Illuminati 2G

5/6/06: Today, we are about a month away from the release of Ice Cube's album, Laugh Now, Cry Later on June 6th. As many of you know, the album will be on his indie label, Lench Mob Records. This editorial will discuss the album's potential for success and what the album will do for west coast music.

Many people have asked the question, What Ice Cube will we get on this album? In my opinion I think Cube will have more artistic freedom on this album. On the outside this seems like the record will be a return to the political Ice Cube we heard on his 1st 3 or 4 albums. But Cube is a different artist now and with 2 huge mainstream club bangers (You Can Do It & We Be Clubbin), I think this album will be a mixture of  socially conscious rap and club bangers. Cube has been in the business for a long time and he knows what the rap game needs right now. Lyrically, I think Cube will return back to the apex he saw with the War disc. The production on LNCL is top notch, with production from Teak & Dre, Lil Jon, Scott Storch, Green Lantren and others.

Now to the impact. After The Game's roaring success on The Documentary and The Dogg Pound Clique getting they shit together, this is the perfect time for Cube to drop a album. With the newfound interest in Bay Area rap and west coast rap in general, Ice Cube's album will go far into helping the west coast get some much needed exposure. Kinda like in 96' when Westside Connection dropped. I always felt that Cube represented the west coast to the fullest. I think the album sales wise will do around 500,000 to a mil. Gold would be a HUGE success for a indie record, but knowing Ice Cube gold will not be acceptable. I think Ice Cube's tremendous credentials and bankroll will allow him to have multiple singles off of the album and get him the radio play he needs to excel. Just my 2 cents, but it is good to have the Don Mega back doin his thing. But don't take my word for it, click here to download a sampler of the album.

- D Marc