Maps of Music

O.G. Original Gangster (1991)

Where the lyrics of O.G. Original Gangster take you, and where it was really made.

On vinyl only 16 of the 24 CD tracks were included, and the NME told readers to forget that limit.

Key places

Recording at Rhyme Syndicate Studios West (1991)

Recording site Motown Recording Studios — The album was recorded at Rhyme Syndicate Studios West in Los Angeles. The same credits also list Widetracks, Dodge City and Fox Run Studios. The map point sits at the city centre of Los Angeles, not at the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Fourth studio album by American rapper Ice-T
• Released May 14, 1991 by Sire Records
• Recording ran from July 1990 to January 1991 in Los Angeles
• Seven producers: Afrika Islam, Beatmaster V, Bilal Bashir, DJ Aladdin, Nat the Cat, SLJ and Ice-T himself
• Ice-T also served as executive producer
• Guest appearances from Body Count, Prince Whipper Whip and Rhyme Syndicate artists such as Donald D, Evil E and Randy Mac

Background

• Body Count featured on the title track, adding a thrash metal touch to the album
• The album introduced Body Count to the public
• Released in a period when the album was later praised by many as Ice-T's best

Recording

• Recorded at Rhyme Syndicate Studios West, Widetracks, Dodge City and Fox Run Studios in L.A.
• Mixed at Fox Run Studios L.A., except "New Jack Hustler", which was mixed at Pacifique L.A.
• Mastered at Future Disc Systems L.A.
• Produced for Rhyme Syndicate Records and Ammo Dump Productions

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known as Ice-T, is an American rapper and actor active in both hip-hop and heavy metal.
• Began as an underground rapper in the 1980s; signed to Sire Records in 1987 and released debut album Rhyme Pays.
• Founded Rhyme $yndicate Records in 1988; Power (1988) is his only platinum-certified album from the RIAA.
• Co-founded heavy metal band Body Count in 1990; the self-titled debut came out in 1992.
• The controversy over "Cop Killer" led to his departure from Warner Bros. Records; Home Invasion was released via Priority Records.
• Has played Odafin "Fin" Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit since 2000.
• Won a Grammy for "Back on the Block" and, with Body Count, the Best Metal Performance Grammy in 2021.
• Released the album Criminal Migraine in 2026.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• NME critic Dele Fadele praised the album as Ice-T's "best shot yet"
• Fadele wrote that the music is always restlessly inventive and named "The Tower", "Escape from the Killing Fields" and "Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous" as highlights
• In a negative review for Select, Adam Higginbotham wrote that only three tracks were outstanding: "Mind Over Matter", "The Tower" and "The House"
• Higginbotham concluded that the album often functions better as manifesto than as music
• The NME told readers to forget the format's limitations and promoted the 24-track CD over the LP

Reappraisal

• The album was praised by many as Ice-T's best
• Its rank among the top albums of 1991 and its place in rap canon lists are noted in the Records section below

Records

• U.S. Billboard 200: number 15
• Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: number 9
• Certified gold by the RIAA on July 24, 1991, indicating U.S. sales of more than 500,000 units
• Melody Maker: ranked number 25 in its list of the top 30 albums of 1991
• Featured in The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums
• Featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• At release, the vinyl version held only 16 of the compact disc's 24 tracks.
• "Bitches 2" contains a sample from "Dr. Funkenstein", as performed by Parliament.
• "Midnight" contains a sample from “Black Sabbath”, performed by Black Sabbath.
• The album was issued in a standard jewel case with a 20-page booklet.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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