Retrospective Review: Power by Ice-T
Ice-T’s second album showcases his razor-sharp lyrics and how crime does not pay.
Ice-T is recognized as one of hip-hop’s most experienced and admired rappers. After creating electro-drenched festive rhythms from the early to mid-‘80s, he produced his certified Gold premiere Rhyme Pays in 1987, one of the pioneering works of gangsta rap. Writers like Iceberg Slim shaped Ice-T’s music and lyrics and works like Lightnin’ Rod’s Hustlers Convention. Amid these works’ glamorous and fashionable elements, there’s always a hidden message illustrating the high stakes of illegal conduct. Ice-T persistently insists that much of his wealth was accrued through illicit means before he pursued rapping, making him keenly conscious of the many dangers lying in wait for those turning to criminal activity to make ends meet.
He made a significant impact when he produced “Colors,” the central track from the 1988 movie of the same title. The film was one of the initial ones to delve into gang conflict throughout Los Angeles, and Ice-T took the opportunity to use the song to illustrate the perils and mortality associated with gang membership. He continued this attitude throughout the production of Power, Ice-T’s second album.
Songs such as “Drama” serve to emphasize a poignant message. This exceptionally somber track portrays Ice as a street criminal who has recently completed a prison sentence and is seeking revenge on the streets. Brash and under the influence of illicit substances, he and his crew navigate the neighborhood, carrying out drive-by shootings against their enemies and burglarizing warehouses filled with electronic goods. However, his reign of terror ends when he is again apprehended, convicted, and sentenced to death row.
The song’s final verse resembles a version from the ‘80s of the previously mentioned Hustlers Convention, albeit without any redemption. Ice ruefully reflects on the choices he has made in his life, rapping,
“I have been a mere puppet within the larger game, a product of the institution / I would not be in this predicament had I nourished my intellect.”
He then proceeds to expound upon how the harsh reality of prison strips away the humanity of all incarcerated individuals.
Additionally, Power owes a considerable portion of its success to the production expertise of Zulu Nation O.G. Afrika Islam, who oversaw the entire album. Other tracks on the album assume a political undertone and showcase Ice-T, imparting knowledge on how to forge a path outside the boundaries of criminality. The album’s eponymous track delves into the intricate dynamics of power as Ice-T relentlessly endeavors to influence his audience through his music. At times, Ice-T diverts his attention from neighborhood politics and delves into crafting exceptional music. “I’m Your Pusher,” the album’s debut single, is one of the initial tracks to draw parallels between the rap industry and the narcotics trade.
The album includes the provocative track “Girls L.G.B.N.F.” Ice-T deliberately opts for minimalist production, delivering rhymes about engaging in explicit sexual encounters over a simple drum track and The Pointer Sisters’ “Yes We Can Can” guitar sample. According to Ice-T in Check the Technique, the song subtly mocks LL Cool J for his more romantic tracks with “I Need Love,” contrasting Ice-T’s preference for explicit expressions of sexual desire.
Power concludes with “Soul On Ice,” a cautionary tale inspired by Iceberg Slim, deriving its name from Eldridge Cleaver’s 1960s essay collection. Ice-T performs an extended spoken-word piece over Les McCann’s “Harlem Buck Dance Strut,” recounting a supposed day of triumph as he prepares to abandon his past life of drug dealing and hustling. Despite exuding invincibility, he eventually succumbs to an unnamed assassin’s bullet just as he is about to leave his criminal life behind.
Over the past three-and-a-half decades since the release of Power, Ice-T’s life has undergone significant changes. He has dedicated over two-thirds of that time to his acting career, notably as a cast member on Law & Order: SVU and in various film roles. He has also remained musically active, releasing approximately ten albums as a solo rapper or with the group Body Count. In 2021, his band won a GRAMMY Award for Best Metal Performance. Furthermore, he resolved his feud with LL Cool J many years ago and joined forces on the F.O.R.C.E. tour together.