I think this may have been my first taste of Cube, it was either this or Vol. 2 which I first acquired. If I had been better versed in the classics of rap back then, I'm sure I would have picked up something from his earlier career, but nevertheless I've always enjoyed this album. It begins bangin' and angry, loses some steam in the middle with 'Cash Over Ass' and some others, but still features some standouts and I don't think there is anything too poor here. As 'Lethal Injection' began losing some of the content Cube's earlier albums are known for, this continues that trend. There is a bit of a theme about money and the greed of record companies, and my favourite track here in 'Extradition' about being wrongfully arrested, with '3 Strikes You In' and 'Penitentiary' having a similar theme. This is really an album though for people who just love Cube even without a lot of the content. He still has the presence and sounds like he cares about what he's saying, and the metal influenced beats are fairly bangin' and different than what Cube had done in the past. Best Tracks: Ask About Me, Dr. Frankenstein, Fuck Dying, The Peckin' Order, Limos, Demos & Bimbos, Once Upon a Time in the Projects Pt. 2, Extradition

Yes, this pretty much lacks any of the content Ice Cube made his name from, but there is still some stuff to be enjoyed I feel if you are a fan. The N.W.A. reunion opener is a good banger. The next couple of tracks are average, and while the album never excels, I quite enjoy the funky beats on tracks like 'Gotta Be Insanity' and 'Roll All Day', and then 'Record Company Pimpin'' is the last track of note sampling EPMD's classic 'Please Listen to My Demo'. The majority of this isn't the Cube we know, but in creating this 'Peace Disc' after the War, maybe as much political rap was never going to be featured, not that helluva lot was on the previous album. Best Tracks: Hello, Until We Rich, Gotta Be Insanity, You Can Do It, Roll All Day, Record Company Pimpin'.

As with Cube's last album, 'Raw Footage', this is a grower, however if you're like me you will find there is way too much brag/gangster rap to begin the album and will be wanting a change up lyrically. He offers this more in the second half of the album with nice tracks like 'No Country For Young Men' and 'Hood Robbin'', but for me Ice Cube version 2010 should be more conscious/political and less gangster. Track for track, more stood out on the first listen than Raw Footage, but there are more weaker moments. Tracks such as 'It Is What It Is' is quite un-cube like, lyrically quite repetitive and lacking any substance. While I wouldn't say when you think of a lyrical rapper Cube is the first that comes to mind, there are quite a few poor hooks such as in 'Y’all Know How I Am' and "Google Me Bitch" in 'Urbanian', however, once the verses kick off most are enjoyable whether it be from Cube, or the features, such as the under-heard WC. There are a few bangers such as 'Life In California' and a couple of better conscious tracks toward the end as mentioned, but it is a touch inconsistent, at times lacking polish lyrically and brilliant beats. But this is helped by many of the weaker songs being quite short in length, and while we're on the production, a criticism has been that it isn't 'too west coast', which is probably a fair one. 'She Couldn't Make It on Her Own' (featuring Cube's sons) particularly sounds like a southern club tune. However, I enjoy enough of them to not care too much about the origin of the beats. Overall, if you didn't mind/enjoyed Raw Footage and some of Cube's other more recent albums, you should find something on this, even if it may require some editing of the playlist. For me though, while severely lacking content, he still sounds hungry and has the voice that made him what he is in the game, and it has four very good tracks and as happens, as you listen to the better ones over and over the weaker ones grow on you. Best Tracks: Life In California, Too West Coast, No Country For Young Men, Hood Robbin

I quite like the singles from this album, 'It Takes a Nation' and 'Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It', but apart from them the album never really takes off as you expect from an Ice Cube album. That was my opinion after a spin or two, but being a fan I have given it more time and while still no classic, it ain't too bad. The main issue is that after his last effort in '06, and WC's last album which Ice Cube worked on, I expected some real bangin' beats (which those had) and you don't get those on this. However, after giving it more time I do enjoy most of the tracks but there ain't enough I love. It's no Predator but he is in a different place than he was 15 years ago. Still a good dose of Ice Cube on offer. Best Tracks: It Takes a Nation, Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It, Cold Places, Jack N the Box, Do Ya Thang, Thank God

I'd never really heard any P.O.S. before this release. I had 'Audition' pretty much since it dropped but never listened to it. Maybe I tried it out but It didn't do much for me, I can't remember. Anyway, with this album it does start off brilliantly with 'Let it Rattle' being a great opener for an album and makes you want to try out the rest of the disc. The next two tracks ain't greatly to my liking. Then 'Purexed' hits which is quality. The very beginning of it reminds me of the start of Prince's 'Purple Rain'. From there, 'Purexed' mixes between almost acapella to drums as fast as Usain Bolt. 'Graves' follows on and is another good song following a similar format with in your face type beats and vocals to changing in the middle to soft light almost relaxing music. I've always liked this type of variety in the one song which System of a Down used to do very well with tracks like 'Aerials' and 'Chop Suey' to name a couple. Moving on and 'Goodbye' reminds me of your more general hip hop tune and not so experimental hip hop I guess as the previous five tracks. It's a bit more chorus based and again works very well and is one of the better tracks. 'Get Smokes' is just okay and not up with the other tracks. But after that 'Been Afraid' is another top song again which uses the variation in tempo mentioned earlier. Following that is 'Low Light Low Life' which instrumental wise would by my favourite. Again like 'Goodbye' it's a lil more general hip hop. 'Never Better' although it never really reaches a climax you feel like its building up the whole time which I think is credit to P.O.S. Overall, this is one of those albums that I had to give a good rating because of some great tracks and the originality. All in all though, it's not all greatly to my liking. The tracks I don't enjoy are the ones that don't have enough melodic moments such as 'Get Smokes and 'Drumroll', but there are about six tracks from this I'd be happy to be played on repeat and a few more not far away. Best Tracks: Purexed, Goodbye, Let it Rattle, Been Afraid, Low Life Low Life, Never Better.