Editing Ice-T (section)

===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>