Ice-T has warned rap beefs are “not smart” anymore because of the risk of retaliation from other people.
The rapper and actor thinks that, although competitive attitudes have always been a part of hip-hop, such feuds have become too dangerous for music as things can “escalate” without the artists’ involvement.
“Hip-hop has always been competitive, so saying ‘I’m better than you’ is part of hip-hop. The problem with beef is it can escalate away from you,” Ice remarked in an interview with “Boss Talk 101,” noting his since-settled beef with LL Cool J was kept within diss tracks.
Offering a hypothetical situation about feuding with Naughty by Nature’s Treach, Ice referenced the aftermath of his controversial 1992 single “Cop Killer.”
“I could run into one of his fans on the street who wants to get active. When I had the ‘Cop Killer’ beef, I wasn’t worried about a cop. I could run into a cop’s brother or son who wants to start an altercation. Having beef is just not smart if you can avoid it,” he said.
And Ice thinks the rise of social media has made the potential risk of escalation even worse.
“Social media is an amplifier to everything. It forces [a] reaction that really could be squashed so much simpler. Why people would have a problem and take it to social media is beyond me, especially if you know a n—– phone number.” he said.
The “Mind Over Matter” hitmaker and LL Cool J traded insults in a number of songs in the 1980s and 90s, but caused a stir when pictures of them together at the 2023 Grammy Awards rehearsals in honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop were released.
And Ice later insisted their beef had long been over.
“LL and I have been together on different occasions. I’ve worked with him on Rock the Bells; we’ve done podcasts and stuff. But as far as an actual physical picture of us? I think there’s probably one other one out there,” he told AllHipHop.
“And I think the other one was before we actually really sat down and talked like grown men about it,” Ice continued. “But yeah, that’s over. … Lol, the beef never really escalated. It was just rap beef.”
The wisdom behind Ice-T’s perspective on rap beefs comes from decades of experience in both the music industry and life itself. Born Tracy Lauren Marrow in Newark, New Jersey, Ice-T’s journey to becoming a voice of reason in hip-hop is marked by diverse experiences that shaped his worldview. Before his music career, he served in the U.S. Army’s 25th Infantry Division, where he learned valuable lessons about discipline and conflict resolution.
As a pioneer of gangsta rap in the 1980s, Ice-T has witnessed the evolution of hip-hop culture firsthand. His influence extends beyond music, as evidenced by his successful transition into acting, most notably his two-decade-plus role on “Law & Order: SVU.” This multifaceted career has given him a unique perspective on the entertainment industry’s changing landscape.
His credentials as a Grammy Award winner and NAACP Image Award recipient demonstrate his impact on both music and culture. Through his label, Rhyme Syndicate Records, founded in 1988, Ice-T has contributed to developing new talent while maintaining his own creative output, including eight solo albums and seven albums with his heavy metal band Body Count.
His entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen have helped him understand the broader implications of public conflicts in the digital age. As an author of several books, including Ice: A Memoir of Gangster Life, he has consistently shared insights about navigating the music industry while maintaining integrity and safety.
This extensive background in entertainment — combined with his role as a social activist — makes his warnings about modern rap beefs particularly significant. His experience shows that success in the industry doesn’t require perpetual conflict, but rather smart navigation of relationships and careful consideration of consequences.
