Ice Cube’s Man Up is a sequel of sorts, a companion piece to his 2024 album, Man Down. Whereas Man Down was buoyed by braggadocious rap cuts like “It’s My Ego” and the vicious gangsta rap throwback “So Sensitive,” Man Up leans into Cube’s more philosophical side. He plays the activist and leader on his 2025 effort: On “Before Hip Hop,” he examines the ways in which rap music is blamed for many societal ills that existed long before the genre came to fruition. “Act My Age,” which features Scarface, is an homage to and encouragement toward all the MCs who are rapping into middle age and bringing valuable perspectives to a genre led by younger artists. It’s uplifting, and though it’s one of many tracks imbued with a positive social message, Cube still leaves plenty of time to mess around and talk shit over classic gangsta rap beats. “Forget Me If You Ain’t Wit Me” is crafted for top-down cruises on the 91, and “That Salt and Pepper” is an intergalactic-funk reminder that age is only a number—especially when you’re Ice Cube.