Ice-T, once subject of music bans, says stirring up public controversy isn’t worth the ‘hype’

Ice-T has some words of wisdom for the next generation of musicians about courting controversy. In a recent interview with guard, The 66-year-old rapper reflected on some of the controversial decisions he’s made throughout his profession. When asked about the 1992 song “Cop Killer” by his heavy metal band Body Count, Ice-T admitted that he regretted its release.

“I have a message for people,” he explained. “Anyone who thinks controversy is a strategy to earn money, it is not. You’re getting quite a bit of press, but now you wish lawyers.

Following the release of the band’s protest song, police organizations akin to the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) called for a boycott of the Warner Bros. production. Though law enforcement leaders claimed the song sparked racial tensions across the country, Ice-T recalls the “heat” the song generated.

“I never really questioned myself, but things got hot once they began sending bomb threats to Warner Bros. I threw a stone, that is what I care about,” he added. “But when other people can get hurt, it’s upsetting.”

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At the time, Ice-T responded to critics by explaining that in the song, he “sings in first person as a character who is fed up with police brutality.” Making it clear that he doesn’t support violence against police, the rapper emphasized that he has “never killed a cop” and that the song doesn’t encourage others to achieve this.

Ultimately, the musician decided to withdraw the song from all copies of his debut album Body Count after the studio’s management and shareholders received death threats. However, before making the announcement, Ice-T forced reporters to look at a 40-minute civil rights documentary, maintaining his views on law enforcement.

“I don’t understand why I should like the police,” he said during the announcement, per People Magazine. “None of my leaders liked them. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X. They were never friends of black people. When it involves those that do their job right, I actually have all the respect in the world for them. When it involves the violent, I’d moderately get rid of them before they get rid of me.

While some may call him “woke” for speaking publicly against police brutality, Ice-T simply sees his work as a musician and longtime actor in “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” – by which he mockingly depicts a policeman – to point out that he cares. In addition to having lawyers on standby in case of controversy, Ice-T also advises stars to “just don’t say something stupid and then take it back – if you’re going to say something, stand on it.”