Ice

A Memoir of Gangster Life and Redemption - from South Central to Hollywood

By: Douglas Century

Narrated by: Mirron Willis

Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

Critic reviews

“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!

Would you listen to Ice again? Why?

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.

What did you like best about this story?

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.

Which character – as performed by Mirron Willis – was your favorite?

Ice T of course

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

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.

Any additional comments?

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.

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!

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.

It's a pay to play world.

If you could sum up Ice in three words, what would they be?

He thinks big.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Ice?

The army story. This guy just didn't box himself into any corner or a fixed identity.

Which character – as performed by Mirron Willis – was your favorite?

Wasn't really that kind of book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

There is a winner born every minute.

Any additional comments?

I love a success story, a comeback kid, and lucky people. I too had to come up from under privileged and disadvantaged roots. Although I have never had a goal to be rich or famous, I have made my goals also. I understood a lot of what was said, and what wasn't said. The life he led and the choices he made, is a success story. And evidence that you can rise above it all. His story gives promise and hope to others. He has proven people can and do shape shift. It is an ability.

Whole new perspective on Ice

This is a great book about coming up in the streets and working hard to get where Ice is today. I have respect for this man and what he's done/doing with his life. Well worth the listen!

Even if you love Ice - don't bother

What would have made Ice better?

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.

What did you like best about this story?

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.

What didn’t you like about Mirron Willis’s performance?

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 you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Ice?

If I was editor I would fire Mirron Willis and hire Ice T, who should've narrated this book!

Any additional comments?

I'd like a refund.

He gave it to us raw as he could.

If you could sum up Ice in three words, what would they be?

A legends memoir

Who was your favorite character and why?

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.

What does Mirron Willis bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

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.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Cameleon Hustle! Because his hustle adapted when and as it was and continues to be demanded to.

Any additional comments?

A good listen. I appreciate the candor of the early years self image.

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.

A full life in a brilliant story.

I wish that Ice-T read this himself. Mr. Willis does a better than expected job, but I was thrown by the weird way he pronounces "Rakim" and "Technics". Otherwise a good story read well.

Great book

What made the experience of listening to Ice the most enjoyable?

thought this book reminded me alot of myself growin up in the hood,

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Hustle Hard