O.G. Original Gangster by Ice-T (CD, May-1991, Sire Records USA)

This was one of the first gangster rap CDs I bought as a kid. The “parental advisory explicit content” warnings had just come out and I had to go to three record stores before someone let me purchase it. This album came out during the golden age of rap, when rapper’s had something important to say. And Ice-T is a true soldier, not the common studio gangster that raps about his Bentley and twenty thousand dollar grille. I think the name of the album sums it all up, O.G. Original Gangster. All the tracks have value and that’s why I gave the disc a 5 out of 5, because you can put it in and listen to it all the way through. Some of the beats and tired to today’s standards, but the content in on point. It also features a song from the motion picture “New Jack City” appropriately titles “New Jack Hustler” and Body Count’s, Ice-T’s rap and rock combo band, first appearance. (Body Count got a name from the infamous “Cop Killer” song on their debut album). If you are looking for a true rap CD you can’t go wrong with this classic.