Customer Reviews

Raw Footage (Clean)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Say what you want, Ice Cube is one of rap's pioneer's and definitely one of the best rappers, period. Forget all the sub-genres of rap - Ice Cube is the personification of true rap. His flow, his phrasing, and his lyrics are "ill". Anybody who wants to hear what straight-up rap is supposed to sound like, buy this album or Cube's previous album, LAUGH NOW, CRY LATER. Ice is relevant, despite any accusations made that the "original gangsta" sold out after his family-friendly movies. He is still a gangster - RAW FOOTAGE is the proof of this.

The album opens up with the quirky "What is A Pyroclastic Flow" (an interlude) that makes you wonder where Cube is going to take this thing. We later find that Cube references "Pyroclastic Flow" throughout the album. But really, did Cube have to prove to us his flow is "sick"? Nope, the "proof is in the pudding", as they say. Official opening track "I Got My Locs On" features none other than the second most featured rapper of 2008 (besides Weezy), Young Jeezy. "I Got My Locs On" is a great opener, though even stronger material shows up following it. "It Takes A Nation" is certainly one of RAW FOOTAGE's strongest number, in which Cube confidently states "there are seven known wonders of the world/you're about to witness the eighth motherf*****". Throughout this seminal track, Cube spits nothing but "ether" , as Diddy would say. It clearly shows that ARE WE THERE YET? didn't strip O'Shea Jackson of any of his "gangster-ism". One of the most creative lines might just be when Cube references being on an independent label and in essence, he doesn't care whether this album sells or not. If it doesn't, it is a shame.

"Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It" again showcases Cube's "pyroclastic flow". Cube talks real talk about gangsta rap and justifies the fact that he can say/do whatever the [bleep] he wants. It is a free country. "Hood Mentality" keeps the pace going in which Cube talks about well, having a "hood mentality", but not being "the hood". Call it whatever you want, it is another winning cut from RAW FOOTAGE. "Why Me" features neo-soul standout Musiq Soulchild, at his best as always. The production work continues an incredible strong streak, as does Cube. Real hip-hop ladies and gentlemen. It makes you wonder if Erykah Badu was so off when she compared hip-hop to religion on 2008's "The Healer/Hip-Hop" ("it's bigger than religion hip-hop..."). "Cold Places" is one of my personal favorites, if for nothing else but the sick production work. Aside from the killer beat and undeniably sick synths, Cube's flow is unparalleled here. Cube truly proves he is the embodiment of hip-hop. He is gangsta-rap. What he shows more importantly is that these "studio rappers" don't know anything about "gangsta rap", which he also quotes in his track, "Thank God".

"Jack N The Box", "Do Your Thang", "Thank God", and "Here He Come" (featuring Doughboy) are all top notch. "Thank God" maybe one of the catchiest of the album in which Cube asserts "Thank God the Gangsta's back... and we ain't got to put up with this brainless rap...". Valid? Very. Furthermore, the introduction to "Thank God" makes you reminisce of the days that Ice Cube was one of the most politically/socially charged rappers out there. Agree or disagree, Cube's message is really powerful. "Thank God" might just be my favorite from RAW FOOTAGE. "Get Money, Spend Money" isn't a miss, but it doesn't stand up as strong as the very best. "Get Use To It" features more extraodinary production (Nas could take a tip from Cube about strong production work). "Tommorow" showcases some of the best hip-hop production I've heard in sometime. Independent or not, this album sounds like it could've been produced by major-label producers. "Tommorow" may not shine as brightly as say "Jack N The Box" or "Thank God", but it certainly shines brighter than most of the tracks by most other rappers in 2008. "Stand Tall" features throwback, retro-soul production. Shouldn't Ice Cube sound soft with such a backdrop? Of course not - the clash between the soft texture of the production and the hard-laced Cube plays exceptional well, contrasting wonderfully. "Take Me Away" featuring Butch Cassidy finds Cube referencing his influential hit "Today Was Good Day", which is awesome.

While some of the sheen of RAW FOOTAGE has worn off by this track (track 16), Cube has done more than enough to earn his honors of 4 stars from me. Personally, I'd love to see this album get a Grammy Nomination. However, the west Coast has been ignored by The Grammys in the past. Maybe, this year is the year. Superb album.

Ice Cube returns after 2 years for his 8th solo, and once again it's another good one. Of his 8, most I'd give 4 stars, this being one of them, and a couple I'd give 4.5 stars. With 18 songs (1 is a live version of a song from his last album, so you get 17 new songs). Of the 17, 2 are almost a classics, 5 are ok, and the other 10 are good, with a few being real good. After 21 years in the Rap Game, Cube still delivers with Raw talent and ferocity on some tracks. Guests are minimal, on 5 songs and only rapping on 3 of them, so you get alot of Cube on here. Production is nice as well. Teak & Dee Underdue do 4 songs, Emile does 2, Swizz beats, PnO, Maestro, tha Bizness, Felli Fel, Palumbo beats, Symphony, EmBeatz, baby Dubb, DJ Crazy Toones, Young Fokus all do 1 song. A nice album to have form one of the all time greats.

#2 - 7 (f/ Young Jeezy)
#3 - 9 (good beat)
#4 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#5 - 8
#6 - 9.5 (f/ Musiq Soulchild) -- nice beat
#7 - 8.5
#8 - 7
#9 - 7.5
#10 - 8.5 (good beat)
#11 - 7 (f/ Doughboy)
#12 - 8
#13 - 7 (f/ WC & The Game)
#14 - 8
#15 - 9 (nice relaxing beat)
#16 - 9 (f/ Butch Cassidy -- nice beat)
#17 - 9.5 (tight beat)
#18 - 8
#19 (Live version of "Why We Thugs")

O'Shea Jackson -- b. 7/15/69 -- Compton, CA
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I don't know what these people are talkin about, Cube has gone soft? This album isn't raw? WTF are you talkin about? Cube is still bringin it, hard as ever, this is just as good as "Laugh Now, Cry Later", possibly even better. Cube doesn't even rap for the money, he raps because he loves to, and say whatever you want about him, he's still droppin hits, and none of it is going to involve dancing around on MTV like Lil Wayne or 50 cent. Sure, he's done some movies to make an extra checc, but that's because Cube is an -artist- in every way he can express himself, so he tried acting too and wasn't the greatest, but who brought us Friday? NWA? Who wrote for Eazy-E? It's all Cube. All day. If you're going to hate on an album this year, choose a different one, this is a 4 star.

Raw Footage is by far the best Rap album in 2008. It contains a solid list of "Pyroclastic Flows" as the Grand Wizard himself would say. I honestly can't find a weak track in this album, which is extremely rare this day and age. To truly appreciate this piece of work you have to be a real rap fanatic, if not you might as well continue trying to learn that "Soldier Boy" dance. You wont regret buying this as soon and you pop it in the player and experience the Grand Wizard's hypnotic flow.

Ice Cubes album Raq Footage is one of his best albums to date. He hasn't changed for near 25 years and each time he reinvents himself to prove that he is a pioneer of rap and the Westcoast Don. The best track on the Album has to be "Get Used To It" with WC and The Game. Three of the hottest artist on one track just killed it on the album.
This album gets 10 stars

THE NEW ICE CUBE ALBUM THIS TIME AROUND IS ANOTHER GOOD ALBUM TO REALLY CHECK OUT. ICE CUBE ALWAYS COMES REAL TIGHT AND HE PROVES ON THIS ALBUM HE WILL NEVER CHANGE LIKE OTHER RAPPERS. ALL THE TRACKS START TO END ARE SO RAW IT"S THAT ICE CUBE DOSE NOT SUGER COAT ANYTHANG PICK THIS ALBUM UP NOW.

Ice Cube is one of the pioneers of westcoast Hip Hop and also one of the members of legenday Gangsta Rap Group "N.W.A." and forget Lil Wayne, ICE CUBE is one of the best rappers alive in the game right now and probably Top 5. His latest album "Raw Footage" shows Ice Cube's ability to rap without having any type of weak atmospherical pop crap rap in his rhymes...Cube brings back the essence of Hardcore Gangsta rap without showing any soft spots. Ice Cube decides not to have any commercial songs on his album and sticks to his roots with political, racial and hood lyrics. If prominant artists could rap like Ice Cube den Hip Hop would be the pinnacle genre of the music industry.

The album is one of the best in recent years and is now my Top 5 in Ice Cubes career. His lyrics could not be better and the production is tight wit hardcore instrumentals especially the track "I Got My Locs On", "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It", "Take Me Away", "Cold Places", "Stand Tall" & "Hood Mentality"...one of the best beats I have eve heard. Do yourself a favor and buy this to support Ice Cube, he really deserves it.

2008 is a decent year in Hip Hop, Lil Waynes "Tha Carter III" is the best pop rap album this year most definetly, The Game's "L.A.X." is coming soon and based on his singles its gonna be dope, Nas's "Untitled" album is the best album I've heard from Nas since God's Son and Dr. Dre's highly anticipated third and final album "DETOX" is set to release this year, Hip Hop could be better but this was a decent year...Cop this album its super RAW!!!

WWWWOOOOOWWW!!!!!!!!!!! Oshea Jackson. U never seem to amaze me. Movies, CD's, independent label, family man. This Cd is RAW. Im 35 and this CD really brought me back to my high school days. Lyrics, educating your fans about this wicked world we live in (this CD has it all Gangsta). I wish more rappers would stick to their basic style. I wish snoop would make a CD with just hard core gangsta rap instead of this sexual seduction [...] (but ive come to realize that corney dance music helps his cd's sale)....Thx Oshea you deserve excellent reviews on this CD.. ooh yea im going to take the kids to c your new movie coming out his week (girl football player). KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK BRA...

First of all let me clear the air that I am one of Cubes biggest fans and he is my number 2 fav of all time behind Scarface. With that being said this review is coming from a real place. A legend like Cube can never lose it lyrically so that is not the problem with this album. The problem with this album is some of the beat selections and generic hooks. I know Cube wants to bridge the gap for his old fans and new ones but like he always said Be True To The Game. Cube is at his best on this cd when delivering that honesty and messages that only he can bring. But then he turns back into "youngsta Cube" and starts talking about ish that does not fit an almost 40 yr old rapper.

Songs like "I Got My Locs On" feat. Jeezy and "Get Used To It" feat. WC and Game sound like generic collabs. I have no clue why he started the album with that Locs On track it really did not set the tone of the album to me.

On a positive note songs like "Why Me","Hood Mentality", and "Stand Tall" are some of his best work to date. The production works on these and some other tracks and give you that Lethal Injection or Bootlegs & Bsides feel to the album. This is definitly not his worst album so you won't be mad buying it. With more listens it may get way better but after the good Laugh Now Cry Later this did not follow suite well. When I hear a title like Raw Footage I want some Raw ish!!! Hotep..

this man back in 89-92 was the pulse of Hip-Hop period. he had the flow and had you listening from start to finish. he was political, Funny, direct and to the point. but after a while he got stuck on a formula and then the acting game took over his thing. fast forward to now and Ice Cube can still flow and he can still bring some heat, but the Production here is hit and miss at best. song wise nothing different from a decade ago. he is trying to sound like Young Jeezy and other New jacks on the scene and that audience ain't interested. Cube made a listenable album, but this is a big step beneath his Prime and peak. he is still One of the Most Important Rappers Ever I believe but his albums ain't been memorable in many,many,many years.gangasta rap made me do it and do ya thang were my standout cuts.