Ice-T, 1994
los angeles, ca photo by j lash There’s been a lot of debate as to who was in fact the first “gangsta rapper.” Some say KRSOne and others say Schooly D, but most say Ice-T. Even though Ice himself credits Schooly as the originator, it’s Ice’s face that would become the encyclopedia entry for “gangsta.” However, while most “gangsta rappers” glorified the lifestyle, Ice always kept a political edge to his music and offered a realistic ending on his songs: death or jail. Ice-T is now an O.G. in the game, having fought battles dealing with censorship and made the transition to movies and television. The generation that didn’t grow up on his music only sees him as an actor on Law & Order who is married to a pin-up model wife. In actuality, Ice-T is as Hip Hop as they come, with history as both a breakdancer and one of rap’s most influential voices.
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