Ice T not only invented gangster rap, he has lived it. Ice T is the original embodiment of LA Hip-Hop. Through his music, his book, The Ice Opinion, and his lecture tours of America's prisons, high schools and colleges (including Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford), Ice T has become an influential spokesman for America's youth, regardless of color. Ice T is currently in his second season with the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (consistently the #1 show on Friday night) playing the part of detective Finn. He has been the keynote speaker at a number of Internet conventions including the 1999 College Music Journal Conference in New York, New York Music & Internet Expo. in 2000, Rotterdam Film Festival in 2000 and Canadian Music Week in 2000.

Born in New Jersey, Ice T learned the art of survival pretty fast. An only child whose parents died when he was very young, Ice T became involved in Los Angeles gangs before spending four years in the army. His first break came when the producers of the film Breakin' asked him to rap in the movie. 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. The show was developed with and produced by Dick Wolf (Law & Order, NY Undercover).

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. The show was Ice T's personal guide to Blaxploitation movies and to black culture in general.

Ice T has published one book, The Ice Opinion. It has been translated into Japanese, German, French and Italian. In addition, Ice T has written the introductions to re-issues of the classic novels Pimp and Trick Baby by Iceberg Slim, from whom Ice T took his name.