Post by Trublu on Apr 28, 2007 18:38:31 GMT -5
Ice talks about defending himself against criticism and what the real problems are:
[limegreen]Actor takes on racism, critics[/limegreen]
Saturday, April 28, 2007
BY BARRY FOX
Of The Patriot-News
Ice T has lived a life.
A former gang member, he's been a pimp, an Army Ranger, a pioneering rapper, a film actor, a lecturer, an author and now one of the stars of NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
During his career, Ice T and his music have also been labeled as racist, sexist and violent.
Given that biography, what he thinks is the current root of America's ills is a bit surprising.
"You give a man a plasma TV and an Xbox 360, and he does not care about anything anymore," Ice T said last night at The Forum in Harrisburg. "We've gotten so comfortable we don't care. Everybody's got it good in America, and we don't care anymore."
Ice T was in town for a lecture and performance that were fundraisers for the Dauphin County Victim/Witness Assistance Program.
His past, his controversial 1992 song "Cop Killer," the lyrics on his most recent album and the fashion choices of his former Playmate wife, Coco, prompted the Dauphin County commissioners, the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence to publicly oppose the choice of Ice T, especially during National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
The event's organizers have said that his star power, credibility with young people and longtime anti-gang, anti-drug stance are the reasons they chose him.
Ice T has heard all the criticism and is more than prepared to explain what he's done and why he's done it.
"I'm far more seasoned at defending myself than you are at attacking me," he told the sparse crowd. "If you're going to attack me, have your [stuff] together."
During the 90-minute lecture and question and answer session, Ice T veered from subject to subject.
On inner-city life and the allure of gangs: "In the 'hood, masculinity is held at a premium. Masculinity and strength is all you got. ... In high school, I was intrigued by the power the gang had. The first time anyone told me they loved me was in a gang. My mother, my father, my aunt never said it."
On Don Imus and racially or ethnically charged phrases: "If it doesn't apply to you, don't use it. Stay inside your zone."
On making the transition from gang banger to rapper to actor: "I'm as square as a pool table and twice as green. I got into this to get out of trouble. I realized people are starting to like me, and I'm starting to turn this infamy into fame."
On the 15-year-old "Cop Killer" controversy: "Calling me a cop killer is like calling David Bowie an astronaut. You sometimes have to adopt a persona to make a point."
On the current state of hip-hop: "I don't think hip-hop is dead. It's whack. It's not about anything. It's all hype. It's all hook. I'd like to see an 18-year-old KRS-One reborn, a 19-year-old Chuck D."
On racism: "I'm not racist. I hate people who hate people."
On being shot twice: "It hurts. Don't try it."
He left the stage with one more bit of wisdom -- "Don't think everything I think because then only one of us is thinking."
***
Ice is too cool. He takes the criticism in stride and then turns around and gives back.
[limegreen]Actor takes on racism, critics[/limegreen]
Saturday, April 28, 2007
BY BARRY FOX
Of The Patriot-News
Ice T has lived a life.
A former gang member, he's been a pimp, an Army Ranger, a pioneering rapper, a film actor, a lecturer, an author and now one of the stars of NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
During his career, Ice T and his music have also been labeled as racist, sexist and violent.
Given that biography, what he thinks is the current root of America's ills is a bit surprising.
"You give a man a plasma TV and an Xbox 360, and he does not care about anything anymore," Ice T said last night at The Forum in Harrisburg. "We've gotten so comfortable we don't care. Everybody's got it good in America, and we don't care anymore."
Ice T was in town for a lecture and performance that were fundraisers for the Dauphin County Victim/Witness Assistance Program.
His past, his controversial 1992 song "Cop Killer," the lyrics on his most recent album and the fashion choices of his former Playmate wife, Coco, prompted the Dauphin County commissioners, the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence to publicly oppose the choice of Ice T, especially during National Crime Victims' Rights Week.
The event's organizers have said that his star power, credibility with young people and longtime anti-gang, anti-drug stance are the reasons they chose him.
Ice T has heard all the criticism and is more than prepared to explain what he's done and why he's done it.
"I'm far more seasoned at defending myself than you are at attacking me," he told the sparse crowd. "If you're going to attack me, have your [stuff] together."
During the 90-minute lecture and question and answer session, Ice T veered from subject to subject.
On inner-city life and the allure of gangs: "In the 'hood, masculinity is held at a premium. Masculinity and strength is all you got. ... In high school, I was intrigued by the power the gang had. The first time anyone told me they loved me was in a gang. My mother, my father, my aunt never said it."
On Don Imus and racially or ethnically charged phrases: "If it doesn't apply to you, don't use it. Stay inside your zone."
On making the transition from gang banger to rapper to actor: "I'm as square as a pool table and twice as green. I got into this to get out of trouble. I realized people are starting to like me, and I'm starting to turn this infamy into fame."
On the 15-year-old "Cop Killer" controversy: "Calling me a cop killer is like calling David Bowie an astronaut. You sometimes have to adopt a persona to make a point."
On the current state of hip-hop: "I don't think hip-hop is dead. It's whack. It's not about anything. It's all hype. It's all hook. I'd like to see an 18-year-old KRS-One reborn, a 19-year-old Chuck D."
On racism: "I'm not racist. I hate people who hate people."
On being shot twice: "It hurts. Don't try it."
He left the stage with one more bit of wisdom -- "Don't think everything I think because then only one of us is thinking."
***
Ice is too cool. He takes the criticism in stride and then turns around and gives back.