Ice-T

I've said it before and will do so again. I am East Coast hip hop all the way.

I have always been and most surely will always be. That doesn't mean hip hop from other parts of the globe didn't reach me.

As a teen, I was proud of my home-grown Cancon talent. Philly had DJs. Back then, the South wasn't saying much to me. That leaves us with the West Coast to talk about.


Ice-T is the first figure of West Coast hip hop for me and many of my generation. We knew about him before Rhyme Pays but unless your memory of Breakin' was vivid, you may have forgotten about that fact. He was also in Joeski Love's Pee Wee's Dance video.



Today, Ice-T can be seen on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He was recognized at the VH1 Hip Hop Honours.


I was reluctant to see Ice-T at Foufounes Electriques years ago but changed my mind. I decided it was worth seeing the hip hop legend in concert at least once in my life. The finale was bringing Coco on stage to prance around for a few minutes until he and entourage left the stage. Seeing Coco was worth the price of admission.



Like LL Cool J and Will Smith, Ice-T is in a class of old school hip hop artist that managed to rise above the recording career to mainstream success and visibility. I'm proud of his accomplishments but can't help but feel his status as West Coast's Godfather of Hip Hop may have suffered a little over the years. My generation knows Ice-T's legendary status and is aware of the classics he produced. After over 40 years in the game, he proved that rhyme does indeed pay.