XXL Reviews Ice Cube's Laugh Now,Cry Later

[doubletrouble™]

Coming straight outta Compton in the late '80s, Ice Cube first made noise as a founding member of N.W.A. But when bad blood started brewing within the crew, he went solo on that ass and released his critically acclaimed 1990 debut, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, which boldly tackled poverty, racism and social issues head-on. Continuing to release quality material throughout the early '90s, the hip-hop pioneer solidified his position as a lyrical menace, but slowly transitioned into a successful movie career. Now he's more likely to be seen on Hollywood soundstages than on SoundScan. But Cube looks to prove he hasn't lost touch with his gangsta roots on his seventh solo disc, Laugh Now, Cry Later.

After six years away from the mic, Cube returns with a set that is at times agitated, obnoxious and even poignant. The centerpiece of the album is the reflective "Growin' Up," where the OG recounts some career peaks and valleys—including his a cappella audition for Dr. Dre before joining N.W.A, forming Westside Connection with WC and Mack 10 and regrets about not having the chance to reconcile with Eazy-E before his passing. Over a sampled loop of Minnie Riperton's "Memory Lane," he asserts, "Just because I'm acting/A ***** never stop rappin'/It's in my blood, homie/I keep the party crackin'."

Elsewhere, Cube revels in the provocative lyrics that made him the self-proclaimed "***** you love to hate." On the Scott Storch-produced "Why We Thugs," he rails against the prison system over looming organ chords and crisp hand claps. Then "Child Support" finds O'Shea Jackson staking his claim as a gangsta rap forefather while offering his views on beefing rappers, moneygrubbing record labels and crooked cops. But it's the somber "The ***** Trapp" that offers up some of Cube's most antiestablishment bars. After taking aim at President Bush and the lack of AIDS awareness in the hood, he says, "Flavor Flav with a White girl, that's wack/Gotta put that ***** in the back of my Cadillac/Take him to the hood where it's action packed/Let him know that the target's still on his back."
Clearly, rhyming with a political edge is still Cube's strongpoint, but at times his *****-witta-attitude posturing falters. Take the plodding "Doin' What It 'Pose 2Do," where he delivers an Andy Milonakis-style clunker: "Ice Cube, reflect like chrome/When I'm in the hood, I run it like Rome." The braggadocious "The Game Lord" is afflicted with the same level of wackness, thanks to lines like, "Oooohhh, it's a dog-eat-dog world/You a nut, I'm a squirrel, baby/Can I get you in my world, baby?/Can you grease up my curl, baby?"

Laugh Now also suffers from several lack-luster beats that weigh down Cube's strident flow. Awkward heavy l guitars drive "Click, Clack—Get Back" into rock-rap purgatory, and the dissonant Swizz Beatz synths of "Stop Snitchin'" are just plain grating. Even Lil Jon drops the ball creatively here, on "Holla @ Cha Boy," which rehashes the same warped horns from Usher's 2005 smash hit "Yeah!"

Cube redeems himself toward the end of this daunting 20-track disc with "Spittin' Pollaseeds." A fantastic voyage of top-down carnivalesque funk featuring WC and Kokane, the song is a perfect example of the Cali-centric hip-hop that Cube is adept at crafting. Reaffirming his OG status one more time, he spews, "Think you know the culture/You a fu*kin' vulture... Sayin' what you don't like/Who deserves five mics/Who deserve two/But the ***** that got two can still serve you." Yay-E-Yayeee!—BRETT JOHNSON

Rating:L

http://www.anonym.to/?http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=1187

[No Compute]

"L", shit even Yayo got "XL".

[ABN]

XXL reviews in general are about as accurate as The Source´s review of the Made Men album.

[doubletrouble™]

"L", shit even Yayo got "XL".

That's exactly what someone said on another message board

[Detox Iz Not Active]

DAMN, you usaully have to TRY to get a rating lower in XL  for that mag

[Eddie G.]

Fuck them, I'm sure Cube is gonna drop heat on this album

[P Nelson]

Fuck XXL AND the Source, Hip Hop  reviews are as accurate as deaf people reviewing albums...

[africas seed]

Fuck XXL AND the Source, Hip Hop reviews are as accurate as deaf people reviewing albums...

im confident cube delivered more than an L.

[QCDutch]

This is just retarded, I just listened to the sampler and it's straight fire
fuck XXL

[QuietTruth]

"L", shit even Yayo got "XL".

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Cube a L? And Yayo XL? What is happening to hip hop??

[CRAFTY]

I'm not even reading that. That magazine is pretty much just as washed up as The Source. It's been months since I last bought the mag...

[Matty]

yayo is on g-unit though and g-unit is 'cool' if your a stupid mainstream publication with no taste.

[dexter]

Fuck XXL AND the Source, Hip Hop  reviews are as accurate as deaf people reviewing albums...

EXACTLY
You Hater LOSERS LOST!

[Diabolical]

Haha I remember everyone was on XXLs nuts a while back.

[gav09]

From the sampler, it definately snds better than an L!