Biography
Too hot and strong for some tastes, this rapper-rocker and actor has been steeped in controversy while thriving in his entertainment career. While condemned in some circles as a "gangsta" rapper promoting anti-social attitudes and actions, Ice-T has lectured at colleges around the country, appeared in public service specials, and created two L.A.-based youth intervention programs. He received his greatest notoriety with the song "Cop Killer", …
Ice-T SlideShow
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Career Milestones
| Became professional rapper in the 1980s | ||
| Born in Newark, New Jersey | ||
| Moved to Los Angeles after death of parents (when Ice-T was a teenager) | ||
| Released fourth album, "Original Gangster" | ||
| Served four years as a Ranger in the US Army | ||
| Spent four years as a gang member in South Central Los Angeles in the 1970s | ||
| Started his own rap label, Rhyme Syndicate | ||
| Wrote rhymes for Los Angeles street gangs | ||
1984 | Debut feature appearance, "Breakin'" | |
1987 | Released debut album, "Rhyme Pays," featuring cuts including "I'm Your Pusher" and the theme from the feature "Colors" | |
1988 | Released second album, "Power" | |
1989 | Released third album, "The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say" | |
1990 | TV debut performing own material ("The Planet Raps Back"), "Time Warner Presents the Earth Day Special" | |
1991 | Appeared on the "Lollapalooza" concert tour | |
1991 | Feature acting debut, "New Jack City" | |
1992 | Released his fifth album, "Body Count," recorded with his hard-core band of the same name; controversial cut, "Cop Killer," pulled from subsequent pressings by Warners | |
1993 | Recording contract with Sire Records cancelled | |
1994 | Released the album "Home Invasion" on his own label | |
1995 | Made a cameo appearance in "Mr. Payback," an interactive "cinematic game" played in specially equipped theaters | |
1995 | Played the recurring role of drug kingpin Danny-Up on Fox's crime drama "New York Undercover" | |
1995 | Portrayed himself in "Why Colors?" a Showtime comedy short about the absurdity of gang warfare | |
1997 | Starred in NBC drama series "Players" | |
2000 | Joined the cast of the NBC drama series "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" | |
2001 | Appeared in action comedy "3000 Miles to Graceland" | |
2002 | Hosted his own television show on TLC, called "Beyond Tough"; featured people with real life dangerous jobs | |
2006 | Hosted the VH1 reality series "Ice-T's Rap School" | |
2008 | Produced and narrated the documentary "25 to Life: Ice T Presents," about California's "Three Strikes and You're Out" law | |
2009 | Appeared on the Chris Rock-produced documentary "Good Hair" | |
Awards
1992 | MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance in New Jack City |