What Cube did have (to a level Mike just doesn't possess but then again few do or did) was impeccable storytelling ability along with the ability to seamlessly incorporate small details that add humor/character/depth to them along with the ability to discuss 'political' issues from a personalized perspective where it was easy to point out hypocrisy/ridiculousness of government/police policy/protocols and have you understand where its coming from even though you might not have been in his shoes.

Mike's not an MC on that level nor will he ever have the platform that Ice Cube did circa 1990 so I don't expect that, what you do have here is a concerted (if at times self-conscious) attempt to make a strong, uncompromising rap album from a sonic/lyrical/thematic perspective.

It mostly succeeds in doing that.