Ice Cube's Raw Footage is cinematically orchestrated, moody and insightful. Scored by John Murphy [All About The Benjamins] and neatly trimmed to a solid hour [16 shots], Cube's eighth wonder is a more polished collective in comparison to 2006's Laugh Now, Cry Later. In alignment with the menacing album cover is the politically charged street single "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It." Cube refutes the notion that "prior to gangsta rap music, the world was a peaceful place." Compton was dangerous before gangsta rap!  With over three million views on youtube, the controversial leadoff video from Ice Cube just might be his edgiest one to date. So accurate in its portrayal of American hypocrisy and global crisis, the video shows spliced news footage of countries at war, government scandal and racism in the media [Don Imus and Michael Richards]. Cube approaches the subject with twisted irony, and fights back by bearing the burden wholeheartedly for all of the world's ills at present time and prior to his birth. He cynically snarls "blame me."

The question "What is the definition of a pyroclastic flow?" is the underlying theme [intro] of this album asked by narrator and film thespian Keith David [First Sunday]. Cube answers with intense heat from tracks like "Tomorrow," "Cold Places" and "It Takes a Nation." The latter, produced by New York's own Emile, is an aggressively unifying track, reminiscent of the days of the Bomb Squad and Amerikkka's Most Wanted. "Where the fuck is Afrika Bambaataa at…" Cube angrily spits. It's pure King Kong over that familiar West Coast synth and trunk-heavy 808.

Raw Footage ciphers a bevy of special guests. Most notably, heir to the West Coast rap throne The Game.  "Get Used To It" is a sonic bubbler backed by a continuous chant that can only be described as West Coast crunk. The simple hook makes it too weak for radio spins and it wouldn't inspire club anarchy. But with Ice Cube, WC and The Game, all on one record…this is as G'd up as it gets!  Being the youngest amongst two of his rap gods, Mr. Taylor attacks the track with a point to prove and pours gasoline on the rumor mil, ablaze of him possibly being inducted as the newest member of the super-group, Westside Connection. "I'm 'bout to join the Lench Mob, that's me squirtin' the mac, motherf****!"

Michael Phelps is clearly the highest-profile rap fan in some time. Between last week and this, Phelps has been thanking Young Jeezy, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne for making music that's helped inspire his eight gold medals.

Young Jeezy heard this support, and recently sat down with Rolling Stone to talk about America's biggest athlete of the moment. "I’m a big fan of Michael Phelps! He’s a great success. I like what he’s doing. He’s like the Young Jeezy of the swim world. I love it," said the Atlanta trap star.

The conversation revealed that the rap star has not swam since he was thrown into a pool as a child. Jeezy also plans to meet his champion fan. "I reached out and [Michael Phelps'] people got back to me. I’d love to do something for him, maybe like a performance in his hometown. We definitely very proud of it him back over here, real talk. You don’t go over there and win that many medals, man. Maybe he can lend me one for a video or something."

Baltimore, Maryland may soon be blessed with a Young Jeezy concert. get more HIP-HOP MUSIC here!!