Ice-T is set to be honored with his own star on the world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce announced on Tuesday (January 31) that the 64-year-old rapper/actor will receive his star during a ceremony at the tourist hotspot on February 17.
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Joining Ice-T at the event will be fellow Hip Hop pioneer Chuck D, Law & Order: Special Victims Units co-star Mariska Hargitay and Law & Order creator Dick Wolf as guest speakers.
Despite his long-running role in the police drama, Ice-T’s trailblazing music career is the reason for his inclusion on the Walk of Fame as he will be awarded the star in the category of Recording.
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“Ice-T is a cultural icon and a success both in the music and television industries. His fans will be very excited to see their favorite performer placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame,” Ana Martinez, producer of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, said in a statement.
“Ice’s star will be situated near the stars of music greats such as Thelonius Monk, Dizzy Gillespie, Luciano Pavarotti, Mama Cass Elliott, John Denver and Herbie Hancock, to name a few,” she added.
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Ice-T reacted to the news with pleasant surprise and reflected on the irony of being immortalized in the same neighborhood where he used to frequently run into legal trouble.
“When I think about how many times I got arrested in Hollywood…. This is a trip,” he wrote on Twitter.
Ice-T’s star will mark the 2,747th addition to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’ll become just the 11th Hip Hop act to receive a star following the likes of Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, LL COOL J, Diddy, Ice Cube, Pharrell, Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah.
The Newark, New Jersey native helped popularize gangsta rap in the mid to late ’80s with early releases such as “6 in the Mornin'” and O.G. Original Gangster, paving the way for the likes of N.W.A, Above the Law and the Geto Boys.
He was also one of the first rappers to crossover into the world of rock with his heavy metal band Body Count, whose controversial 1992 song “Cop Killer” famously resulted in protests against Time Warner, the parent company of the group’s label.
Even President George H. W. Bush and Vice President Dan Quayle publicly denounced the song, which was eventually removed from Body Count’s self-titled album at Ice-T’s request.
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Ice’s extensive acting résumé, meanwhile, includes credits in movies including New Jack City, Johnny Mnemonic and Sonic Impact. But he’s best known for portraying Sergeant Odafin “Fin” Tutuola on Law & Order: SVU — a role he’s held since 2000, making him the longest-running male actor in TV history.
