Open main menu
Home
Random
Recent changes
Special pages
Community portal
Preferences
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Incubator escapee wiki
Search
User menu
Talk
Dark mode
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Editing
Ice-T
(section)
Warning:
You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you
log in
or
create an account
, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
Anti-spam check. Do
not
fill this in!
===Music=== ====Early career (1980–1981)==== After leaving the Army, Marrow wanted to stay away from gang life and violence and instead make a name for himself as a DJ.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}} As a tribute to Iceberg Slim, Marrow adopted the stage name Ice-T. While performing as a DJ at parties, he received more attention for his rapping, which led Ice-T to pursue a career as a rapper.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}} After breaking up with his girlfriend Caitlin Boyd, he returned to a life of crime and robbed jewelry stores with his high school friends. Ice-T's raps later described how he and his friends pretended to be customers to gain access before smashing the display glass with small sledgehammers.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=49–56}}{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=57–69}} Ice-T's friends Al P. and [[Body Count (band)|Sean E. Sean]] went to prison. Al P. was caught in 1982 and sent to prison for robbing a high-end jewelry store in [[Laguna Niguel, California|Laguna Niguel]] for $2.5 million in jewelry. Sean was arrested for possession of not only cannabis, which Sean sold, but also material stolen by Ice-T. Sean took the blame and served two years in prison. Ice-T stated that he owed a debt of gratitude to Sean because his prison time allowed him to pursue a career as a rapper.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=70–77}} Concurrently, he wound up in a car accident and was hospitalized as a [[John Doe]] because he did not carry any form of identification due to his criminal activities.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=78–83}} After being discharged from the hospital, he decided to abandon the criminal lifestyle and pursue a professional career rapping.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=78–83}} Two weeks after being released from the hospital, he won an open mic competition judged by [[Kurtis Blow]] at the Carolina West nightclub.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=89–112}} According to Michael Khalfani known as Disco Daddy, Ice-T won the first week of the competition under the name of DJ Tracy, but got beaten by Disco Daddy the second week, which led to the name change of Ice-T (Khalfani got signed to Rappers Rapp Records). ====Professional career (1982–present)==== [[File:Ice-T, The Glove & Dave Storrs - Reckless-Tebitan Jam (Taxidermi Records-1990s) (Side A).jpg|thumb|left|Ice-T released a string of Electro records, including the 1984 single "Reckless" (''pictured''), before recording gangsta rap music]] In 1982, Ice-T met producer Willie Strong from Saturn Records. In 1983, Strong recorded Ice-T's first single, "Cold Wind Madness", also known as "The Coldest Rap", an [[electro (music)|electro hip-hop]] record that became an [[underground music|underground]] success, becoming popular even though radio stations did not play it due to the song's explicit lyrics about taking a woman to the Snooty Fox motel in Los Angeles.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=70–77}} That same year, Ice-T released "Body Rock", another electro hip-hop single that found popularity in clubs. In 1984, Ice-T was a featured rapper on "Reckless", a single by DJ [[Chris Taylor (music producer)|Chris "The Glove" Taylor]] and (co-producer) David Storrs that gained widespread popularity as a featured track via the motion picture ''[[Breakin']]'' and its soundtrack album. This song was almost immediately followed up with a sequel entitled "Reckless Rivalry (Combat)", which was featured in the ''Breakin{{'}}'' sequel, ''[[Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo]]'', however, it was never featured on the soundtrack album and was only released as a single on Taxidermi Records. In 1985, he appeared in the film ''[[Rappin']]'' by performing two verses of his track ''Killers'', which was his first political rap. Ice later recorded the songs "Ya Don't Quit" and "Dog'n the Wax (Ya Don't Quit-Part II)" with Unknown DJ, who provided a [[Run-DMC|Run–D.M.C.]]-like sound for the songs.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=89–112}} Ice-T received further inspiration as an artist from [[Schoolly D]]'s [[gangsta rap]] single "[[P.S.K. What Does It Mean?]]", which he heard in a club. Ice-T enjoyed the single's sound and delivery, as well as its vague references to gang life, although the real life gang, Park Side Killers, was not named in the song.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=89–112}} Ice-T decided to adopt Schoolly D's style, and wrote the lyrics to his first gangsta rap song, "[[6 in the Mornin']]", in his Hollywood apartment, and created a minimal beat with a [[Roland TR-808]]. He compared the sound of the song, which was recorded as a [[B-side]] on the single "Dog'n The Wax", to that of the [[Beastie Boys]].{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=89–112}} The A-side caused some controversy for the lyrics, which were unusually violent by the standards of hip hop at the time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-02-ca-508-story.html|last=Hunt|first=Dennis|title=RHYME PAYS FOR ICE T|date=August 2, 1987|access-date=February 11, 2024|work=Los Angeles Times|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075327/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-08-02-ca-508-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The B-side was more successful and was later released as an extended rap on his first album. He intentionally did not represent any particular gang, and wore a mixture of red and blue clothing and shoes to avoid antagonizing gang-affiliated listeners, who debated his true affiliation.{{sfn|Marrow|Century|2011|pages=89–112}} [[File:Bring the Noise Tour at Joe Louis Arena 1988-12-10 (ticket).jpg|thumb|In support of ''Power'', Ice-T co-headlined [[Public Enemy]]'s 1988 "Bring the Noise" concert tour, which was supported by then up-and-coming acts [[Eazy-E]] and [[EPMD]].]] Ice-T finally landed a deal with a major label [[Sire Records]]. When label founder and president [[Seymour Stein]] heard his demo, he said Ice-T sounded like [[Bob Dylan]].{{sfn|Coleman|2007|page=238}} Shortly after, he released his debut album ''[[Rhyme Pays]]'' in 1987 supported by [[Evil E|DJ Evil E]], [[DJ Aladdin]] and producer [[Afrika Islam]], who helped create the mainly party-oriented sound. The record wound up being certified gold by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]]. That same year, he recorded [[Colors (Ice-T song)|the title theme song]] for [[Dennis Hopper]]'s ''[[Colors (film)|Colors]],'' a film about inner-city gang life in Los Angeles. His next album ''[[Power (Ice-T album)|Power]]'' was released in 1988, under his own label Rhyme Syndicate, and it was a more assured and impressive record, earning him strong reviews and his second gold record. Released in 1989, ''[[The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!]]'' established his popularity by matching excellent abrasive music with narrative and commentative lyrics.<ref name=allmusic /> In the same year, he appeared on [[Hugh Harris (singer)|Hugh Harris]]' single "Alice".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Hugh-Harris-3-With-Ice-T-Alice/release/1042389|title=Hugh Harris With Ice-T - Alice|work=[[Discogs]]|publisher=Zink Media, Inc.|location=[[Portland, Oregon]]|date=1989|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423050123/http://www.discogs.com/Hugh-Harris-3-With-Ice-T-Alice/release/1042389|archive-date=April 23, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, he released his album ''[[O.G. Original Gangster]].'' On ''OG'', he introduced his heavy metal band [[Body Count (band)|Body Count]] in a track of the same name. Ice-T toured with Body Count on the first annual [[Lollapalooza]] concert tour in 1991, gaining him appeal among middle-class teenagers and fans of alternative music genres. The album ''[[Body Count (album)|Body Count]]'' was released in March 1992.<ref name=allmusic/> For his appearance on the heavily collaborative track "[[Back on the Block]]", a composition by jazz musician [[Quincy Jones]] that "attempt[ed] to bring together black musical styles from jazz to soul to funk to rap", Ice-T won a [[Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|Grammy Award for the Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group]], an award shared by others who worked on the track including Jones and fellow jazz musician [[Ray Charles]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Pareles|first=Jon|title=Grammys Turn Into Quincy Jones Show |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2D9173EF932A15751C0A967958260|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 23, 1991|access-date=July 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022132009/https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE2D9173EF932A15751C0A967958260|archive-date=October 22, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> Controversy later surrounded Body Count over its song "[[Cop Killer (song)|Cop Killer]]". The rock song was intended to speak from the viewpoint of a criminal getting revenge on racist, brutal cops. Ice-T's rock song infuriated government officials, the [[National Rifle Association of America]], and various police advocacy groups.<ref name=allmusic/><ref name="Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining">{{cite news|last=Philips|first=Chuck|title=COVER STORY : 'Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining.' : A Q & A with Ice-T about rock, race and the 'Cop Killer' furor|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-19-ca-4406-story.html|access-date=January 2, 2014|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 19, 1992|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312163549/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-07-19/entertainment/ca-4406_1_cop-killer|archive-date=March 12, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> Consequently, Time Warner Music refused to release Ice-T's upcoming album ''[[Home Invasion (album)|Home Invasion]]'' because of the controversy surrounding "Cop Killer". Ice-T suggested that the furor over the song was an overreaction, telling journalist [[Chuck Philips]] "...they've done movies about nurse killers and teacher killers and student killers. [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] blew away dozens of cops as the [[Terminator (character)|Terminator]]. But I don't hear anybody complaining about that". In the same interview, Ice-T suggested to Philips that the misunderstanding of ''Cop Killer'', the misclassification of it as a rap song (not a rock song), and the attempts to censor it had racial overtones: "The [[Supreme Court of the United States|Supreme Court]] says it's OK for a white man to [[cross burning|burn a cross in public]]. But nobody wants a black man to write a record about a cop killer".<ref name="Arnold Schwarzenegger blew away dozens of cops as the Terminator. But I don't hear anybody complaining"/> Ice-T split amicably with Sire/Warner Bros. Records after a dispute over the artwork of the album ''[[Home Invasion (album)|Home Invasion]]''. He then reactivated Rhyme Syndicate and formed a deal with [[Priority Records]] for distribution. Priority released ''Home Invasion'' in the spring of 1993.<ref name="Pareles">{{cite news|first=Jon|last=Pareles|title=Ice-T's Latest Gangster-Rap Caper Finds Him Alone and on His Own|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DD1331F93AA15750C0A965958260|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=March 29, 1993|access-date=June 29, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075125/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/29/arts/critic-s-notebook-ice-t-s-latest-gangster-rap-caper-finds-him-alone-his-own.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The album peaked at No. 9 on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] and at No. 14 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p89063|title=Charts and Awards for Ice-T|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|location=United States|access-date=November 3, 2007|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075420/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ice-t-mn0000072003/biographyAjax|url-status=live}}</ref> spawning several singles including "[[Gotta Lotta Love]]", "[[I Ain't New Ta This]]" and "99 Problems" – which would later inspire [[Jay-Z]] to record [[99 Problems|a version with new lyrics]] in 2003. In 2003 he released the single "[[Beat of Life]]" with [[Sandra Nasić]], [[Trigga tha Gambler]] and [[DJ Tomekk]] and placed in the German charts.<ref>YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E5tGg_FwFs "Beat of Live" DJ Tomekk feat Ice-T - Official Video] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412000510/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5E5tGg_FwFs |date=April 12, 2023 }}</ref><ref>[[GfK Entertainment charts]]: [https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-5477 Offizielle Charts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412000510/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-5477 |date=April 12, 2023 }}</ref> Ice-T had also collaborated with certain other heavy metal bands during this time period. For the film ''[[Judgment Night (film)|Judgment Night]]'', he did a duet with [[Slayer]] on the track "Disorder".<ref>{{cite web|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|title=Judgment Night > Overview|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/r189710|work=[[AllMusic]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|location=United States|access-date=July 2, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075425/https://www.allmusic.com/album/judgment-night-music-from-the-motion-picture--mw0000101514/trackListingAjax|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1995, Ice-T made a guest performance on ''[[Forbidden (Black Sabbath album)|Forbidden]]'' by [[Black Sabbath]].<ref name="TVGuide"/> Another album of his, ''[[Ice-T VI: Return of the Real|VI – Return of the Real]]'', was released in 1996, followed by ''[[The Seventh Deadly Sin]]'' in 1999.<ref name="CNN Seventh Deadly Sin">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9910/27/ice.t/index.html|title=No thaw for rapper Ice T|last=Freydkin|first=Donna|work=[[CNN]]|location=[[Atlanta]]|date=October 27, 1999|access-date=June 29, 2008|archive-date=September 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080927034653/http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9910/27/ice.t/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> His first rap album since 1999, ''[[Gangsta Rap (album)|Gangsta Rap]]'', was released on October 31, 2006. The album's cover, which "shows [Ice-T] lying on his back in bed with his ravishing wife's ample posterior in full view and one of her legs coyly draped over his private parts", was considered to be too suggestive for most retailers, many of which were reluctant to stock the album. Some reviews of the album were unenthusiastic, as many had hoped for a return to the political raps of Ice-T's most successful albums. [[File:Ice-T during the Body Count concert. Prague, August 2006.jpg|thumb|Ice-T performing with Body Count in 2006]] Ice-T appears in the film ''[[Gift (1993 film)|Gift]]''. One of the last scenes includes Ice-T and Body Count playing with [[Jane's Addiction]] in a version of the [[Sly and the Family Stone]] song "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey". Besides fronting his own band and rap projects, Ice-T has also collaborated with other [[hard rock]] and metal bands, such as [[Icepick (band)|Icepick]], [[Motörhead]], [[Slayer]], [[Megadeth]], [[Pro-Pain]], and [[Six Feet Under (band)|Six Feet Under]]. He has also covered songs by [[hardcore punk]] bands such as [[the Exploited]], [[Jello Biafra]], and [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]]. Ice-T made an appearance at [[Insane Clown Posse]]'s [[Gathering of the Juggalos]] (2008 edition).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juggalogathering.com/home.php?page_id=main_stage|title=2008 Gathering of the Juggalos - Other Main Stage Performers|work=[[Gathering of the Juggalos]]|publisher=[[Psychopathic Records]]|location=[[Oklahoma City]]|access-date=April 18, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828031931/http://www.juggalogathering.com/home.php?page_id=main_stage|archive-date=August 28, 2008}}</ref> Ice-T was also a judge for the 7th annual [[Association of Independent Music|Independent Music Awards]] to support independent artists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp|title=7th Annual IMA Judges|work=[[Association of Independent Music|Independent Music Awards]]|publisher=Music Resource Group |location=United States|access-date=April 18, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306153750/http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp|archive-date=March 6, 2014}}</ref> His 2012 film ''[[Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap]]'' features a who's who of underground and mainstream rappers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-12-12T07_58_44-08_00|title=PodOmatic | Best Free Podcasts|work=Podomatic Inc.|publisher=[[Blogger (service)|Blogger]]|location=United States|access-date=April 18, 2014|archive-date=July 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715101516/http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-12-12T07_58_44-08_00|url-status=dead}}</ref> In November 2011, Ice-T announced via Twitter that he was in the process of collecting beats for his next LP which was expected sometime during 2012, but {{as of|2014|October|lc=y}}, the album has not been released. A new Body Count album, ''[[Bloodlust (Body Count album)|Bloodlust]]'', was released in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/06/29/body-count-release-new-album-2017-cover-raining-blood-like-fucking-boss/|title=Body Count To Release New Album In 2017, Cover "Raining Blood" Like A Fucking Boss|date=June 29, 2016|website=MetalSucks|access-date=July 12, 2016|archive-date=August 17, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817111935/http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/06/29/body-count-release-new-album-2017-cover-raining-blood-like-fucking-boss/|url-status=live}}</ref> After the release of the album, responding to an interview question asking if he's "done with rap", he answered "I don't know" and noted that he's "really leaning more toward [[Electronic dance music|EDM]] right now".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ice-t-interview-1720/|title=Ice-T: 'The Second the President Says Your Name Shit Gets Hectic'|first=Rod|last=Yates|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |location=New York City|date=May 1, 2017|access-date=September 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915113307/http://rollingstoneaus.com/music/post/ice-t-interview/6048|archive-date=September 15, 2017}}</ref> Body Count received their second Grammy nomination and later won the award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021 for "Best Metal Performance" with their song "Bum-Rush" from the album ''Carnivore''.<ref>Rachael, Dowd (March 14, 2021). "BODY COUNT WIN BEST METAL PERFORMANCE AT THE 2021 GRAMMY AWARDS". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 14, 2021.</ref> In July 2019, Ice-T released his first solo hip hop track in 10 years, titled "Feds in My Rearview". The track is the first in a trilogy, with the second track, "Too Old for the Dumb Shit", described as a prequel to "Feds in My Rearview", and released in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FINALLEVEL/status/1157020653377245186|title=Thanks.. I'm dropping 2 more Rap tracks that create the Trilogy.. Next one is called 'Too Old For The Dumb Shit' It's the prequel to Feds... Stay Tuned this month|author=ICE T|date=August 1, 2019|website=Twitter|language=en|access-date=August 6, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511075137/https://twitter.com/FINALLEVEL/status/1157020653377245186|url-status=live}}</ref> Ice-T was also featured on the 2020 hip hop posse cut "The Slayers Club" alongside [[R.A. the Rugged Man]], [[Brand Nubian]] and others. Ice-T performed at New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021, [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] broadcast.<ref>{{Cite web|title=FOX New Years Eve Toast & Roast 2021 {{!}} Watch Thurs at 8/7c|url=https://www.fox.com/foxs-new-years-eve-toast-roast-2021/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Watch New Year's Eve Toast & Roast 2021 on FOX|language=en|archive-date=January 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104190627/https://www.fox.com/foxs-new-years-eve-toast-roast-2021/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=Evans|first1=Greg|date=December 30, 2020|title=Ken Jeong And Joel McHale Add To Lineup For Fox's New Year's Eve Special – Update|url=https://deadline.com/2020/12/ken-jeong-joel-mchale-fox-new-years-eve-toast-roast-special-hosts-update-1234636292/|access-date=January 6, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US|archive-date=January 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210105230037/https://deadline.com/2020/12/ken-jeong-joel-mchale-fox-new-years-eve-toast-roast-special-hosts-update-1234636292/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Edit summary
(Briefly describe your changes)
By publishing changes, you agree to the
Terms of Use
, and you irrevocably agree to release your contribution under the
CC BY-SA 4.0 License
and the
GFDL
. You agree that a hyperlink or URL is sufficient attribution under the Creative Commons license.
Cancel
Editing help
(opens in new window)