Ice Cube took to his blog EARLY this morning to announce the name of his new album will be I AM THE WEST. It will drop in July and be chock full of socio-political West Coast inspired music. In other words, classic Ice Cube. Get ready.

“This shit is cocky, no apologies, West Coast gangsta shit,” Cube said of the album. “I can’t help it. That’s what I do.”

He went on to talk about the climate of the industry and how West Coast artists have lost their way in favor of attempting to please the masses, their music peers and commercial governed entities.

“For 7 or 8 years now the West Coast has been trying to do music that appeals to the South and Mid-West,” he continued. “The words, ‘too West Coast’ would be heard throughout the industry whenever our music was played. Even by our own dj’s.

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New music here, presumably from Kurupt’s forthcoming album Streetlights. Young Gotti teamed up with NYC representative Joy Luv and J-Glaze on the horns to deliver a nice, smooth track and video (the latter courtesy of John Colombo).

Not that they’re an item or anything, but rapper professes his desire to provide for love interest/ songstress and they live happily ever after?

Sorta.

A bit outside the norm for a founding member of the Dogg Pound Gangstas, but in time, that kinda shit happens. It’s not like he quit smoking or did away with the G code. Just took a 1/4 of a page out of LLs book.

Can’t stay on the block forever…

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West Coast legend? Pioneer? Hookmaster? Kokane is all that and a bowl of grits. Fortunately for the listening public, he’s decided to bless us with a full length album.

Appropriately entitled Gimme Mine in a day where independence reigns supreme, Kokane’s lead single “The Twilight Zone” is gaining momentum for the heavily anticipated project.

On the track, Kane takes it upon himself to clear up a few things. The first order of business, per his self induced hook, would be for the West to regain the swag it is known for:

“What the hell is really going on/ why the West is in the Twilight Zone?/ Let’s do what we do and don’t follow the Jones…

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There were whispers about this track a few months ago and the original snippets (I remember hearing) didn’t sound like this.

Looks like the added time Game decided to spend in the studio is paying off.

Not sure what to make of this in the way of the direction music is spinning, but you can’t deny it’s risky and fun. Easy? Perhaps… but who cares? Not my career.

That said, Game, Ray J along ith this mystery chick Esther Dean, really go there on this explicit mid.

As is his custom, Game calls out whoever is on his mind and manages to pull Ray J into the fray.

The latter brings about the most comical aspect of the track in that 1, Ray J is flowing and 2, he calls out Reggie’s main, Ellen D, Missy and Tila Tequila… Whoa!!

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It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Dr. Dre has been moving in another direction the past… nine years?

And for those that hadn’t gotten the message, Ras Kass keeps it all the way 100 (sure to be on the 2010 list of phrases that are played the fuck out) in the following interview with The SOURCE.

He offers any man who waits on Dre to save him is pretty much fooling himself. Kass also speaks on the importance of being independent in these crucial times where big record companies are nearly useless.

The only thing wrong with his first observation is the artists that are making noise in Southern California, save for Game, have their own movements (and he actually does too… sort of).

Neither Nipsey Hussle nor Jay Rock or even Glasses Malone, are signed to Dre and they all appear to be doing just fine.

The second observation is dead on, only Ras’ momentum is as strong as a dumptruck traveling uphill in neutral.

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