Body Count "Cop Killer"

Already established as a bona fide gangster rapper, Ice-T toured with Body Count, a heavy metal band that would split his shows between the two genres starting in 1991.

Body Count's second single, "Cop Killer," is among the most controversial songs of all time.

The song's lyrics describe a revenge killing spree on police who had beaten and/or killed black men -- particularly in Los Angeles.

Outrage led to national media attention and even a telling of grievances by Charlton Heston, then the president of the NRA, during a Time Warner board meeting.

The album was pulled from many stores' shelves, and songs and lyrics were changed in subsequent printings. However, the attention also increased sales beyond what was expected.

The year before "Cop Killer" was released, Ice-T played both a cop and a gangster in two street-crime dramas, New Jack City and Ricochet.

In an ironic twist, Ice-T is probably best known today for playing detective Fin in over 500 episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Location: Michigan, USA

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