If you want to know what there is to like about gangsta rap in general and Ice Cube in particular, get this album and DEATH CERTIFICATE. Political anger and a restless urge to open some eyes power this album. Ice Cube the producer is at his creative best here formally on tracks like "I'm Scared", "---- 'Em" and "The Predator". But more than anything else it's his work as a lyricist that makes this album. He paints the brutality and fear of the gangsta life in tracks like "Now I Gotta Wet 'Cha" and "It Was a Good Day". He invokes the fear and helpless rage directed against the white community in general and police in particular, in tracks like "When Will They Shoot?", "We Had to Tear This Motha----- Up" and "Who Got the Camera?" He makes you understand where the shot is coming from when it's finally fired in "Say Hi to the Bad Guy". Whether you agree with his views or not, after hearing this album you will have to leave room for them.

More than that, most of these tracks are incredibly entertaining - you'll find yourself chanting the lyrics along with him. Classic songs, these will get in your head and stay there.

Without a doubt, this is Cube at his finest. Perhaps not as fresh as his just-post-NWA albums - but the sound, feel, and the layout fit the best of anything I have seen from him before or after this piece. This was the only album of his that I enjoyed enough to listen to EVERY track - not once, but again and again. Cube's feelings appear much the same, but his lyrics are new on this album, too, something which seems to be lacking on later releases. All the tracks here hit hard, with the rage you expect from an album released soon after the Rodney King riots, but with just enough levity (Gangsta Fairytale 2) and positive outlook (It Was a Good Day) to prevent a complete "social injustice overload." Ice Cube was not afraid to be crystal clear about his opinions and even his personal life on this album, either - and much of what he says is just as relavent now as it was almost 10 years ago when this was first released. If you like Ice Cube, and you don't have 'Predator' - make sure to pick it up.

Ice Cube must be given credit for being one of the founders of this art of hiphop. Ice Cube today makes garbage material music. He should stick to acting these days, but when you go back in the day, Cube was puttin out classic tracks and albums. The Predator is one of them. Probably his best and most original.

This album is what really introducted Cube with the mainstream audience. "It Was A Good Day" is an all time hiphop classic. Wicked is a sick track also that caught hiphop fans attention.

The others tracks are worthy old school Cube material. I would urge anyone who loves the art of hiphop and doesnt have this classic to pick this up.

this album was the jam back in the day.back when i was a little juvi everybody in the hood was pumpin this. today was a good day is and was a song that helped me get through alot and when things werent goin the right way me and my homegirl would cruise and chill to the album. this and the chronic are 2 of the greatest albums ever made. buy this for the strength,buy this for the social commentary. even if you are a white middle class kid from the country GOD BLESS YOU PEOPLE

Around this time, Cube was putting out albums year after year. "Amerikka's Most Wanted" is a classic and one of my favorites. Then he dropped "Death Certificate" which is another classic. Next up to bat was his third (full length) album, "The Predator".

This was considered Ice Cube's most sold album. His biggest hit song "It Was A Good Day" still gets a lot of rotation on the radio, and is still dope to listen to as well. Cube was still in his political stance though. It wasn't as heavy as "Death Certificate" and "Amerikka's Most Wanted". Around this time people might have been calling him a racist, but he was out trying to prove otherwise. If you hear the inserts that are on this album ("I'm Scared") you can hear some of the opinions that people had towards him about what he was saying.

Now for the music itself, it's overall dope. There are a some tracks that easilly became some stadouts. As popular as "It Was A Good Day" was, people forgot that "Wicked" was another single (and I think it was the first), featured Don Gorgon. "We Had To Tear This _______ Up" is another track that I found interesting, and Cube showing off his hatred towards what was going on around that time. The origonal version of "Check Ya Self" is also a hot track that featured Das Efx, which I find to be better than the remix.

This album is flawed though. I find a few tracks that fall under skip material here. "Whos Got The Camera" is one of them. Another one would be the weak sounding "Dirty Mack". Another one I didn't have the feel for was "Gangsta's Fairytale 2".

And if you purchased this after 2003, you get a few bonus tracks. You receive the radio edit of "Check Ya Self (remix)" a single that was just as popular as "It Was A Good Day". The remix to "It Was A Good Day" just didn't work in my opinion and falls under skip material. "24 With An L" and "U Ain't Gonna Take My Life" are some good tracks in addition to this album. All of these tracks would also appear on the "Bootlegs And B-Sides" album.

Overall, this is a dope album. It showcased Cube's anger with issues that were going on around that time back in the 90's. This is a good album to have in any hip hop collection, although I don't find it to be good as everyone is saying. There are good tracks on here, but I also find a lot of skippable tracks here as well. When it comes to the remastered albums Cube has had between 1990-1993, "The Predator" is his highest selling album, but in my opinion, I also find it to be his weakest out of the group. Don't hesitate to pick this up though. You probably will have a different opinion that I have.

Lyrics: B
Production: B
Guest Appearances: B
Musical Vibes: B+
Overall: B

Favorite Tracks: When Will They Shoot, Wicked, It Was A Good Day, Don't Trust 'Em, Check Yo Self (both origonal and remix), 24 With An L, U Ain't Gonna Take My Life.

Peace Everyone!!!