Number 44: The Predator by Ice Cube
Cold as ice
Release: November 17th, 1992
Genre: Gangsta Rap
Favorite Tracks: When Will They Shoot?, Wicked, Check Yo Self
Where I heard it:
Hip-hop is such an integral part of the culture where I grew up in California; it didn't matter if you listened to the music or not, you know the names 2Pac and Snoop Dogg. As such, I was aware early on of the notorious rap group N.W.A., which featured prominent names in hip-hop like Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube. I was only a kid back then, so I was more familiar with Ice Cube for his role in the family-friendly 2005 film Are We There Yet?, a baffling contrast to the reputation he garnered for his time in N.W.A. and as a solo artist. I didn't begin digging in to rap until 2015, which is coincidentally when the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton released in theaters. I even caught the remaining members of N.W.A. (sans Dre) at a music festival that same year. Everything aligned perfectly for my attention to be directed toward the ruthless records of N.W.A.'s members, but I was most drawn to Ice Cube's emphatic delivery during his verses. There is perhaps no greater example of Ice Cube's bold bars than his third solo album The Predator, an album that encapsulates intangible emotions of rage, reflection and retribution.
They're saying questions about white people fearing
What will the black folks do and stuff
We should be the running down the streets
Screaming and ranting and raving
Cause when you look at the statistics
Who is the one dying?
From the policemen, from the KKK, from the skinheads?
What is he saying that you have a problem with?
~ I'm Scared
What to expect:
By 1992, Ice Cube's violent and criminal tendencies were well-known and documented in the public eye. The proliferation of rap music that disparaged law enforcement and encouraged forceful retaliation caused widespread panic in the suburban neighborhoods of America, and Ice Cube was pinned as one of the genre's biggest offenders. Racial tensions between black people and white people steadily increased during this period, reaching a boiling point following the judgement of the Rodney King trial and resulting riots in the LA area. Already an outspoken member against racial inequality and police brutality, Ice Cube obviously wasn't going to take this pivotal moment in American history in stride. His next studio release The Predator, released only seven months after the acquittal, addresses the failures of society that led us to the events of April 29th, 1992. Interludes like I'm Scared and Integration blatantly call out the hypocrisy and racism of white fear toward the black community through interview-style snippets taken from television segments. Surprisingly, these non-musical parts of The Predator provide some of the greatest depth and insight into the experiences of black people in America during this time. When it comes to the lyrics, Ice Cube is uncensored in his opinions about the public outcry over both his music and the recent riots. The album is chock full of references and even threats towards the officers found not guilty, culminating into the manifesto We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up that goes as far as to justify the looting and beatings that occurred in the wake of the ruling. The Predator still makes plenty of room for less serious tracks like Dirty Mack and It Was A Good Day, which are more expository tales that provocatively and explicitly detail a day in the life of Ice Cube. While his language is blunt and straightforward, the metric composition and rhyme scheme of the lyrics place stress on certain syllables which punch through the mic with authority. His production style is equally heavy, handing out catchy hooks that sample a wide variety of sources like Public Enemy and the Isley Brothers. Underneath its intimidating subject matter, The Predator displays an impressive knowledge of hip-hop that has established Ice Cube as one of the all-time greats.
Stick a nigga like a unicorn
Vaugn, wicked, Lawrence Powell, foul
Cut his fuckin' throat and I smile
Go to Simi Valley and surely
Somebody knows the address of the jury
Pay a little visit, "Who is it? Who is Ice Cube?"
"Can I talk to the grand wizard?" then boom
Make him eat the barrel
Modern day feral
Now he's zipped up like leather tuscadero
~ We Had to Tear This Mothafucka Up
Why it's my favorite:
Hip-hop in the 90's revolved strongly around gang activity and gun violence; it just came with the territory. While I'm not an advocate for either, the popularity of these themes during this era of rap music stand out within the genre. Rap has always been an important bastion for the black community to freely express themselves over bombastic beats and unabashed lyrical content, but the 90's offered an elevated perspective of social injustice from several black artists. Ice Cube sacrificed his public image to voice his outrage toward a system that has failed its people. Although his views at times can be extreme or misguided, The Predator provokes thoughtful conversation on how little we've progressed as a society since Rodney King. It's a shame to see that many of Ice Cube's observations on police brutality and racism are still relevant thirty years on. When you consider this fact, it's no wonder why Ice Cube carries such an aggressive demeanor on The Predator. The level of wrath and fury behind Ice Cube's bars is unprecedented, and lasts as a testament to the lingering anger that continues to this day.
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