The West Coast is officially back. If the forthcoming release of Snoop Dogg’s More Malice and Game’s R.E.D. Album weren’t enough, now L.A.’s own Ice Cube is returning to the scene with his ninth studio album.

The rapper-turned-actor has announced the title, I Am the West, and tentative release date for his first musical project since 2008’s Raw Footage. In a blog entry dated Wednesday (Feb. 24), Cube also laments about the current state of radio and thanks the West Coast MCs who have kept the genre alive.

I AM THE WEST…is the name of my new record. After completing about 65% of my music, this is the perfect title. This shit is cocky, no apologies, West Coast gangsta shit. I can’t help it. That’s what I do. June seems too tight for a release, but July 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 provide early merch before the drop date.

For 7 or 8 years now the West Coast has been trying to do music that appeals to the South and Mid-West. The words, “too West Coast” would be heard throughout the industry whenever our music was played. Even by our own dj’s. Left coast MC’s were now trying to change their sound to cater to all the followers. We lost our way. Thank God for b-boys like Snoop, The Game & 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.

I AM THE WEST. It’s coming….

Keep It Gangsta
Ice Cube