days too (in my opinion). The second half of the album is a bit more of a return to form. The flows are a lot more similar to NWA in that they are a lot more rigid. It's a lot of rhyming for the sake of rhyming (or at least that is what it feels like) There are aspects that I quite like about this album, but overall it wasn't something that impressed me, especially compared to some other albums that came out the same year that pushed the genre forward a bit more. Although the first half of this album was a lot more in line with that. A high 3/5 I fuck with the anti-police message in this
Aggressive, old school rhymes. A bit dated, but the overall message is still relevant. Sadly.
Solid album with a message.
Has some cool moments. Def reminds me of a lot. Feels like Dan the Automator is almost in here. I think I get what he was trying to do culturally and I appreciate that. I have a new-found respect for ice cube, even if there are no entire songs I loved. The interlude where ice cube gives an interview is probably my fav part after it was a good day.
Good album, much more what I'd listen to
beurk
Today was a good day is an all time, timeless classic. Wouldn’t say I cared for much of the rest of the album
Know the hit, never actually dove deep into the solo works of each member of NWA aside from Dre, Sorry Ice and Eazy E... prove me wrong? I thought the lyrics were great here, and I Learned he was the main ghostwriter for NWA which is pretty cool. Explains why I like them... Overall a solid 4 I'd say.
One decent song. Otherwise: i can’t get into this type of rap. Just not good music imo. He’s just an angry man yelling into the mic. Don’t like this shit at all.
one song I liked. Today was a good day
just awesome
Not gonna lie, this goes hard as fuck.
This list has taught me I really don’t like Ice Cube. Better actor than rapper? Food for thought….
This was an alright album. "Good Day" was the best song and others didn't come close. I don't rate the more politically charged albums based on the politics or subject matter in which they are performing, but I felt the beats and flow were lacking in a lot of songs. It has a strong message that's worth sharing, especially based on the Rodney King Riots, but in my opinion it's just not good musically.
He's cool, and I'd be cooler if I listened to more ice cube
I was bobbin
Not really my kind of music but definitely has some bangers. Checking myself before I wreck myself on these notes... It was a good day is a classic.
4/5 - Powerful and great
Not my cup of tea but pretty good with some tracks I might revisit. Good beats, good flow, good rhymes. It Was A Good Day is stand out.
It wasn't very interesting to me and I didn't feel it deserved much of my time or mental energy.
Insufferable and monotonous. Ice Cube thinks he such a punk and a rebel, which is hilarious because today there is nothing less rebellious than being black and loud about it. American culture undeniably adores blackness today, and almost every corporation, media outlet, and university pushes black identity politics.
What a phenomenal fuck you album. As the LA Riots raged in 92, white America was legitimately scared of Ice Cube and The Predator was his response to his critics in the media and politics, to his former bandmates in NWA, to the LAPD, and to anybody else who wanted to hide behind the pearls they clutched as an excuse to not listen to what he was saying. Side one has an indisputable line up of bangers. "When Will They Shoot?" was my favorite track at the time and remains one of the greatest album openers in hip-hop history. Next up "Wicked" takes the then hottest shit Bomb Squad style production and throws in some dancehall flavor to make a song so badass that nu metal bands would be covering it in a few years. DJ Muggs drops in for a couple of songs and then of course, the ubiquitous "It Was a Good Day," which would be elevated to the rarified pantheon of rap songs that even people who don't listen to rap know and like. Nothing wrong with side two, except that it can't live up to side one, which has to have been a conscious decision since side one is packed with Pooh and Muggs songs and they only have one song each on side two. Muggs's "Check Yo Self" is the only undeniable classic and it's nice that we finally get an appearance from the diggity Das EFX after a couple of shout outs. As a 15-year-old mark for a good novelty song, I loved "Gangsta's Fairytale 2" at the time. As a 40-something year old, I still think it's cute and love that Taste of Honey bass loop, but it does come off as a bit of a goofy attempt at a Slick Rick storytelling song. I also greatly enjoy that Cube considers Mr Rogers and Bebe's Kids to be fairytale characters.
That's not music.
Absolutely drips with anger and energy. Fabulous album.
good
So good
There are probably people who like this music. I dont
seeee. 7.5/10
Listening through the lyrics of some of Ice Cube’s songs, it’s tough to get behind his message. While well known for his advocacy against police brutality (especially in the wake of the Rodney King beating), he throws daggers at other demographics to the point that he suppresses the mission he hopes to achieve. There are plenty of nineties rappers who didn’t do this, or at least not to the same degree. At the end of the day though, Ice Cube is one of the most influential West Coast rappers who came to prominence in the late eighties and early nineties, and his beats speak for themselves. The South Central LA classic “It Was A Good Day” is one of the most iconic songs of both the era and the genre, still inspiring artists and athletes alike with lines like “Last week fucked around and got a triple double!” The soul-tinged “Check Yo Self” has also stood the test of time, and the turntable-dominated “When Will They Shoot?” is a nineties DJ’s dream. The Predator has more depth than I would’ve thought, ranging from the booming words of civil rights activists to the hilariously donut-themed anti-police “Say Hi To The Bad Guy.” Ice Cube’s music wouldn’t stand a chance today, and it shouldn’t, but this album has some great beats and its influence could be heard throughout the rest of the decade.
Un clasicazo con toda la actitud.
firat half of the album is real angry. Second half real chill. overall liked it especially after good day
was this album any good? we will have to listen again properly and come back to tell you my lower back is so fucked lololol i love those pakoras from the 24 hour shop i have a lot of love in my heart for oriana stephen jane laura louie someone and someone what are these notes from highland park 12? ------ oh and yes this album was absolutely terrible waah waah im ice cube and im big whiney baby waaaaah etc for 15 identicals song and it was a good day
32/100
I love Ice Cube’s voice. Oddly, more than once the album triggered thoughts of a rap duo I listened to as a kid: Kris Kross. Where that was G rated, though, this was R. Looking into it, Kris Kross did sample Ice Cube’s music in their own.
"Gangsta" rap and Hip-Hop trash. 1/5
Tvö góð lög, restin er alveg drep.
Not a bad album, but not my cup of tea. Good background noise tho.
Great 90's hip hop from an artist I knew one song of. An interesting glimpse about the culture from the time period
my east coast bias comes into play heavily on this album, but it's almost impossible to deny the raw energy that ice cube captured on the highs of this album. the unfortunate relics of sexism and thin veils of anti semitism on some songs leave a bit of a sour taste in my mouth, however i feel it is more valuable to explore the causes of such prejuidice than posture about it from the future. do your own research on the history of the persecution of african americans and draw your own conclusions. what lies beneath is one of the most well produced and provocative albums in hip hop history, something ice cubes early run exemplified.