Maps of Music
Rhyme Pays (1987)
Where the lyrics of Rhyme Pays take you, and where it was really made.
Ice-T's debut album is now credited with helping define the gangsta rap genre, yet it peaked at only number 93 on the US Billboard 200.
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Overview
- Rhyme Pays: debut studio album by American rapper Ice-T
- Released 28 July 1987 on Sire Records
- Nine tracks, total running time 44:41
- Often cited as the album that defined the gangsta rap genre
- Music on most tracks credited to Afrika Islam
Background
- Ice-T's first album, released by Sire Records
- The 1988 CD edition added four bonus tracks
- Considered a key early statement of gangsta rap
Recording
- Recorded at Salty Dog Studios
- Recording engineers Jim Lyons and David Storrs
- Mixed by Afrika Islam and Ice-T at Unique Recording
- Mastered by José Rodriguez at Sterling Sound
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com
Tracklist
| 1 | Intro / Rhyme Pays | |
| 2 | 6 ’n the Mornin’ | |
| 3 | Make It Funky | |
| 4 | Somebody Gotta Do It (Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy!!!) | |
| 5 | 409 | |
| 6 | I Love Ladies | |
| 7 | Sex | |
| 8 | Pain | |
| 9 | Squeeze the Trigger |
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
- Robert Christgau gave the album a "B" in a contemporary review for The Village Voice
- Christgau credited DJ Afrika Islam for helping flesh out Ice-T's crime-themed raps
- Christgau wrote that the sexploitation and true crime tales are detailed and harrowing enough to convince anybody Ice-T was there
- AllMusic's Alex Henderson gave the album 3.5 out of 5
- Henderson noted that the album contains little gangsta rap but enough to generate some controversy
Records
- Debuted at number 93 on the US Billboard 200
- Reached number 26 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
- Certified gold by the RIAA on 12 December 1991
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org
Trivia
- The 1988 CD release included four bonus tracks.
- The album is considered to have defined the gangsta rap genre.
- Afrika Islam and Ice-T are credited as mixers of the album.
- Mastering was done by José Rodriguez at Sterling Sound.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org