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From the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

O.G. Original Gangster

Ice T

1991

O.G. Original Gangster
Album Summary

O.G. Original Gangster is the fourth studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released May 14, 1991 by Sire Records. Recording took place from July 1990 to January 1991 in Los Angeles, California. Its production was handled by seven producers: Afrika Islam, Beatmaster V, Bilal Bashir, DJ Aladdin, Nat The Cat, SLJ and Ice-T himself, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Body Count, Prince Whipper Whip and various Rhyme Syndicate artists, such as Donald D, Evil E and Randy Mac. The album peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and number 9 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. On July 24, 1991, it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America, indicating U.S. sales of more than 500,000 units. O.G. Original Gangster was ranked at #25 in Melody Maker's list of the top 30 albums of 1991, and was featured in The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums and the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. The album was praised by many as his best.

Wikipedia

Rating

2.98

Votes

11224

Genres

  • Hip Hop

Reviews

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Thu Feb 24 2022
5

Upon initial contact with Ice-T's music, I had envisioned him to be an ill-mannered and psychologically unstable man with an extremely uneducated and barbaric frame of mind, whose raps displayed nothing but ridiculous jargon, shocking sexual audacity and repulsive images of the ghetto. However, after further analysis of his music I can deduce that he is the epitome of antidisestablishmentarianism who embodies the entire spectrum of the urban experience and struggle. But to make things more plain and simple to the layman, I find Ice-T to be the dopest, flyist, O.G. pimp hustler gangster player hardcore motherfucker living today. To be honest I'm totally and irrevocably on his dick

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Thu Mar 18 2021
4

Below is a list of the musical Ices in order of preference: 1. Ice Cube 2. Ice T 3. Vanilla Ice

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Mon Apr 11 2022
5

Bangers and the guy is really funny as well. I'm not a big fan of skits in albums, but "First Impression" made me exhale through my nose. Very long. "Body Count" is a straight up rock song, "The Tower" samples the Halloween theme song?! This album just goes everywhere at once.. in a good way. I always thought that ICE-T was garbage, probably because Vanilla Ice soiled every ice-based rapper for me by association. The best rap album I've had so far - 5/5.

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Sat Aug 07 2021
2

Stop recommending me rap albums. I don't like rap albums

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Thu Mar 24 2022
5

This album is hilarious -- the woman doing the critical analysis is great. I also like the music; I feel like my tastes in rap were formed in this era, so this stuff just sounds right to me. Body Count rules

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Sun Oct 17 2021
1

Two ICE T in a week. That's enough ICE T to make kombucha taste good.

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Wed May 01 2024
5

"We all we got" if you know that reference you know what I'm about to say. I bought this album back in the day, after watching New Jack City. Haven't listened to it in years (or seen the film, for that matter) but it was amazing back then and still stands up now.

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Thu Jan 26 2023
1

I was not excited to see O.G. Original Gangster come up in my recommendations. I have no interest in listening to someone else's anger, bragging, and chest-thumping. I'm sure "being tough" has probably worked out well for Ice T, but I don't need to hear about it. His acting carerr has given him a place to keep the tough-guy thing going. Ice T's rhymes are moderate, but even when he gets an interesting rhythm going the lyrics range between bleh and solidly landing in exactly what I don't want to listen to. The video for "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" is a concise example of why I don't like Ice-T: trying to impress by talking about money and cars, the surrounding people trying to create an atmosphere to impress, and a gold chain with gold gun on his neck. Both Ice T and I can admit that this record was not written for me. I was happy when this record was over.

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Thu Aug 04 2022
1

This is why I have an aversion to hop hop and rap music

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Thu Jan 07 2021
5

Ah this is one of my favourite rap albums ever, maybe my actual fav. imo it's Ice's best outside the BC stuff. 5/5.

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Wed Feb 09 2022
5

A great album. The songs are memorable and Ice T nails it. I really enjoyed it. This is a rap album so it does not have Ice T's must controversial song Cop Killer because that is by his heavy metal group. I am not sure if there will be more Ice T on the list. I hope so.

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Sat Mar 06 2021
4

Liekkö Law & Order pehmittänyt minun sydämen, mutta pidin tästä levystä. Ei edelleenkään minun musaa, mutta tykkään Ice-T:n tavasta räpätä. Sen verran rauhallisesti sylkee riimejä, että ainakin minulle toimii paremmin kuin nopeampi englanninkielinen räpäytys. Ja ehdottomasti Body Count tallentui soittolistalle.

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Thu Apr 27 2023
4

Wow, was surprised that this showed up in the list and all I can think about is the blending of the OG Ice-T and his band Body Count had a lot to do with its placement here. Sure, there's a long history of rap artists collaborating with mainstream music to broaden their appeal -- Run DMC and Aerosmith (Walk This Way), Public Enemy and Anthrax (Bring Tha Noise, though I'm not sure Anthrax was ever considered mainstream), or The Fat Boys collaborating with The Beach Boys (Wipeout) all fall into this category. The difference here is that Ice-T was fronting Body Count. Body Count, for a minute, even eclipsed Ice-T's career as a rapper especially when the track Cop Killer was removed from future pressings of the self-titled release. Beyond that, It doesn't hurt that the hottest track on this album was the theme song from the much-hyped Mario Van Peebles film New Jack City. New Jack Hustler is the go-to track on the album and IMHO overshadows the real star of the album, Fly By. Nat the Cat drops some tongue-twisted lines in rapid succession that should not go unnoticed. Also worth mentioning is that somehow, the fact that Ice-T is / was a rapper has eluded contemporary culture as he's now known more for his SVU work (and also this great bit by John Mulaney) than as a rapper and musician ... https://youtu.be/F1sd4CRcaE0?t=75

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Thu Apr 22 2021
3

Decent album. Music and lyrics were interesting, better than I was expecting. Clever wording and a mix of serious and funny. Sound got old quick though and album got boring. Could have been 1/2 an hour shorter.

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Thu Mar 18 2021
3

Unfortunately, I tested positive for Covid 19 today, so I wasn't really concentrating on this. I remember it being a dope ass motherfucker of an album when I first heard it though.

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Mon Jul 19 2021
3

Bien que mes parents aient été deux gangsters influents de la côte ouest des Etats-Unis, je n'ai à aucun moment retrouvé les sons ni les odeurs de mon enfance lors de l'écoute de ce projet.

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Mon Oct 23 2023
3

Nr. 15/1001 Home of the Bodybag 1/5 First Impression NR Ziplock 3/5 Mic Contract 3/5 Mind over Matter 4/5 New Jack Hustler 3/5 Ed 2/5 Bitches 2 3/5 Straight up N* 3/5 O.G. Original Gangster 4/5 The House 3/5 Evil E - What About Sex? NR Fly By 2/5 Midnight 2/5 Fried Chicken NR M.V.P.s 2/5 Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous 3/5 Body Count 2/5 Prepared to Die NR Escape from the Killing Fields 3/5 Street Killer NR Pulse of the Rhyme 2/5 The Tower 2/5 Ya Shoulda Killed Me Last Year NR Average: 2,61 Couldn't really get behind this album. Also don't understand why he included one random rock song.

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Sun Jan 15 2023
2

Je propose que l'on oublie collectivement l'existence du gangsta rap, qui m'aime me suive

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Wed Jul 14 2021
1

Not good. Horribly outdated. Rhyme scheme and instrumentals and beats are too old to be enjoyable. Very repetitive and uninspiring.

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Thu Jan 27 2022
1

“Better as manifesto than as music.”

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Mon Jul 18 2022
1

This one is not for me. Just a really dated style of rap that I do not wish to listen to

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Mon Apr 03 2023
1

one sentence review: (Liked "first Impression" for the humour, but I can agree with the words, if you listen to it...) at first enjoyed & felt all cool and tough like gansta, but soon it reminded me why I just dont listen to Rap - gives me a headache, glorifies shitty lifestyle/actions/gang war, machine gun violence, childish, mindless, full of violent disturbing boasts and attitudes, the horrible underbelly of the american psyche of the disempoered and alientated. they want ot destroy the system taht destroys and marginaises them. sounds cool for a sountrack.... but grates really quickly... hardly uplifitngif you listen tot the words.

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Sun Jan 28 2024
1

Thought I might enjoy this at the start, but it got more and more boring. Album length way too long, far too many tracks. Nothing particularly interesting, apart from the random Body Count song, which isn't much better and seems completely out of place. Best part was the Black Sabbath sample, and the amusing intro thing for track 2.

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Sun Feb 18 2024
1

Once again, rap, to me, is just missing the "C" at the beginning of the word. But then, it wasn't intended for Boomers, was it?

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Sat May 04 2024
1

Pretty painful to sit through - there's not too much going on musically so I'm forced to listen to the lyrics, and then I just despair for society.

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Mon Jun 03 2024
1

Most rap's not my thing (there are some notable exceptions - Snoop, Run DMC, Fat Boys, Beastie Boys, et al.). I was on the fence b/w 1 and 2 the whole time - was this just crap or was there something redeeming about it musically? I had literally JUST decided it made it across the threshold to a 2 as the last song ended. And then the bullshit rant at the end to close the album. What a fucking loser. Fuck Ice T. And Fuck his homies who have been locked up for good reason the whole time he's been alive. Keep your politics out of your music - you and every other idiot musician who thinks just because you have a microphone means you have a platform. Stay in your lane.

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Fri May 14 2021
5

Ice T is the g.o.a.t always will be.

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Sun May 23 2021
5

wow blown away by the variety and simultaneous depth of this album

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Mon Jul 26 2021
5

I haven't listened to OG since around when it came out so it was really surprising just how brilliant it is. I was blown away by the lyricism and the consuming beats. Really dang good work.

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Fri Feb 11 2022
5

Muy bien . I love me some Ice T.

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Wed Feb 23 2022
5

Wow.. the flow of the album was amazing. Way better than I expected

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Fri May 20 2022
5

I was really surprised by how much I liked this album it was a bit long but overall really witty and selfaware

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Fri May 20 2022
5

Ice T knows what’s up in every way

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Thu Jun 09 2022
5

Oof this is almost a skip album (the sex song was my least favorite). So many tracks are timeless. This is hard, musically adventurous, artistic… and that last track—incredible end. His voice and lyrics and attitude and intellect are five stars. Iconic album.

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Thu Jul 14 2022
5

BOOM! I put off listening to this until my kids were out of earshot which was a sensible move. But moving beyond the explicit lyrics, this album is absolutely banging! The beats are raw and gripping and Ice-T's raps are on point. I can overlook my unease as a non-black person listening to an album laden with references to a certain word beginning with n, have a 5/5

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Fri Jul 15 2022
5

Compelling. Though the content is clearly violent and dark, it doesn't take a naive or dumb approach even when it is being boastful. It is intelligently written and covers so much ground; does an amazing job of portraying a time and place.

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Thu Aug 11 2022
5

Pretty good, there’s a lot to like here favorite song was probably Midnight, it had a pretty nice, industrial beat even when parts of the album got corny, I was still able to appreciate it it’s a 9/10 for me

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Wed Oct 12 2022
5

Ice T is a GOAT. His rapping is so hard-core, raw, and badass, and his metal shit is also top notch.

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Thu Feb 02 2023
5

Powerful record. Excellent from the start.

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Sat Feb 25 2023
5

Love the metal cross over - enjoy the sarcasm/humor/honesty/angst

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Thu Mar 02 2023
5

Social commentary at its best

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Thu Mar 30 2023
5

Et av de beste hip hop albumene jeg har hørt!

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Thu Mar 30 2023
5

Hustler, word, I pull the trigger long, Grit my teeth, spray till every nigga's gone. Got my block sewn, armored dope spots, Last thing I sweat's a sucka punk cop. Move like a king when I roll, hops, You try to flex, bang, another nigga drops. You gotta deal with this cause there's no way out, Why? Cash money ain't never gonna play out. I got nothin to lose, much to gain, In my brain, I got a capitalist migraine. I gotta get paid tonight, you muthafuckin right. [something] my grip, check my bitch, keep my game tight. So many hos on my jock, think I'm a movie star. Nineteen, I got a fifty thousand dollar car. Go to school, I ain't goin for it, Kiss my ass, bust the cap on the Moet. Cause I don't want to hear that crap, Why? I'd rather be a New Jack-----Hustler Brilliant. 5/5

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Fri Jun 02 2023
5

Was expecting to not like this, thinking it would be the start of gangster rap which kinda ruined the genre for 30 years, but this is actually cool as fuck. Mic Contract is essentially big beat a few years early. Without sounding dated like that whole scene does. As is New Jack Hustler. Well, as are loads of these. The jazz and soul samples and general groove going on here really work for me. Being a pasty white dude means I can't drive around blasting Straight Up N out the window without broadcasting what a bell end I am, but it's a great track. And obviously making me uncomfortable and fuck you I don't care, is the whole point. Then there's a radical change of direction Midnight is epic, whatever the lyrical content of the previous tracks, the music was party time, that party is definitively over now. Mixing Black Sabbath with Led Zep drums and a deeply disturbing story. Absolutely bangs. And then the party starts again. Ok that was weird. Kicking back off with a namecheck song. So look, everything is great. Escape from the Killing Fields in particular. Message. And we round off with a beat built around a Halloween John Carpenter sample, and Ice T telling us all personally how fucked off he is about everything. What's incredible here is an album 72 minutes long, and I didn't lose interest or get tired of it at any point. What a great record.

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Thu Jul 06 2023
5

Part of the golden age of hip-hop, perhaps one of the last masterpieces before the lull. Harsh, loud, violent and angry, justifiably in all cases. Absolute genius, with some metal guitar thrown in for good measure.

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Thu Aug 03 2023
5

The first Ice-T album I purchased and still a classic.

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Fri Sep 15 2023
5

Upon initial contact with Ice-T's music, I had envisioned him to be an ill-mannered and psychologically unstable man with an extremely uneducated and barbaric frame of mind, whose raps displayed nothing but ridiculous jargon, shocking sexual audacity, and repulsive images of the ghetto. However, after further analysis of his music I can deduce that he is the epitome of antidisestablishmentarianism who embodies the entire spectrum of the urban experience and struggle. But to make things more plain and simple to the layman, I find Ice-T to be the dopest, flyest, O.G., pimp, hustler, gangster, player, hardcore motherfucker living today. To be honest, I'm totally and completely on his dick.

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Tue Oct 17 2023
5

Love this. The flow's great, T is clearly top of his game. And he isn't a giant kangaroo yet.

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Wed Nov 01 2023
5

Ooooh, so deep. Such a valuable manifestation of its time - I honestly knew nothing about Ice T, but this is so direct, visceral and on some topics - ahead of his time. Absolutely agree with everything he has to say and to put the words to music... I feel you, Ice T, I feel you 😘

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Wed Dec 13 2023
5

Ice T goes hard. Track for track I like Power better, but Ice and Islam get tighter and realer, while somehow keeping an undercurrent of irony.

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Wed Dec 13 2023
5

Can't believe I'd never listened to this before.

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Thu Dec 14 2023
5

Man this is just so awesome. Many tracks feature stereotypical old-school gangsta rap (in the best way), then switching nonchalantly to tracks with surprisingly thoughtful social commentary, to a track that’s just shouting people out to even a punk song. The album’s considerably long runtime is kept entertaining by Ice-T, whose writing is consistently funny and well delivered while also, as previously mentioned, being capable of unexpected poignancy. Ice-T is the Original Gangster and Robert is too for including this here (even if it got phased out in later editions).

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Sun Dec 31 2023
5

I have no idea how to rate rap artists, but I enjoyed this.

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Mon Jan 22 2024
5

Fucking hell THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

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Sun Jan 28 2024
5

Really enjoyed this to be honest. Body Count gave me Beastie Boys vibes in a good way, just hope it didn’t ruin Rock & Roll for El Grande now he won’t be able to relate to it. Only criticism is Prepared to Die: “[Mandela] is a hero, he needs a Nobel Prize. But that will never happen, so I'm gonna keep rappin'” He won one 2 years later which makes Ice T an idiot and a liar who then kept rapping. Generally really good album though!

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Wed Feb 14 2024
5

"I heard on Kotaku it was better than Civ 5 with the Brave New World expansion pack" - Ice-T, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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Mon Feb 26 2024
5

This is a long album but wow, is it good. A lot of usual rap posturing, but also a lot of social and racial commentary. The album opened strong with Home of the Bodybag. New Jack Hustler is another standout, although I could do with all the repetition at the end of the track. Ed’s Dead was just a funny little song. I thought I would hate Bitches 2, but it was hysterical. Damn, Ice-T can tell a funny story! The title track is another phenomenal song. Fly By showed some amazing lyrical skills by Ice and the guest rappers. Body Count was a nice surprise; wasn’t expecting the hard rock song here. I knew Ice had a rock band but haven’t heard any of it. Loved it! The Tower and its sampling of the Halloween soundtrack was another pleasant surprise for me. The rest of the tracks were good, the above were the standouts for me. MVPs was my least favorite. Like a lot of rap albums, this one had skits. The skits were a mix of talking and short songs. I normally hate skits but these were pretty funny. This album is a clear 5.

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Thu Mar 07 2024
5

Ice T is the flyist, dopest, muthafucka and I am totally on his dick

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Wed Apr 03 2024
5

Unexpectedly good, skits actually match with the song, different genres and even social commentary beyond gangster

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Mon Apr 08 2024
5

Is this really the same Ice T from SVU? The one from Rick and Morty playing a literal Ice T? This goes pretty hard and I like Ice T's flow a lot, but the standout traits of this album to me are the beats and rhythms, along with the lyrics. It's often funny and clever, and has a steady identity throughout. My favorites here are O.G. Original Gangster, Straight Up N***a, Midnight, New Jack Hustler, and Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. An album that completely caught me off guard, and I love that.

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Fri May 24 2024
5

I can’t believe I’m giving this album 5 stars but I fucking loved it. It’s like Straight Outta Compton but good! “Throw me in jail, I won't even try to make bail Put me in the gas chamber and watch me inhale” is a HARD line. Also I thought there were only 2 good rap album skits “Deez Nutz” and “Ken Kaniff”. But then I heard “Evil E-What about Sex?” and knew I had to amend my list. Nothing funnier than gangsters BEGGING to hear about a sexcapade and big titties

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Wed Jun 05 2024
5

Classic rap album which I loved in my youth. Still a great listen!

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Fri Jun 21 2024
5

As is the case with most Ice T I've listened to, the passion is clear and visceral but majority of the production choices have aged in a way that takes a lot of sting out of how hard it hits. While Public Enemy's instrumentation still sounds over the top and ferocious and almost off-putting, California hip hop was largely based around loud and heavy-hitting kick and snare beats, which cause Ice T's music, despite having a similar ethos, to not have the same level of bite that other acts had. That being said, this then falls into the category of "try and experience what it would've felt like at the time", and Ice's passion and pure anger pulls through so hard that this incredibly easy to do. To contemporary hip hop of the day, this was heavy metal, nothing exemplifying this more than the song Body Count, which he later named his metal band after. So while the beats fall short in a modern context, the aggression and love radiate out from this album like a glow and you end your experience with that passion planted inside you. And I think in this regard I can't view this album as anything but a complete success.

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Mon Jun 24 2024
5

**Review of "O.G. Original Gangster" by Ice-T** Released in 1991, "O.G. Original Gangster" is the fourth studio album by Ice-T, a prominent figure in the evolution of hip-hop. This album is notable for its raw depiction of street life, incisive social commentary, and innovative musical production. Ice-T's work here has left a lasting imprint on the genre. Below, we'll delve into the album's lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, concluding with an analysis of its strengths and weaknesses. ### Lyrics Ice-T's lyrics in "O.G. Original Gangster" are sharp, unflinching, and reflective of the harsh realities of urban life. His storytelling prowess shines through tracks like "Midnight" and "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)," where he paints vivid pictures of the violence, struggle, and desperation endemic to the streets. Ice-T's delivery is assertive and confident, commanding attention and driving his messages home with force. The album's title track, "O.G. Original Gangster," is a manifesto of Ice-T's journey and credibility in the rap game, juxtaposing his past life as a gang member with his present status as a successful rapper. The song "Body Count," featuring Ice-T's metal band of the same name, is a cross-genre experiment that addresses police brutality, a theme that resonates deeply in today's social climate. While many tracks focus on the gritty side of street life, Ice-T also delves into introspection and social criticism. "Escape from the Killing Fields" highlights the struggles of escaping the cycle of violence and poverty. "The Tower" addresses the penal system's failures and the cyclical nature of incarceration for African Americans. The lyrics across the album are a blend of aggression, reflection, and a call to awareness, making it a comprehensive narrative of Ice-T's worldview. ### Music Musically, "O.G. Original Gangster" is a rich tapestry of sounds, incorporating elements of funk, rock, and heavy metal, alongside traditional hip-hop beats. The production, handled by Ice-T and DJ Aladdin, is both innovative and eclectic, merging hard-hitting drum patterns with funky basslines and piercing guitar riffs. Tracks like "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" and "O.G. Original Gangster" exemplify the album's dynamic production. The former uses a haunting piano loop and a powerful bassline to create an ominous atmosphere, while the latter features a prominent funk influence with its catchy bass riffs and rhythm. "Body Count" stands out musically due to its fusion of rap and heavy metal, showcasing Ice-T's willingness to experiment and push genre boundaries. This track laid the groundwork for his subsequent venture into the metal genre with the band Body Count. The production quality is consistently high, with each track carefully crafted to complement Ice-T's lyrical content. The beats are varied and engaging, avoiding the monotony that can sometimes plague rap albums. DJ Aladdin's scratching and sampling add a layer of authenticity and respect for hip-hop's roots, while also pushing its creative boundaries. ### Production The production of "O.G. Original Gangster" is a testament to Ice-T's vision and DJ Aladdin's technical prowess. The album's soundscape is diverse yet cohesive, maintaining a balance between innovation and accessibility. The production techniques employed are advanced for their time, incorporating multi-layered samples and live instrumentation. One of the album's production highlights is its use of samples. For example, "Mic Contract" features a sample from "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss, a popular break in hip-hop, which gives the track a classic yet fresh feel. "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" samples "Theme from Shaft" by Isaac Hayes, linking Ice-T's contemporary gangster narrative with the blaxploitation era's thematic elements. The mix and mastering of the album are polished, ensuring clarity and punch in the sound. The use of live instruments on certain tracks adds depth and a unique texture to the overall production. Ice-T's collaboration with DJ Aladdin and others resulted in a sound that was both groundbreaking and influential. ### Themes "O.G. Original Gangster" is rich with themes that explore various aspects of urban life, systemic issues, and personal identity. The album's primary theme revolves around the gangster lifestyle, with Ice-T providing a candid look at the allure and dangers of this world. This theme is explored not just in terms of glorification but also with a critical eye towards its consequences. Social commentary is another significant theme. Ice-T addresses police brutality, systemic racism, and the failings of the criminal justice system. Tracks like "The Tower" and "Body Count" are particularly poignant in their critique of how society marginalizes and oppresses African American communities. The theme of survival permeates the album, with Ice-T often reflecting on his own experiences and the broader struggles of those in his community. "Escape from the Killing Fields" and "Midnight" are narratives of perseverance and the quest for a better life despite overwhelming odds. Identity and authenticity are also crucial themes. Ice-T uses the album to assert his credibility and authenticity in the rap game and the streets. The title track "O.G. Original Gangster" serves as a declaration of his realness and a challenge to those who question it. ### Influence "O.G. Original Gangster" has had a profound impact on the hip-hop genre and beyond. Ice-T's fearless exploration of controversial and socially relevant topics set a precedent for future artists to use their platforms for advocacy and social commentary. The album's success helped to solidify gangsta rap as a dominant subgenre in the early 90s, influencing countless artists and shaping the direction of hip-hop. The fusion of rap and metal on "Body Count" was particularly influential, paving the way for the nu-metal movement that would emerge in the mid-to-late 90s with bands like Korn and Limp Bizkit. Ice-T's willingness to cross genre boundaries demonstrated that hip-hop could be versatile and expansive. The album also had a cultural impact, influencing discussions around censorship and freedom of expression. Ice-T's provocative content, especially on tracks like "Body Count," drew significant attention and controversy, contributing to the broader conversation about the role of art in society. ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** 1. **Lyrical Depth:** Ice-T's lyrics are vivid, insightful, and impactful, offering a raw and honest portrayal of street life and social issues. 2. **Musical Innovation:** The album's blend of funk, rock, and hip-hop, along with its pioneering use of live instrumentation and sampling, set it apart from contemporaries. 3. **Production Quality:** High production standards, with a clear, punchy mix and creative use of samples and live instruments. 4. **Thematic Richness:** Explores a wide range of themes with depth and nuance, from gangster life and survival to social justice and personal authenticity. 5. **Cultural Influence:** Played a significant role in shaping the direction of hip-hop and influencing future artists across genres. **Cons:** 1. **Controversial Content:** The album's explicit content and aggressive themes may not appeal to all listeners and have led to censorship and controversy. 2. **Niche Appeal:** While groundbreaking, the fusion of rap and metal on tracks like "Body Count" may not resonate with purists of either genre. 3. **Dark Tone:** The consistently dark and gritty tone of the album may be heavy for some listeners, lacking lighter, more uplifting tracks. 4. **Polarizing Style:** Ice-T's assertive and confrontational delivery might polarize listeners, attracting as much criticism as praise. ### Conclusion "O.G. Original Gangster" stands as a landmark album in Ice-T's career and in the history of hip-hop. Its lyrical brilliance, innovative production, and fearless exploration of controversial themes make it a powerful and enduring work. While its explicit content and dark tone might not be universally appealing, the album's influence on music and culture is undeniable. Ice-T's bold storytelling and willingness to push boundaries have cemented "O.G. Original Gangster" as a pivotal record that continues to inspire and challenge artists and listeners alike.

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Tue Jun 25 2024
5

What a trip. For some reason I always ignored Ice-T's work, and I really shouldn't have. Intelligent lyrics, variety in beats and wonderfully politically engaged. Loved Midnight in particular.

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Fri Jun 28 2024
5

Man this tape didn't leave my tape player for close to a year. I still think it's fantastic! Fantasticly produced. Fantastic order. Great beats, great songs, great rhymes. Great message on all the songs. I'd love to hang out with T. OG aged well and I still enjoy listening/singing along to it. Sad that nothing has really changed in America. I was 16 when it came out and I'm 50 now and I see and hear the same problems. I had been a fan of Ice since the Breakin' days and I always will be.

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Sun Jun 30 2024
5

Sehr gut produziertes Hip Hop Rap Album. Ich bin eigentlich kein großer Fan dieser Musikrichtung. Aber wenn man inzwischen kapiert hat, dass Rap nicht gleich Rap ist, dann wird man einer. ICE T ist hier ein großes Werk gelungen

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Wed May 05 2021
4

5/23 Ice-T was NICE, new found respect for him. Standout tracks: Mic Contract, Mind Over Matter, New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme), Bitches 2, O.G. Original Gangster, Midnight, Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous, Ya Shoulda Killed Me Last Year

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Mon Feb 01 2021
4

The music made me angry and the final not made me angrier. Reflects an entire way of life that I’m painfully ignorant to.

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Fri May 28 2021
4

Really good. Very dense lyrically and 72mins is a lot of work. Never listened much as dismissed as west coast gangster bull shit but Ice T has a lot to say, on par with public enemy.

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Sat Jan 23 2021
4

classic gangsta rap very well done

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Mon Feb 01 2021
4

Savage rhymes, hilarious and energising.

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Tue Feb 02 2021
4

of its time but some good songs with some donkeys

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Wed Mar 31 2021
4

Oh man, this album. i remember listening to this with my uncle Baldi outside during cookouts, or just hanging out when he was over at my grandma's. much like with NWA, i listened to it again later in life to understand it, and this is another album that was speaking more than just rap. the fact that it uses his own rock band in it, and is brilliantly composed, it's an instant include in any playlist.

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Wed Mar 03 2021
4

I liked it more toward the end. I was shocked by the heavy metal song.

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Fri Jan 22 2021
4

love that old school rap. good beats and doesn't get too indulgent with the skits.

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Tue Jul 06 2021
4

Great one, very diverse although it is a bit long.

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Sat Mar 06 2021
4

Kunnon O.G. menoa. Tuli kerralla selväksi millainen gangsteri Ice T on ja minkälaista elämää hän ja hänen lähipiirinsä viettävät. Oli sen verran selkeää artikulaatiota ja leppoisa flow, että maalaushommien taustalla pystyi kuuntelemaan mitä miekkosella on sanottavaa. Ja olihan sinne sekaan rokkibiisikin mahtunut, pääsi yllättämään!

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Thu Mar 04 2021
4

Not really my genre, but Ice T is great.

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Thu Mar 11 2021
4

I love this album - listened to it repeatedly as a teen

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Thu Mar 11 2021
4

I enjoyed this, there was a lot of swearing! I'd listen again.

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Thu Jul 22 2021
4

First introduction to gangsta rap, and honestly went in with a bad attitude. However, this is not bad and I enjoyed it but can't compare it to anything else in this genre. Black Sabbath being sampled in Midnight was fun. Body Count slaps and throws it over the top for me. 4.2/5.0.

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