Ice T Songs You Didn’t Know Were Fresh AF Until Now
Some of you know Ice T has been busy acting on Law & Order: SVU, voicing video games, starring in films, promoting CarShield and GEICO, and shredding fools on Twitter. When not doing so like a boss, Ice T drops songs for the masses. Some might not realize before Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola was locking up bad guys behind bars, Ice T was dropping bars and locking down songs everywhere from hip hop to heavy metal.
The gangster rap pioneer and hip-hop culture trailblazer has been making songs since 1982. Ice T dropped his first album “Rhyme Pays” in 1987 and has sold over 10 million records since. Ice-T’s net worth is estimated at $40MM, so yea rhyme definitely pays.
Best Classic Ice T Songs
Ice T songs don’t get enough discussion in the world of hip hop. The impact of his work is monumental. So enough of that disrespect noise. I’m here to tell you about 10 of the freshest Ice T songs you didn’t even know existed until we told you.
1. 6 ‘N the Mornin’ (Rhyme Pays, 1987)
6 in the morning, police at my door
Fresh Adidas squeak across the bathroom floor
One thing Ice T songs have always hit hard with is storytelling. Ice instantly teleports the listener into his pad as he looks to escape police after a night-long crime spree. The minimalist beat slaps with 80’s drum machine love. The lyrics are all you need on this one.
This type of gangster tale might seem commonplace in 2020 hip hop. But back in 1987, this song was groundbreaking. This is the reason it makes our list of 10 of the freshest Ice T songs.
2. Colors (Colors Soundtrack, 1988)
This Ice T song breaks down the Los Angeles gang culture like no other. A former Crip, Ice laced the movie soundtrack with the title track Colors. The Dennis Hopper directed Colors is also a must see for anyone interested in Bloods, Crips, and L.A. gang culture.
3. Power (Power, 1988)
The title track from his second studio album, Power, also makes our list of freshest Ice T songs. In 1988, Ice was just getting started, and little did the world know he’d be in your GEICO commercial 30 years later. Respect the game.
4. You Played Yourself (The Iceberg / Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say, 1989)
You played yourself. What can I say? If Ice muthafuckin’ T says so, I will take his word for it.
Flashback to the late 1980s, Parental Advisory stickers were being slapped on any album with a black man on the cover. Censorship was in full effect to “protect” suburban white kids from the ”horrors“ (and truths) of hip hop. As usual, Ice T simply did not give a fuck and dropped this gem amongst the songs on the album.
5. O.G. Original Gangster (O.G. Original Gangster, 1991)
And here we go…
There are 10 Ice T songs from this album alone that could have made the list. I’ll start you off with the title track. The beat on the title track was co-produced by Ice T, DJ Aladdin, and SLEJ. It STILL knocks.
After starring in New Jack City, the O.G. album dropped and the rest is history. The album balances gangster tales, social issues, corruption, humor, and blatant honesty like none before it. It’s on my pantheon of best hip hop albums of all time, easily.
6. Midnight (O.G. Original Gangster, 1991)
This Ice T song is the prequel to 6 ‘N the Mornin’. The dark Black Sabbath sample and the vivid storytelling in this song will give you chills.
7. Pulse of the Rhyme (O.G. Original Gangster, 1991)
This song is an Ice T deep cut, but one of my personal favorites. Dark, moody, transient. As if he’s setting us up for #8 on the list.
8. Cop Killer (Body Count, 1992)
There has not been a song since that has come under fire like Body Count’s Cop Killer. Ice T was lead singer of Body Count when they dropped their self-titled debut in 1992. Naturally, he was on the establishment’s radar and this was their chance.
Even President George H. W. Bush took time away from dropping bombs of his own to denounce this song. Talk about free advertising!
The song was eventually pulled from the album due to all the panty bunching it was causing. The Body Count debut album still sold 500,000 copies and went gold.
9. That’s How I’m Livin’ (Home Invasion, 1993)
That’s How I’m Livin’ is a biographical Ice T song that covers everything from his childhood, Crenshaw high days, and his four years in the Army. He also speaks on his past as a jewel robber. Insightful track for any Ice T fan.
Ice ended up using the remixed version for the video:
10. Feds in My Rearview (Single, 2019)
Next stop, re-cop in Sinaloa / Dirt cheap but you gotta get across the border
Damn, it has been too long since Ice T dropped fire. This song showed up on the Foundation compilation in 2019. Ice-T’s first solo song in over 10 years!
The lyrics and flow are tight as ever, and as a long-time fan it was dope to hear Ice T on this hard beat. Yea, Ice MOTHER FUCKING T is still on point.
Honorable Mention – Ice T Songs List
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Watch the Ice Break – Home Invasion
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Mic Contract – O.G. Original Gangster
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Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous – O.G. Original Gangster
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Lethal Weapon – The Iceberg
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I’m Your Pusher/Pusherman – Power
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