O.G. Original Gangster

Additional producers: Bilal Bashir, Afrika Islam, Ice-T, DJ Aladdin.
Engineers: Vachik, Dennis Parker, Batte.
Recorded at Syndicate Studios West, Widetracks, Dodge City and Fox Run Studios, Los Angeles, California.
Personnel: Ice-T (vocals).
Audio Mixer: Vachik.
Recording information: Dodge City, Los Angeles, CA; Fox Run Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Syndicate Studios West, Los Angeles, CA; Wide Tracks Studios, Hollywood, CA; Widetracks, Los Angeles, CA.
Photographers: King James Cassimus; Glen E. Friedman.
Unknown Contributor Roles: D Rock; Donald D; Ernie C. ; Nat the Cat; Mooseman; Sean Mac; Charlie Jam; Prince Whip; Randy Mac; Special K.
Arranger: Ice-T.
Often hailed as Ice-T's most ambitious and fully realized album, O.G. ORIGINAL GANGSTER is more sophisticated than the hustler-centered RHYME PAYS, yet less weighted by ideology than THE ICEBERG/FREEDOM OF SPEECH?JUST WATCH WHAT YOU SAY. The record is also more musically adventurous than the spare ICEBERG; help from numerous producers gives 1991's O.G. a dense, contemporary feel, with a sound that recalls the Bomb Squad's production for Public Enemy. From laid-back funk (the title track) to bone-crushing beats ("Midnight"), O.G. runs the gamut in mood and style.
Ice-T synthesizes his different incarnations into one persona here. Remaining true to his South Central, Los Angeles roots, Ice raps about the hardships of ghetto life, but is not beyond detailing his high-rolling, wealthy lifestyle. At his best, Ice-T melds these together in a self-reflexive way, as on "New Jack Hustler" (the theme song to the film NEW JACK CITY, which features Ice-T in a key role), one of O.G.'s standout tracks. There are also meditations on race ("Straight Up Nigga") and philosophically minded tunes ("Mind Over Matter"). Most notably, the song "Body Count" introduced Ice's metal band of the same name, proving beyond a doubt that O.G. is no average hip-hop album.