Published in Flash! April 26, 2000

Ice Cube shapes evolving rap genre

When rap started to seep into the mainstream in the mid-80’s, few people found it
to be dangerous. However, by the late 80’s, a new form of rap called ‘gangsta’ rap had
emerged. And boy, did it scare the hell out of people. Leading the charge of the new
genre was Ice Cube and the group N.W.A. Blasting rhymes about life on the street, the
group paved the way for the most popular form of music today.

On Ice Cube’s latest release, “War and Peace, Vol. II (The Peace Disc),” the
record is set straight about the origins of this culture-changing art form. If you didn’t
know where it came from before, you will by the end of the disc. Ice Cube makes sure of
it.

The disc gets off to a rousing start with “Hello.” The track features former
N.W.A. mates Dr. Dre and MC Ren. In a direct antithesis to the title of the disc, the song
fires shots at every potential and current rapper on the scene. This track is a perfect sign
of things to come on the disc as Cube, Dre, and Ren let everyone know who is
responsible for their livelihood.

While the disc has infectious beats and rhymes, the self-congratulatory nature of
each song grows as tiresome as a continual beating to the head.
While this is a staple of rap music, it is one that needs to change quickly. Another
staple is the severe lack of vocabulary displayed whenever explicative is released. These
items are the lowest points on the album thankfully.

Ice Cube has become the elder statesman of rap and on the disc, he shows that he
is still capable of making better music than most everyone else makes. Not only is the
music better than most of his competitors, it is noticeably free of easily recognizable
samples a la Puffy Combs.

Other bright spots on the disc include, “You Can Do It,” the funkified “Gotta Be
Insanity,” and the inspirational “Until We Rich” featuring Krayzie Bone.
Ice Cube appears to be a role model of sorts on this track as he delivers a message
of empowerment to the forgotten and neglected inner city.

The rap genre has experienced an evolution since its inception in the 1970’s.
While the evolution has not always been a step forward it has progressed nonetheless.
While Ice Cube has been a founder of one of the most influential and remarkable genres
of music, he often seems stuck on this release with the same misogyny and vulgarity
that’s always been a part of ‘ganngsta’ rap. However, Ice Cube manages to put together
one of the most infectious rap albums in recent memory on this release.

My Grade: B/B-