The Los Angeles based Westside Connection isn’t your average, run of the mill, wet behind the ears, microphone wrecking crew.

Led by Ice Cube, and including WC and Mack 10, the Westside Connection is a group whose members are already on the hip-hop map thanks to successful solo careers.

Bow Down is their first release and may cause a few people to kneel a little bit.

On Bow Down, the listener is taken on a lyrical and bass filled journey through the minds of the artists as they dish up healthy servings of get-out-of-my-face stew.

Ice Cube, being the seasoned album veteran he is, shows up and blows up on every track and doesn’t disappoint. His “gangsta” microphone style is evident throughout the album.

WC, known as The Killa, seems to have left his weapons at home in a few spots. On tracks such as “All the Critics in New York” and “Westward Ho”, WC’s lyrics have potential, but his delivery leaves a little to be desired.

Mack 10, shows his skills and microphone manhood with his “dope dealer” style of delivery. He’s smooth, sly and cool on tracks “Do You Like Criminals” and “Gangstas Make the World Go Round,” while strong, threatening and addictive on the song “The Gangsta, The Killa, and The Dope Dealer.”

With the exception of “All the Critics in New York” where the lyrics and music are at rhythmic odds with each other, and “3 Time Felons” where the horn section is so distorted it sounds like three trumpets with cats in them, the album is full of fresh beats and crazy rhymes that will have your head boppin’ and bobbin’ to the beat in no time.

The crowning moment of the album is the song “King of the Hill.” A retort to statements made by the group Cypress Hill, it brings back memories of Ice Cube’s own retort to NWA’s, “No Vaseline.”

Even though it is more like an Ice Cube album with guest appearances from Mack 10 and WC, it is definitely worth checking out and could be an addition to any hip-hop CD rotation.

*** 1/2

— Rhasson Mitchell