Ice T and Ice Cube are two of the most influential and successful rappers of all time. They both rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 1990s as pioneers of the gangsta rap genre, which depicted the harsh realities of life in the inner cities of Los Angeles. They both also transitioned to acting careers, starring in movies and TV shows that showcased their charisma and talent. But are they related by blood or by name? Here is the truth behind the rap legends.
Ice T and Ice Cube: The Origins of Their Stage Names
Ice T was born Tracy Lauren Marrow on February 16, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey. He moved to Los Angeles, California, to live with his paternal aunt after the death of his father while he was in the sixth grade; his mother had died earlier when he was in the third grade. His aunt lived in the South Los Angeles district of Crenshaw, colloquially referred to as South Central. He became immersed in the street life of the inner-city and eventually became a member of the West Side Rollin 30s Original Harlem Crips.
Ice T became interested in hip-hop in his early teens and took to writing lyrics. After beginning the rap group C.I.A. (Cru’ in Action!) and performing with it for some time, and while still in school at George Washington Preparatory High School, he sold his first song to rapper Eazy-E and Ruthless Records. The song, originally titled “The Boyz-n-the-Hood,” was passed over by one rap group before being recorded by Eazy-E himself. The result was a major success as both Eazy-E’s first single and as the first collaboration between future N.W.A members Ice T, Eazy-E, producer and rapper Dr. Dre, and producer DJ Yella.
Ice T has credited his elder brother, Clyde, with the conception of his stage name; when they were children, Clyde threatened to put his younger brother into the freezer until he became an ice cube. He later changed it to Ice T as a homage to the fabled pimp and raconteur Iceberg Slim (Robert Beck), an ex-pimp turned author whose novels detailed the hard life of the criminal underworld.
Ice Cube was born O’Shea Jackson on June 15, 1969, in Los Angeles, California, the son of hospital clerk and custodian Doris and machinist and UCLA groundskeeper Hosea Jackson. He has an older brother, and they had a half-sister who was murdered when Cube was 12. He is the cousin of fellow rappers Del tha Funky Homosapien and Kam.
Ice Cube formed his first rap group called C.I.A. in 1986. In 1987, with Eazy-E and Dr. Dre, he formed the gangsta rap group N.W.A. As its lead rapper, he wrote some of Dre’s and most of Eazy’s lyrics on Straight Outta Compton, a landmark album that shaped West Coast hip hop’s early identity and helped differentiate it from East Coast rap. N.W.A was also known for their violent lyrics, threatening to attack abusive police and innocent civilians alike, which stirred controversy.
Ice Cube chose his stage name as a reference to his childhood nickname “Cube”, which he got from his older brother who would often tease him by saying he would put him in a freezer until he became an ice cube.
Ice T and Ice Cube: The Relationship Between Them
Ice T and Ice Cube are not related by blood or by name. They are friends and collaborators who share a mutual respect and admiration for each other’s work. They have appeared together on several occasions, such as on Ice T’s talk show with his wife Coco, where they shared stories of how their names are often mixed up by fans. They have also collaborated on music projects, such as on Ice Cube’s 1990 album AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted, where Ice T provided vocals on the track “Turn Off The Radio”. They have also performed together live at various events, such as at Coachella in 2016 , where they joined forces with other West Coast rap legends like Snoop Dogg and MC Ren.
Ice T and Ice Cube have also supported each other’s acting careers, praising each other’s performances and roles. Ice T has starred in movies like New Jack City (1991), Surviving The Game (1994), and TV shows like Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-present), where he plays Detective Odafin Tutuola. Ice Cube has starred in movies like Boyz n The Hood (1991), Friday (1995), Barbershop (2002), 21 Jump Street (2012), Ride Along (2014), and the biopic Straight Outta Compton (2015), where he was portrayed by his son O’Shea Jackson Jr.
Ice T and Ice Cube: The Legacy of Their Rap Careers
Ice T and Ice Cube are widely regarded as two of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time. They both played a major role in the creation and popularization of the gangsta rap genre, which gave a voice to the oppressed and marginalized communities of the inner cities. They both used their lyrics to expose the social and political issues that plagued their neighborhoods, such as police brutality, racism, poverty, drugs, and violence. They both also used their music to express their anger, frustration, and defiance against the system that oppressed them.
Ice T and Ice Cube are also known for their political consciousness, as they often criticized the government and the establishment for their corruption and hypocrisy. They both also addressed topics such as black nationalism, Afrocentrism, and self-empowerment in their songs. Some of their most notable albums include Ice T’s Rhyme Pays (1987), Power (1988), O.G. Original Gangster (1991), and Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992).
Ice T and Ice Cube are also recognized for their innovation and versatility, as they both experimented with different styles and genres of music. Ice T co-founded the heavy metal band Body Count, which he introduced on his 1991 rap album O.G. Original Gangster, on the track titled “Body Count”. The band released its self-titled debut album in 1992, which featured the controversial song “Cop Killer”, which sparked a nationwide debate over freedom of speech and censorship. Ice Cube also ventured into other genres of music, such as funk, soul, R&B, and rock, collaborating with artists like George Clinton, Bootsy Collins, Korn, and Limp Bizkit.
Conclusion
Ice T and Ice Cube are not related by blood or by name, but they are related by rap. They are two of the most influential figures in hip hop history, who have shaped the culture and the industry with their music and their message. They are both legends in their own right, who have transcended rap and become successful actors and entrepreneurs. They are both icons of the West Coast rap scene, who have inspired generations of rappers and fans alike. They are both Ice, but they are not the same.
