Body Count

Body Count

Body Count is an American metal band from Los Angeles, active since 1989 and fronted by Ice-T. The group forms around Ice-T and lead guitarist Ernie C, who co-found it out of a shared interest in heavy metal. Ice-T moves from rap into metal as the band’s vocalist and principal lyricist, while Ernie C writes most of the music.

Style and background

The band’s sound draws on traditional heavy metal, thrash metal and hardcore punk, and their broader classification includes alternative metal, crossover thrash, groove metal, hardcore punk, metal and metalcore. Ice-T has said that he considers the group a rock band rather than a rap act, even though his presence in a heavy metal group helps pave the way for rap metal and nu metal. The music reflects the influence of bands such as Black Sabbath and Slayer, along with the aggressiveness of hardcore punk.

Early releases and controversy

Body Count releases its self-titled debut album on Sire Records in 1992. The album attracts attention because of the song “Cop Killer”, which becomes the subject of controversy. Sire Records and its parent company, Warner Bros. Records, defend the track, but Ice-T removes it from the album because he feels the dispute overshadows the music. The band leaves Sire the following year and later releases six more albums.

Membership

The original line-up includes D-Roc on rhythm guitar, Beatmaster V on drums and Mooseman on bass, alongside Ice-T and Ernie C. Three original members later die: D-Roc from lymphoma, Beatmaster V from leukemia and Mooseman in a drive-by shooting. The current line-up includes Ice-T, Ernie C, Juan Garcia, Vincent Price, Will “Ill Will” Dorsey Jr., Sean E Sean and Little Ice, who is Ice-T’s son. Other members associated with the group include Griz, OT, Vince Dennis, Bendrix Williams and Will Dorsey, Jr.

Awards

Body Count receives its second Grammy nomination and later wins Best Metal Performance at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in 2021 for “Bum Rush”, from the album Carnivore.