O.G. Original Gangster

Performer: Ice-T
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Additional producers: Bilal Bashir, Afrika Islam, Ice-T, DJ Aladdin. Engineers: Vachik, Dennis Parker, Batte. Recorded at Syndicate Studios West, Widetracks, Dodge City and Fox Run Studios, Los Angeles, California. Often hailed as Ice-T's most ambitious and fully realized album, O.G. ORIGINAL GANGSTER is more sophisticated than the hustler-centered RHYME PAYS, yet less weighted by ideology than THE ICEBERG/FREEDOM OF SPEECH?JUST WATCH WHAT YOU SAY. The record is also more musically adventurous than the spare ICEBERG; help from numerous producers gives 1991's O.G. a dense, contemporary feel, with a sound that recalls the Bomb Squad's production for Public Enemy. From laid-back funk (the title track) to bone-crushing beats ("Midnight"), O.G. runs the gamut in mood and style. Ice-T synthesizes his different incarnations into one persona here. Remaining true to his South Central, Los Angeles roots, Ice raps about the hardships of ghetto life, but is not beyond detailing his high-rolling, wealthy lifestyle. At his best, Ice-T melds these together in a self-reflexive way, as on "New Jack Hustler" (the theme song to the film NEW JACK CITY, which features Ice-T in a key role), one of O.G.'s standout tracks. There are also meditations on race ("Straight Up Nigga") and philosophically minded tunes ("Mind Over Matter"). Most notably, the song "Body Count" introduced Ice's metal band of the same name, proving beyond a doubt that O.G. is no average hip-hop album.

Rolling Stone (6/13/91) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...Ice-T has forged a flexible, hyperliterate style that sacrifices none of hiphop's rhythmic momentum...his slice-of-street-life stories and badass parables offer a fascinating glimpse into a half-hidden world.." Melody Maker (12/91) - Ranked #25 in Melody Maker's list of the top 30 albums of 1991 "...tight, intelligent and matchless musically..."

Since his late-1980s debut, Ice-T's beats and delivery style have managed to cross over to white audiences without selling out or diluting his mic control. When not making new albums or acting in movies and on TV, Ice-T sometimes leads the rap-metal group Body Count, best known for their controversial song "Cop-Killer."

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