Ice-T Brings Back Body Count, Explains New Album ‘Manslaughter’ Aims To Remind Kids ‘Rock Can Still Be Dangerous’

Given his performance on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for the past 16 years, it's hard to remember that Ice-T was once a rapper and musician... and a very successful one, at that. Following a fruitful run as a hip-hop star, "OG" turned to thrash metal and started up the now famous Body Count, which of course, brought the infamous track "Cop Killer" and a whole heap of publicity along the way.

And now, the band is back with their first album in over eight years, Manslaughter.

Frontman Ice-T recently spoke with Rolling Stone about the new record, saying his main hope with Manslaughter is to remind today's younger generations that rock can still be dangerous.

On one track titled "Pop Bubble," the band touches on the popularity of what Ice-T calls "pop-rap."

"Nobody is singing about anything. We live in a delusional state of music," he tells the mag. "So as a rapper first, I couldn't make an album without addressing hip-hop. I don't know what the f--k they're singing about."

Elsewhere in the interview, Ice-T claims that among the many, many artists creating "pop-rap" today, he believes guys such as Lupe Fiasco and Kendrick Lamar will help the genre progress. "I think Kendrick Lamar's album is an important rap album, because that kid is young, he gets it, he's lyrical and he's saying something."

Also appearing the 2014's Manslaughter is a remake of Ice-T's 1993 "99 Problems," which Jay Z famously used for his track of the same name. When asked why have Body Count remake the song, Ice-T responded, "When we would do rehearsals, the band would always play "99 Problems," the music. And I would say the real vocals. We figured, "F--k it, we're doing an album. Let's do it like a skit." It was also meant to catch fans out there. When this record comes out, a lot of fans will go, "Oh that's Jay Z." And then their buddy gets to smack 'em in the face."

Sadly, Coco was mentioned nowhere in the interview, nor was his E! series Ice Loves Coco.

Manslaughter is now available for purchase.

Tags

Ice-T, Body Count, Rolling Stone