Ice-T is an innovator, who blurred the lines between rock and rap in a way that nobody had ever done before him, but there’s only one album that he wants to be remembered for.
Before he became ‘The Body Killer’, Tracy Marrow enlisted into the Army after the birth of his daughter. During his spell serving his country, Marrow became interested in hip-hop for the first time after hearing ‘Rapper’s Delight’ by The Sugarhill Gang, which made him want to become a rapper, but it took years before he’d make it.
While stationed in Hawaii, Marrow was introduced to the artform of turntabling, but it was never a serious career proposition at this point. After being discharged from the Army, he initially turned to crime before turning his life around and using hip-hop as the tool to get him out of his situation.
His debut single was released in 1983, and over the years, T’s releases went from strength to strength following his debut record, Rhyme Pays, in 1987. According to the rapper, the opus of his career came in 1991 when he released his fourth record, O.G. Original Gangster, which Ice-T said is the one album he wants to be remembered for.
It’s an all-action record filled with angst and fury rather than light-hearted, humorous skits. Furthermore, he inserted the phrase O.G. into the lexicon of the public, and there’s no denying that Ice is the true original gangster.
Speaking to Louder Sound, he explained why he wants this album to be the one people remember him by and said: “Probably Original Gangster. We brought that word O.G. into the vernacular and now everyone knows what it means. Now all of a sudden everything’s O.G. this and O.G. that… And it’s a real well-rounded and balanced album. It’s got a lot of different sides of Ice-T on it.”
The album is one of the second highest-charting of his career in the United States, and it helped alert a wider audience to the work of Ice-T, which helped make him one of rap’s most dynamic figures. He’s always done everything completely on his robust terms, and for that reason, nobody can deny the power of the original gangster.