ICE CUBE - Raw Footage | Review By: Jonathan Hay


Release Date : August 19 2007

Label : Lench Mob Records

Rating: 4/5

 

Dub Quotable: Raw Footage is his finest collective and most cohesive studio effort in many years

.............................................

Once again it's on… Ice Cube is back with a vengeance on his eighth solo album Raw Footage, which is his finest collective and most cohesive studio effort in many years. A new self-reliance is revealed and evident from the grand opening of this remarkable album.

It's all about Cube vision when he put's his locs on and kicks the memorable lyrics, "I been ballin' since the word ballin been played out" with Young Jeezy, on the song "I Got My Locs On." Most people have already been exposed to the mind-blowing sounds of the brilliant "It Takes A Nation" -- the leaked song that rekindled the excitement for millions of fans across the nation anticipating a new Ice Cube album.

Ice Cube, the Grand Wizard of Gangsta Rap, fires his lyrical passion on the stellar "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It" -- backed with a catchy melodic piano loop -- as Cube drops heat, such as "ya'll spit salvia, and I spit lava." "Why Me," featuring Musiq Soulchild, is a laid-back track reminiscent of a refreshing west coast breeze and leaves you feeling like you just had a good day in California.

Cube tackles "Do Ya Thang," with its propulsive drum track, for this party record -- a party record that is actually done the right way, as Cube proclaims, "f-ck a rock star, we wanna party like a rap star." "Thank God" opens up with a powerful spoken intro and drops into a certified banger...period. "Get Money" sounds like what I envision if Ice Cube and Dr. Dre were to get in the studio today.

"Get Used To It" features WC and The Game -- but it's WC who steals the show with his extraordinary stylistic verse. However, The Game doesn't disappoint at all in what I hope is just a taste from the trio of the new Westside Connection. Cube thoughtfully delivers on "Tomorrow," an authoritative message that needs to be heard throughout the hip-hop community.

Ice Cube reworks the classic 70's hit, "Be Thankful for What You Got" by William DeVaughn, on the introspective and soulful song, "Stand Tall." This song is a timeless masterpiece, as so many standout cuts on this thematic, striking, coherent and sonic ensemble, packaged together and titled Raw Footage.

Simply put, Ice Cube is an Icon.



 

..........................................................................................
The views expressed here are those of the authors and not
necessarily those of Dubcnn as an organisation.
..........................................................................................