1) Ice Cube I Am The West (Lench Mob Records)

2) Nas & Damian Marely Distant Relatives (Republic)

3) Eminem Recovery (Aftermath, Interscope, Shady)

4) Black Milk Album of the Year (Fat Beats)

5) 9th Wonder Presents Big Nemo Entrapment (The Orchard/Traffic)

Released this past Tuesday, veteran West Coast rapper Ice Cube's new album  I Am The West (Lench Mob Records) has shot to the number one slot on the new Hip-Hop Top Five Chart at Amoeba Hollywood. Featuring the head-nodding, hook-driven lead single "I Rep The West" that's been out most of the summer, the album, although only dropping now at the end of the summer, is billed as a "celebration of summertime on the west coast." But really it's an anytime upbeat record that is not as strictly West Coast (i.e., G-Funk) sounding as one might expect it to be by its title. And while admittedly this is not Cube's finest work (that dates back to the first few years after he departed NWA), it ain't bad either. I rate it a 3 and half out of five star release, with strong cuts like the aforementioned lead single, plus "Nothing Like LA," "Hood Robbin'," and "No Country For Young Men." But the sixteen track album (that fortunately features no AutoTune and only a handful of his old school West Coat potnas) also has some filler, such as "Fat Cat." But considering the amount of time that Cube has been in the music biz (2+ decades) and the image challenge he faces with trying to balance being an actor and rapper (South Central gangsta rapper vs. family friendly figure in vehicles like Are We There Yet?), Cube somehow pulls it off, delivering bangers such as "No Country For Young Men" that remind one of the old Cube.

Ever listen to the same song on repeat for like 2, 6, 9 hours straight? It happens; music is intoxicating like that sometimes and everyone’s heard a song that spoke directly to him or her at one time or another. Maybe it moved you deeply and in return you treasured it dearly and barked hysterically at anyone who tried to interrupt the connection between your ears and the speakers. At that moment in time for you, the listener, that song is like the ninth wonder of the world. Subsequently, without proper headgear, for an innocent bystander catching all those repeated listenings, it is considered intolerable cruelty. Since I didn’t put anyone through that type of torture and utter misery I’ll rest easy tonight. Although there is this obnoxious ringing ear thing I’m currently suffering from due to listening to the same track today at an inappropriately loud volume for an inappropriately long amount of time.

The track I just couldn't get enough of: “Girlies” by the Cornerstone signed super rapper/producer/hipster duo Rootbeer. Their EP, Pink Limousine, drops today, March 10th. Tuesday, if you need a calendar, 2009 if you need a clue…just here to help. Their sound is light hearted, back to basics hip hop: simple, common man, catchy street talk, irresistible hooks laced with a side of cotton candy, and head bobbing beats to make you scream bananas, have your chocolate cake and eat it too. It’s like the brilliant wit and playfulness that was Kid n' Play or Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff on their debut, Parents Just Don’t Understand, blended with the indisputable freshness that was Young MC and Tone Loc. So, go cop Rootbeer’s EP cause they’re bringing the goodness. Put me in a better mood than my very disappointing water pressure did this morning.