He went on to become rap music's original gangster, writing songs like Six in the Mornin' and New Jack Hustler . Ice T formed Rhyme Syndicate Records in 1989 and released a string of groundbreaking West Coast rap records. He subsequently formed the thrash metal band Body Count with close high school friend and guitarist Ernie C. Body Count's 1991 self-titled debut contained the controversial single Cop Killer . Body Count was the most critically acclaimed act on the highly successful 1991 Lollapalooza tour, and continued to tour worldwide. Ice T has received a Grammy Award and was also voted Best Male Rapper in Rolling Stone's 1992 Readers' Poll.
Ice T is an accomplished movie actor as well.
He has starred opposite Wesley Snipes in New Jack City , Denzel Washington in Ricochet , and Keanu Reeves in the sci-fi action thriller Johnny Mnemonic . Ice T also appeared in Tank Girl and was featured in cult director Walter Hill's Trespass . He has numerous independent and documentary film roles to his credit as well. In the fall of 1997, Ice T starred in a one-hour weekly drama series on NBC, Players , which was based on his own concept. Ice T is a worldwide celebrity, particularly in the UK, where not only his music is successful, but where he has had a multi-season series on Channel 4 as the presenter of Ice T's Baadasss TV .