7th solo from the Don Mega maybe his best - 4.5 stars
G$ | B-More, MD | 03/20/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Ice Cube is finally back with another solo after a little over 6 years, and I have to say it's probably my favorite of his solo's ( I don't have "Amerikkaz Nightmare" or "War & Peace Vol. 1"). After being in the rap game for almost 20 years, he still brings heat on the mic and still has a lot to say, not as political as his first 4 albums fromt eh early 90's, but I like this more. With 16 songs, 6 are ok, and 10 are good, with the majority being real good, but no classic song however. Guests are minimal (unlike his last 2 albums) and I think it really helps (since the 3 guests are all vets as well and are only on 4 songs. Production is very good as well. Lil Jon does 3 songs, Scott Storch, Budda, Teak teak & dee, Emile, Laylaw & D Maq all do 2 songs, Green lantern, Swizz Beats, Sean C & LV all do 1 song. A must have album and one of the better albums of 2006.
#2 - 9 (tight beat)
#3 - 7.5
#5 - 7
#7 - 9 (nice beat)
#8 - 8
#9 - 9 (nice beat)
#10 - 9 (f/ Snoop Dogg -- tight beat)
#11 - 8.5 (good beat)
#13 - 8.5 (about meeting Dr Dre, Yella & Eazy E when he was growing up)
#14 - 8
#15 - 6.5
#16 - 6.5 (f/ WC)
#17 - 9 (tight beat)
#18 - 6.5 (f/ Snoop Dogg)
#19 - 8.5 (f/ WC & Kokane -- nice relaxing beat)
#20 - 7
O'Shea Jackson - b. 6/15/69 - Compton, CA
check all my reviews"
Close to vintage Cube but not quite
Nuisance | Miami | 02/18/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Ice Cube has been giving you classic album after album since Amerikkka'z Most Wanted. His music went downhill after Lethal Injection. War & Peace Volumes 1 and 2 were dissapointing releases from an MC who is capable of much better work. Well after 6 years on hiatus, Ice Cube returns with Laugh Now, Cry Later. Why We Thugs was a great single because its a vintage Ice Cube track that shows you the Ice Cube we know and love: the political side of Ice Cube. Laugh Now, Cry Later is another gem as Cube tells a great story of how he got in jail and how the family treats him since he's been locked up. More political jewels would follow in tracks like The N**** Trap and the incendiary Child Support. Growin Up is Ice Cube's introspective story. Click, Clack-Get Back and Go To Church feat Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon are good tracks also. Honorable mentions: I like Smoke Some Weed even though its a silly track and Stop Snitchin is okay. There are plenty of questionable tracks that ruins this album's potential to be great starting with Doin What It Pose 2Do. After Click, Clack-Get Back, the album nosedives into wackness. The Game Lord is stupid. Chrome & Paint feat WC, Steal The Show, You Gotta Lotta That(the most boring collabo this side of Puffy), Spittin Pollaseeds(WTF is that?) and Holla @ Cha Boy are all filler. Bottom Line: While this album is flawed, its still a highlight album of 2006. The excessive amounts of filler stopped it from being great but its a lot better than the War & Peace saga.
Standouts: WHY WE THUGS, CHILD SUPPORT, LAUGH NOW CRY LATER, GO TO CHURCH, THE N**** TRAPP, GROWIN UP and CLICK CLACK GET BACK!"