For readers or listeners of Sister Souljah’s No Disrespect, Nathan McCall’s Makes Me Wanna Holler, The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and Monster by Sanyika Shakur comes the definitive memoir from Ice-T, the acclaimed rapper and actor known for telling it like it is.
Ice-T offers his hip-hop generation’s Horatio Alger story: the narrative of an orphaned child who, drawn inexorably into a harrowing life of crime, ultimately turns away from the streets and, through self-discipline and a single-minded work ethic, forges a path to international fame as a musician and film-and-television star.
Ice-T was born Tracy Marrow in New Jersey. As an only child whose parents died when he was very young, he became involved in Los Angeles gangs before spending four years in the army. He released a string of groundbreaking West Coast rap records and formed the thrash-metal band Body Count. He currently stars as Detective Fin Tutuola on Law & Order: SVU.
©2011 Tracy Marrow (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.
“In this intriguing memoir, groundbreaking rapper and actor Ice-T chronicles his rise from nomadic criminal to hip-hop star…. Ice-T is a canny businessman, and he charts clearly the decisions that brought him up each step of a very treacherous ladder.” (Publishers Weekly)
"I have a whole new respect for this man!"
Absolutely. He is brutally honest and writes with style and swagger. Also, while my husband never got in to crime (thank God!) there are so many similarities with them. When Ice says "I shouldn't have lived past 21" it really struck a chord with me. I remember at my husband's 10 year class reunion (32 years ago) people were telling him, "I thought you'd be dead by now!" Like Ice, my husband has swagger, the most important thing to my husband is his family, and he has worked hard for everything he's gotten - just like Ice. He even sort of resembles Ice! Several times throughout the book, I felt like Ice and my husband could be friends. I am encouraging my husband to listen to it also.
I love how he tells it all, no holds barred. He goes in to every aspect of where he started and how he got where he is.
Ice T of course
Much of it moved me, I teared up several times. But I literally laughed out loud when he talks about confronting his son when the son came to Arizona for his visit on Spring Break. Without giving away WHAT they talked about, the way Ice tells it is hysterical.
I also admire how he talks about Sharon Osborne. Who would have ever thought (not knowing any of them personally) that someone like Ice would see Sharon in the perspective he does AND be willing to say it publicly. I really respect him after hearing his book.
Just a total sidebar. If you have a chance to share it with Ice, please do. I looked up on line Darlene Ortiz. Yes, a beautiful woman. But I was disgusted by all the negative comments people said about Coco on that particular website. Ice describes Coco as a "Human Jessica Rabbit". He says it with love and pride. Coco certainly isn't shaped like the average girl, but so what! She is ADORABLE. Ice loves her just as she is, so all the mean people should keep their comments to themselves. If they like how Darlene looks - she is gorgeous too - then say that. But leave Coco out of it. Coco and Ice are wonderful together and I hope they continue their lives together forever.
funkyman33
"Outstanding Biography"
Wow! This is a really outstanding biography of a rapper/performed who had an incredibly interesting life. It was compelling, sad, exciting and very personal. I'm actually surprised about how personal the bio gets - he doesn't shy away from talk about his kids, ex-partners, etc. The reader is crisp and very appropriate to stand in for Ice. Highly recommended!
"He gave it to us raw as he could."
A legends memoir
Tracy was my favorite in the book because he did what I think I would have at least tried to do in so many of those situations. He's a real dude and real recognize real.
The feeling of being told a story firsthand. Most people enjoy being enthusiastically told a story rather than just reading it. It brings it to life.
Cameleon Hustle! Because his hustle adapted when and as it was and continues to be demanded to.
A good listen. I appreciate the candor of the early years self image.
"Great read from a person who climbed to the top"
This book would rank in my top 6 books right now.
This story Ice told was very fascinating & a-lot to be learned from his words to his actions on certain deeds, which he obviously made the correct choices.
I have never listened to him before to compare. N/A
That honestly depends on my mood, but this book I read in multiple parts, although it does keep your attention.
Nice read into Ice-T's life & decisions & certain stuff he overcame to be a very respectable man.
"Great book"
Yes I think I would
Ice t's honesty
He was good but I think it would have been better if ice t read it
Yes it kept me drawn in
No
Just BADBOY being BADBOY
"COOL AS ICE"
TRULY a great book on his life really not as much as a banger I thought he was but great story narrated sounded just like T and now the book got me hooked on Law and Order SUV Thanks T for sharing your life.
I am a retired Histology Technician. My time is spent reading, bird watching, surfing the web, scrapbooking and card making.
"The Ice-T you never knew."
Though Ice-T is no stand out among the audiobook authors and narrators I gave his book a four star rating. His autobiography is written in a straight forward and sincere manner which makes you believe he is giving an honest assessment of his life and the conversational tone of the book adds to its authenticity. The book's gritty, x-rated street language can be hard to listen to, but, rather than being offensive it gives the story realism. Ice-T does not gloss over the violence of the criminal or gang aspects of his youth. He paints a vivid picture of the environment he spent many years in. He speaks of his parents, his band, his rapping, his acting and of his family life.
If you do not like the distinctive sound of Ice-T's voice or are offended by the 'f word' this book is not for you. If you want to learn more about Ice-T without being subjected to a Hollywood tell all book of sex and meanness than you will be glad you chose Ice's down to earth story. I was.
"Even if you love Ice - don't bother"
The narration of this book is horrible and really brought down the performance/story of Ice-T. It's as if the direction to the narrator was "read this book, make sure you say every syllable, do not read smoothly and naturally" because that is how Mirron Willis narrated this book. At times the narrator starts a flow, a natural way of reading/speaking - and then it's cut off, as if edited by the director. It's an awful way to listen to a book. I must've stopped listening three times wanting to just quit the book, but Ice's story pulled me back in. Why Ice didn't narrate this book himself is the biggest question of all. I didn't realize how much I wanted to hear him read his own words.
Ice T is real. I grew up in SoCal during the same time period Ice T came on the scene. I have followed his career for a long while and appreciated listening to his stories: where he came from, his real street credentials, and his pimp and ho theories. I passed on many of the stories to my husband and friends, good stuff there.
Horrible, unnatural, unfeeling. At times he falls into a smooth rhythm only to stop and go back to a stoic read. Mirron Willis is obviously African American, and at one point he reads a a line or two as a white man. Ice wrote this to show Charlton Heston didn't know what he was talking about when he spoke the Cop Killer lyrics at the Time Warner board meeting - essentially as a nerdy statement. But Mr. Willis' performance is so poor it's hard to tell the difference.
If I was editor I would fire Mirron Willis and hire Ice T, who should've narrated this book!
I'd like a refund.
Commuter with lots of time to listen to audiobooks to keep from road ragin'. Not that I would ever endorse or have been guilty of road rage.
"Cool as Ice"
the narrator was not that great. He tried to sound like a "gangsta". I would have preferred Ice T narrate it himself.
None that I can think of.
His voice just didn't fit the writing of Ice T.
Not really. I don't think it would be worth watching.
I like to listen to the music and/or videos that has been mentioned to enhance the overall theme of the book.
"Brilliant"
He is so open and tell the truth
the insight of his life
he make me think it was Ice talking
no