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Ice Cube – Man Down | ReviewReview Nov 24 2024 Ice Cube’s Man Down feels like it’s split in two. At its best, it gives you flashes of that classic West Coast energy, heavy on the funk-inspired beats and Cube’s signature grit. Tracks like “5150” and “Break the Mirror” really deliver—Cube sounds sharp, the beats hit hard, and there’s a sense of purpose behind his delivery. These moments remind you why he’s a legend in the first place. “Ego Maniacs,” with Killer Mike and Busta Rhymes, also stands tall as a strong closer, bringing together Cube’s style with some standout performances from his guests.But outside of these highlights, the album loses its way. Some of the production choices feel stuck in limbo—caught between trying to hold on to that old-school vibe and chasing a more modern sound. This inconsistency makes it hard to stay locked in. The writing in parts of the album also doesn’t do much to elevate things—simple rhymes and repetitive themes that lack the depth or punch Cube is capable of.The features are hit or miss. While some artists, like Xzibit and Kurupt, add a spark to their tracks, others feel like they’re phoning it in, or worse, battling weak production. “She’s Sanctified,” which boasts an all-star lineup, is a prime example. With names like Snoop, Too $hort, and E-40, you’d expect something legendary, but the beat doesn’t give them much to work with, and the whole track ends up feeling underwhelming.Clocking in at an hour, the album starts to drag by the second half. The energy dips, and there’s less to latch onto as the songs blur together. It’s frustrating because there are glimpses of something much better here. Cube still has the ability to bring rawness and attitude, but it doesn’t show up often enough to carry the album.Ultimately, Man Down feels uneven. While there’s no denying Cube’s place in Hip Hop history, this project doesn’t add much to his legacy. A few tracks hit the mark, but too much of it feels like going through the motions. For longtime fans, there are moments worth revisiting, but it doesn’t leave much of a lasting impression as a full project.6/10
sounds better than everythangs corrupt to me
Ice Cube says the culture’s happiness was held hostage by final ‘Friday’ film delaysIn a new “Funky Friday” interview, Cube revealed the script included reuniting the franchise’s villains and Chris Tucker.This summer Ice Cube promised fans that progress was finally being made in his years-long battle to deliver the fourth and final installment of the Friday franchise. He attributed a shakeup in leadership at Warner Bros. Entertainment as the catalyst behind gaining momentum in moving the project forward.“We finally got some traction with Warner Bros. They have new leadership. My man Mike De Luca, who used to be at New Line when I first started, when I first did the first Friday and Players Club and All About the Benjamins. Mike De Luca was there... So, now he’s running Warner Bros.,” he told Flavor Flav during the June taping of “Flavor of the Week.”The cult classic Friday came out in 1995, starring Cube, Chris Tucker, Tommy Lister Jr., John Witherspoon, Nia Long and Regina King. Its box office success and cultural impact spawned two additional films: Next Friday in 2000, which introduced the masses to comedian Mike Epps, and Friday After Next in 2002, which put eyes on Katt Williams. Now, in a Nov. 22 interview for “Funky Friday” with Cam Newton, the co-founding N.W.A. member has revealed the stalled plans he had in mind for the film, at least, tentatively called Last Friday.Among the obstacles he dealt with behind the scenes was getting studio executives to see his vision for the installment, which would have reunited fan-favorite characters such as Smokey, Ezal and Deebo, as well as brought back Craig’s (portrayed by Cube) on-screen dad, Willie “Pops” Jones. Respectively, the roles were portrayed by Tucker and now-late actors Lister, Anthony Johnson and Witherspoon.Cube recalled, “With a Friday movie, I don’t want no studio telling me how to do this movie. I know these characters, know this culture and everything; I know what it need to be, and they don’t.” But then-head of Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group Toby Emmerich never gave the project the green light. Emmerich left the studio in 2022, with De Luca stepping in to oversee its film group. As the “Bow Down” rapper previously shared, the screenplay got stuck in development purgatory. He was unable to move the film to a new studio due to the deal he signed with New Line, which tethered them to the franchise.The story Cube penned would have seen Friday’s villains and come face-to-face with his and Epps’ characters. “I wrote a script where Craig and Day Day, they had a dispensary… and they had a flash mob in there, and they caught one of the kids and beat his little a**, and they end up going to jail. So they in jail ducking Deebo, they in jail ducking Damon, they in jail ducking the Joker Brothers, and then they get into a rehab,” the West Coast rap icon told Newton.Moreover, he noted that he would have made an effort to woo Tucker back to the franchise. The comic only appeared in the original screenplay but has since shared he would be open to reprising his role if the right story came along. According to Cube, his plan was to “get Chris back [with] Smokey running the rehab, and it was a bulls**t rehab where he was taking everybody weed and smoking it in the little basement and s**t.”The notes he received from studio executives included being told, “‘Jail’s not funny, it’s too much time in jail, how can you make jail funny.’ And I’m like, man, y’all don’t know what the f**k y’all talking about. Then they come out with ‘Orange is the New Black,’ Let’s Go to Prison, all these movies about that, and I’m like, see, more Hollywood execs don’t know what the f**k they talking about.” The Hip Hop OG said that at that point, his thoughts about the decision-makers were, “You’re holding the happiness of the culture hostage by not making this movie.”Get into the full “Funky Friday” discussion below.
Ice Cube shares his unfiltered thoughts on Hollywood, accusing the industry of holding back the culture’s happiness by gatekeeping opportunities. In this Funky Friday episode, he reflects on his NWA days, the power of storytelling, and how nepotism shapes the industry. Don’t miss this raw conversation as Cube breaks down the barriers keeping creatives from thriving.Timecodes00:00:00 - Coming up on Funky Friday00:02:43 - Intro To Ice Cube00:04:15 - How has Ice Cube still going since 198700:09:50 - Where does your Inspiration come from? 00:14:05 - What's it take to making a movie 00:21:35 - Is AI a threat to the Movie Industry? 00:24:39 - How about AI used in Music? 00:27:07 - Why has Ice Cube stayed in Entertainment 00:28:59 - Career & Family 00:44:41 - Ownership of BIG3 00:55:02 - Has being an Artist changed with Social Media 00:56:43 - Challenging Authority 00:58:05 - Fondest memories of NWA 01:02:61 - Are big Artists group destined to breakup? 01:04:38 - Is HipHop no longer revolutionary? 01:06:17 - Media misrepresenting Black people 01:09:01 - If Ice Cube created a TV Show 01:10:41 - How does Ice Cube stay focused 01:14:46 - What's your greatest contribution to HipHop 01:16:25 - GAME - On fire or Ice Cold 01:18:01 - What's your beef with Vegan burgers 01:19:26 - What's the biggest misconception about you? 01:20:57 - Why did you make a Christmas Movie? 01:22:45 - Katt Williams movie drama 01:26:39 - Ice Cube talks Friday Movie 01:33:26 - Ice Cube's new Solo Album 01:41:50 - 1øvē
Track by track breakdown and full review of the new album from Ice Cube "Man Down."
lets get money together is a vato 2024 version IMO
no wc this still make me sad.cubes hype man, side rapper on every stage. his partner in rhyme since the 90s and no verse. not even a chorus or an intro, skit...he made this with his corrupt album too.I miss i am the west and raw footage.
i am the west is easily his worst album
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