| Viewing Single Post From: Ice Cube | |
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| Vintage | Dec 4 2006, 09:40 PM |
Angel
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[size=4]Ice Cube[/size] In 1989 a fallout between O'Shea "Ice Cube" Jackson and Eric "Eazy-E" Wright and his manager Jerry Hellier resulted in Ice Cube splitting from N.W.A. after just 2 albums (including the compilation-like "NWA And The Posse" of 1986). Visions of what could have been were quickly dismissed a year later when Ice Cube defected to the East Coast, and more importantly, into the arms of Public Enemy and their production group, the Bomb Squad. In 1990, Ice Cube's debut album "AmeriKKKas Most Wanted" was released and set a new benchmark in hip-hop. The album title barely hinted at the blunt agression of the music contained within. After an introductory song, "The ###### Ya Love To Hate" Cube ran through songs hitting many topics including unwanted pregnancies (and the scheming women who try to take advantage) on "You Can't Fade Me". The "wrong place wrong time" ballad "Once Upon A Time In The Projects" is so stark and vivid that the listener is taken into Cube's world where a trip to a hoochies house could mean you get stook in a crackhouse at the wrong time. The depth of the subject matter makes this album truely enjoyable, from the mainstream bashing "Turn Off The Radio" (complete with an Eazy-E diss) to the excellent Chuck D assisted call to arms which is "Endangered Species". On "A Gangsta Fairytale" the metaphors are aplenty" including a gang fight between Red Riding Hood and Little Boy Blue, a strong LA reference despite the New York sound of the album. The album ended with such tracks as the Lench Mob assisted "Rollin' Wit The Lench Mob" and the derogatory slanging match between himself and Yo-Yo on "It's A Man's World". Finally the real to life look at prostitution and pimping, "Who's The Mack" infuses a hint of blues into Cube's music. Basically this is one of the best 50 minutes of music hip-hop has ever produced and it's a must include in any collection. N.W.A.'s diss heavy "100 Miles And Runnin'" was released around the same time as Cube's debut and later in the year Cube would release his own EP to answer the critics. "Kill At Will" was a violent shot in the dark, a bridge between "AmeriKKKas Most Wanted" and "Death Certificate" which would follow in 1991. The EP definately had it's moments with excellent remixes of the Chuck D assisted "Endangered Species" and groupie male attacking "Get Off My Dick And Tell Yo Bitch To Come Here". However, the new tracks were the real coup here. The all time classic "Dead Homiez" is a sober and sombre look at the adverse effects of living in a gun culture. The track became one of Ice Cube's all time classics and would hardly ever be topped in popularity. "The Product" and "Jackin For Beats" are both excellent new tracks from Cube and served as some meat to keep fans satisfied until the new album. In 1991 the new album came in the form of "Death Certificate". A huge step up from everything which came before, the album was an aggressive abrasive look at the America. “My Summer Vacation”, the albums first peak, is the story of switching states to sell drugs, a move which was very popular at the time. The track shows the pitfalls of this life leaving not only a vivid story but a moral to go with it. Cube got derogatory about women in true westcoast fashion on "Givin' Up The Nappy Dugout" but once again followed with a moral on "Look Who's Burnin'". On a concept album balanced between the good and the bad (the life side and the death side) there was always a moral yin to Ice Cube's immoral yang, however most people decided to ignore the former. On short tracks like "A Bird In The Hand" and "Man's Best Friend" the point wasn't long and drawn out but sharp and to the point giving the listener a quick rush of Cube's truth. The albums concept was helped along with the excellent "Alive On Arrival" which tells the story of a man shot just for being in the wrong place and his increasing frustration with police questions and unsatisfactory hospital facilities as he dies slowly. Cube is then reborn for the second half of the album, and this is where the true fun begins. Every single track is amazing here. The N.W.A. disses "True To The Game" and "No Vasaline" are sharp, punchy and basically win the battle for Cube. The half dozen or so tracks take aim at everyone they have time for, from America ("I Wanna Kill Sam") to the Korean shop owner (a cliche in LA hoods) ("Black Korea"). On tracks like "Us" and the excellent posse cut "Color Blind" Cube reaches career peaks virtually every other minute. This is basically one of the best albums ever, regardless of genre. Around the same time Cube kicked off his acting career with an excellent performance in "Boyz In Tha Hood". He'd go on to star in other films including the "Friday" series, "Barbershop 1 and 2" and "Are We There Yet?" inbetween albums. Eventually he'd become an actor over a rapper and albums would become more and more infrequent but Cube still had a few gems to give first. In the wake of the LA riots, 1992's "The Predator" was a sort of "I told you so" to anyone who was listening. As Cube explains in the skit "Fuck Em", everything about the riots was already in his music before it happened. I'll leave you to decide that point for yourself but one thing was certain, Cube had done it again. "When Will They Shoot?" is a paranoid look at what is happening in the streets everyday whereas tracks like "Wicked" and "Now I Gotta Wet Cha" flipped the story with Cube as the antagonist. "Today Was A Good Day", possibly Cube's greatest song is here alongside the excellent title track and the Cypress Hill diss "Check Yo Self". The album is a step back from the genius of "Death Certificate" but the violence of tracks like "Say Hi To The Bad Guy" and the Rodney King based "Who Got The Camera" and "We Had To Tear This Motherfucker Up" make up for the lack of concepts. The album is on the same level as "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" minus the production of The Bomb Squad and was Ice Cube's last great moment. 1993's "Lethal Injection" is infamous amongst fans as the end of Ice Cube but the album truely isn't as bad as everyone makes out. Sure, it isn't the genius of the previous efforts but it still has it's moments. Songs such as "Really Doe" and "Ghetto Bird" are slicker production wise taking the sound of Dr. Dre's g-funk but they still have the Cube aggression and the message. The message however is obscured in places and the slick production really does take the bite out of Ice Cube's anger. Basically, this is a good westcoast album, but it's not an Ice Cube album as the fans had come to expect. Sure, it doesn't deserve to be called great, it's not, but it isn't half as bad as some people make out. Cube would now spend the next 5 years making films including the excellent comedy "Friday" but still had a few efforts such as the 1994 "Bootlegs and B-Sides" compilations and 1996's "Bow Down" as one third of the Westside Connection. In 1998 Ice Cube returned as a solo artist with the first part of his two volume War & Peace album, "The War Disc". The Cube of old was more obscured than ever by weak songs, strange album art and totally ridiculous guest spots. The album has a few bright sparks but is easily the low point of Cube's illustrious career. In 2000 "The Peace Disc" followed which was a big step up from the former. Songs like the N.W.A. reunion "Hello", "Record Company Pimpin'" and "24 Mo Hours" were strong Westcoast songs but once again they lacked the depth and intensity of the Ice Cube fans once knew. This album also includes the terrible party track "You Can Do It". Perhaps the best album since "The Predator" but still a million miles away from the first three. Cube returned again in 2006 to eager but cautious fans. "Laugh Now Cry Later", the resulting album was better again but was still lacking. Songs like "Why We Thugs" "The ###### Trapp" and "Child Support" hinted at Cube's past genius and although it was no classic (which nobody was expecting) it was enjoyable and strong throughout. The future of Ice Cube is unsure for now. I don't expect anybody to be waiting for another "Death Certificate" but it isn't ludicrous to expect a new album from Cube in the future. As he continues to shit on his reputation with stupid film roles (fuck was "Are We There Yet"?), he continues to build his rep back up with his albums getting better and better since 1998's low point. Sure, he's climbing back up the mountain, but surely he's too old to reach his 1991 peak again...isn't he?? Albums : AmeriKKKas Most Wanted (1990)  Kill At Will EP (1990)  Death Certificate (1991)  The Predator (1992)  Lethal Injection (1993)  War & Peace Volume 1 (1998)  War & Peace Volume 2 (2000)  Laugh Now Cry Later (2006) Collections : Bootlegs & B-Sides (1994) Featuring...Ice Cube (1997) Greatest Hits (2001) [size=2]Videos:[/size] "Who's the Mack" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckIKX4MR4M0 "Dead Homiez" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lR-UF9h1s2w "Jackin 4 Beats" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGp4rFTrljg "True to the Game" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtUeSSz4R38 "Steady Mobbin" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olr3QWKtfJs "Wicked" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mypljAAlAQA "It Was a Good Day" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2ho87rQVGA "Check Yo Self" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wff9IvZhbvc "Really Doe" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4g6foim4dg "You Know How We Do It" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMUd17h_7n0 "You Know How We Do It (Remix)" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjnNxYwLKz4 "Bop Gun (One Nation)" (ft. George Clinton) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kflDvBaP2Gw "What Can I Do" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaEog0r_dw0 "Lil' Ass Gee" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KNibhYmnBg "Natural Born Killers" (ft. Dr. Dre) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5AhzRTuwE8 "Friday" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeV31WQ_sVo "The World is Mine" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPcEzfeNg5Q "We Be Clubbin'" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP_BzAcT0lk "Pushin' Weight" (ft. Mr. Short Khop) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tV7BmAeDxJg "Fuck Dyin" (ft. Korn) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEx4K5zwAhg "You Can Do It" (ft. Mack 10, Ms. Toi) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA4Z6XkEPlc "Hello" (ft. Dr. Dre, MC Ren) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uj13iULVZAY "Until We Rich" (ft. Krayzie Bone) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9pcc4CDZ3Y "Chrome & Paint" (ft. WC) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAGOKqOyojc "Race Card" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FQtN2NbGv8 "Why We Thugs" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YksaC9yafqM "Go to Church" (ft. Snoop Dogg, Lil' Jon) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhC2CyX0JbY |
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| Ice Cube · Artist Encyclopedia | |
9:25 PM Nov 27
