Ice Cube - Death Certificate

With benefit of hindsight, we now understand that most rappers are indeed earnest, but few intend their words to be taken with the same weight as a heartfelt proclamation by a guitar-strumming folkie. Ice Cube's third solo release, taken the wrong way, is a hateful tract full of misogyny, anti-Semitism, homophobia, and violently prejudicial remarks toward just about every other ethnic group; anyone missed in this skein was an oversight. However, with the exception of some choice words for NWA's former manager, Cube's remarks are best seen as caricatures--well, OK, grotesques--rather than perspectives. His spoken intros and the way in which the songs broke into episodes broadly hinted at Ice Cube's move into film. Years later, it's easier to ignore the hateful spew and admire the formal innovations featured on this recording, which helped make Ice Cube into a multimedia star. --Martin Johnson Amazon.com

The Nigga Ya Love to Hate returns

While Amerikkka's Most Wanted is his best album overall, Death Certificate comes close to taking that crown. Although at the time of its release it was looked at for its recial stances and controversial lyrics, Death Certififcate proved that Ice Cube could definitely get our attentions. Divided into two sides ("Death Side" and "Life Side"), this album had more of a message than Cube's first album. The Death Side has all the showings of a gangsta rap album, with tracks about gang expansion ("My Summer Vacataion"), adventures of the Lench Mob ("Steady Mobbin"), and STDs in the ghetto ("Look Who's Burnin"). The Life Side is bit more controversial, with songs about the US government ("I Wanna Kill Sam"), sellouts ("True to the Game"), and peace between Bloods and Crips ("Color Blind"). The two most controversial tracks however belong to "Black Korea", which spews venom on Asian Americans, and "No Vaseline", which is a viscious diss aimed at NWA. This album pretty much foretold everything that would ufold in the LA Riots. Anybody who weren't shocked at the LA Riots had probably been listening to Death Certificate. Either way you look at it, Death Certificate is an album that deserves to be heard, even though Amerikkka's Most Wanted is still his best album July 9, 2008

Cube's best & most consistent album..............

Loved my Summer Vacation, Cube and his boys go to the Lou to slang dope, hilarious. I think DJ Pooh did the beats. Other joints are Steady Mobbin, Man's best friend, true to the game,doin dumb sh*t, bird in the hand and Us(message to black youth). January 12, 2006

2nd solo may be my least favorite of his

Just one year after making national headlines for his controversial debut, Ice Cube is back with another controversial album. Packed with tons of racism, STD awareness, violence, religious issues, and many oter issues Ice Cube breakes ground for the rap scene. With 16 songs and no guests you get to hear everyhting Ice Cube has to say, whether or not you like it. It has 1 classic (one of the best dis songs ever directed to N.W.A.), 1 near classic, 8 ok songs, 1 I skip, and the rest are good. Production is alright, very bass heavy and you can tell it's from the early 90's. It's all handled by Sir Jinx & The Boogie Men. A good album for his fans to have but not my favorite of his.

#2 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#3 - 8 (nice beat)
#4 - 7
#6 - 7.5 (a dirty song)
#7 - 8 (about STD's)
#8 - 9 (nice beat)
#9 - 7
#10 - 7
#13 - 7
#14 - 7
#15 - 6.5 (about Koreans and liquor stores)
#16 - 7
#17 - 7
#18 - 8
#19 - 8
#20 - 10 (CLASSIC -- great beat -- dissin Eazy E, MC Ren, Dr. Dre, Yella, and Jerry Heller -- one of the best dis songs ever and he gets on em BAD)

O'Shea Jackson -- b. 6/15/69
check all my reviews
October 15, 2005

Far from a sophomore slump. Excellent Album!

Ice Cube is a genius, this album proves my theory. Ice Cube leaves no stone uncovered on this album, wheter it is racism ("Horny Lil Devil"), STD awareness ("Look Who's Burning"), remembering his days as a youth ("Doing Dumb S***") or any other issue he was sure to mark his opinion. The reason this album is so essential is because it is well rounded and not too long. The way he separates the album is the "Death Side" & the "Alive Side".

Among the albums highlights are "Giving Up The Nappy Dugout" a tale about an overprotective father who screens his daughters date at the front door. "A Bird In The Hand" a tale about the social issues surrounding Ice Cube. "Doing Dumb S***" where Cube takes us back to the early eighties late seventies describing tales of mischief he created. To tell you the truth every song on this album is a certified classic in my opinion.

Overall you will not be disappointed upon purchaing this album. If you are still skeptikal, buy a used copy and see how well you like it. Thank you for reading September 29, 2005

the ultimate test?

this album is pretty hard to listen to. neither cube's unflinching examinations of early 90s young black male attitudes or his personal venom directed at critics, sellouts, uncle toms and at nwa pulls any punches (though the accusations of anti-semitism on this album are greatly exaggerated). it is a brutal listen at times and not for the close-minded, the timid or the ignorant.

but there is no way anyone can deny the absolutely incredible musicality at work here. the massively underrated sir jinx as well as cube himself craft unbelievable beats obviously heavily influenced by the bomb squad production on the first ice cube record. the amount of texture and depth to these beats, and the inventiveness and precision of the sample use, results in some of the finest beats ever heard in hip hop. some of the best bits include the muffled drunken wail of the horns and the funky breakdown on "black korea", the huge snare on "man's best friend", the ridiculous vocal sample on "my summer vacation", the bird call scratches on "a bird in the hand". and ice cube as a rapper - his turn of phrase, his rhythm and his immense voice - was never and has not been better. every syllable is ferociously slammed onto the beat like one of those licence plate machines and enunciated with such unbelievable clarity and power.

not for the weak of heart or mind. but a infinitely rewarding musical experience March 24, 2005

More reviews at Amazon.com ...