Review by Mawunyo Gbogbo

He has dubbed his latest effort ‘The Essentials’. But how essential is Ice Cube’s latest offering? Fans of the rap pioneer would already be familiar with most of the songs on this compilation. Ardent fans are likely to own each of these tracks already. That leaves the uninitiated. If his work has bypassed you up until now, is there really any point in getting in on the act two decades after he released his first EP? Well, it depends.

If you are into light-hearted entertainment, forget it. You’re better off investing in a ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic record. There is little on this album that will lift your spirits. The Greatest Hits compilation includes the track ‘Dead Homiez.’ It takes little imagination to work out what that song is about. Also on this album is ‘A Gangsta’s Fairytale,’ in which Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood and Jack & Jill are involved in prostitution, drug use and drive-by shootings. And there’s the anti-violence-themed ‘Ghetto Vet,’ about a paralysed gangbanger. Yep, stay away from this album if you are looking for some chilled out tunes you could fall asleep to.

On the flip side, buy it if you are in need of a history lesson. Or if you would like to immerse yourself in the likely goings on of the ‘hood today. As a foundation member of the revolutionary rap group NWA, Ice Cube’s music has always been provocative. Since NWA released its 1988 album ‘Straight Outta Compton,’ mainstream audiences have been exposed to the gritty reality of life in a United States ghetto. When Cube went on to pursue a solo career, his politically charged rhymes continued.

‘The Essentials’ goes back as far as 1990 when Ice Cube dropped his debut solo album ‘AmeriKKKaz Most Wanted.’ It includes the cautionary single ‘Check Yo Self,’ and the 1992 number one hit ‘It was a Good Day,’ in which Cube imagines having just that – a rare day without drama. The album brings you right up to the present day and the lead track is 2006’s ‘Go to Church,’ featuring Snoop Dogg and Lil’ Jon.

Australia makes a grand appearance on the record with the shouts and cheers of a live audience clearly audible on ‘Why We Thugs’ and ‘Smoke some Weed,’ recorded at a Perth concert. Ice Cube makes reference here to Snoop Dogg’s inability at the time to secure a working visa to enter the country.

If you listen to music to unwind, this isn’t for you. But if you’re accustomed to pumping the music up in the car and crave a hot beat to get you to your destination, then sure, cop this record. Though it might be a good idea to resist the urge to share it with unsuspecting motorists and pedestrians.