ICE CUBE - MAN UP (Official Discussion)

[The Predator]

Track by track breakdown and full review of the new album from Ice Cube, "Man Up."

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September 16, 2025

By

cassiuscam
Album Review – Ice Cube – Man Up

Talk to em’ OG

I think I liked Ice Cube’s album Man Down last year more than most people, from what I saw. It’s not a perfect album, but as a big Cube fan, I found plenty to enjoy. What I wasn’t expecting was a sequel album, but here we have Man Up. Will it surpass Man Down? Can Cube capture that classic feel we all love from him in 2025?

As I mentioned, I’m a big Ice Cube fan. I’ve enjoyed some of his later albums that don’t get discussed as much, like Raw Footage and Everythang’s Corrupt. Man Up continues what I think is a strong run for this later stage of Cube’s career. I’d say it’s a step up from Man Down, even if I’m not sure any song here hits the heights of my favorite tracks from that album. It comes with a mostly aggressive sound that cools off a bit at the end, which works as a good blend and is well-sequenced.

Sticking to a West Coast sound was the right move. I understand when an artist wants to branch out, but at this point, I want to hear Cube over that classic sound. Some of the tracks I liked less were at the end of the album when things calmed down from the aggression. It wasn’t the calmer tone itself; it was more about the vibe and execution. “Salt & Pepper” I get, but it wasn’t the track for me, and I really didn’t like the use of the sample in “California Dreamin’.” Still, this album is filled with fantastic hip-hop moments and sounds that I love. Some of my favorite tracks are “Bring Everybody,” “Freedumb,” “Before Hip-Hop,” “Ratchet Ass Mouth,” and “Act My Age.”

This album may not have tracks that resonate as strongly for me as Man Down did, but overall, I think it’s probably better. There’s a lot of consistency with Man Up and not many outright weak points. Some fans may never enjoy newer Cube as much as older Cube, and I can understand that. But I appreciate the evolution of Ice Cube and his career. I’d rather have hip-hop with him putting out music than not, especially after the massive gaps we had for a long time.

Standout Tracks: Bring Everybody, Freedumb, Before Hip-Hop, Ratchet Ass Mouth & Act My Age

Album Rating: 👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 (7.5/10)