Tracy Lauren Marrow, better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American rapper working in both the hip hop and heavy metal genres, as well as a songwriter, actor, and producer. He began his career as an underground rapper in the 1980s and was signed to Sire Records in 1987, when he released his debut album Rhyme Pays. The following year, he founded the record label Rhyme $yndicate Records and released another album, Power (1988), which would go platinum. He also released several other albums that went gold, including The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say! (1989), O.G. Original Gangster (1991) and Home Invasion (1993).
Rhyme Pays is the debut studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released on July 28, 1987, by Sire Records. The album peaked at number 93 on the US Billboard 200 and number 23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
John David Jackson, known professionally as Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition while still a senior in high school, when he performed live on American music executive DJ Clue's radio show, then on Hot 97. Jackson subsequently signed to DJ Clue's Desert Storm imprint, and later secured a distribution deal with major-label, Elektra. Jackson gained prominence with his first release, Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ". His second release was 2003's Street Dreams, which was supported by two US top 10 singles, "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You".
The Black Album is the eighth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 14, 2003, through Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. It was advertised as his final album before retiring, which is also a recurring theme throughout the songs, although Jay-Z resumed his recording career in 2005. For the album, Jay-Z wanted to enlist a different producer for each song, working with Just Blaze, Kanye West, The Neptunes, Eminem, DJ Quik, Timbaland, 9th Wonder and Rick Rubin, among others. The album also features a guest appearance by Pharrell Williams.
Donald Lamont, professionally known by his stage name Donald-D, is an American rapper and record producer from the Bronx, New York. He is a member of the Universal Zulu Nation, a member of the B-Boys, and is best known as a member of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate.
O.G. Original Gangster is the fourth studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released May 14, 1991, by Sire Records. Recording took place from July 1990 to January 1991 in Los Angeles. Its production was handled by seven producers: Afrika Islam, Beatmaster V, Bilal Bashir, DJ Aladdin, Nat the Cat, SLJ and Ice-T himself, who also served as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Body Count, Prince Whipper Whip and various Rhyme Syndicate artists, such as Donald D, Evil E and Randy Mac.
Home Invasion is the fifth studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released on March 23, 1993, via Rhyme $yndicate/Priority Records. It was originally set for release in 1992 as part of his deal with Sire/Warner Bros. Records, and supposed to be his first official release through his own Rhyme $yndicate record label, now in full control of the content as part of a new distribution deal with Priority Records.
Return of the Funky Man is the second studio album by American hip hop recording artist Lord Finesse of Diggin' in the Crates Crew. It was released on February 11, 1992 via Warner Bros. subsidiary label Giant Records. Production was handled by seven record producers, including Diamond D, Showbiz, DJ Aladdin, SLJ, Latif, Petawane, and Lord Finesse himself. It also features guest appearances provided by A.G., Percee P, Harry-O and Shelrumble. The album peaked at number 95 on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and its self-titled single made it to number 13 on the Hot Rap Songs.
"Theme from S.W.A.T." is an instrumental song written by Barry De Vorzon and performed by American funk group Rhythm Heritage, released on their debut album Disco-Fied. It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart in the United States on the chart date of February 28, 1976.
IV Life is the fourth studio album by American West Coast hip hop artist King Tee. It was released on March 28, 1995 via MCA Records, making it his first album on the label after his split with Capitol Records. Production was handled by several record producers, including DJ Pooh, Moe Love, TR Love, Grand Mixer DXT, E-Swift, DJ Broadway, Mark Sparks, Rashad, Thayod, Da Mic Profesah, Nikke Nicole, SLJ, and King Tee himself. It also features guest appearances from Xzibit, Breeze, and Tha Alkaholiks. The album spawned three singles: "Dippin'"/"Duck", "Way Out There"/"Super Nigga" and "Free Style Ghetto"/"Let's Get It On", but only "Dippin'" made it to Billboard charts, reaching number 46 on the Hot Rap Songs.
Ice-T VI: Return of the Real is the sixth studio album by American rapper Ice-T. It was released on June 4, 1996, via Rhyme $yndicate/Priority Records. The title is a play on words based on the movie Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi, with the "VI" referring to it being his sixth album. Production was handled by several record producers, including Aquel, Big Rich, DJ Ace, Dre MC, E-A-Ski, Hen-Gee, Mad Rome, San Man, SLJ, Trials Of Flowalistics, and Ice-T himself. It also features guest appearances from Hot Dolla, Powerlord JEL, Mr. Wesside, Godfather of Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E., Sean E. Sean of Body Count, Deft Saplin, K-Wiz Spurt, and Angela Rollins.
"You Played Yourself" is a song performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released on April 5, 1990, as a single from the rapper's third studio album The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say through Sire Records. The song was written and produced by Ice-T and Afrika Islam, who sampled James Brown's "The Boss", which was written by James Brown, Charles Bobbit and Fred Wesley. The single peaked at number 64 in the UK.
American Gangster is the tenth studio album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was conceived as a concept album—inspired by the 2007 film of the same name—and was released on November 6 of that year through Roc-A-Fella Records. The album features production from Diddy & the Hitmen, Just Blaze, and the Neptunes, among others. It also includes guest appearances by Beanie Sigel, Lil Wayne, Pharrell, and Nas. The album's production is built around 1970s soul and funk, with instruments featured on the album played by professional musicians including, horns, string arrangements, drummers, and unconventional percussion created with bottles. The album's theme is based around the gangster lifestyle, the American Dream, and Jay-Z's memories of growing up in Brooklyn, New York's Marcy.
"Lethal Weapon" is a song by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released on September 21, 1989 as a single from the rapper's third studio album The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say through Sire Records. The song was written and produced by Ice-T and Afrika Islam, who used a sample from Little Royal and The Swingmasters' "Razor Blade". The single peaked at number 22 in New Zealand and number 98 in the UK.
"High Rollers" is a song by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released on January 20, 1989, through Sire Records, as the second single from the rapper's sophomore studio album Power. Recording sessions took place at Syndicate Studios West and at Entourage Studios in Hollywood, California. Written and produced by Ice-T and Afrika Islam, the single did not reached the Billboard Hot 100, however, it made it to number 76 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 9 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States. It also peaked at number 38 in New Zealand and number 63 on the UK Singles Chart. Music video was directed by Mitchell Sinoway.
"I Ain't New Ta This" is a song performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released as the first single from the rapper's fifth studio album Home Invasion. The song was produced by Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow, Shafiq "SLJ" Husayn and Alphonso "DJ Aladdin" Henderson, and released on April 14, 1993 via Rhyme $yndicate Records. The single peaked at number 62 in the UK and number 49 in New Zealand.
"New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released as a single from the soundtrack album to the 1991 film New Jack City and from the rapper's fourth studio album O.G. Original Gangster. It was recorded at Wide Tracks Recording Studio in Hollywood, California, produced by Alphonso "DJ Aladdin" Henderson and Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow, and released in 1991 via Warner Bros. Records. Reaching a peak position of number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the single remained on the chart for a total of 8 weeks. The single was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at 34th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out".
"I Must Stand" is a song by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released on April 9, 1996 as a single from the rapper's sixth studio album Ice-T VI: Return of the Real through Rhyme $yndicate Records/Priority Records/Virgin Records. The song was written and produced by Ice-T and Santiago "San Man" Sanguillen. The single peaked at number 83 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 23 on the Hot Rap Songs charts in the United States, and also reached number 23 and number 43 in the UK and Switzerland respectively. "I Must Stand" was later included in the rapper's greatest hits album Greatest Hits: The Evidence.
"That's How I'm Livin'" is a song performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released as the second single from the rapper's fifth studio album Home Invasion. The song was produced by Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow, Shafiq "SLJ" Husayn and Alphonso "DJ Aladdin" Henderson, and released via Rhyme $yndicate Records on September 21, 1993 in the United States, and on December 16, 1993 in the United Kingdom. The single peaked at number 21 in the UK, and later was included in the rapper's greatest hits album Greatest Hits: The Evidence.
"The Lane" is a song by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released in 1996 as a single from the rapper's sixth studio album Ice-T VI: Return of the Real through Rhyme $yndicate Records/Virgin Records. The song was written and produced by Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow and Richard "DJ Ace" Ascencio. The single peaked at number 18 in the UK. "The Lane " was later included in the rapper's greatest hits album Greatest Hits: The Evidence.
