Body Count's self-titled debut album was released on Sire Records in 1992, and garnered much attention due to a controversy around the song "Cop Killer". Their label, Sire Records, and their parent company, Warner Bros. Records, defended the song; however Ice-T chose to remove it from the album because he felt that the controversy had eclipsed the music itself. The group left Sire the following year, and they have since released six more albums.
Three out of the band's original seven members are deceased: D-Roc died from lymphoma, Beatmaster V from leukemia and Mooseman in a drive-by shooting. Body Count's current lineup includes vocalist Ice-T, guitarists Ernie C and Juan Garcia, bassist Vincent Price, drummer Will "Ill Will" Dorsey Jr., and backing vocalists Sean E Sean and Little Ice, the latter of whom is Ice-T's son.
The band received their second Grammy nomination and later won the award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021 for Best Metal Performance with their song "Bum Rush" from the album Carnivore.
Ice-T's interest in heavy metal stemmed from sharing a room with his cousin Earl, who was a fan of rock music and only listened to the local rock stations. Ice-T particularly enjoyed heavy metal, citing Edgar Winter, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands. Ice-T attended Crenshaw High School, where a few classmates shared his interest in the genre, including musicians Ernie C, D-Roc the Executioner, Beatmaster V, and Mooseman. Ice-T began a solo career as a rapper, and later decided to form Body Count with these friends.
Ice-T co-wrote the band's music and lyrics with lead guitarist Ernie C, and took on the duties of lead vocalist, even though he felt that he did not have a great singing voice. The original line-up consisted of D-Roc on rhythm guitar, Beatmaster V on drums and Mooseman on bass,
Body Count's musical style derives from the dark, ominous tones of traditional heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath and thrash metal bands such as Slayer, as well as hardcore punk's aggressiveness. According to Ernie C, "We wanted to be a big punk band [...] Our first record is almost a punk record." The presence of a rapper in a heavy metal band has been credited for paving the way for the rise of rap metal and nu metal, even though Ice-T does not rap in most Body Count songs and considers it to solely be a rock band. According to Ernie C, "A lot of rappers want to be in a rock band, but it has to be done sincerely. You can't just get anybody on guitar and expect it to work. [...] Ice and I, on the other hand, really loved the music we were doing, and it showed.
Civil War
Body Count Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
at the request of the President of the United States of America
and the Office of Homeland Security
In compliance with the United Nations,
the President of the United States has declared Martial Law
Curfew is now in place
Return to your homes
Any congregating of two or more people outside of your homes
Anyone possessing a firearm
or any item or instrument that can be used as a weapon
will be deemed an enemy of the state and will be arrested on sight
UN peacekeeping garrisons have severed all data transmissions
and telephone communications for national security
Any violation of martial law will result in immediate arrest and trial for treason
All traitors will be shot
America is now engaged in civil war
It's already started, maybe too late to stop
It's already on, they shooting the cops
They pushing the line, racism is high
The country's divided, you know the fuck why
The press of the pull, and push of the truth
The public is dumb, delusional youth
Our leaders are evil, lie after lie
The public is armed, and ready to die
(Ready to die)
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
Rich or poor, urban war
Shit might just jump off tonight
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
This shit is true
Coming soon to a town near you
They don't care about nothing, just personal gain
These politicians wouldn't mind a war, motherfuck your pain
Cops are killing people and never do time
In the hood we killing each other like that ain't no crime
I'm feeling the tension, don't tell me you don't
These fools will get us all killed, don't tell me they won't
There's guns on the streets, it's already too late
The net's overloaded with pure racial hate
Depressed, just instigate, they love a fight
Don't give a fuck about who gets hurt just news that night
They try and twist the problem like it's white and black
But if you come to shoot me, yo I'm shooting back
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
Rich or poor, urban war
Shit might just jump off tonight
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
This shit is true
Coming soon to a town near you
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
Rich or poor, urban war
Shit might just jump off tonight
(Civil war)
What side you on when the shit pops off?
Black or white, wrong or right?
(Civil war)
This shit is true
Coming soon to a town near you
The song "Civil War" by Body Count reflects on the state of America amidst rising tensions between different races, political ideologies and the government. The song opens with a message transmitted by the President of the US and the Homeland Security declaring Martial Law due to civil war. The curfew is in place, and any form of congregation outside the homes is banned, and possession of firearms will result in being arrested as an enemy of the state. The media aims at swaying people's beliefs, and corrupt politicians only care about personal gain. The cops are killing people, and the country is deeply divided with racism and tension at an all-time high. The lyrics suggest that the public is armed and ready to fight, and the possibility of violent clashes between different sects cannot be ruled out.
The song sheds light on the failures of the American government, discriminatory behaviors, and biases in society. Rather than promoting unity and equality, the government and media have caused further division and hate. The song suggests that it may be too late to prevent civil war, and it's a matter of time before it breaks out, leading to chaos and destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
This message is transmitted at the request of the President of the United States of America and the Office of Homeland Security
A message is being transmitted on behalf of the US President and Homeland Security
In compliance with the United Nations, the President of the United States has declared Martial Law
The US President has declared Martial Law following United Nations' recommendations
Curfew is now in place, Return to your homes
A curfew has been imposed and people must go back to their homes
Any congregating of two or more people outside of your homes will result in you being arrested on sight
Gathering in groups of two or more people outside of homes is prohibited, and violators will be arrested immediately
Anyone possessing a firearm or any item or instrument that can be used as a weapon will be deemed an enemy of the state and will be arrested on sight
Anyone found carrying firearms or weapons will be arrested on sight because they will be considered as enemies of the state
UN peacekeeping garrisons have severed all data transmissions and telephone communications for national security
UN peacekeeping troops have stopped all data and telephone communications for national security reasons
Any violation of martial law will result in immediate arrest and trial for treason
Violating martial law will lead to immediate arrest and trial for committing treason
All traitors will be shot
Anyone regarded as a traitor will be killed by shooting
America is now engaged in civil war
America is now facing a civil war
It's already started, maybe too late to stop
The civil war has already begun and it may be too late to stop it
It's already on, they shooting the cops
The situation has escalated, and the protesters are now shooting police officers
They pushing the line, racism is high
The tension is high, and the racism issue is intensifying
The country's divided, you know the fuck why
The country is divided, and the reasons behind it are well known
The press of the pull, and push of the truth
Media is manipulating information, while people are seeking the truth
The public is dumb, delusional youth
The public lacks knowledge and awareness, with youth being influenced by illusions
Our leaders are evil, lie after lie
Our leaders are corrupt, and they keep lying to maintain their power
The public is armed, and ready to die
The public is armed and prepared to face deaths in the war
They don't care about nothing, just personal gain
Politicians only care about their personal gain and have no regard for the people
These politicians wouldn't mind a war, motherfuck your pain
Politicians are willing to start a war, and they don't care about anyone's suffering
Cops are killing people and never do time
Police officers are killing innocent people, and they are not being held accountable
In the hood we killing each other like that ain't no crime
In urban areas, we are killing each other, and it seems no one cares
I'm feeling the tension, don't tell me you don't
The tension is rising, and no one can deny that
These fools will get us all killed, don't tell me they won't
Those who are starting and fueling the war will kill us all in the end
There's guns on the streets, it's already too late
There are too many guns on the streets, and it's impossible to take them away now
Depressed, just instigate, they love a fight
Depressed people instigate fights, and they love violence
Don't give a fuck about who gets hurt just news that night
They don't care about the people getting hurt; they just want to report it as news
They try and twist the problem like it's white and black
The issue is being twisted to look like a fight between races
But if you come to shoot me, yo I'm shooting back
If someone comes to shoot me, I'll defend myself and shoot back
This shit is true, coming soon to a town near you
The situation is real, and it may soon happen in the towns near you
(Civil war) What side you on when the shit pops off? Black or white, wrong or right?
When the conflict starts, which side will you choose: black or white, right or wrong?
(Civil war) Rich or poor, urban war. Shit might just jump off tonight
The war will not discriminate between the rich and the poor, and it may start anytime
(Civil war) This shit is true, coming soon to a town near you
The civil war is real, and it may happen in a town near you soon
(Civil war) What side you on when the shit pops off? Black or white, wrong or right?
When the conflict starts, which side will you choose: black or white, right or wrong?
(Civil war) Rich or poor, urban war. Shit might just jump off tonight
The war will not discriminate between the rich and the poor, and it may start anytime
(Civil war) This shit is true, coming soon to a town near you
The civil war is real, and it may happen in a town near you soon
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ernest Cunnigan, Tracy Marrow, Dave Mustaine, Vince Dennis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris Wu
on Black Hoodie
[Intro]
All these people out here tripping off police brutality like this shit is something new
Give me a fucking break
I've been talking about this shit for over 20 years
And now you can kill a motherfucker just because of how he's dressed?
Are you fucking serious?
[Hook]
Get on a black hoodie, its hood up on my head
I didn't have a gun, so why am I dead?
You didn't have to shoot me and that's a known fact
And now I'm laying face down with bullets in my back
Get on a black hoodie, its hood up on my head
I didn't have a gun, so why am I dead?
You didn't have to shoot me and that's a known fact
And now I'm laying face down with bullets in my back
[Verse 1]
This is how it happened
Out late night just chilling with my clique
No one had a gun, everyone's legit
One of my boys is drunk, I'm talking toe'd up
He can barely talk off that Cognac
Then the cops roll up, I don't know why he ran
Maybe traffic warrants I still don't understand
That motherfucker's crazy, the homies laughed
He might've got a block and then we heard shots
The fucking cop shot him, yo, a nigga's dead!
They hit him twice in the back, once in the head and leg
We all went crazy on that pig shit
They aimed at us, they meant business
They didn't have to shoot him, he didn't have a gun
What they're gonna say is "Why the fuck he run?"
We can't be seeing this, I'm like "What the fuck?"
My man's laying dead, they still cuffing him up
[Interlude]
You motherfuckers, call the fucking paramedics man
My man's not breathing, man
What the fuck's the matter wit' you, man?
Aw shit
[Hook]
Get on a black hoodie, its hood up on my head
I didn't have a gun, so why am I dead?
You didn't have to shoot me and that's a known fact
And now I'm laying face down with bullets in my back
Get on a black hoodie, its hood up on my head
I didn't have a gun, so why am I dead?
You didn't have to shoot me and that's a known fact
And now I'm laying face down with bullets in my back
[Refrain]
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
[Verse 2]
Now it's our day in court, we gotta have hope
Maybe some justice, someone got it on video
They say do something, he used to gang bang
They made my homie look like fucking shit on everything
Had on a black hoodie, that's all it took
The DA portrayed him as a dirty fucking street crook
They let the cops off, nobody fucking marched
Nobody had a clue, it's never made the news
[Refrain]
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
Woop woop, that's the sound of the police
That's the sound on the streets
[Outro]
Get on my black hoodie
Get on my black hoodie
Get on my black hoodie