The Essentials (Ice Cube album)
# The Essentials (Ice Cube album)

Professional ratings :

| Review scores ||
| - | - |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Pitchfork | (7.6/10) |
| Robert Christgau | A− |

The Essentials is the second greatest hits album by American rapper Ice Cube, released September 16, 2008 on Priority Records.

## Track listing

| # | Song | Year | Featured guests | Original album |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1* | "Go to Church" | 2006 | Snoop Dogg, Lil Jon | Laugh Now, Cry Later |
| 2* | "A Bird in the Hand" | 1991 | | Death Certificate |
| 3 | "Ghetto Vet" | 1998 | Mack 10, Mr. Short Khop | War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc) |
| 4 | "Greed" | 1998 | | War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc) |
| 5* | "Supreme Hustle" | 2000 | | War & Peace Vol. 2 (The Peace Disc) |
| 6* | "It Was a Good Day" | 1992 | | The Predator |
| 7 | "Spittin' Pollaseeds" | 2006 | WC, Kokane | Laugh Now, Cry Later |
| 8 | "Rollin' with The Lench Mob" | 1990 | | AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted |
| 9 | "The Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit" | 1991 | | Death Certificate |
| 10 | "When Will They Shoot?" | 1992 | | The Predator |
| 11 | "Why We Thugs / Smoke Some Weed (Medley - Live)" | 2006 | WC, Crazy Toones | Laugh Now, Cry Later |
| 12 | "Givin' Up The Nappy Dugout" | 1991 | | Death Certificate |
| 13* | "A Gangsta's Fairytale" | 1990 | | AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted |
| 14 | "Check Yo Self" | 1992 | Das EFX | The Predator |
| 15 | "What Can I Do?" | 1993 | | Lethal Injection |
| 16* | "War & Peace" | 1998 | | War & Peace Vol. 1 (The War Disc) |
| 17 | "Dead Homiez" | 1990 | | Kill at Will |
| 18 | "Cold Places" | 2008 | | Raw Footage |

* Note: As track eleven is a live recording, it may have been recorded after 2006; however, the tracks sung are from the cited album.
* Track 3 was remastered in 2007.
* Tracks marked with an asterisk (*) were remastered in 2008.
