Maps of Music

Raw Footage (2008)

Where the lyrics of Raw Footage take you, and where it was really made.

Ice Cube's most political record since The Predator in 1992 also features voice-over from Keith David on five tracks.

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Raw Footage is the eighth studio album by American rapper Ice Cube.
Released August 19, 2008 by his record label Lench Mob Records.
Guest appearances from The Game, Butch Cassidy, Musiq Soulchild, Young Jeezy and WC.
Described as his most political effort in over a decade, since The Predator (1992).
Preceded by three singles: “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It”, “Do Ya Thang” and “Why Me?”.

The lead single, “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It”, was released on January 3, 2008 and produced by Maestro.
In that single Ice Cube addresses society's view of gangsta rap, which has sometimes been blamed for criminality in America.
The single became available via iTunes on February 12, 2008.
Its music video features cameo appearances by WC and DJ Crazy Toones.
The second single, “Do Ya Thang”, was released through iTunes on June 24, 2008 and produced by Palumbo Beats.
The music video for “Why Me?” featuring Musiq Soulchild premiered on BET's 106 & Park on September 24, 2008.
“It Takes a Nation” was released via iTunes Store on May 27, 2008 but was never officially released as a single.

Recording is credited to Fever Studios.
David Lopez is credited with recording and mixing.
Brian Gardner is credited as mastering engineer, with Bernie Grundman Mastering listed as the mastering company.
Keith David provides voice-over on “What Is a Pyroclastic Flow?”, “Hood Mentality”, “Jack n the Box”, “Get Used to It” and “Take Me Away”.

1	What Is a Pyroclastic Flow?	0:55
2	I Got My Locs On	3:43
3	It Takes a Nation	3:26
4	Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It	4:42
5	Hood Mentality	5:11
6	Why Me?	4:01
7	Cold Places	4:13
8	Jack n the Box	4:23
9	Do Ya Thang	4:04
10	Thank God	5:28
11	Here He Come	4:33
12	Get Money, Spend Money, No Money	4:08
13	Get Use to It	4:25
14	Tomorrow	3:41
15	Stand Tall	3:46
16	Take Me Away	4:03

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.

Robert Christgau said the album contains some of the smartest raps of Ice Cube's career.
In the same review he noted that the album also contains some of the easiest beats.
The album was described as his most political effort since The Predator (1992).
It debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 and sold 70,000 copies in its first week.

“Hood Mentality” samples “Can I” as performed by Eddie Kendricks.
“Stand Tall” samples “Be Thankful for What You Got”, written and performed by William DeVaughn.
“Thank God” samples “If We Don't Make It, Nobody Can”, performed by Tom Brocker.
“Cold Places” is also featured on Ice Cube's greatest hits album The Essentials.
The music video for “Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It” features cameo appearances by WC and DJ Crazy Toones.