Ice Cube Album: “War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc) [PA]”

Description :

Personnel: Ice Cube, Mr. Short Khop, K-Mac (rap vocals); Terry Rice, Elquine Rice, Barbara Wilson, Tracy Nelson (vocals); Nolan V.H., Brian "Head" Welch, James "Munky" Shaffer, Chris Hines (guitar); Emmanuel (keyboards); Butch (percussion); Jonathan Hyde, Mack 10, Sleep, Big Kebo, Moe, Fazon "Big Worm" Love (background vocals). <p>Producers include: Ice Cube, N.O. Joe, Joe Joe, Bud'da, E-A-Ski. <p>This disc is subtitled THE WAR DISC, which makes a great deal of sense, given the aggressive nature of most of the tracks. Throughout the album, Ice Cube plays it smart by sticking close to his hardcore gangsta roots. On WAR & PEACE, Ice Cube presents the gritty underside of contemporary ghetto life, without sparing us any of the gorier details. It's not that he revels in the darker side of life, just that, like everyone from Johnny Cash to Leonard Cohen, he sees no reason in beating around the bush when representing unpleasant circumstances. Instead, he jumps in with both feet. "Once Upon a Time in the Projects" is an unsettling walk through a neighborhood conspicuously unaffected by the "trickle-down" theory, and Ice Cube's storytelling gift blossoms here. "Limos, Demos & Bimbos" presents a more hedonistic viewpoint, and Ice Cube is aided here by cohort Mr. Short Khop. WAR & PEACE is an uncompromising release that stands up well alongside Ice Cube's previous efforts.

Ice Cube made a very solid return to the rap game after a 5 year hiatus with his War Disc, where he promptly confronts ghetto difficulties. While doing so, he reaffirms his status as a premier rapper in the game today with hard, angry rap deliveries over some very nice beats. Ice Cube his just returned now with his latest studio album "Laugh Now, Cry Later" too which boasts some great tracks as well.

"Ask About Me" is a powerful opener, with a vibing instrumental beat and Cube spitting his lyrics strongly. "Pushin' Weight" is a good track where Cube explains how he's still holdin' it down in the game with his rhymes. "Dr. Frankenstein" is another tight track featuring Mr. Short Kop for another appearance on the album. "War and Peace" sees Ice Cube suggesting that peace is needed for all and he states "Westside for life but still down with the East". "Ghetto Vet" may be my favourite rap cut on the album where Cube takes a setting of a hospital describing a scene of contemplating suicide while near death. "Greed" is a heavy gangsta cut to follow it up, then Ice Cube moves into lyrics about money with "Cash Over A**" and "The Curse Of Money." The last few songs on this album are some of the best, which include "Extradition", a track laced with a sweet beat, "Penitentiary" and "3 Strikes You In", an aggressive cut.

Overall, this is a fairly strong rap release from Ice Cube who doesn't touch on anything political but rather spits about the hood as usual in a variety of ways. Lyrically he most often on the mark and his voice sounds mature and very strong. Recommended to any Ice Cube fan.

Ice Cube is the embodiment of Gansterism. He's OG now and it shows. He has been a player in the game for over 10 yrs now. I don't care if he's Don Mega or Cube, he's the hardest hitter. Ghetto Vet symbolizes the albums meaning...Still in the game no matter what. With first of two CDs, Cube proves he "Pushes Rhymes Like Weight".

Peace, Damn Straight

ICE CUBE has been around long enough to set trends for other black and/or genre stars, but he's head and shoulders above all the others. The Man is ALWAYS THE Man, and that is that. You can dis him if you want, but he's got the money, he wears the gold, and he rides in the big, black limo, so get over it and put out the green for this rappin' machine!

This has got to be the most underrated rap cd of the 90's, no doubt. WAY better than its successor, Peace. Cube slows the grooves down a bit but his raw intense voice and creepy, minor key harmonies and backbeats make it awesome! This CD is DARK DARK DARK, with tales of death, mafia, paralysis, and being hunted. My vote for best rap album EVER, whipping the Chronic