LAist: Classic LA Albums Vol. 2: Ice Cube - "Death Certificate"

guest

Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:34:26 -0800

Good pick. Death Certificate is so well written, that it elevates Cube beyond being a rhymer to damn near being an author. The A side's 3 final cuts, their topics ranging from the sense of safety you get from owning a gun, to dying in a hospital from a gun shot wound,partly because of poor medical attention and simultaneous police interrogations, is the epitome of a concept record. Death Certificate and Amerikkkas are classic. Now Ice Cube is Hollywood's Village Idiot. I personally would be equally disgusted seing a 40 year ol Cube in 2007 talking about Bitches and Thugs, because that would be stagnation, growing down instead of growing up. But damn, we could have used a few more FOCUSED Ice Cube records, and not the lackluster crap he put out after

Elise Thompson

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 20:53:56 -0800

I should probably wait until you are done to make comparisons, as my favorite may be an upcoming classic, but being that you feel DEATH CERTIFICATE holds up better than NWA & The POSSE, which is sort of a precursor to Straight Outta Compton, I am making an assumption. Let me just say that Straight Outta Compton may be one of the greatest records ever anywhere. Ever. Is that an upcoming classic, or where do you stand comparing DEATH CERTIFICATE to Straight Outta Compton?

C

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:54:31 -0800

caliking01 - Yeah man, Cube jumped the shark musically years ago, and has made some seriously wack movies over the years. Good thing we have these old albums to remember...

caliking01

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 12:14:15 -0800

Too bad that fool makes some dumb ass movies now. That make him millions, of course.

guest

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 22:28:37 -0800

This is by far one of, if not the best, WestCoast hip hop album ever. Yes, I said it, EVER. Cube may have "sold out" recently, but he made sure he was heard before he "sold out" and not "sell out" to be heard. Most of the recent rappers, because they're most definitely not MC's, sell out to get radio play. Music nowadays has no message and it's up to the true MC's to bring the spotlight from the hiiltop mansions, Lambos, and the bling back to the ghetto and the inner cities to tell real stories about real living.

C

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:33:59 -0800

polaroidgirl - yeah, and then it's great when Cube comes back with Predator and is in full shit-talking / gloating mode... 'I told you so' guest - Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it. It's also good to hear someone from NY giving some props to left coast hip-hop.

guest

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:00:49 -0800

Thank you for this review. I agree, agree, agree and love "Mister Kotter"'s work from this era. This album especially was a wonderful look into Southern California sociology for this Upstate New York teen.

polaroidgirl

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:24:44 -0800

I remember when this album came out and I told my dad "There's gonna be riots in the street if that verdict goes the wrong way no doubt about it."