Artist: Ice Cube
Album: Raw Footage
Release Date: August 19th, 2008

Over the past couple years Ice Cube has endured a fair amount of criticism from within the hip hop community. On one hand, Cube is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. On the other hand, his credibility constantly comes into question as he's supposed to be this hardened gangsta rapper, yet he also starred in Disney's "Are We There Yet?"

It's probably best to look at Cube as two people: the actor and the rapper. True, it does matter what an MC does away from the mic, just take a look at the whole Rick Ross lying about his past as a prison guard situation. The difference is Cube isn't lying about anything. He's open and honest about his acting career. He may make films that aren't inherently hip hop in nature and maybe even family friendly. His music, however, is still the same rough, explicit, hard stuff that he's always been known for. Cube got his start as a founding member of NWA, then propelled his career with his work in Westside Connection and then, of course, his solo work.

Raw Footage will be Cube's 8th solo full-length album, and lands 18 years after the release of his first solo album, AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted . Whether you love Cube for being the legend that he is or you're trying to hate because you think his acting is wack, everybody has got to appreciate a few things about Cube. First, NWA is classic hip hop, plain and simple. Big ups to Cube for NWA. Second, he may have some weak movies out there, but Boyz In The Hood, Friday and Barber Shop are great films. Hate if you want, even talk trash, but the fact of the matter is Ice Cube is a living legend in the world of hip hop and is one of the key players in terms of getting hip hop the mainstream media attention it deserved.

Raw Footage drops on August 19th. Check out Ice Cube and before you judge, remember to listen in the correct context. Cube is the man.