Ice Cube Album: “Bootlegs & B-Sides”

Description :

Personnel: Ice Cube (vocals); N.O. Joe Johnson (vocals, keyboards); Das EFX (vocals); Stan "The Guitar Man" Jones (guitar); Mike Dean (keyboards); Mr. X, Shemen Taylor (background vocals). Producers include: Ice Cube, D.J. Pooh, Dr. Jam, Madness 4 Real, Mr. Woody. Engineers: Mike Dean (track 8); Rob Chiarelli (track 12). Once again Ice Cube commits you to check yo self, yo tapes, yo CDs and yo wax. BOOTLEGS & B-SIDES gives up what you missed by only buying the long-playing releases and not the singles; providing essential obscurities and miscellaneous collectibles (i.e. remixes and b-sides galore). And Cube-style remixes do not just add samples and beats, but mark the creation of entirely new tracks with various loop and lyrical changes. So if you thought the ballad-like "What Can I Do?" was nice and warm the first time around, beware the included remix which drops with more of a hardcore funk feel. The b-sides represent Ice Cube doing what he does best--telling stories. The tales range from "sexual escapades" ("2 N The Morning") to being condemned because of one's skin tone ("My Skin Is My Sin"). All the while Cube's lyrical ferocity provides insights into the "perpetrator's" point of view, mischievously jabbing at the system, and generally portraying the strange comedy that life presents us and that lies just around the corner. Thus, BOOTLEGS AND B-SIDES is a must purchase not only for Ice Cube devotees, but for any one who loves to hear a story told with bounce, humor, South Central panache, and a realistic urban tone. Track it down-- borrowing something this phat would just not be enough.

Ice Cube's 'Bootlegs and B-sides' may be considered slow in part because it doesn't have all the slick rhymes and trash talk attitude heard so much on MTV recently; but Ice Cube is one of the greatest rappers alive because of his lyrical content.He raps about racism from cops, street violence, and making it to heaven. He makes it clear that his mind is not set on making money anyway he can; I would definitely categorize him with Tupac.

WESTSIDE FOR LIFE, BABY!

Even this album is like a lost tapes album, it has a lot of gems in it. Standout Tracks: ROBBIN HOOD, WHAT CAN I DO REMIX, 24 WIT AN L, YOU KNOW HOW WE DO IT REMIX, CHECK YO SELF REMIX, YOU DONT WANNA F*** WIT THESE, LIL A** GEE REMIX, MY SKIN IS MY SIN(WC busts the best verse of his rap career on this one), U AINT GONNA TAKE MY LIFE, WHEN I GET TO HEAVEN REMIX etc. Filler: None. Bottom Line: Even though this album is mostly remixes and unreleased tracks it is still a classic worth picking up. Robbin Hood, 24 Wit An L, My Skin Is My Sin, U Aint Gonna Take My Life etc are all classic replay material. If you can find this album you make it a part of your collection.