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Westside Connection - Terrorist Threats
Reviewed By: NOTORIOUS
Album Rate: 4.0 out of 5 Stars



Ice Cube, Mack 10, and WC reteam once again as Westside Connection for the follow up to 1996's breakthrough album, "Bow Down." Although it has been seven years since their last release, The Gangsta, The Killa, and The Dope Dealer's for the left coast has not faded. "Terrorists Threats" sports the hit single "Gangsta Nation" featuring Nate Dogg. Also featured is Butch Cassidy and Knoc'turnal among others.

1. A Threat To The World - Basic intro, similar to the one on Bow Down.

2. Call 9-1-1 - Beat sports a shotgun getting cocked. Ice Cube starts this one with a decent verse. His skills have dropped considerably over the years but he still possesses the talent to tell street narratives. Mack 10 drops a very nice verse. WC finishes it up with a solid verse. Nice start.

3. Potential Victims - Gangsta content to this one. Kind of like a warning to . . . well, the title says it - potential victims. Ice Cube laces the hook. WC is the star on this one.

4. Gangsta Nation (f/ Nate Dogg) - This is the first track. Pretty solid effort from everyone on this one. Good first single. "It must be a single with Nate Dogg singing on it."

5. Get Ignit - This track is Ignit. Not feeling it too much. Hook is terrible. Beat is OK though. Overall, not too much going on on this one.

6. Pimp The System (f/ Butch Cassidy) - Track is all about making money and pimping the system. Ice Cube drops a nice verse followed by Mack 10 and WC. The star of the track, however, is Butch Cassidy. He could very well be the next big hookman to give the King of Hooks, Nate Dogg a run for his money. Nice track.

7. Don't Get Outta Pocket (f/ M-Mac) - Track has a slight piano beat to it. Tight song. Everyone drops nice bars including newcomer M-Mac.

8. Izm - Just too much goin on this track. Not feeling it too much.

9. So Many Rappers In Love - Beat starts off like it's an R&B track. Westside Connection is calling out all the fake ass thugs? I wonder if they're talking to anyone specifically.

10. Lights Out (f/ Knoc-turnal) - Pretty tight track with everyone giving top notch effort. Star of the track is Knoc who gives a killer hook. He will be a big time star in the future.

11. Bangin' At The Party (f/ The Hood) - Nice east coast sounding beat to this one. Pretty decent track. The Hood, on the other hand, are not decent. They definitely bring down this track.

12. You Gotta Have Heart - This is a great track. Not too much gangsterism on this one. Heartfelt track that works for the Gangsta, the Killa, and the Dope Dealer. Tight track.

13. Terrorist Threats - Vicious beat on this one. Great track. Don't mistake the Westsida for Al-Queda says Cube. Tight ass track!

14. Superstar (Double Murder = Double Platinum) - Pretty nice track stating that murder sales. Either you rappin' about it or you murder or got murdered yourself. Any of the three and you selling records. Nice way to end this one.

All in all, I was pretty impressed with this album. After waiting all that time for the follow-up to Bow Down, I was not disappointed. I was very pleased that they did all West Coast beats on this one. The fact that there were not a lot of guest appearances on this one impressed me as well. I mean, when you are in a trio, there really is no need for it. This album proves the West Coast is not dead.