The four year wait for Ice Cube's next solo joint is quite a pleasant reward. Ice Cube, a.k.a Don Mega, is renown as being one of the premier West coast 'gangsta rap' artists of this decade. This former member of the NWA(which is rumored to be reuniting at year's end), and founder of The Westside Connection, has put out a true skill-testing album. Ice Cube aces this test with hardcore thought-provoking lyrics and deep-West Coast basslines. Not to mention a razorblade cutting-edge style all his own, that will never be reproduplicated.

This Album features very few artists, but Ice Cube chose Korn to star on the album's best song, entitled "Dying". He masterfully mixes Korn's heavy metallish-sound with West Coast beats and an engulfing orchestra-sound. "3 Strikes You In" is an upbeat version of the classic baseball-theme song, "3 Strikes You're Out". All new scintillating lyrics relating baseball, politics, crime and jail-time. It's got a Nine Inch Nails-type sound that surrounds the chorus, but is light as a feather. "The Peckin Order" slows things down, with an easy guitar riff and enticing beat that keeps you listening to the lyrics. "War & Peace" is a slow-beat song filled with sound effects. It's chorus (which is an interpolation from No Doubt's, "Don't Speak") will touch your inner soul.

This album, The War Disc is the first release of Ice Cube's double album entitled War&Peace. Vol 2, appropriately entitled The Peace Disc is scheduled for release in early 1999. I expect it to be even better than this album. And this album grows on you really quickly. It's definitely got some great songs. Heck, I didn't even have the chance to describe the first single off the album, "Pushin Weight". If you're a fan of the Westside gangsta style, then this album is a must get. Otherwise get it and give it a chance to sink in.

www.brockwayent.com

(Originally posted on HipHopCanada.com)

This review was written November 25, 1998