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Ice-T proves he’s still ‘Merciless’ on Body Count’s latest attack of gory hip-hop metal with a message

BBG News

As a fan and admirer of Ice-T, I am consistently amazed by his resilience, versatility, and unwavering commitment to truth-telling through music and artistry. Born into chaos, he has managed to navigate the treacherous waters of gang culture, military service, and the entertainment industry with an unmatched grace and wisdom that only comes from experiencing life at its rawest edges.

In simpler and more conversational language: “Ice-T says angrily in the 1988 hip-hop song ‘Colors’, produced by Afrika Islam, “You don’t understand me, you fool / You’re ignoring me, it’s cool.” This track helped Ice-T gain mainstream recognition, marking the beginning of a diverse career that currently has him comfortably seated on a curved couch in his Edgewater, N.J., home, with his daughter Chanel’s mostly pink toys neatly arranged nearby.

Today, fans accustomed to Ice-T’s musical performances are surprised to see him in mainstream advertisements that would have been hesitant to cast him previously. For instance, today’s Ice-T wouldn’t shy away from endorsing Cheerios (he now teaches yoga); Tide (Ice makes “cold calls” to chef Gordon Ramsay); or GEICO (Ice operates a lemonade stand). However, if his transition from gangster to ambassador wasn’t strategically planned, it’s not entirely unexpected.

In the early stages of my career, even though the neighborhood was aware of me, most folks weren’t. To ensure they understood that I wasn’t just a jovial character, I had to communicate my serious side. Before we could dive into the fun stuff, it was crucial for them to grasp that I wasn’t all laughs, right? So now, when people meet me, they often say I’m nice. And I respond, “Well, you’re not my adversary. You wouldn’t want to encounter another ‘Ice’ like me.” (As a movie lover, I can relate this to an actor trying to establish their identity and seriousness in the film industry.)

Today, Ice-T discusses a range of topics, including the U.S. election, the death of his former collaborator Quincy Jones, and personal anecdotes about his Harley-Davidson-riding father-in-law, meetings with Presidents Clinton and Trump (pre-first term), and the Constitution. He ends by expressing hope that he’ll cover a song by New Radicals, singing a bit of its chorus: “We only get what we give.

On this day, Ice-T, aged 66, is taking a break from portraying detective/sergeant Odafin Tutuola on the NBC series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” a role he’s held for 24 years. The paradox of performing in Body Count, the heavy metal band whose song “Cop Killer” caused a rift with Warner Bros. Records, while simultaneously playing a cop on television is not lost on anyone.

In my own words as a movie critic, I’d say: “This track has been misunderstood for years. People seem to think it’s promoting violence against cops, which is far from the truth. I was simply portraying a character, but if that makes them see me as controversial, then I wear that label with pride. Just like our recent album cover, the symbolism on it can be seen as offensive to some due to its associations with gangs and political parties. But hey, if they don’t want it in Japan, well, I guess that just means we’re making an impact.

The 12-song album is Body Count’s eighth studio release, featuring founding members Ice (vocals), Ernie C (guitar, Cunnigan) from their high school days at Crenshaw, and Sean E Sean on turntables and keyboards. The rest of the band includes Vincent Price on bass, Ill Will on drums, Juan of the Dead on rhythm guitar, and Ice’s son, Little Ice, who joined as the band’s hype man and backup vocalist in 2016.

Similar to its predecessors, “Merciless” resonates strongly with a cacophony of sound and passion, expressing Ice’s insightful criticisms of the world around him. His balanced, astute viewpoints are articulated forcefully, if vividly depicted. Contrary to popular assumption, this record was shaped by the COVID pandemic not through direct thematic exploration, but rather its profound impact on societal structures and human emotions subtly permeates the music.

The entire ‘Merciless’ album draws inspiration from my passion for horror films. Following our resurgence, the last four albums were produced by Will Putney, and we evolved from ‘Manslaughter,’ to ‘Blood Lust,’ and then ‘Carnivore.’ Ice explains. ‘So, this is ‘Merciless,’ it’s the continuation of our story. When ‘Carnivore’ was released last year, it was successful, even earning us a Grammy. The momentum is high. The label demands another album.

Ice exclaims excitedly, “We’ve just released a new album!” I respond, “But how am I supposed to create another one?” The pandemic arrived right after our album dropped, preventing us from performing live. Ice, who tailors his band’s riffs and songs to his style and writes the lyrics, explains, “Few people realize that when you produce a record, you might end up with 12-13 tracks, but there could have been as many as 27 songs that didn’t make the cut because they weren’t good enough. You can’t reuse those for the next album; you have to start anew.

In a quiet New York City, viewed from across the Hudson River, Ice, his wife Coco (formerly Austin), and their daughter Chanel spent the COVID-19 lockdown in Jersey. “I found myself engrossed in horror films, serial killers, all sorts of creepy stuff,” he said. “Before you know it, there’s a song called ‘The Purge.’ There’s a song called ‘Psychopath.’ With the upcoming election looming, I thought, ‘these folks are causing chaos.’ All these various topics started flooding my mind, and we began working on our next album.

Growing up in Los Angeles, a city I moved to following the tragic loss of both my parents, I was fortunate enough to be surrounded by music that shaped my appreciation for rock ‘n’ roll. A cousin of mine, who fancied himself as a modern-day Jimi Hendrix, played a significant role in this. He had the radio tuned to KMET and KLOS, exposing me to an array of bands such as Pink Floyd, J. Geils Band, Boston, ELO, Mott the Hoople, and Edgar Winter. This eclectic mix ignited my interest in groups like Blue Oyster Cult, Deep Purple, and Sabbath. My preference leaned towards the darker tunes, you could say.

Although Black rock and metal bands are still relatively scarce, Ice-T explains that Body Count’s primary objective was to cultivate an audience for Ernie C to showcase his guitar skills. Ernie C and late drummer Beatmaster V embarked on their professional careers with Ice-T on his 1987 debut studio album for Sire, “Rhyme Pays.” They incorporated the Sabbath riff from ‘War Pigs’ but it was live drums, performed by Beatmaster V. Later, Ice-T created “The Girl Tried to Kill Me” (1989), with Ernie playing on that track. At that time, hip-hop was primarily sample-based. However, a creative flame was ignited when Ice-T toured with Public Enemy. He observed fans headbanging to ‘Bring the Noise’ and ‘Terrordome.’

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Ice-T recalls, “We’ll capture the raw energy of Suicidal Tendencies with their street style image,” he enthuses. “I suggested we blend the rapid tempo of Slayer and the ominous atmosphere of Black Sabbath, mix it up, and instead of rapping about my usual topics, I’d shout them out. I called this style ‘barking,’ as I was inspired by New York hardcore bands such as Madball. They don’t sing like Journey, but this approach is within my abilities.” And so, he decided, “Let’s do it!

Over three decades after its formation, Body Count continues to generate powerful riffing concepts and deep thematic lyrics. The latest track “Do or Die” isn’t inspired by Ice-T’s horror movie marathons; instead, it reflects his perspective on firearms. Ice-T doesn’t advocate for guns, but as a former Army infantryman, he explains: “When I walk into a room and no one has a gun, that’s fine. But if someone in the room has a gun, I want a gun too. I don’t want to be the one with only a butter knife.

Because of his practical way of living, many people suggest that Ice-T should consider a career in politics. However, the former gangster humorously responds, “I’ve left behind crime and now have a platform to speak freely. I’ve already said most of what I wanted to say. If you look back at my history, you might think Ice-T has done some wild things, but I doubt you’ll find something I did that was foolish.

This man, who is the father of three and married for 22 years, firmly asserts that he has no hidden secrets. He clarifies that he’s never attended any parties hosted by Diddy, as it doesn’t appeal to him. In fact, he emphasizes that after growing up amidst so much turmoil, when he finally had the opportunity to escape from it all, he chose to abide by the law. He admits that he used to break the law frequently in the past, and if he had continued on that path, he might have faced a long prison sentence. However, feeling incredibly fortunate and lucky, he is now extremely cautious about his actions, fearing that any illegal activity or dishonesty could bring instant retribution, or what he calls “Instant Karma.

Ice-T, an elder figure in the music industry, is content with no longer engaging with younger generations. He explains, “One must accept their personal growth and realize that it’s time for new leaders to take over. As Chuck D once said to me, ‘If you’re not enjoying this, then all your efforts were in vain.’ I believe we laid the groundwork. We accomplished enough to make a difference in the world. In my view, Barack Obama was a president who resonated with hip-hop culture. He represented the generation that voted for him, which grew up listening to us. The non-racist white youth didn’t exist before hip-hop; we fostered their emergence.

In his words, he’s always ready to banter with his loyal followers through “Merciless,” but he acknowledges that the time has come for the younger generation to take over. He believes we need a fresh, young Public Enemy and a new Ice-T, as he now finds himself in the role of an elder statesman. Regrettably, he admits that his influence on today’s youth isn’t as potent as it would be if a 21-year-old were saying the same things. His words may not resonate as strongly because they come from an older source, and their peers’ messages might have a greater impact instead.

It’s important to note that a Body Count show is anything but tame or subtle; Ice-T and his energetic bandmates, who are like seasoned high school gang members, bring an intense and lively vibe. In his words, “When I perform a song, it takes the audience back to the first time they heard it. For me to do it justice, I have to go back to when I wrote ‘Colors.’ That means I’m a 16-year-old on stage, embodying gang culture. So in a way, music keeps me young.

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2024-11-23 02:02

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