Editing Ice-T (section)

==Early life==
Tracy Lauren Marrow, the son of Solomon and Alice Marrow,{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}}<ref name="TVGuide">{{cite web |url= http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ice-t/154286 |title= Ice-T Biography| access-date=September 22, 2007 |magazine= [[TV Guide]] {{small|(magazine)}} [[CBS Interactive]] ([[CBS Corporation]])<br/>{{small|(digital assets)}}|location= New York City |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150912200611/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ice-t/154286 |archive-date=September 12, 2015|issn=0039-8543|url-status=live}}</ref> was born in [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], New Jersey<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20878320-entertainment-weekly-1194|title=Monitor|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|location=New York City|date=February 17, 2012|issn=1049-0434|oclc=21114137|issue=1194|page=26|access-date=September 15, 2017|archive-date=September 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915113700/https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20878320-entertainment-weekly-1194|url-status=live}}</ref> on February 16, 1958.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001384/bio|title=Ice-T|website=IMDb|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-date=January 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125075212/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001384/bio/|url-status=live}}</ref> Solomon's family was originally from Virginia and Philadelphia, and Alice's family was originally from Louisiana. Both of his parents were [[African-American]]. Ice-T states that his father was a "dark-skinned brother" while his mother was a "fair-skinned" black woman that looked like [[Dorothy Dandridge]] or [[Lena Horne]].<ref>{{Cite web| title=Ice-T ‘didn’t have an ounce of self-pity’ as orphan |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/ice-t-didn-t-have-ounce-self-pity-orphan-wbna42750412 |publisher=Today}}</ref>{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} For decades, Solomon worked as a [[conveyor belt]] mechanic at the [[Dematic|Rapistan Conveyor Company]]. When Marrow was a child, his family moved to upscale [[Summit, New Jersey]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} The first time race played a major part in Marrow's life was at the age of seven, when he became aware of the racism leveled by his white friends towards black children. Marrow surmised that he escaped similar treatment because they thought that he was white due to his lighter skin.<ref name="loud1">{{cite magazine |url= http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-1/ |title= Ice-T – Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 1) |magazine= [[Loudwire]] |publisher= [[Townsquare Media]] |location= United States |access-date= September 29, 2015 |archive-date= September 30, 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150930223801/http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-1/ |url-status= live }}</ref>{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} Relaying this incident to his mother, she told him, "Honey, people are stupid"; her advice and this incident taught Marrow to control the way the negativity of others affected him.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}}

His mother died of a heart attack when he was in third grade. Solomon raised Marrow as a single father for four years, with help from a housekeeper.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} Marrow's first experience with illicit activity occurred after a bicycle that his father bought him for Christmas was stolen. After Marrow told his father, Solomon shrugged, "Well, then, you ain't got no bike".{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} Marrow stole parts from bicycles and assembled "three or four weird-looking, brightly-painted bikes" from the parts; his father either did not notice or never acknowledged this.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}} When Marrow was 13 years old, Solomon also died of a heart attack.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=5–13}}{{sfn|Ice-T|Sigmund|1994|page={{page needed|date=July 2021}}}}

Following his father's death, the orphaned Marrow briefly lived with a nearby aunt, then was sent to live with his other aunt and her husband in [[View Park–Windsor Hills, California|View Park-Windsor Hills]], an upper middle-class Black neighborhood in [[South Los Angeles]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=17–29}} While his cousin Earl was preparing to leave for college, Marrow shared a bedroom with him. Earl was a fan of rock music and listened only to the local rock radio stations; sharing a room with him sparked Marrow's interest in [[heavy metal music]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=127–140}}
{{external media | width = 210px | float = right | headerimage = [[File:Body Count feat. Ice-T - 2019214171352 2019-08-02 Wacken - 1690 - B70I1333.jpg|210px]] | video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py0hICHV5pQ Ice-T - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 1)], [[Loudwire]]<ref name="loud2">{{cite web | title =Ice-T - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 1) | publisher =[[Loudwire]] | date =July 2, 2014 | url =http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-1/ | accessdate =September 29, 2015 | archive-date =September 30, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150930223801/http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-1/ | url-status =live }}</ref>
| video2 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NrNUviQNBM&list=RD7NrNUviQNBM#t=4 Ice-T - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 2)], [[Loudwire]]<ref name="loud3">{{cite web | title =Ice-T - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction? (Part 2) | publisher =[[Loudwire]] | date =July 30, 2014 | url =http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-2/ | accessdate =September 29, 2015 | archive-date =July 22, 2015 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20150722161529/http://loudwire.com/ice-t-wikipedia-fact-or-fiction-part-2/ | url-status =live }}</ref> }}

===High school, early criminal activity, military service===
Marrow moved to the [[Crenshaw, Los Angeles|Crenshaw]] District of Los Angeles when he was in the eighth grade. He attended Palms Junior High, which was predominantly made up of white students, and included black students who traveled by bus from [[South Los Angeles|South Central]] to attend.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=17–29}} He then attended [[Crenshaw High School]], which was almost entirely made up of black students.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=17–29}}{{sfn|Goldstein|1988|page=Calendar 89}}

Marrow stood out from most of his friends because he did not drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or use drugs.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} During Marrow's time in high school, gangs became more prevalent in the Los Angeles school system. Students who belonged to the [[Crips]] and [[Bloods]] gangs attended Crenshaw, and fought in the school's hallways.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=17–29}} Marrow, while never an actual gang member, was affiliated with the former.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=17–29}} Marrow began reading the novels of [[Iceberg Slim]], which he memorized and recited to his friends, who enjoyed hearing the excerpts and told him, "Yo, kick some more of that by Ice, T",{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} giving Marrow his nickname. Marrow and other Crips wrote and performed "Crip Rhymes".{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}}

His music career started with the band of the singing group The Precious Few of Crenshaw High School. Marrow and his group opened the show, dancing to a live band. The singers were Thomas Barnes, Ronald Robinson and Lapekas Mayfield.

In 1975, at the age of seventeen, Marrow began receiving [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] benefits resulting from the death of his father and used the money to rent an apartment for $90 a month.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} He sold [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]] and stole car stereos to earn extra cash, but he was not making enough to support his pregnant girlfriend. After his daughter was born, Marrow enlisted in the United States Army in October 1977. Following basic training, Marrow was assigned to the [[25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}}<ref name="Targum"/> During his time in the army Marrow was involved with a group of soldiers charged with the theft of a rug.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} While awaiting trial, he received a $2,500 bonus check and went absent without leave ([[AWOL]]), returning a month later, after the rug had been returned. Marrow received a [[non-judicial punishment]] as a consequence of his [[dereliction of duty]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}}

During his spell in the Army, Marrow became interested in [[hip hop music]]. He heard [[The Sugarhill Gang]]'s newly released single "[[Rapper's Delight]]" (1979), which inspired him to perform his own raps over the instrumentals of this and other early hip-hop records. The music, however, did not fit his lyrics or form of delivery.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}}

When he was stationed in Hawaii (where prostitution was not a heavily prosecuted crime) as a squad leader at [[Schofield Barracks]], Marrow met a [[pimp]] named Mac.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} Mac admired that Marrow could quote [[Iceberg Slim]], and he taught Marrow how to be a pimp himself.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}} Marrow was also able to purchase stereo equipment cheaply in Hawaii, including two [[Technics (brand)|Technics]] turntables, a mixer, and large speakers. Once equipped, he then began to learn [[turntablism]] and rapping.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}}

Marrow learned from his commanding officer that he could receive an early [[Military discharge|honorable discharge]] because he was a single father. Taking advantage of this, Marrow was discharged as a Private First Class (PFC - E3) in December 1979 after serving for two years and two months.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=30–43}}<ref name="Targum">{{cite news|last=O'Flanagan|first=Emma |title= Ice-T addresses group, provides inspiration |url= http://www.dailytargum.com/2.4985/1.1514326-1.1514326 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20110610163841/http://www.dailytargum.com/2.4985/1.1514326-1.1514326|url-status=dead |archive-date=June 10, 2011|work= [[The Daily Targum]] |publisher=Targum Publishing Company |location= [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]] |date= February 23, 2004| access-date=June 29, 2008}}</ref>

During an episode of ''[[The Adam Carolla Show (podcast)|The Adam Carolla Podcast]]'' that aired on June 6, 2012, Marrow claimed that after being discharged from the Army, he began a career as a bank robber. Marrow claimed he and some associates began conducting take-over bank robberies "like [in the film] ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]''". Marrow then elaborated, explaining, "Only punks go for the drawer, we gotta go for the safe." Marrow also stated he was glad the United States justice system has [[Statute of limitations|statutes of limitations]], which had likely expired when Marrow admitted to his involvement in multiple [[United States federal probation and supervised release|Class 1 Felonies]] in the early-to-mid 1980s.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ice-t-details-past-robberies-152545992.html | title=Ice-T Details His Past Robberies of Banks and Jewelry Stores: 'I Wouldn't Advise It' (Exclusive) | date=October 30, 2019 }}</ref> 

In July 2010, Marrow was mistakenly arrested. A month later when Marrow attended court, the charges were dropped and the prosecution stated "there had been a clerical error when the rapper was arrested". Marrow gave some advice to young people who think going to jail is a mark of integrity, saying, "Street credibility has nothing to do with going to jail, it has everything to do with staying out."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/aug/18/ice-t-cleared-following-arrest|last= Michaels|first= Sean|date= August 18, 2010|title= Ice-T cleared following New York arrest|work= [[The Guardian]]|access-date= July 24, 2019|archive-date= May 11, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075217/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/aug/18/ice-t-cleared-following-arrest|url-status= live}}</ref>