Tracy Marrow (born February 16, 1958 in Newark, New Jersey), better known a… Read Full Bio ↴Tracy Marrow (born February 16, 1958 in Newark, New Jersey), better known as Ice-T, is an American rapper, singer, and actor. He is one of the pioneers of gangsta rap and was also instrumental in creating rapcore.

Ice-T started in 1982 out with other West Coast rap pioneers such as Kid Frost, DJ Flash, and The Egyptian Lover with Electro recordings. Later on, he changed his style and was the first West Coast rapper to be accepted by the East Coast. 6 'n The Mornin is sometimes seen as the track that triggered the whole gangster rap movement. It was produced by The Unknown DJ, who produced electro funk tracks before and went on to produce Compton's Most Wanted. The song was inspired by Schoolly D's "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" and became itself the inspiration for Eazy-E and N.W.A's Boyz-N-The-Hood. Ice-T went on to work with Afrika Islam, the man behind the beats on 1987's Rhyme Pays, 1988's Power and 1989's The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say.

He also is a star in Law in Order: Special Victims Unit.

In 1992 he created the crossover band Body Count with 4 other black musicians.

Radio Suckers
Ice-T Lyrics

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People, it's time for the Ice crush
So listen to my words I bring much
Sense, as I commence, my lyrics intense
Your telephoto, break out your big lens
Look, check out the sales charts
My record's kickin', I'm breakin' P.D.'s hearts
They banned me from their shows
'Cause they said I'm too hard

But no sell-out, I guess I'm just barred
I ain't changin' mine for no body
They bleeped words from Doug's LA-DE-DA-DE
I can't get a bleep? What's the deal?
Maybe my words are just too real
It's not profanity, it's just the man and me
He doesn't want you to see what I see
Doesn't want you to be what you can be
Word, censorship of reality

Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me

Suckers don't, but some do
The real troopers bring the ICE to you
And close friends to me, yeah, Public Enemy
These stations have high intellect
They don't pretend to be, too bourgeois to rock a jam raw
Understand what I'm sayin', they're down by law
They play the jams that are right, sometimes not polite
They realize you gotta get some people uptight
Speak the word, your voice will definitely be heard
Lie to yourself, you're destined to be to the curb
Some stations don't care, they'll never put on the air
Nothin' but commercial junk, their brain power's impaired
They don't listen or try to hear what I write
Maybe just think once, or try some school at night
They're makin' radio wack, people have to escape
But even if I'm banned, I'll sell a million tapes

Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me

I make records for music, not for the money
To some of you that might sound funny
But I ain't broke, and I don't joke
And my lyrics are known to make ears smoke
Clear as a gun scope, I speak the pure dope
Can the radio handle the truth? Nope
Uncut, no edits, no censors
You can get a plastic rapper from any old dispenser
A penny a yard, to make a record ain't hard
But to make it mean something, that's a job
But then we do it, they refuse it
So I tell them duck suckers to cold go screw it
We shouldn't sell out, we should just yell out
And get them wack motherfuckers the hell out

Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me

Cruisin' down the street what do I see?
Crash Task Force, L.A.P.D.
Gangs illin', wildin' and killin'
Hustlers on a roll, like they got a million
Girls in the strap and you know that
You know the guys will stop wildin' if you stop that crap
But you can't, you want money so bad
You'll jock anything with a Gucci tag
You gotta have it, so the men go get it
Robbin' and stealin', soon to regret it
Livin' in a jail cell, feelin' like a dumbbell
While you jump the next jock, well
That's reality, that's what I see
Nobody says that you got to agree
Censorship that ain't the way to be
I thought you said this country was free?

Radio suckers never play me
Radio suckers never play me

Tone it down, is what they say to me
The FCC will not allow profanity
Your subject matter's too hard, make a love song
You better get real, come on
I ain't no lover, I'm a fighter
Hard core radical rap rhyme writer
Pushin' the button, E does the cuttin'
Everything I say amounts to something
More than a simple rap, I'm too deep for that
I lay my lyrics with logic, press the wax
Play it on your tape deck, feel the effect
If you can't take the heat, eject

But I know you can, 'cause you're an ICE-T fan
No sell-outs here, my man

Overall Meaning

In Radio Suckers, Ice-T speaks out against censorship and the music industry's tendency to promote commercialized, uncomplicated pop hits instead of authentic, unconventional rap music that challenges the status quo. He asserts that some stations are more committed to real hip-hop, such as Public Enemy's station, which has a high level of artistic integrity and does not shy away from controversial themes. He also calls out the LAPD and corrupt individuals who prioritize material wealth over moral values or human dignity.

Ultimately, the song is about staying true to oneself and refusing to conform to others' expectations. Ice-T's lyrics are raw, unapologetic, and confrontational, ringing with an urgent and uncompromising energy. He depicts a world that is far from perfect and challenges his listeners to recognize and resist the manipulation and coercion of those in power.

Overall, Radio Suckers is a powerful critique of both the music industry and society at large, one that encourages listeners to think critically and resist oppressive forces that limit free expression and promote conformity.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: AFRIKA ISLAM, TRACY LAUREN MARROW

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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