Ice T's gangster style

Ice T's gangster style

Home Invasion

Available on cassette and CD

Distributed by Virgin Records

Reviewed by John-Paul Nassif

Ice T, the "nigga that won't be silenced", has released a new rap album with which to upset the pigs, the Gores and Charlton Heston.

The album has a variety of styles, some of which are very original, including a track from the Trespass soundtrack, "Depths of Hell", which tells of Ice T's rise to fame and fortune despite adversity.

Tracks such as "G-Style" (Gangster Style), "That's how I'm livin'" and "Race War" epitomise the eloquence and incisiveness of the Ice T we all know and love; they display astute humour, cynicism, pragmatic street knowledge, introspection and relentless political opinion. However, a track which particularly impressed me was "Message to the Soldier":

"Take notes from the ganstas in trench coats / Grey suits, black ties and they seek votes / and you're not to be misled / They'll kill ya in ya fuckin' bed."

He later goes on to rap:

"Now they killed King / And they shot X / Now they want me / You could be next / All ya gotta do is speak too loud / All ya gotta do is be too proud / 'Cause once they know who you are and where you're at / Ya betta watch your back."

This song alone makes Home Invasion a notable album. The song "99 Problems" is perhaps its biggest flaw, as it is overtly sexist.

From GLW issue 102