Ice Cube Gets Cocky on ‘I Am the West’

While everyone waits impatiently for Dr. Dre rumored 'Detox' album, Compton rapper Ice Cube will take the reins to bring in some new music from the West Coast. Cube has announced official plans to release his new album, 'I Am the West,' this summer, via his blog.

"After completing about 65% of my music, this is the perfect title," Cube said of what will be his ninth studio album. "This s--- is cocky, no apologies, West Coast gangster s---. I can't help it. That's what I do. June seems too tight for a release, but June is very doable. We'll see how things go. Now that I have my title, I can work on the concept of my photoshoot and artwork. I want to prove early merch before the drop date."

Instead of releasing specific details on the album itself, Cube let loose his thoughts on some deep-rooted issues. He explained that the true spirit of West Coast music has been stifled for some time. The Cali rapper slammed the industry for forcing artists to alter their sound, and he even called out local deejays for not supporting their artists. "For seven or eight years now the West Coast has been trying to do music that appeal to the South and Midwest. The words, 'too West Coast' would be heard throughout the industry whenever our music was played. Even by our own [deejays]," he wrote. "Left Coast emcees were not trying to change this sound to cater to all the followers. We lost our way."

In the midst of his spiel, Cube gave a shout out to a few of his fellow California emcees for their efforts, but still promised that things were about to change drastically, beginning with his new album. "Thank God for b-boys like Snoop, The Game and WC for keeping the West alive, but we were all guilty of over reaching. No More. At least not from me. I do it how I feel it; not how I think it should be done. Radio fucked us up. I hate the politics at radio. I don't know who to pay to get my shit played. Having a hot song is not enough. Ridiculous."

Ice Cube's most recent album was 2008's 'Raw Footage.'