I Am the West

by Ice Cube

Overview

While his 2008 effort Raw Footage brought aggression and bitterness, I Am the West leans back a bit, assured in its status and wisdom, showing hip-hop how to grow old both gracefully and gangsta. Ice Cube's first album since turning 40 masterfully lays it all out on key track "No Country for Young Men." This witty, rapid-fire damnation of the ringtone rapper generation and their foolishness declares them "bitches" with "Rappers go to jail like Oprah go to Gayle/Stedman's policy: Don't ask don't tell," along with a laugh-out-loud Redd Foxx line that shouldn't be spoiled. Making the case that his generation fought the power while the 2010 crew was just fighting itself happens elsewhere, and when you combine this with the "we've got a bigger problem now" attitude of "Hood Robbin'" -- high-tech and high-finance corporations are widening the gap between the classes -- and the sage advice of "Your Money or Your Life" -- "This world, so trife/Your money or your life/Keep your kids, keep your wife/Your money or your life" -- you've got a layered argument against misdirected priorities and their devastating consequences. Cube suggests there are more choices than burning out and fading away when he dedicates a song to his wife of 21 years and explains how she's enriched his life on "Nothing Like L.A.," but the real proof is in all the vital yet lighter cuts that keep the message-filled album from being ponderous. Flashy production drives the infectious "She Couldn't Make It on Her Own," featuring fine contributions from Cube's sons Doughboy and OMG, while big daddy himself has put an entertaining, Kool Keith-like spin on his punch lines this time out, dropping odd stingers like "Internationally known/You about to smell my cologne" ("Soul on Ice") and "You about as lethal as a mojito/Be my amigo, eat my burrito" ("Too West Coast"). Add the usual Keith David narrations and the hard-hitting, full-bodied production the West Coast favors and the album is anchored by tradition, becoming an unassailable cocktail of talent, experience, and growth. Most won't have the skills to follow his playbook, either on or off the field, but Cube's utterly unique I Am the West shows the younger generation how to cross 40 while retaining their freedom and baller status. Middle age hip-hop is born here, and if the game follows his lead, it will be one monster of a genre. ~ David Jeffries

Product Details

Release Date:	09/28/2010
Label:	Lench Mob
UPC:	5099964188225

Tracks

1. A Boy Was Conceived
2. Soul on Ice
3. Life in California
4. She Couldn't Make It on Her Own
5. Urbanian
6. Ya'll Know How I Am
7. Too West Coast
8. I Rep That West
9. Drink the Kool-Aid
10. No Country for Young Men
11. It Is What It Is
12. Hood Robbin'
13. Your Money or Your Life
14. Nothing Like L.A.
15. All Day, Every Day
16. Fat Cat

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Ice Cube   Primary Artist
Doughboy   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
JayO   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Jayo Felony   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
OMG   Primary Artist,Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Maylay   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
WC   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Shondrae Crawford   Keyboards
Calvin Ewings   Keyboards
TigerDaWriter   Vocals (Background)
Bangladesh   Featured Artist
Domino   Vocals (Background)
Mike Epps   Voiceover
Malay   Featured Artist
Keith David   Voiceover

Technical Credits

Shondrae Crawford   Composer
Ronnie "Lil Ronnie" Jackson   Composer
Korey Roberson   Composer
Dee Underdue   Composer
Dave "Diz Mix" Lopez   Mixing,Engineer
Chris Whitacre   Composer
A. Perry   Composer
Track Bully   Composer,Producer
OMG   Composer,Musician
Michael Bozi   Mastering
D. Finister II   Composer
Christopher Bellard   Composer
Robert Mandell   Composer
Chaz Mishan   Composer
David Delazyn   Composer
Teak Underdue   Composer
Anthony Weaton   Composer
Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge   Composer
Triston Jones   Composer
Amir Perry   Composer
Justin Henderson   Composer,Composer
Darrell Finister II   Composer
Kevin Harris II   Composer
Doughboy   Composer,Musician,Producer
T-Mix   Composer,Producer
Sir Jinx   Composer,Producer
Sylvia Robinson   Composer
The Fliptones   Composer,Producer
Clifton Chase   Composer
William Calhoun   Composer
Bangladesh   Composer
Tha Bizness   Composer,Producer
James Savage   Composer,Composer
Ice Cube   Composer,Execution
Otis Jackson, Jr.   Composer
M. Middleton   Composer
M. Glover   Composer
WC   Composer,Musician
Jayo Felony   Musician
Rocko   Producer,Composer
R.L. Jackson   Composer
Melvin Glover   Composer
O. Jackson   Composer
Montay Humphrey "DJ Montay"   Composer
Mike Epps   Composer
C. Chase   Composer
A. Wheaton   Composer
Maylay   Composer,Musician
Malcolm Middleton   Composer
J. Murphy   Composer
Jason Suecof   Composer
John Murphy   Composer
DJ Montay   Composer,Producer
Jordan Suecof   Composer
Dae One   Composer
Willy Will   Producer
O'Shea Jackson Jr.   Composer
JayO   Composer
H. Simmons   Composer
K. Roberson   Composer
M. Humphrey   Composer
S. Crawford   Composer
Jigg   Composer,Producer
Brandon Alexander   Composer,Producer
Shon Adams   Composer
Winston Jr. Hodges   Composer
Eric Williams   Photography
Edward Fletcher   Composer
K. Harris   Composer
Will Ragland   Design,Art Direction
O'Shea Jackson   Composer
William Hodge   Composer
Christopher Whitacre   Composer