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Biography
About|the American rapper|the German train|ICE TInfobox musical artist|name = Ice-T|background = solo_singer|image = Ice T SVU March 2011.jpg|caption = Ice-T near the Meat Packing District in Manhattan on set of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in March 2011|birth_name = Tracy Marrow|alias = Ice T|origin = Crenshaw, Los Angeles|Crenshaw , Los Angeles , California |Born = birth date and age|mf=yes|1958|2|16 Newark, New Jersey |death_date =|genre = Hip hop music|Hip hop , Heavy metal music|heavy metal , hardcore punk , crossover thrash |occupation = Musician, actor, CEO, record producer, screenwriter, activist, author|years_active = 1982–2006 (rapping) 1984–present (acting)|instrument = Vocals, Sampler (musical instrument)|sampler , Turntablism|turntables |label = Sire Records|Sire / Warner Bros. Records Rhyme Syndicate/ Priority Records|Priority / EMI|EMI Records Virgin Records|Virgin / EMI|EMI Records Atomic Pop Records|associated_acts = Afrika Islam , Body Count , Beastie Boys , Low Profile , Quincy Jones , Eazy-E , 2Pac , Donald D |notable_instruments = Roland TR-808 , E-mu SP-1200 |spouse = Nicole 'Coco' Austin|website = URL| http://www.icet.com/ Tracy Marrow (born February 16, 1958), better known by his stage name Ice-T , is an American musician and actor.
He was born in Newark, New Jersey , and moved to the Crenshaw,_Los_Angeles,_California |Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school, he served in the United States Army for four years. He began his career as a rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he released his debut album Rhyme Pays . The next year, he founded the record label Rhyme Syndicate Records (named after his collective of fellow hip-hop artists called the Rhyme Syndicate ) and released another album, Power (Ice-T album)|Power .
He co-founded the heavy metal music|heavy metal band Body Count , which he introduced in his 1991 album O.G.: Original Gangster . Body Count released its self-titled debut album in 1992. Ice-T encountered controversy over his track " Cop Killer (song)|Cop Killer ", which was perceived to glamorize killing police officers. Ice-T asked to be released from his contract with Warner Bros. Records , and his next solo album, Home Invasion (album)|Home Invasion , was released later in the Fall of 1993 through Priority Records . Body Count's next album was released in 1994, and Ice-T released two more albums in the late 1990s.
Since 2000, he has portrayed NYPD Detective Fin Tutuola|Odafin Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit .
Early life
Ice-T was born Tracy Marrow, son of Solomon and Alice Marrow,cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=5–13 |chapter=Cold as Ice cite web|url= http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ice-t/bio/154286|title=Ice-T Biography|accessdate=2007-09-22 |publisher=TVGuide.com in Newark, New Jersey . As a child, his family moved to upscale Summit, New Jersey . Solomon was an African American, and Alice was Louisiana Creole people|Creole . For decades, Solomon worked as a conveyor belt mechanic at the Dematic|Rapistan Conveyor Company . The first time race played a major part in Tracy's life was at the age of 7, when he became aware of the racism leveled by his white friends toward dark-skinned children, and that he escaped similar treatment because they thought that Marrow was white because of his lighter skin. Relating this incident to his mother, Alice told him "Honey, people are stupid"; her advice and this incident taught Marrow to control the way the ignorance of others affected him.
Alice died of a heart attack when Tracy was in third grade. Solomon raised Tracy as a single father for four years, with help from a housekeeper. Tracy's first experience with an illegal activity occurred after a bicycle that Solomon bought him for Christmas was stolen. After Tracy told his father, Solomon shrugged, "Well, then, you ain't got no bike." Tracy 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. When Tracy was 12 years old, Solomon died of a heart attack.cite book|author=Ice-T|coauthors=Sigmund, Heidi|title=The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a F*ck? |year=1994|publisher=Pan Books|isbn=0330336290 For many years, AllMusic.com has stated that his parents "died in an auto accident", http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ice-t-p89063/biography but Ice-T has stated that it was actually he who had been in a brutal auto accident and that was decades later.
Following his father's death, Tracy lived with a nearby aunt briefly, and was sent to live with his other aunt and her husband in View Park, a middle-class black neighborhood in Los Angeles.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=17–29 |chapter=Cold as Ice While his cousin Earl was preparing to leave for college, Tracy shared a room with him. Earl was a fan of rock music and listened to only the local rock stations; sharing a room with him spurred Tracy's interest in heavy metal music .cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=127–140 |chapter=Freedom of Speech
Gang affiliation, criminal life and time in the Army
Tracy attended Palms Junior High, which was predominately made up of white students, and included black students bused in from South_Los_Angeles |South Central . After graduating, he attended Crenshaw High School , which was almost entirely made up of black students.cite news|last=Goldstein|first=Patrick|url= http://articles.latimes.com/1988-04-24/entertainment/ca-2445_1_rap-wizard|title=The Hard Cold Rap of Ice-T|work=Los Angeles Times|page=Calendar 89 | date=1988-04-24 Marrow stood out from most of his friends because he did not drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, or use other drugs. During high school, gangs began to intensify in the Los Angeles school system. Students who belonged to the Bloods and Crips gangs attended Crenshaw, and fought in the school's halls. Tracy aligned with the Crips, and 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," and the handle stuck. Marrow and other Crips wrote and performed "Crip Rhymes", long before the advent of hip hop and recorded rapping .
At the age of 17, Tracy received the Social Security (United States)|Social Security death-benefit money for the death of his father to rent an apartment for $90 a month.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=30–43 |chapter=Cold As Ice Marrow sold cannabis (drug)|cannabis and stole car stereos for money, but was not making enough money to support his girlfriend and daughter, leading him to join the United States Army for the financial benefits; he served for four years in the 25th Infantry Division (United States)|25th Infantry Division . His commanding officer ordered Marrow to lead a group of soldiers to steal some supplies for him. Marrow and the group were jailed for the theft of an infantry rug. While awaiting trial, he received a $2,500 bonus check, and decided to escape from the jail and Desertion|desert his Army duties, returning a month later after the rug had been returned. He received an Article 15 non-judicial punishment , and completed Advanced Infantry Training.
Marrow became interested in hip hop music while serving in the Army. During this period, he heard Sugar Hill Gang 's newly-released single " Rapper's Delight ", which inspired him to perform his own raps over the instrumentals of this and other early hip-hop records, but the music did not fit his lyrics or form of delivery, leading Marrow to try to develop his skills as a rapper.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=49–56 |chapter=Nightmare Walking
As a squad leader at Schofield Barracks, Marrow met a real-life pimp named Mac in Hawaii, where prostitution was not heavily prosecuted, due to the high level of visits from soldiers during their weekends, as well as tourists, in order to keep the level of violence low.Mac admired that Marrow could quote Iceberg Slim, and taught Marrow how to pimp. Marrow was also able to purchase stereo equipment cheaply in Hawaii, including two Technics turntables, a mixer, and large speakers, and began to learn turntablism and rapping.
Towards the end of his time in the Army, Marrow learned from his commanding officer that he could receive an honorable discharge and leave the Army early because he was a single father, and left four months ahead of schedule.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 |work=The Daily Targum |publisher=Rutgers University |date=2004-02-23 |accessdate=2008-06-29
Music career
Early career
After leaving the Army, Marrow wanted to stay away from gang life and violence, and decided to make use of the stereo equipment he had purchased in Hawaii, and make a name for himself as a disc jockey. As a tribute to Iceberg Slim, Marrow adopted the stage name Ice-T. While performing as a DJ at parties, he received more attention as a rapper, and decided to pursue a career as a rapper. After breaking up with his girlfriend Adrienne, he returned to a life of crime, and robbed jewelry stores with his high school friends, pretending to be customers in order to plan the thefts, and later smashing the display glass with baby sledgehammers, events Marrow later described in his raps.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=57–69 |chapter=Nightmare Walking
One of Marrow's friends, Sean E. Sean, was arrested for possession of not only cannabis, which Sean sold, but also material stolen by Marrow. Sean took the blame, and served two years in prison. Marrow stated that he owed a gratitude to Sean, because his prison time allowed Marrow to pursue a career as a rapper. Concurrently, Marrow 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.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=78–83 |chapter=Nightmare Walking After being discharged from the hospital, he decided to abandon the criminal lifestyle and pursue a professional career rapping. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, he won an open mic competition judged by Kurtis Blow .
Professional career
In 1982, Marrow met producer William Strong from Saturn Records, who recorded his first single, "Cold Wind Madness", also known as "The Coldest Rap", which became an underground music|underground success, becoming popular even though radio stations did not play it due to the song's hardcore hip hop|hardcore lyrics.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=70–77 |chapter=Nightmare Walking Marrow appeared as a featured rapper on "Reckless", a single by DJ Chris "The Glove" Taylor, and recorded the songs "You Don't Quit" and "Dog'n the Wax" with Unknown DJ, who provided a electro hop sound for the songs.
Marrow received further inspiration as an artist from Schoolly D 's gangsta rap single " P.S.K. What Does It Mean? ", which Marrow heard in a club. Marrow 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.cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |authorlink1= |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=97804345523280 |pages=89–112 |chapter=Nightmare Walking
Marrow 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 . Marrow 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 . The single was released in 1986, and Marrow learned that "6 in the Mornin'" was more popular in clubs than its A-side, leading Marrow to rap about Los Angeles gang life, which Marrow described more explicitly than any previous rapper. 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.
Ice-T finally landed a deal with a major label Sire Records . When label founder and president Seymour Stein heard his demo, he said, "He sounds like Bob Dylan ."Coleman, Brian, Check The Technique : Liner Notes for Hip-Hop Junkies . New York: Villiard/Random House, 2007. pp. 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 RIAA . That same year, he recorded 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.cite web|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p89063|pure_url=yes|title=Ice-T: Biography|publisher=allmusic|year=2000|accessdate=July 8, 2008 In 1991, he released his album O.G. Original Gangster , which is regarded as one of the albums that defined gangsta rap. On OG , he introduced his heavy metal 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 self-titled debut album by Body Count followed. For his appearance on the heavily collaborative track "Back on the Block", a composition by jazz musician Quincy Jones that "attempted to bring together black musical styles from jazz to soul to funk to rap", Ice-T won a 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 .cite news|last=Pareles |first=Jon |title=Grammys Turn Into Quincy Jones Show |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9D0CE2D9173EF932A15751C0A967958260& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times |date=1991-02-23 |accessdate=2008-07-02
Controversy later surrounded Body Count over its song " Cop Killer (song)|Cop Killer ", a song intended as a narrative from the view of a criminal getting revenge on racist police officers guilty of brutality, from the National Rifle Association and various police advocacy groups. Consequently, Time Warner Music refused to release Ice-T's upcoming album Home Invasion because of the controversy surrounding "Cop Killer". When Ice split amicably with Sire/Warner Bros. Records after a dispute over the artwork of the album Home Invasion , he reactivated Rhyme Syndicate and formed a deal with Priority Records for distribution. Priority released Home Invasion in the spring of 1993.cite news|last=Pareles |first=Jon |title=Ice-T's Latest Gangster-Rap Caper Finds Him Alone and on His Own |url= http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html? res=9F0CE7DD1331F93AA15750C0A965958260& sec=& spon=& pagewanted=all|work=The New York Times |date=1993-03-29 |accessdate=2008-06-29 The album peaked at #9 on Billboard (magazine)|Billboard magazine's Top R& B/Hip-Hop Albums and at #14 on the Billboard 200 ,cite web |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p89063|pure_url=yes |title=Charts and Awards for Ice-T |accessdate=2007-11-03 |publisher= Allmusic spawning several singles including "Gotta Lotta Love", "I Ain't New To This" and "99 Problems" – which would later inspire Jay Z to record 99 Problems|a version with new lyrics in 2003. Ice-T had also collaborated with certain other Heavy metal music|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".cite web|last=Ruhlmann |first=William |title=Judgment Night > Overview |url=Allmusic|class=album|id=r189710|pure_url=yes |work=Allmusic |accessdate=2008-07-02 In 1995, Ice-T made a guest performance on Forbidden (Black Sabbath album)|Forbidden by Black Sabbath . Another album of his, VI - Return of the Real came out in 1996, followed by The Seventh Deadly Sin in 1999.cite news|last=Freydkin |first=Donna |title=No thaw for rapper Ice T |url= http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/Music/9910/27/ice.t/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=1999-10-27 |accessdate=2008-06-29
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.cite news |title= Page Six : STORES HOT OVER ICE-T COVER |url= http://www.nypost.com/seven/10182006/gossip/pagesix/pagesix.htm |work=New York Post |date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2007-09-22Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot 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.
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 , 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). http://web.archive.org/web/20080730072142/ http://www.juggalogathering.com/home.php? page_id=main_stage Ice-T as performer (archived page) Ice-T was also a judge for the 7th annual The Independent Music Awards|Independent Music Awards to support independent artists. http://www.independentmusicawards.com/ima_new/imajudges2008.asp Independent Music Awards – 7th Annual Judges. His new movie Something From Nothing : The Art Of Rap features a who's who of underground and mainstream rappers. http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-12-12T07_58_44-08_00 Conspiracy Worldwide Radio Ice T interview Dec 2009
Ice T announced via Twitter that he is in the process of collecting beats for his next LP which as of November 2011 is expected sometime during 2012. https://twitter.com/#!/FINALLEVEL/status/137192404351582208
Other ventures
Acting career
Ice-T's first film appearances were in the motion pictures, '' Breakin' (1984), and its sequel, Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo (1985). These films were released before Ice-T released his first LP, although he appears on the soundtrack to Breakin' . He has since stated he considers the films and his own performance in them to be "wack". The Ice Opinion'', page 96, St Martin's Press, New York, 1994
In 1991 he embarked on a serious acting career, portraying police detective Scotty Appleton in Mario Van Peebles ' feature film New Jack City , gang leader Odessa (alongside Denzel Washington and John Lithgow ) in Ricochet (film)|Ricochet (1991), gang leader King James in Trespass (1992 film)|Trespass (1992), followed by a notable lead role performance in Surviving the Game (1994), in addition to many supporting roles, such as J-Bone in Johnny Mnemonic (1995), and the marsupial mutant T-Saint in Tank Girl (film)|Tank Girl (1995). Marrow was also interviewed in the Brent Owens documentary ''Pimps Up, Ho's Down'',cite web|last=Buchanan |first=Jason |title=Ice-T > Biography |url= http://www.allmovie.com/cg/avg.dll? p=avg& sql=2:34312~T1 |work=Allmovie |year=2003 |accessdate=2008-07-02 in which he claims to have had an extensive pimping background before getting into rap. He is quoted as saying "once you max something out, it ain't no fun no more. I couldn't really get no farther." He goes on to explain his pimping experience gave him the ability to get into new businesses. "I can't act, I really can't act, I ain't no rapper, it's all game. I'm just working these niggas." Later he raps at the Players Ball .
In 1993 Marrow along with other rappers and the three Yo& #33; MTV Raps hosts Ed Lover , Doctor Dre and Fab 5 Freddy starred in the comedy '' Who's the Man? , directed by Ted Demme . In this movie, Marrow is a drug dealer who gets really frustrated when someone calls him by his real name, "Chauncey," rather than his street name, "Nighttrain."
In 1995 Marrow had a recurring role as vengeful drug dealer Danny Cort on the television series New York Undercover , co-created by Dick Wolf . His work on the series earned him the 1996 NAACP Image Award for NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series . In 1997 Marrow co-created the short-lived series Players (1997 TV series)|Players , produced by Wolf. This was followed by a role as pimp Seymour "Kingston" Stockton in Exiled: A Law & Order Movie (1998). These collaborations led Wolf to add Marrow to the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Since 2000 he has portrayed Fin Tutuola|Odafin "Fin" Tutuola , a former undercover narcotics officer transferred to the Special Victims Unit. In 2002 the NAACP awarded Marrow with a second Image Award, again for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, for his work on Law & Order: SVU .
In 1997 Marrow had a pay-per-view special titled ''Ice-T's Extreme Babes which appeared on Action PPV, formerly owned by BET networks. http://www.krunk.org/conan/abstracts-1997/022697.txt Abstract of Late Night with Conan O'Brien #732 (February 27, 1997)
In 1999 Marrow starred in the HBO movie Stealth Fighter as a United States Naval Aviator who fakes his own death, steals a F-117 stealth fighter , and threatens to destroy United States military bases . He also acted in the movie Sonic Impact , released the same year.
Ice-T made an appearance on the comedy television series '' Chappelle's Show as himself presenting the award for "Player Hater of the Year" at the "Player-Haters Ball", a parody of his own appearance at the Players Ball. He was dubbed the "Original Player Hater."
Beyond Tough , a 2002 documentary series, aired on Discovery Channel about the world's most dangerous and intense professions, such as alligator wrestlers and Indy 500 pit crews, was hosted by Marrow.cite web|last=Salazar-Moreno |first=Quibian |title=Ice-T Hosts New Show 'Beyond Tough' |url= http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/3854 |work=SOHH |date=2002-07-16 |publisher=Internet Archive Wayback Machine |accessdate=2008-07-02 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070809012028/ http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/3854 |archivedate = 2007-08-09 In 2007 Marrow appeared as a celebrity guest star on the MTV sketch comedy show Short Circuitz . Also in late 2007 Marrow appeared in the short-music film Hands of Hatred , which can be found online.
Ice-T was interviewed for the Cannibal Corpse retrospective documentary Centuries of Torment: The First 20 Years|Centuries of Torment , as well as appearing in Chris Rock|Chris Rock's 2009 documentary Good Hair , in which he reminisced about going to school in hair curlers.cite web|last=Washington |first=Jesse|title='Good Hair' laughs instead of cries |url= http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33208003 |date=2009-07-09 |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=2010-09-08
Voice acting
Ice-T voiced List of characters in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas#Madd Dogg|Madd Dogg in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas , as well as Agent Cain in '' Sanity: Aiken's Artifact . He also appears as himself in Def Jam: Fight for NY and UFC: Tapout fighting video games.
He also voiced the character Griffin in the video game Gears of War 3 .cite web|title=Gears of War 3 Signs Rapper Ice-T to Cast|url= http://www.industrygamers.com/news/gears-of-war-3-signs-rapper-ice-t-to-cast/|publisher=Industry Gamers|accessdate=16 September 2011
Reality television
On October 20, 2006, '' Ice-T's Rap School aired and was a reality television show on VH1. It was a spin-off of the British reality show Gene Simmons ' Rock School , which also aired on VH1. In Rap School , rapper/actor Ice-T teaches eight teens from York Preparatory School in New York called the "York Prep Crew" ("Y.P. Crew" for short). Each week, Ice-T gives them assignments and they compete for an imitation gold chain with a microphone on it. On the season finale on November 17, 2006, the group performed as an opening act for Public Enemy (group)|Public Enemy .
On June 12, 2011, E! reality show Ice Loves Coco debuted. The show is mostly about his relationship with his wife of ten years, Nicole "Coco" Austin.cite news | title = Ice-T and Coco Renew Vows, Snoop Dog Looks On | first = | last = | authorlink = | url = http://rapfix.mtv.com/2011/06/04/ice-t-and-coco-renew-vows-snoop-dogg-watches-on/#more-15881 | publisher = MTV News | date = June 4, 2011 | accessdate = 2011-05-28 | quote = cite news | title = Ice-T & Coco Austin on Married Life, the Business of Being Ice, & Coco's Bodacious Body | first = Kugel | last = Allison | authorlink = Allison Kugel | url = http://www.pr.com/article/1177 | newspaper = PR.com | publisher = | date = May 31, 2011 | accessdate = 2011-05-28 | quote =
Style and influence
Marrow cites writer Iceberg Slim and rapper Schoolly D as influences, with Iceberg Slim's novels guiding his skills as a lyricist. Marrow's favorite heavy rock acts are Edgar Winter , Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath . Marrow's hip hop albums helped shape the gangsta rap style, with music journalist tracing works of artists such as Tupac Shakur , Notorious B.I.G. , Eminem and N.W.A to " 6 in the Mornin' ".
His love of rock music led Marrow use electric guitar in the instrumentation of his hip hop albums in order to provide his songs with edge and power, and to make his raps harder; he used the fusion of rock and hip hop of Rick Rubin -produced acts like Beastie Boys , Run-DMC and LL Cool J , which featured rock samples in their songs. His work with Body Count , whose 1992 Body Count (album)|debut album Marrow described as a "rock album with a rap mentality",cite book |last=Dellamora |first=Richard |authorlink= |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Postmodern Apocalypse: Theory and Cultural Practice at the End |origdate= |origyear= |origmonth= |url= |format= |accessdate= |edition= |series= |date= |year=1995 |month= |publisher=University of Pennsylvania Press |location= |language= |isbn=0812215583 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=251 |chapter= |chapterurl= |quote= is described as paving the way for the success of rap rock fusions by bands like Kid Rock and Limp Bizkit ; however, Marrow states that the band's style does not fuse the two genres, and is solely a rock band.
Personal life
Relationships and family
In 1976, Marrow's girlfriend Adrienne gave birth to their daughter, LeTesha, and they attended high school while raising the child. Later in 1984, while filming '' Breakin' , Marrow met Darlene Ortiz, who had been at the club in which the film was being shot, and the two began a relationship; Ortiz was featured on the covers of Rhyme Pays and Power (Ice-T album)|Power . Marrow and Ortiz had a son, Ice Tracy Marrow, in 1992. On December 31, 2001, Marrow married swimsuit model Coco Austin|Nicole "Coco Marie" Austin . In celebration of their 10th wedding anniversary, the couple renewed their wedding vows on June 4, 2011.
Religion
Marrow has never stated his religion, although he has stated that he believes in God. http://www.songlyrics.com/ice-t/god-forgive-mefeat-laquan-and-slej-lyrics/
Legal issues
Marrow was arrested in New York City on July 20, 2010, for driving without a valid license and not wearing a seatbelt, with his wife as a passenger, while taking his bulldog to the vet for knee surgery. http://www.nme.com/news/ice-t/52156 "Ice-T arrested for driving without a seatbelt" NME.com, July 21, 2010 The NYPD said he would be given a ticket and released. http://www.billboard.com/news/ice-t-arrested-for-driving-offense-by-nypd-1004105205.story#/news/ice-t-arrested-for-driving-offense-by-nypd-1004105205.story
Activism
CIA involvement
He has condemned the involvement of the Central Intelligence Agency in drug trafficking (in connection with the Iran-Contra scandal , as documented in the Kerry Committee report and elsewhere)" But after several exhuastive investigations by many independent organisations under the liberal Clinton administration, no CIA involvement in drug traffiking has ever been found. The anti-CIA drug link disinformation, has been traced to the anti-white Nation of Islam. U.S. Concedes Contras Linked to Drugs, But Denies Leadership Involved," Associated Press (17 April 1986). on tracks such as "This One's for Me" and "Message to the Soldier", in sections of his book.
Politics
On June 5, 2008, Ice-T jokingly stated that he would be voting for John McCain in the 2008 American election s. Ice-T also speculated that his past affiliation with Body Count could hurt Barack Obama's chances if he endorsed him, so he'd choose instead to ruin John McCain's campaign by saying he supported him. http://www.tmz.com/2008/06/05/ice-t-add-mccain-to-my-body-count/ Ice T – Add McCain to My Body Count http://www.theinsider.com/news/944138_ice_t_backs_up_john_mccain Ice T backs up John McCain
Feuds
LL Cool J
Ice-T had a non-publicized feud with LL Cool J in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Apparently, this was instigated by LL's claim to be "the baddest rapper in the history of rap itself" http://www.metrolyrics.com/im-bad-lyrics-ll-cool-j.html "I'm Bad" Lyrics Ice-T recorded two disses against LL on his 1988 album Power . On the album was the track, " I'm Your Pusher ", in which a rap music addict declines to buy an LL Cool J record. The album also contains the posse rap track, "The Syndicate", which took aim at LL's lyrical ability, claiming that rapping about oneself so frequently was a "first grade topic". http://www.metrolyrics.com/the-syndicate-lyrics-ice-t.html "The Syndicate" Lyrics The song also mocked the song's hook "I'm Bad", which identified it as an LL diss specifically.
On LL's response, "To da Break of Dawn" in 1990, he dissed Kool Moe Dee (Whose feud with LL was far more publicized) as well as MC Hammer. He then devoted the third verse of the song to dissing Ice-T, mocking his rap ability ("take your rhymes around the corner to rap rehab"), his background ("before you rapped, you was a downtown car thief"), and his style ("a brother with a perm deserves to get burned"). Ice-T appeared to have ignored the insults and he had also defended LL Cool J after his arrest in the song "Freedom of Speech". http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/ll+cool+j/to+da+break+of+dawn_20084664.html "To Da Break of Dawn" Lyrics
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
In June 2008, on DJ Cisco's Urban Legend mixtape, Ice-T criticized Soulja Boy Tell 'Em|DeAndre Cortez "Soulja Boy Tell 'Em" Way for "killing hip hop" and his song " Crank That " for being "garbage" compared to the works of other hip-hop artists such as Rakim , Das EFX , Big Daddy Kane and Ice Cube . One of the comments in the exchange was when Ice-T told Way to "eat a dick".cite news|url= http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.7135/title.ice-t-tells-soulja-boy-to-eat-a-dick|title=Ice-T Tells Soulja Boy To Eat A Dick|first=Andreas|last=Hale|work=Hip Hop DX|date=2008-06-17 The two then traded numerous videos back and forth over the Internet. These videos included a cartoon and video of Ice-T dancing on Way's behalf and an apology, but reiteration of his feelings that Way's music "sucks", on Ice-T's behalf. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1589961/20080625/soulja_boy_tellem.jhtml Soulja Boy Tell'em Talks About New Album, Battle With Ice-T MTV. June 25, 2008. Rapper Kanye West defended Way by arguing that the younger artist created a new, original work for hip hop, thus keeping the authentic meaning of the music.cite news|last=Upmalis|first=Jordan|url= http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/06/23/ice-t-vs-soulja-boy-tellem-video-blog-beef-heats-up-kanye-weighs-in|title=Ice-T vs. Soulja Boy Tell'em Video Blog Beef Heats Up; Kanye Weighs In|work=MTV News|date=2008-06-23
Discography
main|Ice-T discography
1987: Rhyme Pays
1988: Power (Ice-T album)|Power
1989: The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say
1991: O.G. Original Gangster
1993: Home Invasion (album)|Home Invasion
1996: VI - Return of the Real
1999: The Seventh Deadly Sin
2006: Gangsta Rap (album)|Gangsta Rap
Awards and Nominations
Grammy Awards
Year
Nominated work
Award
Result
Grammy Awards of 1991
Back on the Block
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
won
Grammy Awards of 1992
"New Jack Hustler(Nino's Theme)"
Best Rap Solo Performance
nom
MTV Video Music Award s
Year
Nominated work
Award
Result
1989 MTV Video Music Awards
"Colors"
Best Rap Video
nom
1989 MTV Video Music Awards
"Colors"
Best Video from a Film
nom
1991 MTV Video Music Awards
"New Jack Hustler(Nino's Theme)"
Best Rap Video
nom
Filmography
Year
Film
Role
Notes
1984
'' Breakin'
Rap Talker
'' Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo
Radiotron Rapper
1985
'' Rappin'
Himself
1991
New Jack City
Scotty Appleton
Won : MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Ricochet
Odessa
1992
Why Colors?
Trespass
King James
1993
'' Who's the Man?
Nighttrain/ Chauncey
Gift
Himself
Video
1994
Surviving the Game
Jack Mason
1995
Tank Girl
T-Saint
Johnny Mnemonic
J-Bone
1996
Frankenpenis
Direct-to-video
1997
Below Utopia
Jim
Mean Guns
Vincent Moon
The Deli
Phil The Meat Man
1998
Crazy Six
Raul
1999
Sonic Impact
Agent Taja
The Wrecking Crew
Menace
The Heist
C-Note
Frezno Smooth
DJ Superfly
Judgement Day
Matthew Reese
Video
Urban Menace
Narrator
Stealth Fighter
Owen Turner
Also executive producer
Final Voyage
Josef
Jacob Two Two Meets the Hooded Fang
Justice Rough, The Judge
Corrupt
Corrupt
2000
Gangland
Officer Dunn
Leprechaun in the Hood
Mack Daddy
Video
Luck of the Draw
Macneilly
The Alternate
Agent Williams
2001
Kept
Jack Mosler
Stranded
Jeffries
Johnathan
Crime Partners 2000
King Fischer
3000 Miles to Graceland
Hamilton
Point Doom
Ringman
Deadly Rhapsody
Wilson
'' 'R Xmas
The Kidnapper
Guardian
Max
Tara
Grady
Ticker
Terrorist Commander
Out Kold
Goldie
Ablaze
Albert Denning
Air Rage
Matt Marshall
Video
2002
On the Edge
Slim Jim
2004
Lexie
Rasheed
Video
Up In Harlem
Ice T
2005
Tracks
Officer Brian Clark
2006
Copy That
Ice T
2007
BelzerVizion
Ice T
Apartment 309
Detective Shearod
2008
A Family Underground
Himself
Direct-to-DVD Documentary
2009
Good Hair
Ice T
2010
Santorini Blue
Dr. Lewis
post-production
The Other Guys
Narrator
Uncredited
2011
Shady Talez
In Development
Television
Year
Film
Role
Notes
1983
Fame
One of the 'Enforcers'
Break Dance "
1995
New York Undercover
Danny Up/ Danny Cort
CAT " Episode: " List of New York Undercover episodes#Season 1 (1994–1995)
1996
Swift Justice
Earl Borgese
Episode: "Takin' Back the Street"
MADtv
Host
Season 2 episode 2
1997
Duckman: Private Dick/ Family Man
Taanzi
Ebony, Baby "
Space Ghost Coast to Coast
Himself
One Episode
1997–1998
Players
Isaac 'Ice' Gregory
16 episodes
1998
Welcome to Paradox
Revell
The Winner "
Exiled
Seymour 'Kingston' Stockton
television film
1999
L.A. Heat
Cage
Episode: "Rap Sheet"
Batman Beyond
Ramrod
Splicers "
V.I.P
The Prophet
Episode: "Val The Hard Way" Episode: "Val Goes To Town"
2000
The Disciples
The Sensei
television film
2000–present
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
Replaced Monique Jeffries starting with Season 2
2005
Law & Order
Detective Odafin "Fin" Tutuola
Flaw " (second half of cross-over with Law & Order: SVU episode " Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 7)
2008
The Jace Hall Show
Actor
Episode: "Blizzard's World of Warcraft Feat. Ice T. & Coco"
2009
I Get That a Lot
Himself
TV special
2010
All Star Mr & Mrs
Himself with his wife Coco
Final round
2011
Ice Loves Coco
Himself
Reality Show
Video games
Year
Video game
Role
Notes
2000
'' Sanity: Aiken's Artifact
Agent Nathaniel Cain
Voice
2004
Def Jam Fight for NY
Himself
Voice
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Madd Dogg
Voice
2006
Scarface: The World Is Yours
Voice
2011
Gears of War 3
Griffin
Voice
References
Reflist|colwidth=30em
Further reading
cite news
| title = Ice-T & Coco Austin on Married Life, the Business of Being Ice, & Coco's Bodacious Body | first = Kugel | last = Allison | authorlink = Allison Kugel | url = http://www.pr.com/article/1177 | newspaper = PR.com | date = May 31, 2011
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=v04EbEVMg0A Video: Ice-T interview with Adam Horovitz
http://conspiracyworldwide.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-12-12T07_58_44-08_00 Conspiracy Worldwide Radio Ice T interview (December 2009)
cite book |last1=Marrow |first1=Tracy |last2=Century |first2=Douglas |authorlink1= Douglas Century|title=Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption—from South Central to Hollywood |year=2011 |publisher= Random House |isbn=97804345523280
External links
Commons category|Ice-T
Official website| http://www.icet.com/
IMDb name|1384
Twitter|FINALLEVEL
IceTBody Count Persondata| NAME = Ice-T | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Tracy Marrow | SHORT DESCRIPTION = American musician and actor | DATE OF BIRTH = 1958-02-16 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Newark, New Jersey | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Ice-T Category:1958 births Category:Living people Category:Actors from California Category:African American film actors Category:African American rappers Category:African Americans' rights activists Category:American activists Category:American heavy metal singers Category:African American television actors Category:Body Count members Category:Crips Category:Louisiana Creole people Category:Charly Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Hip hop activists Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Rappers from Los Angeles, California Category:People from Newark, New Jersey Category:People from Summit, New Jersey Category:United States Army soldiers Category:Priority Records artists Category:Sire Records artists Category:Virgin Records artists Category:Pseudonymous writers Category:Pseudonymous rappers Category:Ice-T