I Am the West cover art

  Studio Album · No. 9

I Am the West Songwriting Credits by Ice Cube

2010 Lench Mob Records 16 tracks 50 min

Produced by Tha Bizness, Bangladesh, Montay Humphrey, Hallway Productionz, Tristan Jones  ·  Engineered by David Lopez, Mike Bozzi

Lench Mob Records Gangsta RapWest Coast Hip Hop
94%
Authorship
Artist

Holds writing credit on 15 of 16 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 15 / 16 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether Ice Cube carries a lyricist or composer credit.

94%
15 trackswritten by Ice Cube 1 trackoutside writers
Ice Cube's roles on this album

Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist94%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

16
Tracks
6
Lyricists
15
Producers
2010
Released
Data Insight

Ice Cube wrote his own verses on I Am the West, his ninth studio album and the first release after his major-label run, framing it as a defense of West Coast identity. Production came from Hallway Productionz, tha Bizness, Bangladesh, Sir Jinx, JIGG, and Cube's son Doughboy, among others. Guests stay close to home, including WC, Young Maylay, Jayo Felony, and Cube's sons Doughboy and OMG. David Lopez handled recording and mixing, with Mike Bozzi mastering.

Ice Cube's ninth studio album, released September 28, 2010, his third consecutive independent release on Lench Mob Records. Ice Cube described the project as an exercise in creative freedom: without a major label, he could approach production and content without restrictions. Tha Bizness (Chris Whitacre and Justin Henderson), Shondrae Crawford (Bangladesh), Montay Humphrey, and Hallway Productionz form the core production team. The album runs just under 50 minutes across 16 standard tracks and features family members O'Shea Jackson Jr. (OMG) and Doughboy alongside West Coast veterans WC and Young Maylay.

Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
A Boy Was Conceived (Intro)
Not documented John Murphy John Murphy -
2
Soul on Ice
Ice Cube Chris WhitacreJustin Henderson Tha Bizness Ice Cube
3
Life in California
Ice CubeJames SavageWC Dameon GarrettAnthony Wheaton Dameon GarrettAnthony Wheaton Ice CubeJayo FelonyWC
4
She Couldn't Make It on Her Own
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson Jr.Darrell Finister II Shondrae Crawford Shondrae Crawford Ice CubeOMGDoughboy
5
Urbanian
Ice Cube Kevin Harris II Kevin Harris II Ice Cube
6
Ya'll Know How I Am
Ice CubeO'Shea Jackson Jr.Darrell Finister IIWCChris Bellard Montay Humphrey Montay Humphrey Ice CubeOMGDoughboyWCYoung Maylay
7
Too West Coast
Ice CubeWCChris Bellard Deejan UnderdueTeak Underdue Hallway Productionz Ice CubeWCYoung Maylay
8
I Rep That West
Ice Cube Amir Perry Amir Perry Ice Cube
9
Drink the Kool-Aid
Ice Cube Brandon Alexander Brandon Alexander Ice Cube
10
No Country for Young Men
Ice Cube Darrell Finister IIR.L. Jackson Darrell Finister IIR.L. Jackson Ice Cube
11
It Is What It Is
Ice Cube Montay Humphrey Montay Humphrey Ice Cube
12
Hood Robbin'
Ice Cube Tristan Jones Tristan Jones Ice Cube
13
Your Money or Your Life
Ice Cube Tristan Jones Tristan Jones Ice Cube
14
Nothing Like L.A.
Ice Cube Chaz MishanDavid Delazyn Chaz MishanDavid Delazyn Ice Cube
15
All Day, Every Day
Ice Cube Deejan UnderdueTeak Underdue Hallway Productionz Ice Cube
16
Fat Cat
Ice Cube Amir Perry Amir Perry Ice Cube

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 28 contributors

IC
Ice Cube
Writer
On this album15 written
DF
Darrell Finister II
Writer · Producer
On this album3 written
W
WC
Writer
On this album3 written
AP
Amir Perry
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
MH
Montay Humphrey
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
TJ
Tristan Jones
Writer · Producer
On this album2 written
CB
Chris Bellard
Writer
On this album2 written
DU
Deejan Underdue
Writer
On this album2 written
OJ
O'Shea Jackson Jr.
Writer
On this album2 written
TU
Teak Underdue
Writer
On this album2 written
AW
Anthony Wheaton
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written
BA
Brandon Alexander
Writer · Producer
On this album1 written

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1991 100%
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1992 100%
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1993 100%
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1998 94%
War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc)
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2000 94%
War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc)
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2006 100%
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2008 94%
Raw Footage
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2018 100%
Everythang's Corrupt
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Frequently Asked Questions I Am the West

Who produced I Am the West?
Production was spread across Hallway Productionz, tha Bizness, Bangladesh, Sir Jinx, JIGG, The Fliptones, and Ice Cube's son Doughboy, among others. Ice Cube wrote and performed all of his own raps. The album was self-released through his Lench Mob Records.
Are Ice Cube's sons on I Am the West?
Yes. His sons Doughboy and OMG both appear on the album, with Doughboy also handling production on parts of the record. The guest list otherwise stays close to his West Coast circle.
What is the lead single I Rep That West?
'I Rep That West' is the album's lead single and mission statement, defending West Coast hip hop's place in the genre. It was produced by JIGG, who also performs the hook. Ice Cube wrote his own verses for the track.
Did Ice Cube write his own lyrics on I Am the West?
Yes. Ice Cube wrote all of his own verses, as on every album in his catalog. The outside producers supplied the beats while the lyrics and themes were his.
How did I Am the West perform commercially?
The album debuted at number 22 on the Billboard 200 with about 22,000 copies sold in its first week. It reached number seven on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number six on Top Rap Albums, and number three on Independent Albums.
What does the title I Am the West mean?
The title states Ice Cube's claim as a standard-bearer for West Coast hip hop. The album leans heavily on regional themes and collaborators to reinforce that identity.
Who engineered I Am the West?
David Lopez handled recording and mixing on the album, while Mike Bozzi handled mastering. They worked alongside the rotating cast of producers.

Sources

Wikipedia: I Am the West Wikipedia: I Rep That West MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: I Am the West by Ice Cube