The Ice Opinion: Ice T

by Ice-T, Heidi Sigmund

In an attempt to inspire outspoken conversation, Ice-T, famed for his notorious and highly controversial song Cop Killer—and subsequently for his many appearances on TV defending free speech, his record company, and ultimately himself—has created a book that's sure to attract the rapt attention of media and fans everywhere. Photos.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Hip Hop, Biography, Memoir, Art

200 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1994

About the author

Tracy Marrow, 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 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.

He co-founded the rap 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", 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 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 Odafin Tutuola on the NBC police drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book because I’m a fan of Ice-T’s music and whenever I’ve seen him being interviewed he seems erudite and a clear thinker. I agree with his views on the importance of education and I’ve seen him live as Ice-T and Body Count. This book is written how he speaks and is opinion, not fact, hence the title. You might read some analyses of society you don’t agree with but if you have strong views they should be strong enough to be challenged and to still persist or they weren’t worth having in the first place. I read about a country I’ve never been to and people I’ve never lived with. I often read a book and wish I’d have read it earlier. I’d have liked to read this while I was doing A level Sociology. Anyone studying Sociology might want to look at the views on crime in this book.
I love the useful Pimptionary in the back, it’s a glossary of terms you might not be familiar with. You might think this would be a negative book and it has straight up honest discussions of poverty and violence, but it also has a solution to these ills – education and group action. I’d love an update to this book, because it's twenty years since it was written. Does Ice-T think anything has been achieved? I hope so.

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page 62-63

My buddy, Sean E Sean, aka Little Sean, was busted selling weed in high school. Everybody knows somebody who sold weed in high school, but how many of them got a year in prison?

He came out after a year, and in no time, he was stopped by the police on his way back to South Central. He had a gun in his truck. Why did he have a gun? Because he lives in South Central Los Angeles, and he had a gun for protection. He wasn't jacking anybody. He went back in for a year because he was caught with a gun while he was on parole.

The biggest crime he comitted was selling weed, but now he's done two years. When gets back out, his truck is parked on the side of his girl's house. The cops are raiding a crack house next door. He walks outside, and he sees cops rifling through his truck, and he says, "What the fuck are y'all doing? What are you doing in my truck?" They decide to search his girlfriend's house, and they find her pistol, registered to her. He's still on parole. He didn't even know she had a gun, but he isn't supposed to be in this house with a gun while on parole. He's thrown in prison for another year.

[Joy]

Chris Rock raved about this book on the DVD commentary of Good Hair. He said he lifted a lot of his stand-up material from Ice-T. Who knew?

[Phil Overeem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice on the page. As good as Ice off the grooves.

[Andy Carrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghetto Bible.

[Иван Величков · Rating 4 out of 5]

Айс Ти е сладкодумен и главите на книгата му се леят подобно на рапирането му. Книгата е разделена на глави, в които авторът изразява мнението си по редица социални въпроси, като включва и правилното количество лична информация за своите фенове. Книгата е диктувана в средата на деветдесетте и засяга доста наболели въпроси за кварталите с малцинства в САЩ. И то години преди да стане модерно. Айс излага собствената си гледна точка, без претенции. Личи си, че още е сравнително млад и надъхан, личи си и, че не търси сензации. Това са времената, когато двамата с Тупак се възползваха от известността си в музикалната индустрия и бяха буквално на всякъде, предимно заедно. Помня как ги канеха като някакви екзотични животни по разни токшоута, а те говореха за проблеми и социална справедливост. Е, в тази книга са изложени проблемите, но Айс ги нарича ежедневие. Казва и какво прави той по въпроса – каквото може. Определено книгата е приятна за слушане, сякаш водите откровен разговор, въпреки, че са монолози. Интересно ще ми е да чуя и другата му книга по-въпроса, записвана десетилетия по-късно.

[Jonas Paro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Den store renässansmannen Ice-T delar med sig av sina tankar om brott, straff, polisväsendet, rasism, religion, yttrandefrihet, Axl Rose och det mesta annat man kan tänka sig i denna intressanta och bitvis rätt så vettiga bok från 1994.

[Steven H · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE RAPPER AND PRODUCER SETS FORTH HIS VIEWS ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS

Ice T wrote in the Preface of this 1994 book, “I’ve managed to sum up my experiences as a rap artist in one word: interpretation. No two people process information the same way. They interpret information by funneling it through the agendas in their own heads. [This book] lets you in on the agenda in my own head, in words that should be easily understood even by the average high school dropout. I didn’t write this book to make you like me, though I hope you do. I wrote [this book] in an attempt to inspire conversation…. I subtitled the book ‘Who Gives a F—k?’ to keep people from taking anything I say as the word of God, or, depending on your interpretation, the word of the Antichrist… This is not a biography… this book represents one-stop shopping for anybody who wants to document what’s on my mind. My opinions have changed during the ten years I’ve been in the public eye, and this will give me a chance to update and clarify where I’m coming from and where I’ve been.”

He observes, “The funny thing about the ghetto is when you’re living there, you don’t even know you’re there. You don’t have anything to compare it to. Everything you see on TV, you think it’s not real.” (Pg. 11)

He explains, “I’ve had so many people from the ‘hood step to me and say, ‘Yo, when I see you do a movie, it makes me think I can do that. When I see you write a book, it means I could be writing a book.’ That’s why I’m reaching out in so many different directions. I didn’t want to be somebody who could only do one thing…. That’s why I own my own label now, to show these kids you can do it all. That’s the type of role model they need.” (Pg. 15)

He argues, “Whenever the U.S. goes to war, there is a reason for it and there is money for it. But in reality, I can see more sense sometimes in this war out here in these streets than in some of the wars people are shipped overseas to from America. They are usually fighting something they don’t even understand. They are fighting for a belief system that is American, when these kids are out fighting for somebody who hurt their family.” (Pg. 43)

He acknowledges, “If you think of what L.A. is and you think what a rapper it, a rapper is a click talker. Not only does he talk slick, he talks slick in rhyme. We get paid to talk slick. If I’m one of the biggest slick talkers in L.A., and L.A. is the fastest city in the United States, and the United States is the fastest country in the world, you’re probably hanging out with one of the fastest, slickest-talking m____s on earth. So the average girl is really in trouble. Be afraid.” (Pg. 85)

He recalls, “We made the album ‘Rhyme Pays,’ and then Warner Brothers came to me at the label and said they wanted to put a sticker on the record. I asked why. They explained it was to inform the public some material on the album might offend listeners. I said, ‘Fine, that’s cool.’ Then they explained … the organization behind the stickering was called the Parents’ Music Resource Center---the PMRC… Little did I know it was founded and headed by this crazed b__h named Tipper Gore, who has made it her job to put down nearly every artist in the music industry for saying what’s on their minds… Tipper Gore is the only woman I ever directly called a b___h on any of my records, and I meant that in the most negative sense of the word.” (Pg. 98)

He notes, “Rap is very funny music, but if you don’t understand the humor, it will scare the s__t out of you. Taken literally, the music is so over the top it offends your sensibilities. But within my community, rap is verbal combat. We get around a lot of fights and aggression simply by talking. The misinterpretation of rap comes from people who have no insight into the ghetto mentality and attitude.” (Pg. 103)

He reveals, “When I first moved from New Jersey to Los Angeles, I was sent to live with a religious aunt of mine. She was a Sunday School teacher, and each week she would take me to ‘Christ Church.’ I was twelve years old, and I was already suspicious. It seemed to me that none of the Christian religions practiced in America were really made to include the black community… I became even more suspicious of the church when I was out on the streets. People were living in such poverty, and all the praying in the world didn’t seem to be helping their situation… When I was doing wrong, I thought of it as a jinx to pray… A car accident twelve years ago really changed my outlook on spirituality… They told me I’d never walk again, so I went into myself and pulled myself together the only way I knew how. Alone. I didn’t want to rely on prayer… I refused to pray. I just went right into myself. I learned that no religion is more powerful than your own spirit or determination. This became the main philosophy of the One Percent Nation, my current belief system… The main premise id that one percent of the world doesn’t wait to seek out heaven in the afterlife; we strive for it now… We believe that heaven and hell are emotional states, not real places you’re sent to when you die.” (Pg. 112-114)

He states, “Today, black Americans are tired of the Jesus Christ image that is perpetuated. Everyone should know that Christ’s famous portrait is a picture of Michelangelo’s brother. If you read the Bible, the scriptures say the man had woolly hair. Even the region he came from offers overwhelming evidence that he was black.” (Pg. 125)

He asserts, “I have information for you: You don’t get to be the head of the CIA by being a … nice guy. Read anything you want on the CIA---covert action, assassination, overthrowing governments---and see what I’m talking about. (I also recommend ‘The Conspirator’s Hierarchy: The Committed of 300.’)… For all we know, Bush is dead and there’s been a guy with a ‘Mission: Impossible’ mask walking around posing as him for the last four years. That’s what the CIA is about.” (Pg. 159)

Of his record, ‘Cop Killer,’ he explains, “What’s ‘Cop Killer’ about? A black youth takes justice into his own hands after his buddies are unjustly murdered by corrupt cops. Just like Eastwood, I’m saying, ‘F—k the police, for my dead homies,’ but my story is real. I know firsthand how bad the street it. America is simply not ready to hear it from me.” (Pg. 172-173) He continues, “Ironically, 35,000 black police officers said they would not join in with any boycott of Ice T or Time Warner because they knew I was saying the truth. Since July, hundreds of cops have come up to me saying, ‘Ice, I know what that record is about, I’m not dumb.’ I’ve signed more autographs this year for cops than I have in my life. I’ve had cops come up to me and say, ‘Ice, I feel like killing some of these guys I work with.’ Others said, ‘We ain’t all bad.’ That meant a lot to me. Even the thought that they would think I’m worthy of being spoken to was cool. It was like that care that I care. I understand a lot of cops out there are trying to do the right thing. And in a way, those cops are on the same mission I am. So it’s not like they shouldn’t care. I respect that. But the other ones, f__k ‘em.” (Pg. 175-176)

He concludes, “It’s up to you to change the system more than me. You decide what problems you want to address, and make them your mission. Everybody should have a mission that’s fueled by the experience in their own hearts… Remember: It you’re fearless, you are dangerous to the system. Once you’re no longer afraid of death, you immediately become dangerous. You’re playing by a different set of rules… The to life is to live it fearlessly. The people who make the biggest money, and the people who are most fly, are the people who take extreme risks.” (Pg. 195-196)

This book will be “must reading” for anyone interested in Ice T’s thoughts (as of 1994, at least).

[Cwn_annwn_13 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grabbed this from the library with some sort of late 80s nostalgia in mind. Like a lot of books written by blacks I felt like this was written for white people to read. For one most black people don't read books and for another it just seems like he's trying to explain himself to white people throughout most of this book. I would say 90% of this is completely retarded, his chapter on racism is particuarly stupid, and maybe 10% of it manages to be somewhat intelligent and interesting.

Ice T is possibly the worst actor I have ever seen in my life, ironicly playing a cop in everything I have seen him in, but his early albums were innovative for their time and genre. They were also a tool used by the system for social engineering. I can see a lot of the rap that seemed cool at the time for what it is now. I mean just think of all the garbage that these early gangsta rappers spawned. Ice T is supposed to be some big rebel but yet he was on Time-Warner records which is the most mainstream corporate record label on the planet, he was one of the rappers that were popular with hip white people in the late 80s. He later came out with his heavy metal band Body Count, which I guarantee you that it wasn't black people that were buying their album. The cover of his Home Invasion album even had a white kid sitting in his bedroom listening to a Public Enemy album, books about Malcolm X at his feet and even wearing an Africa pendant around his neck. So it was pretty blatant and in your face really. They were obviously trying to dumb down white kids using rap music but whereas a lot of the hip hop in the late 80s/early 90s was political and anti-system you now have a global nation of monkey see, monkey do wiggers who are aping rappers who worship the system and materialism. But above all they are mindwashed into believing its not "cool" to be white.

[Vee · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this book up because I'm thinking about reading his new book, Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption-from South Central to Hollywood. The younger version of Ice-T, knee deep in the national controversy surrounding Body Count's Cop Killer appears to be more interesting than the older, richer Ice-T. This book simply hits and miss for me. Some of his views and opinions are interesting and others simply sounds like jive, bs rhetoric. Some people get paid to talk greasy. Like Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck and to an extent Howard Stern Ice-T gets paid to talk crap. His interviews are usually engaging and very honest but it just doesn't translate well to the written word.

After reading this book, something tells me that I can skip his new memoir. I may still read it because I know their will be some fun exciting tidbits and anecdotes but it won't be a priority

[Lex · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could say I enjoyed this book - I'm an avid fan of Law and Order SVU and hoped that this autobiography would be a great in depth look into Ice-T's life. Basically this is a book that by the time I read it is stale dated and is just someone spouting off their opinions on things. Although I did learn some things about Ice-T, they weren't that interesting to me.

I couldn't wait to finish the book and was thrilled when I finally got through it.

I would hope at this point in his life he would re-release something and talk about HIM. From what I can tell now by having him on twitter, he's an intelligent man and I would like to hear more about what made him that way instead of his analysis of gang violence in general.

[Edward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book at Costco my freshman year of high school and thought it was awesome. I'm not sure how this would stand up to another reading. The urban glossary is probably quite dated by now.

[Michelle (MichellesBookishLife) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love Ice T and SVU. A must read for Ice fans.

[JoAlice · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pretty good read. I liked it.

[Mike Kodrich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ice shares his views of the world at that time of his life. Interesting and enlightening. I wonder how many if any of his views have changed over the decades?

[Geoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book kicking around forever, I don’t even remember where I got it but now that I am getting rid of my old books and going mostly digital I figured I should read this one before donating it. Definitely a good move. The word put out by Ice-T then (back in early 90s) is as relevant today as it was then.
The book mostly covers Ice T’s thoughts on a wide range of subjects from how different it is for poor people who live in places like Crenshaw and Compton as compared to those who live in the suburbs, noting the differences in the way people think and act and often the fear that not understanding these differences can cause. He looks at rap, religion, racism, riots and revolution, the controversy that Cop Killer caused and finally ends with a look to the future.

This book reveals Ice T to be a wise man. He has lived a life most never will and learned from his experiences. He reflects on examples of how the police seem to focus on keeping the poor that way by doing such simple things as issuing a jay walking ticket knowing the person likely will have to decide in some cases between paying that ticket or missing rent. They fail to pay the ticket and suddenly they are charged with a crime and in the system. Once that happens their life is pretty well over.

There are some interesting quotes he makes. One such is, “South Central is not a black community, it’s a poor community. You live there cos you’re broke, not because you’re black.”

Another is regarding the ability for black people to succeed in society. He says “…people have to want to get out and realize there are no real walls around them keeping them in.” Towards the end of the book he clarifies, “In order to advance, people have to get their eyes set to the future and stop thinking about the past. This goes for us brooding about where we came from as black people. We have to say to ourselves, ‘Okay, that’s where I came from, but right now I am a man and I’m here and I’m breathing. And I can make decisions in life. I can make these moves, and I can achieve so what if they make it twice as hard? I’m twice as strong, ain’t I? So it’s even. And I can excel.’” This was said 25 years ago, I would be curious if he feels the same way especially given Trump’s election and the events of the last year.

His take on religion, basic non-caring for the structure of the religions beyond the messages of their prophets or messiah’s. That said he seems to have different levels of respect for them. He just doesn’t respect hierarchy within them as well as some of there limiting social constructs. His own religion, one percenters, is based on complete openness and respect toward others (my summary). I agree with that.

In the end I could go on for a quite a while about this book. It was published in 1994 so it is over 25 years old now but the wisdom still holds. I have been a fan of Ice-T for many years and this just solidifies it more. Currently the book appears to no longer be in publication or in e-format. Hopefully that might change. It’s definitely a five-star read.

[Angel Bravo · Rating 4 out of 5]

El rapero Ice-T explica de manera bastante elocuente los tópicos sobre los que suele componer canciones. La visión que ofrece sobre temas complejos como la violencia de las pandillas, el racismo, el lenguaje procaz del rap, la censura y la religión son particularmente esclarecedoras. Muy recomendable.

[Phil Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

He didn't say anything that your average black Joe on the street could say better--much, much better, and with a lot more nuance. Ice reveals himself to be a good negro underneath his fake rap-pimp exterior; he sounds like he's too concerned about what his white liberal or fake "left" fanbase might think.

[Stringingpearls · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book as I was searching for relevance in written form from an African American Man concerning a street level reality,of how complicated it is to grow up in the racial America we were living in. I cried and do as I reread it’s pages. I find not much has emerged in earnest efforts to lift the kids caught in its grip.

[Pete Judge · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short book in which Ice T gives out his philosophies on varied issues - it is done in an interesting way. He comes across as a good bloke. The chapter on ‘The Controversy’ (Cop Killer) was most revelatory

[Hugh Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best. Book. Ever.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book back in the day and it had a major impact on me.

[Hobie]

Law and Order! Gangsta cop...?woop!?!!!