Ice Cube - The Predator

one of his best

Ice Cube drops "The Predator" on everyone and with the hit songs "It Was A Good Day", "Check Yo Self". He raps about all that's going in that era, crooked cops, politics and so much more. He's able to do it with a swagger and confidence that most can't even duplicate. Along with "Death Certificate" and "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted" this one is right up there with some of the greatest albums put out in the era. Also of note are remixes for "Check Yo Self" and "It Was A Good Day".

The videos make the songs even better especially with It Was A Good Day and the ending that still has folks talking about and checking this one out. It only served to put that song in people's minds. Also songs like "Don't Trust Em" sampling BBD's "Poison" (about females and the game that they can get you with) and "I'm a Wetcha" being about taking it to some unsuspecting individual. "Gangsta Fairytale" which is rap take on the different childhood stories that we are used to like Little Miss Muffet, Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and the seven dwares, Snow White, Beauty and the Beast, 3 Little Pigs and many others. It's an interesting song and how its incorporated into the song (and day to day life) make it that much better.

An excellent effort by Cube and one that people are still feeling and enjoying all these years later. June 20, 2008

Thers no stopping what cant be stopped!!!

After crushing NWA on a solo tip on his monumental album Death Certificate, Ice Cube continues the conscious path on this great follow-up album The Predator. Standout Tracks: WHEN WILL THEY SHOOT, WICKED, THE PREDATOR, WE HAD TO TEAR THIS MOTHERF***** UP, DIRTY MACK, WHO GOT THE CAMERA, IT WAS A GOOD DAY, 24 WIT AN L etc. Filler: Gangsta Fairytale 2 falls short and Check Yo Self is not better than the remix. Bottom Line: Ice Cube proves his importance to the rap game with this dope follow up The Predator. The socially and politically conscious rhymes over rough sounding production plus the informative skits are the reasons why this album stayed in my Cd player. Ice Cube's earlier albums are important contributions to hip hop and if you dont understand the message then maybe you shouldnt be listening to it. Tony Yayo, Lil Jon and D4L is more of your style. As for this album its cd collection material all the way! February 27, 2007

Cube's Most Successful Selling Album (Rating: 7 out of 10- -3.5 stars)

Around this time, Cube was putting out albums year after year. "Amerikka's Most Wanted" is a classic and one of my favorites. Then he dropped "Death Certificate" which is another classic. Next up to bat was his third (full length) album, "The Predator".

This was considered Ice Cube's most sold album. His biggest hit song "It Was A Good Day" still gets a lot of rotation on the radio, and is still dope to listen to as well. Cube was still in his political stance though. It wasn't as heavy as "Death Certificate" and "Amerikka's Most Wanted". Around this time people might have been calling him a racist, but he was out trying to prove otherwise. If you hear the inserts that are on this album ("I'm Scared") you can hear some of the opinions that people had towards him about what he was saying.

Now for the music itself, it's overall dope. There are a some tracks that easilly became some stadouts. As popular as "It Was A Good Day" was, people forgot that "Wicked" was another single (and I think it was the first), featured Don Gorgon. "We Had To Tear This _______ Up" is another track that I found interesting, and Cube showing off his hatred towards what was going on around that time. The origonal version of "Check Ya Self" is also a hot track that featured Das Efx, which I find to be better than the remix.

This album is flawed though. I find a few tracks that fall under skip material here. "Whos Got The Camera" is one of them. Another one would be the weak sounding "Dirty Mack". Another one I didn't have the feel for was "Gangsta's Fairytale 2".

And if you purchased this after 2003, you get a few bonus tracks. You receive the radio edit of "Check Ya Self (remix)" a single that was just as popular as "It Was A Good Day". The remix to "It Was A Good Day" just didn't work in my opinion and falls under skip material. "24 With An L" and "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" are some good tracks in addition to this album. All of these tracks would also appear on the "Bootlegs And B-Sides" album.

Overall, this is a dope album. It showcased Cube's anger with issues that were going on around that time back in the 90's. This is a good album to have in any hip hop collection, although I don't find it to be good as everyone is saying. There are good tracks on here, but I also find a lot of skippable tracks here as well. When it comes to the remastered albums Cube has had between 1990-1993, "The Predator" is his highest selling album, but in my opinion, I also find it to be his weakest out of the group. Don't hesitate to pick this up though. You probably will have a different opinion that I have.

Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall: B

Favorite Tracks: When Will They Shoot, Wicked, It Was A Good Day, Don't Trust 'Em, Check Yo Self (both origonal and remix), 24 With An L, U Ain't Gonna Take My Life.

Peace Everyone!!! January 26, 2007

Approaching classic territory

Great beats and lyrics to match. Why? The lyrics talked about social problems in serious but sometimes humorous and clever ways. That makes the music relevant. Most other rappers talk about themselves which is tiresome. But Ice Cube masterfully talks about society such that you are entertained but also makes you think on a few points about where we are as a society. December 23, 2006

west coast classic

this brings you back to the day about not giving a f*ck. pop this cd in and listen to the stories ice cube tells. i enjoy this cd and this was my second ice cube cd i ever owned and to this day i still listen to it. highly recommended
rating A+ September 17, 2006

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