Ice Cube plays with perfection on 'Club'

For those who doubted, Ice Cube is back, with a vengeance. Many thought he fell off after making the classic "Death Certificate," but didn't want to believe the Cube-spearheaded "Westside Connection" was the truth. To those people, Ice Cube gives a big middle finger, he gives them "The Players Club" movie and soundtrack. This is only an appetizer of the new and improved Cube, the "War and Peace" main course drops like an H-bomb this summer. As executive producer, Cube has assembled some of the most prolific names in hip-hop and R&B to bless "Players Club," and adds the most prolific name of them all: His own.

Cube's compilation boasts many of the heavyweights of the East Coast, West Coast, and the south, and they all bring quality songs to the table. Kurrupt represents the Dogg Pound very well on "Under Pressure," Jay-Z and partners Memphis Bleek and Sau

ce Money weave a classic ghetto commentary on "Marcy to Hollywood," Mia X stays 'bout it, 'bout it on "Shake Whatcha Mama Gave Ya (But Make Sho Your Niggas Pay Ya)," and Mack 10 tag-teams with Scarface to get as hard-core as possible on "You Delinquent." Even the R&B songs, usually the weakest part of a compilation, are done extremely well, with exceptional performances by Changing Faces, Brownstone, Public Announcement, and Mr. Dalvin.

Most of the artists on this "Players Club" shine, but the executive producer refuses to be outdone. The best songs on the album have Cube on them, from the catchy "We Be Clubbin;" to the rough-house remix with DMX; to the Old-School Freak-a-thon "You Know I'm A Ho" with Master P, to the tight duets with Cube's new protege Mr. Short Khop. He even blesses Mack 10 and Scarface with an ill chorus. This is Ice Cube at his best.

In making "Players Club," Cube has made one of the best movie soundtracks in the past four years, and certainly the best hip-hop-themed soundtrack since "Above the Rim."

For those of you who are still sleeping on Ice Cube, "Players Club" will definitely be your wake-up call.

04-21-98

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