One of the best-known OG's, Ice Cube has also been one of the most prolific.  While also building an education and a movie career (directing, producing, and writing, as well as acting), Cube has survived while only slightly tweaking his style, instead of drastically changing it or selling out.  His latest effort, the follow-up to 1998's War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc), is another shining example of how Cube's hard work and devotion have given him another solid album (it states in the liner notes' biography that Cube himself says War & Peace are his best albums since Death Certificate).

   Given that this is the Peace disc, it's more upbeat than the War disc.  It's got everything from tracks about lying ["The Gutter Shit" & "You Ain't Gotta Lie (Ta Kick It)", featuring some cracks from Chris Rock], to the inspiring single "Until We Rich", to party songs like "You Can Do It" (which originally appeared on the Next Friday OST), and even a self-centered track or two ("Hello").  There are several "inserts" on this album, falling into the categories of those that connect with tracks and are placed at the end/beginning, and those that are longer and are separate tracks (my favorite is "Pimp Homeo", just because it's stupid-funny).  With guest appearances from the likes of Dr. Dre, Krayzie Bone, Chris Rock, and Mack 10, among others, this is a very nice album.

   Yet... on a closer examination, something's not right.  Although it's nice and is for the most part well-written ("I hear you braggin' about the money you holdin' / Same nigga that be kissin' my colon, when you picture me rollin' / Nigga picture me holdin' pure heat like Nolin..."), there's nothing really new or revolutionary on this disc.  It would appear that Cube has decided to take a break for a bit, and ride out his fame as one of the "starters of the game" for a while.  This is reinforced by the hook in tracks such as "Hello" (which, by the time it gets to Dre's verse, sounds more like it belongs as a single on Chronic 2001) and "Supreme Hustle".  Even going back to his statement from the liner notes... well, using the discography included with the biography, we can see that the only albums released between Death Certificate and War & Peace are Bootlegs & B-Sides and Featuring...; so, its not really a big accomplishment for these to be his best albums since.  While this isn't Cube's best work when compared to the young revolutionary he was in his days of N.W.A., it is refreshing to see an original gangsta put out an album of club bangers, so long as he doesn't get into it too much (*cough* Dre *cough*).