Raw Footage

Last updated
Raw Footage
Rawfootage.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 19, 2008
Recorded2007–08
Genre
Length64:34
Label
Producer
Ice Cube chronology
Laugh Now, Cry Later
(2006)
Raw Footage
(2008)
I Am the West
(2010)
Singles from Raw Footage
  1. "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"
    Released: January 3, 2008
  2. "Do Ya Thang"
    Released: July 1, 2008
  3. "Why Me?"
    Released: September 24, 2008
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic 67/100 [1]
Review scores
SourceRating
About Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
AllHipHop (8/10) [3]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [4]
ChartAttack Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
HipHopDX Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
RapReviews(8.5/10) [7]
Robert Christgau Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg Five Pointed Star Solid.svg [8]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
XXL (favorable) [11]

Raw Footage is the eighth studio album by American rapper Ice Cube. It was released on August 19, 2008, by his record label Lench Mob Records [12] [13] and Universal Motown Records. The album features guest appearances from The Game, Butch Cassidy, Musiq Soulchild, Young Jeezy and WC. The album is his most political effort, since over a decade earlier with the release of his album The Predator (1992).

Contents

Preceding the release, supported by three singles; "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It", "Do Ya Thang", and "Why Me?" featuring Musiq Soulchild.

Singles

The lead single from the album, called "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It" was released January 3, 2008. The song was produced by Maestro. In this single, Ice Cube addresses society's view of gangsta rap music, which has sometimes been blamed for criminality in America. On February 12, 2008, the single became available via iTunes. The music video [14] features cameo appearances by WC and DJ Crazy Toones.

The album's second single, called "Do Ya Thang" was released through the iTunes on June 24, 2008. The song was produced by Palumbo Beats.

The music video for the third single, "Why Me?" featuring Musiq Soulchild, [15] premiered on BET 's 106 & Park on September 24, 2008.

Other songs

The song "It Takes a Nation" was released via iTunes Store on May 27, 2008. It was never officially released as a single.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau said that the album contains "Some of the smartest raps of his career" and "some of the easiest beats." [8]

Commercial performance

Raw Footage debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, selling 70,000 copies in its first week. [16] This became Ice Cube's seventh US top-ten album. [16]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."What Is a Pyroclastic Flow?" John Murphy0:54
2."I Got My Locs On" (featuring Young Jeezy)
P-No3:43
3."It Takes a Nation"
Emile 3:26
4."Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It" Maestro 4:41
5."Hood Mentality"
Hallway Productionz 5:11
6."Why Me?" (featuring Musiq Soulchild)
Hallway Productionz4:00
7."Cold Places"
  • Jackson
  • D. Underdue
  • T. Underdue
Hallway Productionz4:12
8."Jack n the Box" Tha Bizness 4:22
9."Do Ya Thang"
  • Jackson
  • M. Palumbo
Palumbo Beats4:04
10."Thank God"
Hallway Productionz5:28
11."Here He Come" (featuring O'Shea Jackson Jr.)
  • Jackson
  • Darrell Finister II
  • Gene Griffin
Symphony4:32
12."Get Money, Spend Money, No Money"
  • Jackson
  • Haynie
Emile4:07
13."Get Used to It" (featuring WC and The Game)
EmBeatz4:25
14."Tomorrow"Campbell3:40
15."Stand Tall"
3:46
16."Take Me Away" (featuring Butch Cassidy)
Young Fokus, DJay Cas4:03
iTunes bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Believe It or Not"
  • Jackson
  • Haynie
Emile3:11
Best Buy pre-order bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."Don't Make Me Hurt Ya Feelings"
Swizz Beatz 2:47
18."Crack Baby?"
DJ Felli Fel 2:59
19."Why We Thugs" (Live)(featuring WC)
Storch3:37
Notes
Sample credits

Charts

Related Research Articles

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