One of the most influential persons in Hip-Hop returns with his second independent release titled Raw Footage. After selling more than 600K units with his last offering Laugh Now, Cry Later, Cube found out that you don’t have to shop your albums with the majors if your paper is straight.Cube, who has been making big money in Hollywood, one would wonder why he would continue to make music anymore. The answer to that is simply because he loves doing it. Let’s get to the music!
What Is A Pyroclastic Flow?
An intro with the person that played Lauren London’s father on ATL. Nothing major here.
I Got My Locs On
Featuring Young Jeezy; Produced by DJ Toomp
First thing you notice is the topnotch production by Toomp, and the second thing you notice is how Cube has dumbed his lyrical style down. He sounds like he is a Southern rapper instead of his usual Cali flow. Jeezy makes up for Cube’s shortcomings, but the song is still HOT.
It Takes a Nation
Produced by Emile
Cube comes back with a West Coast sounding rendition of Jay-Z’s “Takeover”. Cube gets political on the song mentioning he wanted to get into a fistfight with the President. The song definitely has that West Coast sound to it, but the beat is the only thing that I like on the track.
Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It
Produced by Maestro
This song came out at a time when Hip-Hop was the blame for everything. Cube actually sounds like the old Cube on this one. I am not a big fan of the hook, but I like the message on the song.
Hood Mentality
Produced by Da Beatsmith
The production on this one is different, but it’s hot in its own way. Cube goes back to the ABC rhymes on this one with lines like this one, “Everybody wanna call Michael a psycho, but he ain’t never come through the hood with a rifle.” The message on the song is dope, but the way it’s presented, will have you shaking your head.
Why Me?
Featuring Musiq Soulchild; Produced by Hallway Productionz
Cube raps over a soulful beat with the help of Musiq. I can’t front on this song, this one is real SMOOTH. Cube’s delivery is on the shaky side, but he makes it work on this track.
Cold Places
Produced by Da Beatsmith
The production on this one is good, it seems like Cube mailed this one in. He is just rambling on and on about the same topic he rapped about on the previous songs. NEXT!
Jack N The Box
Produced by Tha Bizness
Cube has some bubblegum rhymes like this one, “when I bring the noise from here to Illinois, muthafuckas love when I do what it does.” Come on Cube, you are better than that. NEXT.
Do Ya Thang
Produced by Polumbo Beats
He takes it back to the West Coast on this one, but his delivery is still the problem. He even says, “Mirror mirror on the wall, who is the flyest of them all” on the song. The beat is BLAZING, but the rhymes are on the weak side.
Thank God
Produced by Da Beatsmith
The production on this song is HOT. Cube speeds up his flow a little bit, and that was the demise of the song. When given beats this good, Cube still can’t deliver the goods.
Here He Come
Featuring Doughboy; Produced by DJ Toomp
Once again, Toomp comes thru with a bass pounding beat that Cube can’t keep up with. Thankfully, Doughboy came through with some decent lyrics to save the song.
Get Money, Spend Money, No Money
Produced by Maestro
All I have to say about this song is this…SKIP! The song is boring and Cube’s delivery continues to be a problem.
Get Used to It
Featuring WC & The Game; Produced by Embeatz
Off all the good beats that he has on the album, he decided to use one of the weakest for the song The Game is featured on. Cube’s verse is atrocious, WC gives us his usual rhyme, and The Game’s verse was the only reason why I would recommend this song to anyone.
Tomorrow
Produced by Warryn “Baby Dubb” Campbell
The good production returns, but we still have the same old same with Cube. Boring topics with a weak delivery that could have been avoided by picking up another movie script.
Stand Tall
Produced by DJ Crazy Toones & David “Dizmix” Lopez
Cube smoothes it out on this song and I have to say this is one of the better songs on the album. I have no qualms with his delivery on this one because it fits with the track. BANGER!
Take Me Away
Featuring Butch Cassidy; Produced by Djay Cas & Yung Fokus
Cube closes the album with a decent song which he namedrops Obama a couple of times and continues with the boring raps. How are you going to close out an album on a weak note like that? One of many questions I had for Cube after listening to this album.
Bottom Line:
When you are an independent artist and you’re paying most of the bill, you can do what you want. However, when you are a legend in the game and you continue to put out less than your best, then it might be time to call it quits. Cube is one of the most successful rappers of all time, but with him releasing music like this, I feel like he is Kareem in the 1989 Finals. He just doesn’t have it anymore. The window has passed and Cube has been spending too much time outside the studio. He doesn’t even have to make music anymore…so why does he keep going? Maybe he is just scratching that itch that makes him want to hit the studio, but when is he going to realize he is only hurting his legacy. Cube was an innovator, but on this album, it seemed like he conformed to what everybody else is doing today. His delivery was off, lyrics were on the dull side, and for most of the album he sounded like he was forcing the music. If you are an Ice Cube fan, you probably are going to be disappointed in this offering.
nappyPicks: “I Got My Locs On”, “Why Me?”, & “Stand Tall”
Download:Ice Cube – “Stand Tall”
