Gangsta rapper got famous back in the 1980s

Born O’Shea Jackson to a poor family in LA, Ice Cube started rapping in 1980s. Just for a start he worked for Eazy E in N.W.A. (Niggaz With Attitude). But he had little experience in business and in 4 years realized he had not been paid enough. Already then he got known as a gangsta rapper together with Dr. Dre, Eazy E and some others. His solo career started with the album AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted which made him famous as Ice Cube at once. After that he had five more albums with different intervals – among them The Predator, Death Certificate, War and Peace (consisting of 2 parts) – full of aggressive, politically salient songs, attacking all possible categories of people from women to Asians. Another sphere that has made Ice Cube so famous is film industry. Now he is a producer, a director and an actor. His last album was released six years ago and many thought nothing would follow, but...

Ice Cube – a talented author and a philosopher

Laugh Now, Cry Later is a very powerful album making you think that gangsta rap is going to live forever. Ice Cube has an ability to find faults with anybody and anything for treating black people badly, for failure in children’s protection, for fear and horror all over the world. A promising intro in the beginning of the album is followed by eighteen tracks, each one being remarkable for the beat, rhythm and sound. Smoke Some Weed (produced by Budda) is an original club rap, while A History of Violence represents a worthy gangstarap track. In spite of Cube’s age there are quite youthful beats in the album, reminiscent of his early work. Moreover, his age does him good for there are certain philosophical traits in such songs as Laugh Now, Cry Later, Go to Church (featuring Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon) and Growin Up. On this album Ice Cube once again has shown himself as a talented author, his rhymes are straight and shag, but smart and relevant. The album was expected for a very long time and now when it has been released, a new chance appears to enjoy a high quality rap.

Ice Cube has done a great job with Laugh Now, Cry Later

For many Afro-American people Ice Cube has become a symbol of fighting for their rights, all his songs are shot with sacred rage against the system. He is bold enough to mention politicians, various minorities and dwell upon most sensitive issues in his texts. He has done a great job with Laugh Now, Cry Later. This is the first production on his independent label and a striking achievement after a six-year silence. The advantages of this album are not only the bright, edgy and perfectly transcribed rap but also the fact that such rap icons as Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon, Kokane as well as really influential figures of the present day show business – producers Scott Storch and Budda – have taken part in working it out. Ice Cube is back and he has grown mature, poignant and convincing. Now matter how long his new break is going to last it is surely worth that. He has a right to rest a bit while the audience enjoys his last creation. And since he has been in the game for twenty years already, has become a legend, whatever happens in the world – he is not done yet.

16.06.2006