Rap it in metal
Body Count
By Body Count
Warner Bros Records
Available on CD and cassette
Reviewed by Alex Young
This is an interesting album combining heavy, grinding guitar-oriented music with all the attitude and lyrical content of the meanest of mean rapsters.
Ice-T will surprise many of his fans with this change in style, but it is also extremely good. Ice-T has obviously put some thought into this and found some very talented musicians. It shows.
A plus is that Body Count have rejected the stereotype that rap is for blacks and rock is for whites. This album is for both.
But not for everyone. "Cop Killer", "Momma's Gotta Die Tonight", "KKK Bitch" — even the names are enough to have created an uproar and raised the threat of censorship. Most of the songs are truthful and deal with real-life issues such as police brutality — which is what upsets the would-be censors.
There are problems with parts of the album, one being Ice-T's belief in using violence to solve a problem, when in reality it usually just makes things worse. And his very sexist attitude is still seen in songs like "Evil Dick" and "KKK Bitch".
After battling for some time over "Cop Killer", Ice-T has consented to taking the song off future pressings of Body Count. He stresses that the only reason was because of threats to Warner Bros and its associates, but many feel he has copped out (pardon the pun) on his beliefs.
If you're a metal fan you'll enjoy the album, and if you're a rap fan you'll enjoy it too. Body Count are a good, rocking band who are easily up there with the likes of Fishbone and Living Colour.