Review #187: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Ice Cube
#187: AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, Ice Cube
Look! It’s the crazy motherf****r named Ice Cube! Who recently left the gang called N-Wordz Wit Attitude! Actually, he left it six months before releasing this album, so this is where he cut his teeth.
I went through an Ice Cube phase about four years ago. Actually, that’s not true — I went through a Raw Footage phase about four years ago, Cube’s eighth studio album. I have a coffee mug that says “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It.” I’m not gonna pretend that this makes me some rap expert, I’m just giving context for my complex love of Cube.
The RS blurb is a little more aware this time around, and points out that there’s some sexism on this album that has not aged well at all. To be honest, I was expecting worse. Is that wrong of me to say? I just have become desensitized to the whole musicians-being-sexist thing, because even though it’s gotten better, it’s also stayed the same. Know what I mean? I like me some Post Malone, but he’s definitely got a sexist streak.
But if you’re a woman who likes any genre of music, you’re gonna be dealing with male musicians who think that you’re there for their benefit, so the best thing to do is … God, I don’t know anymore. Nothing? Whatever, here’s Ice Cube.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Better Off Dead” — Ice Cube walking to his execution. So gimmicky, I love it.
“The N**** Ya Love To Hate” — I kept thinking, “Wow, this sounds a lot like Public Enemy!” And then I read the RS blurb and learned that Public Enemy’s production team did the album. Ahh, so that’s why Chuck D and Flavor Flav are here!
“AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted” — The KKK provocation in the middle of the word America is kind of genius.
“Turn Off The Radio” — A message to the Oreo cookie. Call me naive, but at first I thought this was literally a callout to Nabisco. Turns out, that’s not what Cube is referring to.
“Endangered Species (Tales From The Darkside)” — Look, it’s Chuck D! Cube is at his best when he’s being political.
“A Gangsta’s Fairytale” — The Andrew Dice Clay sample at the end of this SLAYS me.
“I’m Only Out For One Thang” — Mildly sexist, but I can’t help it; I love Flavor Flav! I loved reading about how difficult it was to get Flavor Flav on this track.
“The Drive-By” — Woof, this one was hard to listen to. Few cared about the violence because… it didn’t affect them.
“Rollin’ Wit The Lench Mob” — What a relief, to learn that the Lench Mob was Ice Cube’s posse and not — yeah. The Lench Mob went on to release their own album, but it sounds like they didn’t reach the heights of success that Ice Cube did.
“Who’s The Mack?” — Hello, is this Biggie Smalls? This was the only song with a music video. Ice Cube is CUTE.
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“You Can’t Fade Me/JD’s Gaffilin’” — Ahhh, here we go. Ice Cube gets baby-trapped and contemplates pulling it out with a coat hanger. Not a fan, Ice Cube, not a fan!
“Get Off My D*** And Tell Your Bitch To Come Here” — Sigh.
“It’s A Man’s World” — The truth is I was disappointed by this one. The RS blurb says that this song is “stunning” because female rapper Yo-Yo tells him off for being so sexist. But honestly? She doesn’t rip into him enough! I wanted her to pull a Nicki Minaj on Kanye’s “Monster” where she makes it clear who’s world it is. But I get it, it’s 1990, and it’s Ice Cube’s album. By the way, recognize the James Brown sample here?
IS RS FULL OF IT?
I don’t even know. Who cares. It’s a man’s world, isn’t it?
