Chuck D has weighed on Ice-T‘s early lyrics, and saying that he believes they’ve been misinterpreted over the decades since he launched his career.
The Public Enemy frontman took to Twitter on Thursday (March 7) to share his observations on Ice-T, who is considered a pioneer of gangster rap, with his early tracks like “6 in the Mornin'” setting a template for the sub-genre. But what Chuck points out is that many of Ice’s songs have a moral.
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“6 in the Mornin’,” for example, finds the protagonist, a “self-made monster of the city streets,” arrested and locked up (though unrepentant when he’s released seven years later). And in his 1988 track “High Rollers,” Ice says explicitly, “fast money leads to a fast life and a quick death.”
“Many People don’t understand that when [Ice-T] talks about gangsterISH anything… he is steering you far away from fkn with that life. His stories say it and he clearly says its a better road than being FAKE at it,” Chuck wrote.
Many People don’t understand that when OG @FINALLEVEL talks about gangsterISH anything… he is steering you far away from fkn with that life. His stories say it and he clearly says its a better road than being FAKE at it .
— Chuck D (@MrChuckD) March 7, 2024
Ice, understandably, agreed with his longtime friend’s assessment.
“The Streets are VERY exciting and attractive to an outsider,” he replied, while quoting Chuck’s statement. “The FLASH of the the Hustler and the Game… But I’ve always tried to tell em that ‘It’s Fun in the beginning, But it’s PAIN in the end..'”
Thanks Chuck… The Streets are VERY exciting and attractive to an outsider… The FLASH of the the Hustler and the Game… But I've always tried to tell em that 'It's Fun in the beginning, But it's PAIN in the end..' https://t.co/Vbbaf7VeyP
— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) March 8, 2024
Ice T and Chuck D publicly joined forces last year when Ice was honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
During the February 2023 ceremony, Ice was introduced to the crowd by his Law & Order: Special Victims Unit co-star Mariska Hargitay, the show’s creator Dick Wolf, and Chuck. Ice Cube, comedian Mike Epps and Def Jam founder Russell Simmons were also on hand for the celebration.
Addressing the crowd gathered at his unveiling ceremony — which, according to CBS News, took place at at 7065 Hollywood Blvd., between La Brea and Sycamore avenues, where the star is located — Ice-T took a moment to thank his biggest motivators and offer the audience some words of inspiration.
“Last but not least… I wanna thank the muthafuckin’ haters,” he proclaimed. “‘Cause you really make me get up in the morning and be the best I can be. All the naysayers, all the people that wanted to end my career; now I’m on the Walk of Fame, bitch ass muthafuckas. And that’s the motivation!
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“You gotta let them haters motivate you,” he continued. “If you wanna go in the gym, go on the YouTube, see somebody talking shit about you, then go get your reps in, you understand what I’m sayin’? If it wasn’t for the haters, I definitely wouldn’t have pulled this off, I swear to God! Thank you SO much, Imma give you so much more to hate in the future, trust me.”
