Maps of Music

Laugh Now, Cry Later (2006)

Where the lyrics of Laugh Now, Cry Later take you, and where it was really made.

Ice Cube's seventh studio album came after six years spent mostly on movie work, and he released it on his own independent label.

Place unknown

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Few collaborations compared with his previous album, with West Coast rappers Snoop Dogg and WC and Southern rapper Lil Jon
Street single and video "Chrome & Paint" came before the album
"Why We Thugs", produced by Scott Storch, was the first official single
"Go to Church", featuring Snoop Dogg and Lil Jon, followed in late June 2006
"Steal the Show" was the third single, promo-only
"Growin' Up" honours his late friend Eazy-E, a fellow N.W.A member
Cube said he wanted to make a record like a history book

Re-released October 31, 2006 as Laugh Now, Cry Later: O.G. Limited Edition
The DualDisc holds concert and backstage footage plus a playable music video for each song
The clean version replaces most profanities by repeating words or using a sound effect

1	Definition of a West Coast G’ (intro)	0:14
2	Why We Thugs	3:44
3	Smoke Some Weed	3:47
4	Dimes & Nicks (A Call From Mike Epps)	1:07
5	Child Support	4:01
6	Two Decades Ago	0:14
7	Doin’ What It ’Pose 2Do	4:09
8	Laugh Now, Cry Later	3:37
9	Stop Snitchin’	3:16
10	Go to Church	4:00
11	The N***a Trap	3:50
12	A History of Violence	1:10
13	Growin’ Up	3:55
14	Click, Clack - Get Back!	3:10
15	The Game Lord	4:11
16	Chrome & Paint	3:28
17	Steal the Show	4:13
18	You Gotta Lotta That	4:06
19	Spittin’ Pollaseeds	5:05
20	Holla @ Cha’ Boy	3:32
21	Pockets Stay Fat	3:55

Born O'Shea Jackson in Los Angeles on June 15, 1969; stage name from his older brother's teasing.
Formed the trio C.I.A. in 1986 at age 16, then joined N.W.A.
Left N.W.A in late 1989 over a monetary dispute with the group's management.

Lead rapper and main lyricist of N.W.A's Straight Outta Compton (1989), shaping gangsta rap's early identity.
Solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991) and The Predator (1992) were critically and commercially successful; The Predator debuted at No. 1 on both the R&B/hip-hop and pop charts.
Co-founded the Westside Connection with Mack 10 and WC in 1995.
Acting career from 1991's Boyz n the Hood; co-wrote and starred in Friday (1995) and directed The Players Club (1998).
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as an N.W.A member in 2016.

Critics gave the album generally positive reviews
The album debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200
It sold 144,000 copies in its first week
Ice Cube's previous album, War & Peace Vol. 2, was the one it followed after six years

The Spanish article calls the album's gold certification unusual for a record released on an independent label
The French article records its placement as second on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and fourth on the Billboard 200
Later reviews of the album, as summarized in these sources, mostly stress its status as a comeback after the film years

"Chrome & Paint" samples "The Continental Walk" by Hank Ballard
"Stop Snitchin'" samples "Gangsta Gangsta" by N.W.A
"Growin' Up" samples "Memory Lane" by Minnie Riperton
The album lists eight samples in total, including Brandy, The Notorious B.I.G. and Alan Tew
"Go to Church" was the follow-up single released in late June 2006
Ice Cube said he wanted a record that works like a history book and shows a side of life listeners might not know exists