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Q&A with Ice T, narrator of the ISO's 'Langston Hughes Project'
Posted: Jun 11, 2008 in Things to do, Culture, Music
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During the last months of George H.W. Bush's term as president of the United States in 1992, Ice T outraged the establishment with the song "Cop Killer."
Lyrics including "I'm 'bout to dust some cops off" sparked the controversy, even after the provocative rapper, then frontman for the band Body Count, explained that the song was a lament over police brutality. Vice President Dan Quayle blasted Time-Warner for releasing an obscene record.
Now, Ice T is grabbing attention with another unexpected music project.
This time, the 50-year-old entertainer credited with co-founding gangsta rap will have his first symphony gig when he performs in "The Langston Hughes Project" with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Wednesday at Hilbert Circle Theatre.
Ice T, who speaks to youth these days about the dangers of gang violence -- and plays a detective on television's "Law & Order: SVU" -- will help premiere the newly orchestrated musical setting of the Harlem Renaissance poet's "Ask Your Mama."
Ron McCurdy, the University of Southern California professor who originated the multimedia project -- complete with slides of early-20th-century artists and jazz quartet -- said he first tried to get Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy as narrator, but was turned down. The ISO contacted the New York office of Paradigm, a talent agency, which suggested Ice T.
"Are we sure Indiana is ready for this?" McCurdy asked. "Not too long ago, this guy had a song out called 'Cop Killer' and got a lot of people upset." But then, McCurdy said, "people who know him pointed out that Ice T had changed his life."
Paul Berns, who plays in the ISO percussion section, said a lot of the symphony musicians seem "really excited about (the performance), because we know him from 'Law & Order.' I can't tell you I know him from his rap. I don't."
McCurdy said Ice T and the ISO will make Central Indiana "a tremendous launching pad" for the project, which he hopes will tour.
In an interview, Ice T said he considers his ISO gig just the latest hairpin turn in an unpredictable career.
How is it, imagining yourself, someone widely known as a rapper, performing with a symphony orchestra?
I think it's really, really cool. To me, music is all about connecting to different forms and styles. When you jam with somebody you're not used to, I think that's where all the best creativity comes from. Rap is at the other end of the spectrum from a symphony orchestra, and for a long time they didn't even consider us music. Usually when you get something like this, nonbelievers are pretty much knocked on their ass when it's over with.
How did you get to narrate Langston Hughes' "Ask Your Mama?"
I have no idea. My manager called me up, and said a symphony was getting ready to do this, and that they would like me to read the poetry. I said, "Yeah, that sounds dope." I did a little commercial for them, I read a little excerpt.
What's your reaction to Hughes' work in general?
The whole vibe of the poetry like Langston Hughes did it, it's definitely some interesting s---. I don't know if there were drugs involved. It's definitely some next-level stuff you've got to read into; there are lots of metaphors and weird stuff. To me, it kind of reminds me back in the days of the beatniks, where the beats would ramble and jabber. OK, I don't know what he said, but that s--- sounded deep. I'm going to have to really rehearse this.
Will this be a one-shot deal or do you hope to narrate the poetry with other orchestras?
Well, you know what? Everything I've ever done has been a one-shot deal at the beginning. Acting was new to me, and here I am 20 years later, still acting. It depends on how the experience is. Me being who I am, I want it to be a tremendous success. ..... I'm not going to play with it.
What's the career benefit for a rapper participating in an orchestra project?
When you deal with symphony stuff, it's really a completely different demographic. Maybe you cross the demographic and bring a new audience to both things. Maybe the classicals will say,
"Well, dang, maybe we should take a second look at rap and his work." Some kids who are into rap might think the symphony is kind of dope. That would be a great thing, if we can pull it off.
If you could put Eminem up on stage with the Indianapolis Symphony, what poetry would you have him read?
I'd have him do his own. I think Eminem is incredible. He's very introspective and very deep. I think, honestly, that's what I'd like to do with symphony orchestra -- truthfully. I'd like to take the orchestra out and pick rappers and do their work, with the symphony behind them. I'd like to take DMX and pick his better work. That, to me, would be groundbreaking.
One brief biography of you says that the political nature of your music has declined with time. Do you agree?
I just think people's political views have declined with time. There was a time when people were raging against the machine, and Ice T and Public Enemy were really kicking up a lot of dust. As we continued, people stopped wanting to hear about it. They wanted to hear dance music and party music.
Honestly, it's like, how much political stuff can you say without it being a repeat? When you make a record like "Cop Killer," do you do it again? The thing about Ice T is, I have a political side, then a humorous side, then a very sexual side. What an Ice T album always tries to do is reach all these different zones.
In the recent season finale of "Law & Order: SVU," your character, Detective Fin Tutuola, put in for a transfer. Will he be out next season?
My manager and I, we called the producer and he said they want to mix things up. A lot of my fans have hit the Web site. I'm not letting them in on what's going to happen.
Through the years, you have shown a lot of flexibility at moving from one entertainment form to another. How wide a range do you feel you have?
The thing of it is, I'm just a dude trying to have fun. I'm not an actor. I'm basically a street hustler who came out of the 'hood who said, "I'm gonna rob and steal and get every dollar I can get." Then all of a sudden I read (the autobiography by the former pimp) Iceberg Slim. I wanted to be him. I wanted to pimp and do things like he did.
Then it dawned on me: Dude is a writer. It hit me, if I idolized this cat, maybe I should try to document my life. When somebody walked up with a role, I wanted to act..... People say, "You're a rapper," but not really. Rapping is something I do. I just call it a living. Next year, I might do an equestrian event.
The Langston Hughes Project
Ice T narrates "Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods for Jazz," based on a Langston Hughes poem, with music by the Ron McCurdy Quartet and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The event is at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 18th at the Hilbert Circle Theatre, 45 Monument Circle.
Tickets are $18-$70. Call (317) 639-4300, or visit www.indianapolissymphony.org for more information.
Profile: Ice T
Career: Grammy award-winning rapper. Records include "O.G. Original Gangster" (1991), "Home Invasion" (1993), "Violent Demise: The Last Days" (1997). Actor with a continuing role since 2000 as Det. Fin Tutuola on "Law & Order: SVU."
Real name: Tracy Marrow.
Hometown: Newark, N.J.
Residences: North Bergen, N.J., Chandler, Ariz.
Book: "The Ice Opinion," (1994).
Ice T on iced tea
Indy.com asked Ice T how to make the perfect glass of iced tea. Eager to quench our thirst for knowledge, he shared this tip:
"I guess basically iced tea starts off as hot tea. Then you got to let it keep cold.
The trick is, when you put sugar in, you actually melt the sugar in some water before you put it into the thing. You take the sugar, and put that (in a pan and heat it) on the stove, and you turn that into sugar water. That way, when you pour the sugar water into the iced tea, it instantly sweetens perfectly.
The mistake people make is that they put a bunch of sugar into cold tea, and they end up stirring that for half an hour, and it ends up with all the sugar at the bottom. It's all about getting the correct amount of sweetening. It's one of the best drinks ever."
you seriously asked Ice-T how to make iced tea? I'm surprised he didn't take a crap on your desk.
Yeah, I did -- as the last question, in case he got ticked off. But he actually seemed to enjoy giving out that recipe.
That's a great interview.
Very interesting.
That. was. awesome.
I really like how he breaks down the physics of iced tea sweetening and explans the flaws of dumping sugar directly into the cold tea. It makes a lot of sense.
Too bad I just buy my iced tea already bottled up or I'd try it.