O.G. Original Gangster

Starts of sounding very outdated. It gets better later on, but not to the point that I like it. Ice-T has a more sinister vibe than most of his contemporaries. I think that's his main contribution to the genre and the reason he belongs in the book.

Delightful. I saw Ice T and Coco once when I lived in New York. They were seated outside at a restaurant and were sweetly smiling at all the gawkers. Forgot about that till now.

I'm no early 90's gangsta rap expert, but OG sounds pretty un-OG and derivative. Some decent beats - pretty sure Dj Shadow sampled Midnight for Midnight in a Perfect World, which is neat. ...wait, is that actually the intro to When the Levee Breaks? Anyway, T's OG music gives me the same meh as Body Count, his rock/metal band. Superfluous and unnecessary. I'll keep my ice cubed.

It's a well known fact that most of the artists in the gangsta rap era were but actually affiliated. Ice T, though is allegedly one of the rare A.G.s(authentic gangsters). And i know Ice T had a lot of influence and a lot of his lines on this album and others get quoted and referenced to this day with a lot of us not knowing where it came from so this is an important piece of history. But that doesn't matter because all the tracks in the first half or so sounded very much like a put on caricature of hood life made to sell records. And it felt corny. Almost like a parody. A lot of that is, for sure, the early rap style and hour basic it sounds to 21st century ears but i couldn't get past it. The second half of the album leaned more into having a message about civil rights, overpolicing, poverty, etc. but a good message never impressed me much in music. I need it to be music first. I did like the storytelling in midnight and The Tower was about on par with any of Johnny Cash's songs from Fulsom Prison. I can't give half stars, so I'm rounding up to 3

This album is a wild ride. The beats, the lyrics, the full thing is all dripping in 90s. There is an inverse relationship between the number of times you tell me you're tough and the amount I believe it. I'm starting to wonder if I just hate music? I might. Maybe it's women this project is teaching me to hate? Not sure. I'll get back to you.

In the gangster rap musical system, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the rappers, who make music about crime; and the reviewers, who aggregate the offenders. These are their stories. In the gangsta rap musical system, the career are represented by two separate yet equally important phases: the street, who make music about being gangster; and the couch, who act in easy to watch movies and TV shows. These are there stories. DUN DUN

Ice-T has flow. But I hardlz can remember anything. As usual the lyrics are getting boring. It's alwayse the same. One listen ist enough for me.

I don’t think I can name a single song by Ice-T. Come to think of it, I think the only thing I know about his entertainment career is that he’s on Law and Order SVU. I have no idea what to expect from this album, but I’m excited to see what’s in store. I wasn’t really wowed by Original Gangster. This album had a few tracks that I thought were really good, but most of it was bland and boring. I didn’t find Ice-T’s rapping to be that great, and I didn’t think the production work or beats were anything to write home about either. At just over an hour and ten minutes long, OG was a chore to get through for me, and I felt like it was an incredibly uneven experience. I just wanted this album to be punchier and have more edge to it, but few things here really hit the way that I wanted them to. “New Jack Hustler” was the first track that I came across that I didn’t fully hate. The rapping wasn’t very good in my opinion, but at least the beats were okay. “Bitches 2” was much better though, and I really enjoyed the raw lyrics and the storytelling. “Straight Up N****” was my favorite song on the album. The lyrics were excellent, the message was outstanding, and the rapping was really good too. Everything really came together on this song. When it comes to wanting more, I really wished that “The House” had been fleshed out in to a full song. It felt like Ice-T had a lot to say on the issue of child abuse, and it would have been really great if this song had been expanded upon. “Midnight” was good too, and I enjoyed how it sounded like horror core. The sense of dread and unease I felt while listening to it was really tangible. “The Tower” was good too. I enjoyed its more straightforward horror core sound with the sampling of the Halloween theme, but the tone of Ice-T’s voice and the lyrics helped craft the atmosphere too. “Body Count” was my second favorite song on the album. I loved the hardcore punk sound, and the lyrics and songwriting were great too. Even though there were a few songs that I enjoyed on OG, the overall experience was pretty lackluster for me, and it felt like this album went on for twice its actual run time.

Seventy-two minutes of exactly what you'd expect from Ice-T: profane, proud, and pointed, with his trademark noir-narrator delivery stretched across more material than anyone asked for. At its best, the sprawl justifies itself—“Mic Contract” is a fast-twitch radio play, the title track flirts with West Coast bounce, “Midnight” rides a bruising KRS-One sample like it’s built for “New Jack Hustler,” “Pulse of the Rhyme” veers into proto-horrorcore with a mean bassline, and “The Tower” smolders with atmosphere. Elsewhere, he dips into Cube-style sociopolitics (“Escape from the Killing Fields”) without Cube’s rasp, and metal crossover novelty (“Body Count”) without a convincing bark, while a five-minute intro suite and oddball outro (“Ya Shoulda Killed Me Last Year”) underline how badly this needed an editor. For an artist already more icon than innovator by ’91, though, the respectable sprawl is still worth a listen.

Lowkey gritty.

Loved how it brought me back to the times of gangster rap. I miss that boom bap rhyme style and didn’t know how raunchy ice-t was.

Hip-Hop, Rap

This one surprised me. I never gave much thought to Ice T, but his flows are good and the lyrical content of his songs are great. There was quite a but if variety in styles throughout. The only detractor is the length. 4/5

Some beats were kinda nice, but it’s not my genre and it didn’t hit me

Well, certainly some hip hop classic but the lyrics aged not well at all...misogynic gangsta shit...some political sprinkles and lot of swearing....what has become of ICE T and his announcements on stage recently shows that this has not changed much...

I saw him live recently, and the dude still misogynistic, homophobic af Rap is not really my genre, this was ok. Enjoyed the body count half more. 2*

Body Count is ok, but the rest of the album is dull, repetitive, and excessively long. 3/10

oof

Didn't do a ton for me and was too long

Just not hitting. A good drink though.

rap a little bit flat and boring.. old school

He loves that riff from the song Black Sabbath - sampled two albums in a row. Taste. I always liked how Ice-T connected to the funk.

Really enjoyed this. Favorite was “Bitches 2”

Not a rap fan. Some of the music sounded decent but many of the lyrics are terrible.

Boy, was this long. I liked some of it. I got caught on Midnight, feeling like I'd heard the song before, but not realizing why until suddenly it hit me that I was also listening to When the Levee Breaks and Black Sabbath. So, that was cool. In the end, though, my patience for this album wore thin.

The rapping doesn’t measure up to his contemporaries and seems really OG like Run DMC. The album is mostly notable because the extreme content.

3/5 - I needed to hear this because it’s the closest I’ve come to enjoying a 90s gangster rap album. Don’t care for skits, but the samples were really good throughout. New Jack Hustler, Mind Over Matter, Fly By, Escape From the Killing Fields were standout tracks for me.

Ice-T might be the original hard core hip hop artist. I liked it when he used rock music to back up his powerful lyrics. It's a solid album. There's lots of variety, and the beats still hold up today.

Okay, this was better than I expected. But it’s embarrassing to make so many references to 6 ‘n the mornin’, seems like he’s still riding on that high. Anyway can’t believe this guy’s acting and making silly geico commercials now.

This album sits at an interesting point in time, it's one of those albums from that limbo of 1989 to mid 1991 that don't feel quite 90s yet but also doesn't feel quite 80s anymore, it's a mix that occurs in many albums from different genres. I think what makes O.G. so distinct is exactly that juggling of more rudimentary 80s delivery and some sound choices with 90s hardcore rap production and theming. You'd think the album has an identity crisis with that kind of sound plus the 70 min length making it an uneven slog but instead it manages to be mostly pretty good, even the skits don't feel like a total slog partly because they tie into the other tracks pretty nicely and because Ice T is charismatic so it's hard not to be invested into what he's saying or how he's saying it, a skit like "What About Sex?" Is hilarious as a parody of the typical sex skit but also the way the joke's delivered made it even better. Another strength in the album is how the sequencing works to balance the shorter skits with the songs which have a nice kind of variety, not too attached to any one style or way to make a song, hell we get a few horrorcore songs (Midnight and The Tower), a rock song (Body Count... ofc) or a dance song (Fly By), Ice-T makes up for his weaknesses like the rudimentary delivery by being eclectic and knowing how to fit himself on these songs, which really works out for this album's benefit. Honestly, it's as fun as it is underrated, I never expected this to be as fun and consistent as I thought it would be, definetely will be returning to some of these songs.

No surprise here, sounded like every other album of its type. Plenty of swearing and n word. Very boring and terrible.

After the Ice Cube records - which were way too much about his dick - I had low expectations. However I really enjoyed it - great old school beats that play a supporting role rather then dominate and great clear lyrical delivery by ICE T - so can really hear what he's saying. And yes whilst Ice T's dick does feature - its down in a funny way rather than the misogyny of Ice Cube. And for once the skits are actually funny and enhance the record.

OG Original Gangster I’m totally and completely on his dick This is fucking long, but I actually really liked it, much more than I was expecting. The obvious comparison is Ice Cube, both for solid state of water monikers and for LA gangsta rap reasons, but despite similar themes violence, sex and posturing Ice T presents a (slightly) more nuanced and complex picture, adding a degree of humour and self awareness as well as intelligent lyrics and incisiveness around class, institutions and the complications and contradictions of the world he’s in. And for the time there are some (relatively) progressive comments on sexuality and misogyny. Musically it kind of reflects the sprawling and scattergun themes of the album, never quite settling down into a coherent feel, which works both for and against it. You get a sense of claustrophobia and uncertainty and unease, but it never quite nails a sound, which I presume also reflects the time it was made, somewhere between the East Coast and Public Enemy kitchen sink sound and just before The Chronic and the full West Coast G-Funk sound. And of course there’s the ‘hardcore’ Body Count stuff, which sounds relatively anodyne 30+ years later. I’d also never really realised what a skilled MC he is, I’d always thought he traded on the notoriety and the controversy around Cop Killer, and wasn’t a particularly strong rapper, but he has a great California drawl combined with a nice, controlled intensity. There’s obviously a lot here, but there are some great tracks, Mic Contact has an infectious hook and some Flavor Flav samples, Mind over Matter’s slower tempo rapping is interesting, New Jack Hustler’s piano and organ samples add a nice bit of jazziness, as there is on Bitches 2, a great bit of storytelling (and a nice acknowledgement that he’s not talking about women). Fly By sounds quite like Eric B or EPMD, a great bass sample. Midnight is good, another departure from some of the standard samples into something a bit more like a low budget horror film (with the standard When the Levee Breaks sample). I like the shout outs on MVPs, and I love the way he says ‘players’. The Tower has some Eminem-like storytelling to it, I like the brooding atmosphere. I think it just tips into a 4, the length is against it, but it really is a very good early 90s gangster rap album, with some great songs and rapping, all with a bit more depth, smartness and tone to it than I expected. 🧊🫖🧊🫖 Playlist submission: Fly By

I've always liked Mr T (not that one), he seems like a well-adjusted chap in interviews. Not the biggest fan of his music however. He has a lot to answer for, being one of the earliest progenitors of gangster rap. And I found out today his real name is Tracy. It's like when found out Big Daddy's real name was Shirley. Although he revels in shootin' and humpin', he's not as overwhelmingly big-headed as some of his gun-toting stablemates. And there's plenty of levity here. A late album run with the superb soul sampling of 'Pulse of the Rhyme'; and the Halloween-sampling 'The Tower' proves Ice is not just a one-trick pony. But surely a judicious editor could've brought some well-needed brevity to proceedings, which suffers from major bloat at over an hour.

This is a busy record. Problematic? It feels more like theater than menace. I enjoyed it for the ride, even if I won’t be spinning it much more. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions: - New Jack Hustler - Body Count - The Tower

Doesn’t speak to me

I was never a fan of Ice T in my younger years but he’s someone I’ve got into through collecting vinyl and now own several of his albums including this one. I’m not going to pretend it’s amazing, it comes across more like a mixtape than an album, jumping from one thing to the next, including adding a **Body Count** track, but I do love this funk sample heavy, under produced era of hip hop and Ice T comes with bags of character. Of course it’s too long and some of the skits are shit. He does sample Sabbath though which is a plus!

That Black Sabbath sample goes so hard

Jeg kan godt forstå, hvorfor den her er druknet lidt i al den fantastiske hiphop der kom ud af LA på det her tidspunkt. Han er en god rapper, men ikke Ice Cube eller Snoop Dogg-god. Han har nogle solide beats, føles mindre samplebaseret end så meget andet, men det er ikke ligefrem G-Funk level. Solidt album! Glad for jeg har hørt det! Fedt sample af temaet fra Halloween på The Tower

Fede beats men for lang og han er ikke en interessant rapper.

I like the rock/metal parts, but his rapping isn't really doing much for me..

while admittedly much of this album sounds dated, there are some pretty cool songs on here. “midnight” and “body count” particularly stood out to me, the latter of which kicked off his metal side project of the same name. the rest of the album is what one might expect of a gangsta rap album, hyper misogynistic with over the top violence.

pretty tired right now so I'll just say this. it's good. 5/5

This dude went on to play a cop for 25 years and counting.

Longer than I'd like but it stays fun throughout

2- Stars (4/15)

I rather liked this - lots going on musically, lots to say, and it introduced me to the rather unhinged world of Body Count. Problematic in places? Definitely, but... tongue in cheek and a bit out there, so sure I can appreciate this! :)

normally I take off a star for homophobia so I guess I should add one for his defense lol

Some real gangster shit. Not sure it needed to be that long though. Best song: Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous

Very NWA influenced I'd say, a lot of the beats had that droning sound under the beat that straight outta Compton has. At the risk of my repeating myself I thought this sounded pretty good if you ignored the content and tiringly gagsta if you didn't. As with similar albums it's the narrowness of the themes that makes it a slog, Ice doesn't say anything he hasn't already made clear after the first couple of songs. The rock song was an unexpected diversion and I did like the sound but unlikely to return.

I really don't know how to rate this - diverting, not nearly as aggressive or unpleasant lyrically as some others of a similar style, although he does play up the gangster element. Now an actor, I do get him confused with Ice Cube. There is a definite resemblance. Utterly fine, didn't mind the beats, but won't be back.

We got violence, we got guns, we got money, we got skits, we got misogyny, that's right, it's a 90s rap album! Don't think I've listened to Ice T before though. He can rap and a good voice for it. I suppose he was doing the above before it was absolutely everywhere in the mid to late 90s, so that's something. Was confused as it sounds very west coast, but he was born in new Jersey, he did move to LA though which makes sense. Still prefer the east coast sound. So ice t has ice t and evil E, NWA has ice cube and eazy E..... I think I was harsh with my initial impressions. It's better than I was giving it credit for, my favourites were: New jack hustler Straight up nigga OG Prepared to die Pulse of the rhyme Body count was interesting, cypress hill did similar things with the rap and rock. 4

The actor???!! Quality album if not a bit long. I’ve-T’s flow is as smooth as ever and the writing is on point. A few tracks don’t quite hold up but lots to enjoy.

A very solid early rap album. Some really catchy tunes in there.

Didn’t age well, 90s gangster rap.

8/10

Хороший приклад хіп-хопу із золотої ери. Ice T має непоганий швидкий флоу і на піснях з аптемпо бітами звучить він дуже яскраво. Десь місцями просідає трохи, але загальне враження хороше. Один з кращих gangsta альбомі на заході до g-funk ери

Я дуже люблю хіп-хоп 80х і 90х, тут якраз альбом на стику декад. Конкретно щодо айс ті я ніколи не був фанатом, тексти (як і в багатьох тогочасних реперів) постарішали поганенько, але все одно мене легко купити тогочасним хіп-хопом.

Yes! No. Very dated sonically and lyrically. A few good tracks but overall, outstays it's welcome.

Production was pretty good. It’s a bit dated in quite a few aspects, but more or less holds up

Never really listened to his music much before...interesting to see he's as mediocre of a musician as he is an actor. It honestly isn't really bad, it's just not as good as I would have expected considering how much of a legend he is.

Ice details the problems he sees in his world but doesn’t really try to offer any solutions. I appreciate that at least he varies up the tempo and tries some unconventional things musically, particularly with the rock edge he brings to some songs. And he has conviction even with his more controversial songs. Too many filler tracks without rapping drag the set down however. I love being able to see connections with some of the earlier albums I’ve heard, such as when I noticed the Black Sabbath sample on Midnight.

Partially responsible for the rise of gangster rap, the album is thrilling, violent, misogynistic and hard hitting, all the hallmarks of a typical gangster rap album. It is also way too much. There are some great songs on here such as Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous, OG Original Gangster and Home of the Body Bag but the album is relentlessly dark and aggressive so I find it hard to listen in one sitting. One song that goes against the grain is The Tower with a Tubular Bells beat and slow sinister rapping. As a bonus is the song Body Count, an uncompromising drum fueled metalish rock song.

Man love some old school Gen X gangsta rap. The songs that drove Tipper Gore mad. Solid album for Ice T it just didn’t age well

Made it halfway and it was shocking in ways

A little long but the songs were certainly enjoyable

Bom ver o antecessor direto do body count e ter essa noção da evolução do Ice t em novas sonoridades

Många sköna beats och låtar. Lite för lång dock. Men de bra låtarna är många och jag gillar ändå fortfarande de "enkla" beatsen och rytmen. Ice-T har rätt skönt flow också. Body count är en friskt fläkt också. Betyget är inte helt enkelt. Det landar nog på en trea pga inga låtar som sticker ut mycket. Jämnnajs. Plus att jag aldrig kommer lyssna på Ice-T igen. Men jag är positivt överraskad och glad att över att hört skivan!

Det är ju inte Ice T:s fel, han är bara ett barn av sin tid, men JÄVLAR vad tröttsamt det är att det huvudsakliga kriteriet för att hamna på den här listan verkar vara att man var först, snarare än att man var bra. Sorgligt hur mycket mer högkvalitativ hip-hop som har ratats till förmån för den tidigaste hip-hopen. Det här är en hyfsad skiva, om än ganska endimensionell vad gäller både rap och produktioner. För lång är den också och utan några låtar som sticker ut. Men bra för sin tid.

Okay, so either Ice-T has no clue what antidisestablishmentarianism means, or he's a bigger supporter of the political status of the Church of England than I would have guessed. Either way, points deducted. As for the album: sure, an OG, with decent production, but a bang average to weak lyricist, solid but unexceptional rapping, shit (as always) skits. Escape from the Killing Fields feels a cut above, but the album as a whole is inessential.

Good album, rhythmic, very enjoyable. Really loved Bitches 2.

Wasn’t feeling up for this when it came up today, but actually thoroughly got into it. It’s insightful, it’s funny, Though it would be dumb gangsta lines but it’s clever, really good flow, interesting samples, will definitely check out more 4 Star

Absolutely horrible

not for me

Can’t take myself seriously listening to this

a funny album, not quite my style but I can see the appeal

Sad that the same themes of police brutality and mass incarceration for people of color are still around 35 years later. I grabbed a couple of songs to re-listen to later on and overall enjoyed the album.

I love this album. Ice-Ts lyrics are so intelligent and thought provoking. And his music is so sophisticated and refreshing. I didn’t know he also does heavy metal. “Body Count” is amazing! His brilliant quote, “I feel sorry for anyone who only listens to one form of music“ is so true. I have to constantly remind myself that every kind of music has meaning and connects with someone. And if I don’t like it, tough shit. If it connects with someone, it’s wonderful and worthwhile music.

Not a bad album, but not many certified bangers either. And it drags on a bit too long. Love the Black Sabbath samples in Midnight and the Body Count preview

First half was hard to get through. Things turned around at Body Count - I didn't expect a rock track on a gangsta rap album but it was a nice surprise. Overall, it painted a good picture of the place and time it came from.

klasyka gangsta rapu jak tytul glosi, krazek z 91 co czuc na produkcji, ktora pan ice T samemu dopiescil, bo jest to praktycznie solowy albumik, na 24 traki pojawia sie moze 3 ludzi na ficzurach, ktore sa raczej jakimis przerywnikami niz pelnymi zwrotami, tak samo na produkcji robiona od siebie i pod siebie, bo mimo tego ze pan ice jest kojarzyny jako OG, to jednak lubuje sie w rokowych brzmieniach, dopiero dzisiaj dowiedzialem sie, ze nawet gral w metalowo punkowym bandzie zwanym body count, ktory sa jednym z tych ficzurow o ktorych wspominalem, na traku o takiej samej nazwie i rowniez takiej tresci jak ich banda grala, bo jest to metalowe brzmienie na tym rapowym krazku, jest to potezny albumik, bo 72 minuty to sporo zwlaszcza jak teraz czlowiek przyzwyczajony do albumikow rapowych ktore jesli maja 30 minut to juz sa nazywane long plejami, ale problemem duzej ilosci materialu jest jego nierowny poziom, o ile produkcja jest rowna, tak lirycznie hity i missy jak przystalo na gangsterki rap, bo jest to balans na cienkiej linii pomiedzy horrorem ulicznym, a krindzem i przerysowanym stylem zycia, na plejke rapowa nie dodam nic nowego, bo juz klasyczne tytuly jak new jack hustler, fried chicken czy tytulowy OG juz tam sa, ale na rokowa dodam wspomniany wczesniej body count, moze kiedys sprawdze co tam metalowo tworzyl pan ice

L.A HOME OF THE BODY BAG I had a good time listening to this but I can't say it's the best rap I've heard.

Better than a lot of rap I've listened to.

A bit dull. A rap album. Some track he just raps without any beats, and it just feels a bit dry. Plus it’s a bit too long.

This album honestly got better and better as I listened to it. I was kinda put off by Ice T’s flow, but it’s almost like it got better later on in the album. I also loved Body Count, and his message for it.

I’m not one to complain when the groove of an early 90s rap album actually ages well, but I will complain about the length of said album. I think I’d rate this a little higher if it was about half an hour shorter. I was also very happy to have very limited skits included in the tracks, I feel like that’s an anomaly for the era. Not bad but not anything I’ll seek out again.

Did Ice T create the phrase Original Gangster? I think Ice T has a pretty good flow and his rapping is pretty good, but every song started to sound the same. None of the beats were fun to listen to. I think his acapella tracks were the best ones. This album is also way too long. Shout out to "Body Count"! A rock and roll track with Ice T vocals in the middle of a rap album works really well. I think it's a highlight of the album, but only because it's surrounded by so much repetitiveness.

Чисто за качающие биты поставлю 2, а так рэп про то, как кто-то дерет шлюх это не моё

nooh

Ice T is pretty mid but this is alright

Wow. Marvellous album.

Man, another wunnadeez. Ice-T is a name that vaguely rings a bell, though I think he's more of a commercial act than a critical act. I’m curious to know what I’m getting into with this album. Hmm. About what I was expecting. This album is a good representation of gangsta rap from the time, and it holds my attention more than some of the other acts on this list. If anything, the extreme controversy of gangsta rap makes it a notable footnote worthy of immortalisation on this list, but I dunno. I don't think there's any artistic merit to this genre, definitely none which is worthy of making it onto a best-of all-time list. Man, if this album ain’t LONG, a length that isn’t at all justified. While I was bored out of my mind listening to most of these songs, there’s some alright tracks in here. “Straight Up Nigga” is funny. “Midnight” is alright. The instrumental is cool and I like the chorus. “Body Count” is shit, but it’s funny hearing a hip-hop skit being used to shamelessly shill another album. “The Tower” is cool. I like the moody, menacing tracks the most, evidently. Gonna check the book entry for this one. “...a chilling masterpiece that ruthlessly illustrates the complex forces at play within a forgotten American black underclass”. Yeah, okay. Dare I say it, but I think Blacks are just as responsible for their problems as Whites. Besides, what complex forces are at play on this album aside from “fuck Whitey”, “I ♥ smashing box” and “I ♥ crime”. Gonna snub this one, obviously. In place of this album, I humbly submit Stereotype A by Cibo Matto for inclusion on the list.

idek what to say the guy was just speaking truth the entire time and it sounded good

Home of the bodybag: 6/10 First impression: intro Ziplock: 5/10 Mic contract: 9/10 Mind over matter: 8.5/10 New jack hustler: 7/10 Ed: 8/10 Bitches 2: 8/10 Straight up nigga: 7/10 O.G. original gangster: 6/10 The house: 8/10 Evil E- What about sex: interlude Fly by: 6/10 Midnight: 9/10, lyrics fire Fried chicken: 5/10 MVP's: 3/10 Lifestyles of the rich and infamous: 7/10 Body count: 9/10 the switch🔥 Prepared to die: 5/10 Escape from the killing fields: 8/10 Street killer: 6/10 Pulse of the rhyme: 5/10 The tower: 8/10 Ya shoulda killed me last year: outro overall: Not my style. But fire beats and great lyrics

Brilliant to hear ‘proper’ rap. This is a seminal album - its influences are all over the map. While it’s unfortunate that ICE-T’s gangsta roots were replaced (relatively quickly) by a ‘hard-core’ made-for-TV persona, the album nevertheless holds up. Unlike its creator, when offered lots and lots of money.

Ice t was never my thing

Good stuff for the times. Now Act!

New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) O.G. Original Gangster

It does seem just about the most OG of all the OG claimants. As strong as this (and its strength is in its directness), it's got all the seeds of hip-hop's rather less successful baroque era.

Meh, generally quite boring. Was probably incredibly influential over the past 35 years. I liked the rock song.

This is #day346 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… unfortunately, despite coming from the golden age of hip-hop, which I enjoy now and then, this one falls flat for me. Right off the bat, the air-raid siren on "Home of the Bodybag" made me freeze. After almost four years of hearing that awful sound non-stop, especially in the dead of night, due to russia's constant terrorist attacks, it's just fucking dreadful. Beyond that, the album didn't grab me. The tracks tend to blend, and the whole affair leaves me indifferent. I'm sorry. This is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day347.

Great album but it was a little too long and the skits are unnecessary, but tolerable compared to other 90s hip hop albums. Loved the Black Sabbath sample on Midnight.

7/10

This kind of music gets stale for me pretty fast, but he's killing it lyrically. He's quite good at one narrow kind of performance. It also reminded me of how divisive Tipper Gore was, to the point that she's the only Second Lady that I can remember.

This was pretty good. iceT even has a punk song on here. Great work from an OG.

Body count deserves a spot on Tony hawk's pro skater 3 and 4.

"Is this a nightmare or the American dream?" Listened to B4? No Tracks Already Saved on Spotify: 2 - O.G. Original Gangster, New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) Standout Tracks: O.G. Original Gangster, New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme), Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous, Body Count, The Tower (74/100)

Wow I was not prepared for how much I liked that. This might be my favorite hip hop album of the project so far. I was expecting it to feel bloated but I wouldn't cut any of the songs and I enjoyed the skits more than usual. Ice T fuses rock in a great way Rating: 4.8

i’d never heard an Ice T album before and i was so pleasantly surprised. fiercely political, experimental, lots of fun.

Dope production and bars, albeit way too many songs.

-not the absolute best 90s gangsta rap by a long shot imo. kinda felt a little bit corny at times even -that being said it was still pretty solid, better than a lot of the rap this list has had me listen to. some good rhythms + the rock influence was a nice touch -Favorites are Mind over Matter, Fly By, and The Tower

24 songs and 72 minutes is just too long to make a good album. Some of the music is great, but there's entirely too much filler, including far too many interludes/skits. 2.5/5.0: Mixed

really enjoyable but entirely too long

Classic album

Cool. But. It got tiring

Ice T's best for sure. He has his place. There are several highlights (New Jack Hustler, Body Count, others), but it does feel a bit long. End of day, this album is the epitome of Ice T's place in rap and music generally: a bubble artist. Just on the cusp of a greatest list, but not quite on a greatest list.

This isn’t as dated as the LL Cool J album but it’s up there. 90s badass-erry just hits different today.

So going into this I had really gotten into the first track. It’s just an interlude it’s not really like a traditional song. But I genuinely really liked it and but that set the bar way too high. I didn’t like any song on the album as much as I liked the silly first song. So that’s not great. I didn’t hate it necessarily but I was not enjoying the album honestly. I didn’t get anything out of this album. It’s one of the only times I was actively checking the track list to see when it would be over.

Pretty classic, though not my usual jams.

Ice-T is a cool guy. From what I know. It’s in saying that I’ll be inundated with headlines like “ICE-T PUNTS GOATS TO HEAR THEM SCREAM IN PAIN.” For now, I like the fella. Body Count has some pretty sick songs that address some heavy topics directly, and Mr. T - ugh wait that’s taken. Uhhhhh The Ice Man FUCK, that’s taken by that mobster hitman guy. I’ll come back to it. Of all the things he’s famous for, Ice-T’s rapping always seemed like his weakest point to me. Who knows.As far as the album cover, Ice-T shows the true duality of a G. Whether you’re jacked and pensive, or ready as FUCK for a sick prom night, you always gotta keep it real. Time to spin the block. Home of the BodyBag - This is an ad for a fast-food restaurant. We take a taco shell and fill it entirely with eggs. Then we grate six blocks of cheese into the grease disposal behind our restaurant. We summon a hunchback to stir that mixture and shape it into a block. We combine the shell full of eggs and the grease block and shove it into a garbage bag. If you eat it and survive? First Impression - on the second song. Classic T. Oh it’s an interlude. I’ve been duped. Ziplock - Whoa. Rare mention of the evil version of Eazy-E AND the new cell phone data speed 500G?? This guy was ahead of his time. Hell of a song. Very funny lyrics, and whilst not intentional, it had some hard moments too. Way to go. Mic Contract - This is Ice-T on behalf of Blue Yeti microphones. When I sang “Colors” I imagined the sleek brushed steel blue of the new PodJerk 600. Now I refuse to enter the stu’ unless I’ve got my blu. Yeah this one isn’t bad, I guess. Very of its time. Sounding ancient. The beat is fun though. Mind over Matter - Yeah, I feel like this review is going to be super boring. This song actually sucks. Ice-T sounds like he’s tired. For a 72 minute album. We could’ve got that down to 68. My brain is a hand grenade, catch…Hit you with an overload of bottomless thought. Alright it’s pretty good. New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme) - I don’t know who Nino is, but I know that New Jack would probably jump off some shit while this played. I like how the background repeated sample is just Ice-T again. I’m surprised how well he can rap. From my memory he was lethargic and horrible. Way to go. The lyrics are suspect, but very entertaining. This one is so funny, it’s a highlight. NEW NEW NEW NEW NEW JACK NEW JACK HUSTLA. Ed - I LOVE shoutouts. I could never hope to be half as funny as a rapper saying a seemingly random selection of words at the start of a song. Yo yo yo shoutout DJ Ham Sandwich, Big Ups to Pete Sandals, hey I see you Big Shitty Doug. We out here. Garbage posse, let’s go. Bitches 2 - They came out with a sequel to bitches? Uh oh, am I right fellas?? Huh? *clown horn honks.* This beat honestly goes hard as hell, and Ice-T pretending to be a woman at the start of the song is hilarious. AND, this song is a feminist slay as T-Dawg says “men can be bitches too.” Icon. Straight Up Ni**a - Yeah I’ll be that guy. I have to censor it, but the song has a message about the word itself. This was an odd one. It was fine, but man that was a lot of repetition of one word. O.G. Original Gangster - Nobody says “gangster” anymore. Also, “everybody has hand grenades”?? Damn. It is tough down there. I love the bad gun sound effect where Ice-T has to say “that was a shotgun.” It’s like a kid over-explaining that his pool noodle is actually a horse and it can fly. The House - Damn Evil E - What About Sex? - Hey Ice-T, please sing about sex for the boys. Pretty please. What the hell is this? I thought this was going to be a “your changing body” PSA delivered by Evil E, but instead, we got an interlude where I am further mystified why people want to listen to songs that explicitly detail sex Fly By - Whoever is featured on this track reminds me that Ice-T is pretty god damn good. Donald D? The duck? No more of him please. Midnight - Ice-T LOVES writing songs about specific times. Oh my sweet lord. Sampling the first metal song ever? One of the greatest? Hell yeah. This rules. Even if it is an odd MIDI interpretation of Black Sabbath. What a crossover. Sinister, violent, and aggressive. Perfect old school gangster rap track. Fried Chicken - Well this is a change of pace. Basically an interlude, but it is a showcase of the fact that the beats are actually pretty good on this record. M.V.P.s - What a positive guy. Just saying a bunch of names that are imlortant to him. Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous - Big L is listening. And you know how hard it is to get that guy to stop snatchin’ purses and bombing churches. This beat is uhh interesting? I’m not sure what that muppet noise is and I don’t love it. Body Count - He said it. Hell yeah. A complete crossover? This might be fake. I think I’ve been duped. Oh wait no it’s real. This rules. What a ballsy move. His rock vocal delivery is so god damn good. Except we should ban guns, but anyway, he’s coming at it from a different perspective. One where cops randomly kill your friends. I feel like that’s different. Anyway, Body Count rules. The guitar production could’ve been better, but the vocals and general feel is all there. Prepared to Die - A freestyle that’s pretty cool. I was very wrong about his rapping ability. Escape From the Killing Fields - This is a very Public Enemy song. I’m going to say it, Ice-T is incredibly based. Controversial statement. Mostly due to the lame internet nature of the statement. Street Killer - I got the stupidest motha fuckin posse in the whole god damn city. That will live forever. Pulse of the Rhyme - Funky as all hell. Too many quotables to transcribe here. So fun. I mean it’s insane, but it’s a blast. Give me the gas chamber and watch me inhale. The Tower - The Halloween opener. This song is kinda slow. Ya Shoulda Killed Me Last Year - Oh my god. He’s the best. I’d like to add, Fuck the Gulf War and most importantly Fuck The United States of America. Then, Now, Forever. This guy gets it. And by it, I mean the elements of hip hop I enjoy the most. This album was a lot of fun. The lyrics ranged from meaningful to hilarious, and all the way back to violent poems that exaggerate but also detail street life. The poetry is outstanding, the sinister atmosphere is tremendous and I had a great time with this record. I can’t believe o enjoyed a West Cost album to this degree, but as Ice-T alluded to, it just doesn’t sound right when he writes about partying. It’s all about the violence rap, and Ice-T delivered like his ZIP code was uhh whatever the ZIP code is in New York City. I guess he is from there. This has unravelled. Look. I had a good time, and this album was a breath of fresh air. 3.5-4 HIGHLIGHTS: Ziplock, New Jack Hustler (Nino’s Theme), Bitches 2, Midnight, Body Count

Enjoyable rap album. Actually liked the skits on this one, prolly cause they weren’t randomly freaky and weird or trying too hard to be funny

This dude looks like and sounds like Detective Odafin Tutuola

Classic 90s hiphop

Just end my suffering already.

Ice gets a lot of flack for his acting career but this album is solid. Def an acquired taste to bridge the generational gap. High 3/5 from me. - SC Not a bad album. Am I the only one who finds skits in albums corny? -Germoses.

simple, sencillo, eficaz

Not for me.

V provocative!

Glad I listened - I never had and gave me a whole new perspective on Ice T!

Hustler is a classic jam.

I’m not a fan of rap, but this is ok. Hugely overlong, but at least there aren’t too many stupid skits. It’s fine.

Simple booooom bap

It was good.

Trash

Early rap has aged worse than any genre since Big Band jazz. 60s flower child psychedelia sounds more current than this poser pretending to be a pimp over a rinky dink drum track

It’s pretty heavy and gritty, certainly of that time period. Will be a bit much for many people’s ears.

This was great. Funny, self aware, earnest. Great album flow too, never got old.

Ice T!

Only had a cursory listen but this is legit gangsta rap of the 90s

You go Ice T. He’s so tough and a great detective

So you mean to tell me that the man who spouted boring tuff-man rhymes two years after NWA had already blown him off the map, went on to years of sparkling mediocrity on a Dick Wolf procedural? Huh.

Оуджи неплох когда начитывает хорроркор, остальное увы состарилось

I understand the cultural history of this album but most of it was a bit heavy for me. Favourite tracks - Fly By - Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous - Body Count Pulse of rhyme narrative has Eminem story telling vibes about it

Stone cold classic. I was absolutely obsessed with this album when it came out. Also the first introduction of Body Count.

Original and brutal nascent Gangsta Rap.

Not really my cup of T 😉 … but didn’t hate it.

I try to enjoy rap but I just can’t get the appeal. At some point I will have to accept that.

The O.G. of SVU

Great Album. Not better than his previous 2 albums power and his masterpiece freedom of speech although this was a better commercial success backed by the being featured in the movie New Jack City a cult classic. OG and Mew Jacl Hustler are the top songs amd they are some of his best songs and most known. Ice T still has not gotten the credit he deserves for what he has done for rap. He is never in the best MC conversation and he should be asa rapper and as a writer and this Album is a continuation of his work. Better tracks with more marked jazz and funk samples.

Not sure I agree with this album being on this list. It's fine overall, but there's better rap/hip-hop out there that was probably denied being on her because this album was selected. My biggest criticism is it's far too long and some of the songs just overstay their welcome. ICE-T's flow is pretty sloppy at times and he doesn't mix it up when he should and instead tries to shoehorn far too much into a bar making it clunky.

Great album! Learned T formed a metal group, ‘Body Count’

Ikke dårlig, men alt for lang.

I was aware of I’ve T but didn’t listen to a lot of him back in the day. This album is legit. I get why he was so popular. Material is dates of course and therefore some of it is questionable but it was really good early 90’s rap

You know Benson, some people listen to some real twisted shit these days.

Mic Contact - Nice bassline. It's cool.

Hardcore yes

Explicit anger.

Hänellä on tosiaan tarina kerrottavana. Mistä sitä tullaan jne. Ihan kivasti vaihtelua silti biiseissä. Hyvä flow koko ajan.

Hahmo omaksuttu (itse)parodisuuteen saakka. Myös humoristisuuteen. Juttuja kuuntelee silloinkin, kun biitit tuntuvat hetkittäin monotonisilta. Ja vielä esim. Escape From the Killing Fields (raita 20) jaksaa viihdyttää myös musiikillisesti.

My impressions of this are probably a bit coloured by his subsequent descent into being a human meme, but it really screams "past his prime, lost his edge, and searching for a new gimmick" to me.

Same as the rest.

Pesadilla sonora (sin letras no)

Ah, memories. Had this one on cassette back in the day. Was scandalous at the time. So were Da Lench Mob and NWA and the Geto Boyz. But Ice-T was head and shoulders above 'em all. Amazed that I still remember the words as an old man...

They're terrible people.

Almost 5 big booms

Fun listen. Pales in comparison to nwa and Dre's solo effort, the chronic, that would come soon after.

Bon mais bin trop long

Tu sais que t'as peut-être un problème de pacing quand la 22e toune sur ton album commence en disant "Just checkin' my microphone once". Ben trop long mais fun pareil. 3.4 étoiles.

the lyrics lack depth

Well-machined noise raised up by Ice T’s magisterial presence. No tracks stood out, but he’s sharp company, incisive about friends, enemies, fantasies and institutions.

Never paid much attention to Ice-T, but this is as good as other West Coast rap of the period and very listenable today. Still know all the words to "Body Count", it appears!

Tiresome and without lasting power. Simplistic, boring lyrics, and same ol' boom bap beat style without a speck of innovation. Just so everyone knows, in case Ice-T didn't REALLY hammer this message home, he's a tough guy who gets ladies. ⭐⭐

Liked this more than I thought I would

Old school west coast rap is so listenable. Ice T was super progressive at the time. Bitches 2 is practically a feminist anthem (for the time). Legitimately though, he’s funny, topical, and the beats are strong.

How can I be down?!?

Lyrically, this album is amazing. Ice has plenty to say and won't let anyone stop him. His takes on life in the US in the early 90's rang true then and still ring true today. Musically there is a little lacking, but the lyrics make up for it. Great album, probably his best.

And now he’s been on Law and Order for decades.

i don’t really like 90s rap overall. i’m not sure i can pinpoint why but it just doesn’t really do much for me. this was pretty damn good at times though!! it was also very long and i think overstayed its welcome. but Ice T also had some interesting and good things to say. if it was less than an hour i’d be comfortable giving it a 4 but i just got tired at around 45 minutes and still had 27 to go so we’re gonna go with a high 3. i think this album works better played over speakers and conversations rather than alone in airpods

Not for me. At all

Ice T was only 31 when he created this masterpiece. Why does he sound like a 50 year old man? Because the streets are hard.

It's good! I like the production and Ice-T holds it down. He's funny, ambitious, confident, and observant. I managed to stop thinking about Law & Order after the first couple of songs. My usual gripe with albums from this time: too long. Also, not the biggest offender of its genre, but the skits don't do it for me (aside from "First Impression", which I thought was actually funny). Relieved at the lack of overt misogyny. "Midnights" goes crazy--the sample work is great, building atmosphere while Ice-T tells the most intense story on the album. It's sweet of him to shout-out his favs on "M.V.P.s" :')

That’s me on track 2

Pretty solid

im stoked to listen to this right after wutangs 36 chambers. I always thought Ice T had a great opportunity to develop a business around selling Iced Tea. off the hop its clear to me that Ice-T was of the time, and Wutang was ahead of it. rhyming style feels straightforward and storytelling oriented, like folk music. because of it the bars are less interesting to listen to passively. I really have to follow along with it to get the gag, which isnt my style of listening, and doesn't always have a payoff that rewards you for your attention. beats are pretty straight forward and lacking imagination. nothin too catchy for me here. i prefer more sampling, i think. Bitches 2 is a funny track. goofy lazy trumpet. TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS AT THE DISCO, TWO BROTHERS STEPPED...UP TO ...ME AND SAID, HEY..YO! THE REAL FUCKIN SHIT GOES DOOWWWWNN.... TAKE A LOOK AROOOOUND! ALL THE PUSSES CAN BE FOUND! I like what Ice T stands for more than I actually like his music. BODY COUNT is a great example of that, I love that he has a hardcore song in the middle of this album. Even if I don't particularly like the song (i don't)...but its fuckin cool that he goes for it. FUCK TIPPER GORE, BUSH, AND HIS CRIPPLED BITCH. I like it. I respect it...i dont love it. but i respect it. 3

I had only heard a couple of these tracks, but I really like the way he puts together the presentation of the songs--it makes sense that he went to acting. I enjoyed most of the album and would probably go 3.5 personally, but bumping for presentation.

Bloated. But Ice-T is goated. Top gangsta rap, does what you'd expect.

This okay. Not the biggest fan of gangsta rap so it wasn’t really for me

Goes on too long but does maintain a decent standard. Never reaches greatness

Ok.

nice old school hip hop just not a fan of T's vocals

Not for me.

Nice grooves and provoking lyrics. I actually enjoyed listening to this. The man's got a Sure fire system An economic prison 3.5 stars rounded down since the curse jar overfloweth.

Tough, trials of youth and circumstance, but not defeated or nihilistic. While simpler musically than Ye's, I find it much more listenable.

Not a big fan of the genre, but enjoyed this much more than the Kanye album.

Yeah pretty good

Pretty sure that just about all rap is just going to end in the dustbin of the 1s, no matter how objectively good it is.

2 out of 5. Body Count was the highlight for me.

As goofy as Ice T is as a guy outside of music his music itself is undeniably great

Not a rap fan

Very cool

I cant understand why americans like this piece of shit! American rap is irrelevant outside the US. A shit like this on this list is rubbish. dog shitt nigga you know what i mean nigga...im need a pussy and a have a shootgun, my car is beautiful and i am criminals, careful with me in the midnight bro

One of my biggest issues with some albums is how they could have used some editing. This album is a great example of that. 24 songs, some of them with no rhymes. I think the actual songs in here are strong and the beats are sick but I don’t need a 2 minute song just saying the og gangster over and over.

Very good

The first true gangsta rap album and his beef was with the US Government, its fucking awesome. Ice was angry and made a great record from it.

Ice T made gangsta rap classy.

Kinda funny that I got Ice Cube and Ice T pretty much right after each other. I liked them about equally, but in different ways. 3.5/5

en ole homo, harrastan vain seksiä miesten kanssa... hei, se tarkoittaa että olet homo. BOOM! miten nämä mustaihoiset voi kaikki olla sairaimpia? unohtuiko mitä superlatiivit tarkoittaa? noh ei varmaan niitä kouluja pahemmin käyty ei mitää ei midist.. tunnollinen ja älykäs yhteiskunnallisia rakenteisiin pureva hiphop-artisti.. tämän takia tajuton väkivaltaisuus ja seksismi kulttuuria heh pitää niitä levyjä kuitenkin myydä heh.. mites nämä todelliset nekut reagoisi kun tapaa kunnon puukkojunkkarin perkele heh.. yhtäkkiä kräkkiaddiktin tärisevä pistooli ei pysäytäkään rehtiä piripäätä ja mowgli makaa maassa karmiininpunaisena heh... jalallalallalai... new jack hustler

Sampling the Halloween theme in The Tower? I'm here for it. First Impression is hilarious. Hell of an ending track too. A true mic drop.

Surprising hit for me, gangsta rap is a genre that I have never listened to nor felt the need to listen to. The album is an interesting, deeply political take on black culture in the early 90s America whose themes and statements still remain as true today as they were then. Lyrically the strongest album thus far and very nice to listen to. Standouts: Straight Up Nigga, Escape from the Killing Fields and Bitches 2

Enjoyed it. Foul mouthed but fun

It's a fun album. Still not a fan of the skits between songs, but they're alright here. Favorite track: "New Jack Hustler"

Started off feelin' the vibes but over the course of the album lost a little momentum... Not enough "jazz"

I won't listen again but I honestly enjoyed it

No i skończyła się moja dobra passa. Walka z bitem, większość piosenek opiera się na prostych tekstach w N-słowem w środku. Jasne, bywa zabawnie, ale całość jest przydługa, nudna, ciężka i pozbawiona polotu. 4.5/10

Wow surprised how much I liked this. Really strong and a LOT of songs

I have fond memories of this album from high school. It still holds up for the most part. I liked the sneak-peak of Body Count; this song seemed like a prototype version of Killing in the Name Of which was released a year later. It's a pretty long album but it's for sure something I'll want to revisit from time to time. 3.5/5

There's a lot to like here. I don't tend to like gangsta rap but this was pretty enjoyable. I thought it was cool that he just sticks a Body Count song right in his rap album. The main drawback is that it's over long. There's a lot of good samples and backing stuff though. 3.49/5

The OG of OGs. The originator OG. For some background, this album came out in 1991 when gangster rap had begun to pick up real steam for the past few years with groups like NWA, the Geto Boyz and others. But Ice T, along with Schooly D on the East Coast, were probably the the first two gangster rappers--the former with 6 in the Morning that was released in 1986. So half a decade later, this is Ice T declaring that he has always owned this shit. It's been a minute since I heard this album, but the stand out tracks are New Jack Hustler and the classic title song. But it stays consistent all the way through. Mind Over Matter, Mic Contact... classic. It's also probably the predecessor of metal rap, with the Body Count track. 4/5

Nej tack

Fierce, and smart

ich hab nich ganz gehört aber ich ahne 3sterne angle

9ter Song ist crazy💀

Rap. Ice T, but still rap, man Despite my dislike of the genre, it's clear this is a better one.

Decent

5/5. I have a general guess of what I was expecting going into the album released in the 90's but the lyrics are surprisingly kind of progressive and intelligent, re-evaluating the word b**** and showing acceptance to gay and lesbian people. I'm glad we still got some antidisestablishmentarianism in the songs. Each track has a great beat and the skits are funny, which is what these skits are for. The samples are unique and interesting. There's even just a straight rock song on here. This is what it means to not care about what other people think while still supporting those that are suffering equally. This was an excellent album and don't even get me started on his flow, so clean and quick while taking his time when he needs to. Best Song: Straight Up N****, Mind Over Matter, Escape From The Killing Fields, B****** 2

T showing off why he was such a threat in the 90s.

Very formative in the gangster rap genre but his flow is not something I like. There are some hits but nothing I would listen to solo.

Cool

Long braggadocious slog. I was not aware how much of an impact Ice-t had. 2 stars for me, T.

Not a word I use often, but this was a lot more ‘groovy’ than I was expecting. Not bad.

Более-менее звучит только переделка песни Black Sabbath, остальное - однообразно и не интересно. 1,5 из 10.

I was not in the head space for this

Interesting album and lots of strong points but it seems like this guy only knows how to insult people using female characteristics

I don't like rap!!!!!!

Bro really gave us a mission statement in track 2 like he launching a startup 💀💀 Anyways, Body Count (happily!) surprised me. The riff goes hard. I looked up Body Count and turns out it *IS* a real rock band fronted by Ice-T. Huh! That's pretty neattt

The beats are ok but there is too much swearing going on and it is a way too long album. I like some rap albums (not too many, I admit) but this wasn't one I would go back to and listen again.

OK, not one for me, but as an example of its genre deserves a 3

Ticks all the Gangsta boxes. 1 unimaginative and overly sweary. 2 Skits 3 Way too long

Ok, this genre just isn’t for me. Not interested in hearing about bitches and pussy and booty and all of that nonsense. The only two bits that stood out for me were Body Count and the posh bird’s testimonial. And why always so long? My god they are so self indulgent in this genre. Literally in love with the sound of their own voices. Next

'90s rap is definitely not my favorite genre, but something about this was particularly tough for me. Maybe it's the hard content, maybe it's the fact that it's 72 minutes long for some reason, maybe it's that Ice T is a network TV actor now and I can't get that out of my head. I don't know exactly, but this just did not do very much for me. Very meh. Favorite song: New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) Other: First Impression, Bitches 2, O.G. Original Gangster, Fried Chicken, Body Count, Pulse of the Rhyme 3/27/25

I’m not really a fan of rap or hip hop. Some of it works for me but most either (a) just leaves me cold; or (b) turns me off completely due to its lyrical content. The beats and music are often fine. Ice-T’s Original Gangster sadly fell into both my dislike categories. I could barely get through any track without hitting skip apart from The Tower which seemed ok mainly because of its interpolation of the theme from Halloween. This is going to be a 1 star.

Instant 0

Sounds a bit tired now

ma bboooona

Some dope rhymes and hard rhythms. Solid stuff albeit too long. Still, a noteworthy album from one of the masters of gansta rap.

Consistent and well executed. My favorite gangster rap.

3.5 holds up over time for the most part.

Yo

Liked it better than expected, but still not really my thing.

Laughable.

Definitely not my cup of tea. I can appreciate the sound but can’t relate to the words.

Well it’s a little more intellectual than other gangster records of the era - and Ice T seems to be more of a bridge builder than a feud maker - clearly he loves making music and he nods to others he respects - the music is at times awesome - at times not as great as some contemporaries but I love how he slots in Body Count on this album. Of course there’s always the dratted misogyny but otherwise this is as classic a hip hop record as it gets.

Golden age of the CD era + the golden age of rap and hip hop = the bane of my existence. I already don't care for gangsta rap, and 72 minutes of it doesn't help.

meh

First and last time listening to this obnoxious twat

Intelligent and rough

感觉有点 dirty talk 诶 old school 的感觉，和 2pac 的比不过

I FUCKED HER

Genuinely really good, sorry Ice-T I see you as the guy from Law & Order: SVU and didn't expect this to age so well

Did not expect this to be so political, but good for Ice T lol. Tell me why the rap was just ok, but the rock song at the end slapped lol.

I wanted to like this, but it aged poorly and I couldn't get into it. Sorry, Ice T.

Some of the tracks on here aren't go great anymore. but there's still lots on here that was fun to revisit. BODYCOUNT!!!!

This holds up much better than I expected compared to all the other early 90's rap on this list. This is a *slightly* different Ice T than the guy on SVU that John Mulaney pokes fun at. Anyway, it was probably pretty good, but also not really for me.

This was quite long, but it was somewhat entertaining.

This was honestly a really great album that in my opinion has two flaws: there is way too much filler, and it takes too long to get into the best parts of the album. The track list could have been cut in half to make an absolutely incredible gangsta rap album with smart lyrics, killer beats and a pointed overall message. Those are all still there, but it's harder to get to the meat of this album under all the fluff. Top tracks: Bitches 2, Midnight, Body Count, The Tower

Nope

Production was incredible

Not my cup of tea. I crossed not hiphop…

Growing up after Ice T had shifted away from music it is a little wild to hear some genuinely good work from his early career

Meh. Ice T is better in Law & Order SVU.

2/5

Body Count bro wtf hell yeah

Ice-T is the most gangsta rapper ever to be able to communicate with this white guy. It might be the dimples?

Ha, this is pretty fun, and doesn't even have the cop killer song. I like the body count rock, and his attitude and fourth wall breaking. Shoulda killed him last year, Amerikkka.

I have a new appreciation for gangsta rap as I get older

This album is very much of its time-somewhere between NWA and LL Cool J. I like this sound, even though I didn’t finish the album.

I was not expecting this to be so intimate and emotional. Not for me personally but really surprised me

He’s a good rapper the content is blunt and I feel Loses its edge by being so direct. Musically it feels pretty standard.

I will forever find it amusing how Ice T went from this to the most mainstream of TV cop procedurals and an endorser of Cheerios. Still haven’t figured out what that says about America, though.

“Body Count” to “Escape…” are worth listening to and bring the rating up.

I'm no rap expert but I thought this was better than Notorious B.I.G. More listenable and I learned stuff about calling people "bitches" and what OG means. Not to mention who all the rap MVPs are. Enlightening. 3+ stars

I liked this one way more than I thought I would. 3.5*, but not rounding up as I doubt I'd come back and listen to it again. But it's much more enjoyable than the Notorious B.I.G. album I listened to earlier this week. Know what I'm sayin'?

It lacked absolute bangers, but was a generally solid full of good flows. After all of the old school stuff that I've listened to on this list, it was a breath of fresh air. I was surprised by Ice T's Spotify numbers; I wonder if they're artificially low for some reason.

As gangsta rap goes, it’s pretty good. But when I think of all the wrong that was and is motivated by this genre, I feel a sense of hopelessness for society. Certainly no empathy. You reap what you sow.

Good

3.5 actually surprised I enjoyed it. After listening to the garbage that was ice cube I thought this would be the same but it wasn’t. The music was actually interesting and love the anti establishment lyrics. Fav songs:Mind over Matter, new jack hustler, and body count

Fully vintage old-school hip hop that's muscular, straightforward and mostly entertaining. The Zeppelin and James Brown samples make sense and add punch. Besides a few obvious jokes, the braggacio seems mostly credible and less performative than many of his OG-adjacent peers. The heavy metal track is also credible, if not exactly to one's tastes. One also digs the shorter, more fragmented cuts later in the record. "LIfestyles" is among the top tracks. His shout-outs to the MVP are interesting in retrospect, pre-warfare between the coasts. Also, this record offers evidence of why OG hiphop gained a following, but also pointed toward its corruption and future sillinesses, which were legion of course.

I didn't think Ice T threw down gangster rap like this. Home Of The Bodybag sounds like a Dre beat. I'm already bought in. Not going to do an in-depth breakdown but here were songs I enjoyed on my first run through: Mind Over Matter, New Jack Hustler, Bitches 2, O.G. Original Gangster, Midnight. Ice T, I was not familiar with your game. Obviously everyone knows him now from SVU but for some reason I wasn't expecting him to goes this hard. He and Ice Cube are on the same level to me now and I probably wouldn't have said that before listening to this album. I think this is solidly a 4. It features a lot of strong songs, but does go on too long, especially after Midnight.

Before he was a Law & Order all-star the man made hard ass music and metal. He'll always be a god.

2.5

Ihan jepa räppiä, vähän enemmän rock tyylistä mutta senhän Ice T:stä tietää. Parhaat: New Jack Hustler, Lifestyle Of Rich And Infamous

Meh.

An uncomfortable listen at times but in this list on merit.

Disclaimer: I am normally not a huge fan of 90s rap, but I think this album has moments for sure. It's not my favorite rap album, but it's fine. Sampling the "Halloween" theme for "The Tower" was a twist I didn't see coming and "Body Count" was quite the surprise haha Liked Songs: "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" , "O.G. Original Gangster" , "Fly By" , "Body Count", "Pulse of the Rhyme"

liked songs: Home of the Bodybag made me think I would hate this album. First Impression made me think I would actually love it. It's more something in between. The good things: The samples throughout are well utilized. Most of the intermission tracks are actually pretty funny. I appreciate the risk of putting a Black Sabbath worship song on an otherwise completely rap album with Body Count. The bad things: Why is so much older rap/hip-hop about making an album? We get it, I know you made an album because I'm listening to it right now. It's not a bad rap album. I probably won't come back to it, but it was worth the listen. 2.5

Quite liked the introduction of Body Count. The rest was OK too.

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would, not my favourite genre. Some decent songs, thought it was a bit long

yeah, not a big fan, it is interesting that he plays a cop on TV. I guess everyone is just acting...

Blind album, know the artist by name. Honestly I might regret giving this a 1 but im just not in the mood for this album. It's just dragging as I am listening and I just wanted it to end.

Just too much of this on this list. Ugh.