CD of the Day

Ice Cube – AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted

I like music from every genre. I grew up listening to everything, so rap music was included in the mix. Because of that, I have grown to respect rap as a viable form of music; especially those rap artists who can combine solid rap lyrics with catchy production. In the late 80s to early 90s, I feel rap was at its height because most of the rap artists combined both elements. In addition to that, rap artists had conviction that isn’t always present in today’s rap scene that usually centers around the more material forms of expression: repetitive chants, money, cars, and loose women. Sure rap had its share of material topics back then, but rappers also had more to say than that. The bulk of them had more realistic viewpoints on life. I loved groups such as NWA and Public Enemy around this time period who focused on their disadvantages and talked about the streets they grew up in. They embodied the true spirit of Rock N Roll music by injecting their form of music with angst and aggression.

Ice Cube would prove to be the type of seminal rap performer I respected after he left the infamous group NWA. Ice Cube embodied the perfect vision as a rapper before he got all caught up in Hollywood making movies. Ice Cube’s first full solo album, AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, was his most focused effort. After leaving NWA, Cube would go to New York to hit up the production unit, the Bomb Squad, to produce his first solo album. The Bomb Squad was the main production unit for legendary rap outfit Public Enemy, so it was almost guaranteed that AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted would sound great.

It was up to Ice Cube to provide great lyrics and topics and Cube would not disappoint. The album is a solid listen all the way through and any current rap fans who haven’t listened to this gem need to listen to it as soon as they can. Cube brings his anger for his former group and life in general to the forefront with help from Public Enemy icons Flavor Flav and Chuck D.

Some of the standout songs include: “The Nigga You Love to Hate”, the title song, “Turn Off the Radio”, “Endangered Species” featuring Chuck D, and “Rollin’ With the Lench Mob”. Aside from those greats, the rest of the album is solid all around. This is one of those albums you can listen to all the way through without being bored at any particular song.

If you like rap, and haven’t listened to this classic, be sure to check it out as soon as you can. It’s an essential listen that helped pave the way for rap into the future. I give this one a 10 out of 10.