CD Odyssey Disc 1247: Ice-T

I had a successful CD shop this weekend, finding five albums on my wishlist and a sixth that I took a chance on. Here's what I came home with:

• Julia Jacklin – Crushing (2019)
• Yola – Walk Through Fire (2019)
• Nilufer Yanya – Miss Universe (2019)
• The Be Good Tanyas – Blue Horse (2000)
• 10CC – Deceptive Bends (1977)
• Cub - Box of Hair (1996)

The Cub record was the chancy one, but I really liked their album "Betti-Cola" (reviewed back at Disc 1240) and it was only $4.95. I'll talk about each of those records when I roll them.

Disc 1247 is… O.G. Original Gangster

Artist: Ice-T

Year of Release: 1991

What’s up with the Cover? Two sides of Ice-T. We have suave debonair Ice-T dressed up for a black tie event in front of a big house, and we have gangster criminal Ice-T showing off his pythons as he shuffles off to the Big House.

Much like the decision to include two photos, this album seems uncertain on what to call itself. O.G. Original Gangster seems superfluous. Kind of like ATM Machine, or Stargate SG-1. But I digress…

How I Came to Know It: I am not 100% certain. I know I first gave Ice-T a proper listen at my friend Chris’ house many years ago through the “Freedom of Speech” album. It might have been my friend Patrick who put me onto this particular record, or maybe my friend Spence. I guess I’m lucky to have a lot of great friends introducing me to music. If it was someone else, and you’re reading this then I apologize for the oversight but thank you for the recommendation all the same.

How It Stacks Up:  I have four Ice-T albums and I like them all, but “Original Gangster” is the best. Since this is the final review of those in my collection, here’s a recap:

1. O.G. Original Gangster: 5 stars (reviewed right here)
2. Power: 4 stars (reviewed at Disc 639)
3. The Iceberg: 4 stars (reviewed at Disc 1031)
4. Rhyme Pays: 3 stars (reviewed at Disc 969)

Ratings:  5 stars

 “Original Gangster” is rap at its finest, combining the raw danger of West Coast rap with all the laid back groove of the East Coast.

On his earlier records, Ice-T’s best quality is his furious flow, snapping his rhymes down on the end of the bar with exquisite timing, in a sparse environment of simple beats and rhythms, well employed. On “Original Gangster” he elevates his already impressive flow and throws in a lot more samples and rhythms. Despite this, the record never feels busy or disjointed. Everything Ice-T adds is to give the songs more groove.

This record breaks one of my main rules by being too long (72 minutes) with too many tracks (24). The vinyl edition apparently only has 16 tracks, which you would think I would prefer but I can’t imagine what 8 tracks I’d remove to make that happen. No matter what you deleted – even the little skits interspersed throughout – it would be wrong.

As you might expect from the title, the record has many gangster rap elements, and on the title track and “New Jack Hustler” he paints a picture of gang violence in LA that is compelling and visceral. However, the record covers traditional “I rap better than you” themes brilliantly as well, and on “Fly By” his furious style is at Rakim-level brilliance.

Rap has a long tradition of decrying hypocrisy and falsity, and few rappers do it better than Ice-T. On “Bitches” he calls out stool pigeons, freeloaders, and double-talkers, and making it clear you’ll find these kinds of cowards in every walk of life.

When he wants to, Ice also gets political. Free speech is a longstanding theme in Ice-T’s work and on “Straight Up N____” he takes it a new level. I can’t quote the song, but that’s partly Ice-T’s intent. He gets to call himself what he wants and define himself how he wants, delivering some cutting social commentary in the process.

The record even introduces us to Ice-T’s rock side, as he debuts “Body Count” one of the songs from his rap-metal crossover band of the same name. In 1991 the divisions between rock and rap were much more severe and zealously defended than they are today. Ice-T was one of the first people to recognize the foolishness of that approach, saying in a short interview at the beginning of the track:

“…as far as I’m concerned music is music. I don’t look at it as rock, RnB, and all that stuff. I look at it as music…I do what I like, and I happen to like rock and roll and I feel sorry for anyone who only listens to one form of music.”

Truer words were never spoken. The album “Body Count” (reviewed back at Disc 665) LINK would come out a year later and is yet another five star record, proving what an incredible run Ice-T was on in these two years.

Back to “Original Gangster,” which is a fierce, honest unrepentant record that gives you full appreciation for the many facets of Ice-T. His rap influences, his rock influences, his personality and his political views are all wrapped up into a record that is authentic, raw, and groovy as hell. It is simply one of the best rap records ever made.

Best tracks: All tracks. Less so, all those little skits and partial songs, but they also add to the album’s charm.

CD Odyssey Disc 1031: Ice T

I’ve had a lot on the go tonight, but I’m determined to squeeze in a music review before I hit the hay.

Disc 1031 is…The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say

Artist: Ice-T

Year of Release: 1989

What’s up with the Cover? A gentleman has a rough day, on account of a variety of guns stuffed into various orifices. Clever viewers will deduce that said gentleman is a Los Angeles Raiders fan (the Raiders played in LA from 1982 to 1994). I don't like the Raiders either, but this seems to be an overreaction.

How I Came To Know It: I first heard this album while having dinner with my friend Chris and his first wife Jennifer. I believe we played it pre-dinner, before eating some sushi. So yeah, an odd pairing of food and music, but I was impressed with Ice-T and began seeking out his music. Sushi, not so much.

How It Stacks Up:  I have four Ice-T albums (his first four). I like all of them, but competition is tight. “The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech…” is a good album, but I like two other ones better. That puts it in at…third.

Ratings: 4 stars

In 1989 rap was still coming into its own, but Ice T was already a giant of the industry. With his raspy delivery and edgy narrative rhymes, he had a style that demands that you pay attention.

The Iceberg” covers a lot of ground, ranging from political and social commentary all the way to traditional “I rap the best” raps. There are even some sex songs that would make LL Cool J blush.

The album’s overarching theme revolves around the freedom of expression, and its cornerstone role in democratic society. Ice T approaches this both directly, through raps like the title track, and indirectly, by laying down rhymes that were deliberately antagonistic to the forces of censorship.

When Ice T raps about sex on songs like “The Iceberg” and “The Girl Tried to Kill Me”, he makes sure that sex is as dirty as possible. Dicks freeze off, whips are deployed and angry cuckolded husbands threaten violence.

When he about life on the streets, Ice T brings an element of violence that was relatively new to the style at the time. On “Peel Their Caps Back” rival gangs unleash violence on one another. When rapping about his skills on the microphone, his rhymes evoke the violent imagery of nine millimeter pistols and broken limbs. On “Lethal Weapon” he walks the line between the metaphorical violence and actual violence. Often you can’t tell which is which and I think that’s how he wants it.

The scratches and beats laid down on the record vary between furious and fast (“Hit the Deck”), rock-riff driven (“The Girl Tried to Kill Me”) and funk (“You Played Yourself”). Evil E is brilliant regardless of his source inspiration, and the DJing is as big part of the album’s aggressive energy as Ice T’s delivery.

“You Played Yourself” also demonstrates that while Ice T clearly enjoys the idea of offending the Tipper Gores of the world, he is there to do more than shock. This song is about making smart decisions, staying in school, and avoiding drugs. Best of all, Ice T knows his audience – he doesn’t preach about the dangers of drugs and violence, he ladles scorn on those who make bad choices, and demands they take ownership of them.

Ice T uses “This One’s For Me” to defend Public Enemy; picking one of rap’s most controversial acts at the time to underscore that freedom of speech is for everyone, or it isn’t for anyone. It is on topics like this that the record shines brightest.

Ice T is best when he is direct. “Freedom of Speech” (the song) is one of my favourite raps of all time for this reason. Profane and daring and a direct attack against organizations like the then-influential Parents Music Resource Centre (PMRC). Nowadays the efforts of Tipper Gore seem silly, but in 1989 attempts to censor music were very real.

“Freedom of Speech” is a clarion call for action. Is the song profane? Yes, deliberately so. It is designed to offend, because Ice T is reminding us that sometimes art has to offend to have an impact (like his message to youth on “You Played Yourself”; they offend with a point). But if that is still too subtle for your average censor, Ice T lays it all out for you later in the song:

“Freedom of speech, let 'em take it from me
Next they'll take it from you, then what you gonna do?
Let 'em censor books, let 'em censor art
PMRC, this is where the witch hunt starts”

The album ends with “My Word is Bond” a collection of rappers one upping each another with creative exaggerations and outright lies. It is all done tongue-in-cheek and in a way that makes it clear that despite all his strong opinions, Ice T can still make fun of himself.

This record isn’t perfect. Some of the rhymes lack imagination, and at 55 minutes it felt a little long, but its combination of dope beats and furious unapologetic raps make it an iconic album of its generation nonetheless.

Best tracks: Lethal Weapon, You Played Yourself, The Girl Tried to Kill Me, Hit the Deck, Freedom of Speech

CD Odyssey Disc 969: Ice-T

I’m in the middle of a glorious four day weekend, where I’m mixing in liberal amounts of hanging with friends, chilling at home, and enjoying some of my favourite hobbies (including listening to a lot of music).

I’ve also been doing a lot of music purchasing, and yesterday I may have overdone it. First, I bought three albums at local record stores (new releases by P.O.S. and Mother Mother, plus an album from 1999 called Western Wall by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris).

Then, still not sated and emboldened by some Christmas money sent from my mom, I ordered another 11 albums online. These are now winging their way to me through the magic of the internet. They are:

• Courtney Marie Andrews “Honest Life”
• Birds of Chicago’s self-titled debut and also their latest, “Real Midnight”
• The Handsome Family’s “Singing Bones” and “Unseen”
• Conor Oberst’s “Ruminations”
• The Stray Birds self-titled debut and their latest, “Magic Fire”
• Three Warren Zevon albums: “The Envoy”, “Mr. Bad Example” and “Mutineer”

If you don’t know these albums, do yourself a favour and check them out. Alternatively, you can wait however many years it will be until I’ve randomly rolled and reviewed each one.

Disc 969 is…Rhyme Pays

Artist: Ice-T

Year of Release: 1987

What’s up with the Cover? Ice-T and his buddy appear to be taking that nice girl to the beach.

This convertible looks a lot like the one from the cover of the Thompson Twins album I reviewed back at Disc 963. I like to think it was an eighties car share and each time the other group picked it up they were horrified to discover what had been left in the tape deck.

How I Came To Know It: I’ve known Ice-T for a while, originally through my friend Chris. “Rhyme Pays” was hard to find, and very expensive to buy online. For that reason I was pretty happy when it showed up used at my local record store at a more reasonable price a few months ago.

How It Stacks Up:  I have four Ice-T albums and I like them all, but I must reluctantly put “Rhyme Pays” as my least favourite so…fourth.

Ratings: 3 stars

Some albums are just better because of their place in music history, and “Rhyme Pays” is one of those.

While this is the weakest of the four Ice-T albums I have, it is the beginning of a sound that was a major inspiration for whole new directions in rap music. Songs like “6 ‘N the Morning” tell stories of actual people committing actual crimes, making it one of the earliest occurrences of Gangsta Rap. There is a lot of bad music in that genre, but you can’t blame Ice-T for that; his work here has stood the test of time.

Yes, the beats are basic on this record (it was 1987, after all) but that stark approach is the perfect fit for Ice’s on-the-beat, machine gun staccato rap style. Ice-T is a natural storyteller and he injects large doses of fury into his delivery style, restraining himself just enough to show while his style is aggressive, it is equally thoughtful.

The samples are inspired, “Make It Funky” samples from the James Brown song of the same name, but my favourite is the use of the classic doom-filled guitar riff from Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” on the title track. Later Ice-T would fully commit to blending rap and metal on his side project Body Count (reviewed back at Disc 665). Here the concept is still in its infancy, but Ice instinctively knows how to use it to increase the danger and ominous undertones to his rap.

Ice-T is at his best on this record when he is singing about the gangster life style like on the now classic “6 ‘N the Morning”, or just talking about the most traditional early rap topic; rapping better than his challengers. When he tries to be a bit ‘romantic’ (and I use this term loosely) on “I Love Ladies” and “Sex” I found myself wishing for some LL Cool J instead.

The CD version of the album has two problems. First, the bonus tracks take the record from 9 to 13 tracks, and add about 20 minutes of music. For the most part these bonus tracks are just remixes of songs you’ve already heard. While they might be welcome on a party mix, I didn’t think they added much and make the album feel too long.

The second problem is that late eighties CD production, where no matter how loud you turn the volume you can’t seem to get any depth of sound. It is like the songs are being playing in another room; out walking around with headphones I would miss lyrics if the wind blew a little too hard.

If you want a better appreciation of classic Ice-T rap albums like “Power” or “O.G. Original Gangster” then “Rhyme Pays” is an album that will open your eyes to how Ice-T found his sound. Even if you aren’t a music historian, this is a record with enough strong and memorable tracks that it is worth checking out purely for its own merits.

Best tracks: Rhyme Pays, 6 ‘N the Morning, Squeeze the Trigger

CD Odyssey Disc 665: Body Count

As some of you will know, every once in a while I get together with a few friends who share my love of music. At our last gathering, we did a quick, informal (and not entirely sober) poll of everyone’s favourite concerts. Here are the results, unassigned to protect the innocent:

• Motorhead (1983)
• Leonard Cohen (1993)
• April Wine (1979)
• Melvins (2000)
• Steve Miller Band (1988)

Cool mix and I’ve got a bit of every band in my collection, with the exception of April Wine. Obviously that one wasn’t me.

Disc 665 is…. Body Count (Self Titled)

Artist: Body Count

Year of Release: 1992

What’s up with the Cover?  An artist’s depiction of a man who looks like he is very diligent about going to the gym, but not so diligent about carrying his pistol in a safe and secure manner. Someone should tell this guy what happened to Plaxico Burress.

How I Came To Know It:  My old roommate Greg owned this album and we both loved it. Also, a lot of the songs got played at clubs when I was into that scene. I bought it years later when – after years of searching – I found a complete copy with all the songs on it.

How It Stacks Up:  I was surprised to find Body Count has five studio albums, including one that came out earlier this year. I only have this first one, but I would be surprised if the other four were better. That said, this encourages me to check them all out.

Rating: 5 stars

On his 1991 rap album, “Original Gangster” Ice T included a metal song and served notice that he was preparing to blow the doors off the world of heavy metal. A year later, Body Count’s self-titled debut didn’t just blow the doors off; it stood in the ruined entryway, shoulders back and dick out, and proclaimed “We’re here. We ain’t goin’ anywhere.” For anyone who didn’t like it – that was just too damned bad.

I loved it then, and I still love it. In 1992 I didn’t know Ice T much at all before Body Count, beyond his reputation as a plain spoken rapper. It wouldn’t have mattered either way, because great music transcends genre, and Body Count laid down track after track of great music.

Ice T’s delivery is definitely aided by his rap experience. When singing, he stays on time. When he is spitting invective over the mad guitar riffs of guitarists Ernie C and D-Roc he knows just where on the beat to come in for maximum impact. There is something about swearing on time that is compelling – kind of like knowing when to drop a punch line in a comedy routine.

I’m from a small mill town and I like to think I can swear with a free and easy flow myself, but Ice T puts me to shame. He makes swearing an art, and moreover he uses it for effect; catching your attention when he wants you to know just how angry he is about social or racial injustice and why. All those who would ‘tsk tsk’ and say ‘there is always a better word you could use’ should listen to this album. Or maybe they shouldn’t – they’d likely be deeply offended.

Back to Ice’s singing voice. While it isn’t a powerful instrument like Rob Halford or Bruce Dickinson, it definitely gets the job done. On “The Winner Loses” Ice really delivers the emotional context needed for this song, which is about losing friends to addiction. Not a swear-word to be found here, because it would be out of place.

This album has so many great moments for me personally, including slamdancing at Scandal’s nightclub to the rambunctious “Evil Dick” an anthem to our baser needs and the other ‘head’ that whispers in men’s ears about how to achieve them.

Other songs sing about social justice, including “Body Count” the song, which captures the sheer frustration of a lot of inner city youth. Here’s an experience I have exactly zero personal experience with, but Ice T paints a painfully detailed portrait:

“Goddamn what a brotha gotta do

to get a message through

to the red, white and blue?

What I gotta die

before you realize

I was a brotha with open eyes?

The world’s insane

while you drink champagne

and I’m livin’ in black rain

You try to ban the A.K,

I got ten of ‘em stashed

with a case of hand grenades.

Tell us what to do…Fuck you!”

There’s that swearing again. If as a listener you weren’t focused in enough on the frustration of the previous lines, now you are.

Body Count is perfectly happy to insult you to get your attention – offend your sensibilities even. How this record became a lightning rod of anger over one single song (“Cop Killer”) still seems absurd to me. Let’s not forget that other songs muse about defiling Tipper Gore’s twelve year old nieces (“KKK Bitch”), or murdering your mother, chopping her into pieces, and driving her around the United States in plastic baggies (“Momma’s Gotta Die Tonight”). Like Bob Dylan, Alice Cooper, and Johnny Rotten before them, Body Count are trying to be offensive so you’ll pay attention. Frankly, this album has my attention purely through its amazing musicality, but that doesn’t mean I want to blunt other aspects of what makes it so viscerally powerful.

I was disappointed when Ice T removed the one song that offended everyone the most, but I fully understand his frustration. The controversy was threatening to overshadow his accomplishment of having conquered not only the rap world, but the metal world as well. I’ve got the full version, and I’m glad of it.

The album has 18 tracks, which should be too many, but six of those are little snippets of conversation or skits. None of these are more than 45 seconds long and those are all good anyway.

The remaining twelve songs are each a masterpiece in their own way. Sometimes they have something important to say, and sometimes they are just tales spun from a dark imagination for our horror and amusement. “Body Count” is a bold and brash project that has left its gooey telltale traces all over the history of rock and roll.

Best tracks: I like all of them, but in particular Body Count, KKK Bitch, The Winner Loses, There Goes the Neighbourhood, and Evil Dick.

CD Odyssey Disc 639: Ice T

Some weekends you need to just cocoon in your house, see no one, read a good book and relax. I love these weekends, but that isn’t what’s happening this weekend. Right now I’m in the middle of a crazy busy weekend full of social engagements – back from one and on to another shortly. I love these weekends as well.

Disc 639 is….Power

Artist: Ice T

Year of Release: 1988

What’s up with the Cover? This looks like three Halloween costumes. Ice T is dressed as an orderly, his pal on the right is dressed as doctor and the woman on the left is dressed as….  Hmm, let’s just say I think her costume is just fine, and I wouldn’t change a thing: not the white one-piece, not the thin gold ankle chain and definitely not the pink pumps. Even the shotgun works.

How I Came To Know It: Maybe ten or fifteen years ago my friend Chris put on an Ice T album when I was over at his place (I think it was “Iceberg/Freedom of Speech”). I loved it, but it took me years to decide to buy some of my own, and once I was hooked “Power” was just me digging through his early albums.

How It Stacks Up:  I have three Ice T albums. Of the three “Power” is the second best.

Rating:  4 stars

A lot of my favourite rap artists are smooth, jazz-influenced East Coast acts like Eric B. and Rakim and GangStarr. These guys flow from one rhyme to another like water. By contrast, Ice T spits rhymes like a heavy machine gun emptying a belt of ammo into the microphone.

“Power” is a classic example of Ice T’s style. It is early rap (1988) and the stripped down production lets the combination of Ice’s rhymes, the carefully chosen samples and the scratching and beats all stand strong in the mix without anything ever feeling busy.

DJ Evil E is one of the best in the business, and as I noted earlier, the production decisions (made by Afrika Islam) are beautiful in their simplicity, but the star here is Ice T. Opinionated, insightful and not afraid to make his point. In “Power” and “High Rollers” he calls America on its obsession with wealth, while making it very clear he has already played their game and won. He is clear about what he thinks rap should be about and not afraid to say what he likes (Eric B. and Rakim) or doesn’t (LL Cool J).

“Power” is a sparse album, and its power comes principally from Ice T’s delivery. His rhymes tend to land hard on the end of each measure in a way that always makes me think of West Coast style, even though Ice himself is really a mix of East and West Coast styles.

Ice is masterful in the elastic way he slows and speeds up his cadence, while all the while staying on the beat perfectly. Even when the pace is at its most furious (which can get pretty furious) Ice never loses his control, and every word is spoken with perfect diction.

Ice T was a pioneer of what later became gangsta rap, and in addition to my long-time favourites – the “I rap better than you” themes – he also covers crime on “Drama” and “High Rollers” and drugs on “I’m Your Pusher.”

Despite the fact that his raps clearly point out the down side of crime (being arrested, being shot by rival gangs etc.) and drugs (Ice raps about how music is a better drug than crack on “I’m Your Pusher”) he still came under fire from censors (an awful gang in any decade).

His response – “Radio Suckers” – is a brilliant indictment of radio stations afraid to play his songs because he was too hardcore:

“Clear as a gun scope, I speak the pure dope

Can the radio handle the truth? Nope!

Uncut, no edits, no censors.

You can get a plastic rapper from any ol’ dispenser.

A penny a yard, to make a record ain’t hard,

But to make it mean something, that’s a job!

But then we do it, they refuse it

So I tell them duck suckers to cold go screw it

We shouldn’t sell out, we should just yell out

And get them wack motherfuckers the hell out!”

We’ve come a long way on the censorship front, and artists like Ice T taking a stand twenty-five years ago are a big reason why, so thanks, Ice.

Despite this album being a quarter century old now, it is still current. Sure there are references to buying LPs and cassette tapes, and getting messages on your beeper, the raps remain fresh because their basic truths are still as up-to-date as they ever were.

Like a lot of rap albums, “Power” has an intro and an outro, which is basically a radio skit. I don’t love these on any album, because they mostly get in the way of hearing the music. That said, “Power’s” intro/outro is pretty funny. The intro features someone getting shot when showing the new Ice T tape to a buddy, who then gets so excited to listen to it that he forgets to call an ambulance. The outro is the guy realizing he’s played the whole tape and his buddy is still bleeding out. He commits to calling the ambulance…right after a second listen. Pretty funny on the first few listens, although I don’t love hearing it over and over again.

The raps on “I’m Your Pusher” are excellent, but the re-imagined use of Curtis Mayfield’s “The Pusher” is a bit too large a sample, and causes the song to lose a bit of individuality. I’d prefer to just listen to the Mayfield original at that point.

Like the Beastie Boys, Ice T brings in hard rock samples to good effect – a trend that would later lead him to even stronger metal/rap crossovers on later albums like “O.G. (Original Gangster)” and his metal band “Body Count.” As a guy who grew up loving metal and hating rap, this is a nice reminder that there is no reason to not enjoy both kinds of music – and even at the same time, when done right.

“Power” is a great rap album that helps advance the genre, while staying true to its core principles. If you only know Ice T as an actor these days do yourself a favour and check out an album that shows off his true calling.

Best tracks:   Power, Drama, The Syndicate, Radio Suckers, High Rollers, Personal, Girls L.G.B.N.A.F