Ice-T
AVA Amphitheatre
Tucson, AZ
August 20, 2022
by Mary Andrews
This is the tenth year anniversary of the “Art of Rap” show. It was designed to show hip-hop as an art form. The tour consists of top level artists that have made their mark with platinum records and hit the adult hip-hop audience that still loves that music. At the top of the list of the artists on the tour is Ice-T.
Ice-T is a very busy man and has been for a long time. He is still filming “Law and Order: SVU, in its 23rd season, performs rap shows with and without his band Body Count and produces other artists. Of course, he writes, records, and releases platinum selling albums in his spare time. Ice-T is a lyricist as evidenced by his core descriptions of life in the neighborhood where he grew up.
The megastar grew up in LA and garnered an appreciation for metal rock music since he was exposed to all types of rock music from an early age. This explains his involvement with the rock band Body Count. He explained, “I’m from the era of Run-DMC, Beastie Boys, MW way, and TuPac Shakur. Like Shakur, Ice-T’s music centers around a movement against inequality.
Ice-T had a lot to say during the show. He began with, ”I’ve been to Tucson many times. And every time I come back, it gets a little more gangsta. I’m thankful you guys showed up. The crowd has a lot to do with how we perform. I’m old school. I’m proud to be old school. This may be the only time that you can actually hear every word a rapper is sayin.’ “
He asked a fan in the front what his age was. The fan replied, he was 15. “In all due respect, when I was your age, you were still floating around in your daddy’s ball sac.Your daddy probably came to one of my shows back then. He was right in front row like you are. He had his balls right against the speaker.”
Ice-T is about as candid as an entertainer can can get on stage. When a fan asked for an autograph in the middle of the show, Ice-T responded, “Don’t ask me for a *—“ autograph in the middle of the “—“ show. Don’t embarrass yourself. I love you girl but don’t think I’m going to pick you out of the crowd and sign an autograph. (I) sign autographs after the GD show. “
Later he mentioned, “I’m a player and players take their MF time. Gangsta rap had a lot of different elements to it. One was nasty records. You f——n’ love TuPac Shakur and Too Live Crew. Well, Ice-T was known for that nasty shit too.“
The rapper spoke of Body Count. “Body Count is in studio right now working on a new album. The last one was called Carnivore and it got a Grammy for best metal performance. Niggars don’t win Grammys for heavy metal. I’m enjoying this shit right now.There’s a rumor out that Ice-T does not like new school rap. I have no problem with new school rap. I just hate wack “mf” right? Some of these niggars is wack!”
He, then, instructed the crowd, “Put your hands up and chant , ‘Yeah mother f**ker!” It was a very obedient crowd. Ice-T had a seemingly constant discourse with the fans in the crowd. “Some of y’all are so young, you don’t know my life story. My life story is in the song “That’s How I’m Livin.’ He proceeded to perform the song.
The stage crew identified the biggest Ice-T fan in the front row. They brought him on stage and Ice-T asked him what OG means. The fan didn’t know. OG stands for ‘original gangsta’ in case he ever asks.
Ice-T has been rapping longer than his present and past contemporaries. He still electrifies a big crowd like no other rapper.
For a set list, click here
You must be logged in to post a comment.