Just-Ice
Encyclopedia
Just-Ice A former bouncer at punk
clubs, Ice was one of the first of the New York
MCs to embrace hardcore rap, and when he burst out of Fort Greene, Brooklyn
, as Just-Ice, he gained instant notoriety. Muscle-bound, tattooed, aggressive—he resembled Mike Tyson
in more than just looks—and with a mouthful of gold teeth
, which was the style in his neighborhood. His slickly produced debut single "LaToya/Put that Record back On" was an instant hit. However, a more down-and-dirty sound could be found on the 12" B-Side track, "That Girl is a Slut," which, for the time, was relatively profane and owed at least some inspiration to Doug E. Fresh
and Slick Rick
's "La Di Da Di." Released soon afterward, his debut album Back to the Old School
proved he was more than just a pretty face. It came out on the independent New York label Fresh
/Sleeping Bag
label in 1986 and sounded like no other hip-hop album, thanks to his fast, forceful rhymes, human beatbox DMX, and the distinctive production of Mantronix
's Kurtis Mantronik. Ice was also one of the first MCs to embrace the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths on a recording, as well as being a pioneer in incorporating dancehall
-style toasting into hip-hop rhymes. The album is best known in Hip Hop circles for the single "Cold Gettin' Dumb"; the universally known beat can be found reworked on Redman's single "It's Like That" featuring K-Solo
, from the 1996 album, Muddy Waters
.
When he was held by Washington, D.C., police regarding the murder of a drug dealer in 1987 ("Murder, Drugs, and the Rap Star," read a Washington Post headline), it gave him an even greater notoriety (he was never charged with the murder). Declaring war on D.C.'s go-go scene and loudly criticizing Run-D.M.C.
(very popular in New York at this time), Just-Ice set a pattern for many a future hip-hop feud. Little could halt Just-Ice's ascension to hip hop stardom, though the departure of Mantronik from Sleeping Bag was a bad omen. KRS-One
stepped in to produce 1987's Kool & Deadly (Justicizms), an album that swapped Mantronik's hi-tech skills for raw, elemental beats and rhymes. The British and New York public that had so enthusiastically embraced Back to the Old School was indifferent about this one, and 1989's The Desolate One (with KRS-One
back in the producer's seat) was no great improvement. Legendary turntablist Grandmaster Flash
produced Ice’s fourth album and last for Fresh/Sleeping Bag, Masterpiece.
By 1990, both Just-Ice and Sleeping Bag appeared to be quickly fading as a new generation of MCs and labels overtook them. He continued to release albums at intervals across the 1990s, but they were on tiny independent labels—although one, 1993's Gun Talk, had major-label distribution and had five of the album's 10 cuts produced by Kurtis Mantronik—and were seldom noticed. This was in part due to Just-Ice's gruff exterior. In one instance at the now defunct Chicago hip hop radio station WJPC 950 AM, while promoting the album, Just-Ice went on an expletive-filled rant about the state of hip hop. The station abruptly cut off his mike, stopped the interview, had security escort Just-Ice out of the building, and took the lead single out of its rotation.
Just-Ice was a member of hip-hop super session the Stop the Violence Movement
, which released one single ("Self Destruction") in 1989, which promoted peace in the communities.
In recent years, Just Ice released several white label 12-inch singles with production by hip hop superstar producer DJ Premier
.
In 2010, Just-Ice teamed up with KRS-ONE again to release "The Just-Ice & KRS-ONE EP Volume #1".
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
clubs, Ice was one of the first of the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
MCs to embrace hardcore rap, and when he burst out of Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Fort Greene, Brooklyn
Fort Greene is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Part of Brooklyn Community Board 2, Fort Greene is listed on the New York State Registry and on the National Register of Historic Places, and is a New York City-designated Historic District...
, as Just-Ice, he gained instant notoriety. Muscle-bound, tattooed, aggressive—he resembled Mike Tyson
Mike Tyson
Michael Gerard "Mike" Tyson is a retired American boxer. Tyson is a former undisputed heavyweight champion of the world and holds the record as the youngest boxer to win the WBC, WBA and IBF world heavyweight titles, he was 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old...
in more than just looks—and with a mouthful of gold teeth
Grill (jewelry)
thumb|A gold dental grillIn hip hop culture, a grill is a type of jewelry worn over the teeth. Grills are made of metal and are generally removable. They began to be worn by hip hop artists in the early 1980s, but they became widely popular during the mid-2000s due to the rise of Dirty South rap...
, which was the style in his neighborhood. His slickly produced debut single "LaToya/Put that Record back On" was an instant hit. However, a more down-and-dirty sound could be found on the 12" B-Side track, "That Girl is a Slut," which, for the time, was relatively profane and owed at least some inspiration to Doug E. Fresh
Doug E. Fresh
Douglas E. Davis , better known by the stage name Doug E. Fresh, is an American rapper, record producer, and beat boxer, also known as the Human Beat Box...
and Slick Rick
Slick Rick
Richard Walters , better known by his stage name Slick Rick is a Grammy-nominated English-American rapper...
's "La Di Da Di." Released soon afterward, his debut album Back to the Old School
Back to the Old School
Back to the Old School is the debut album by American rapper Just-Ice. It was released in 1986, and was produced by Kurtis Mantronik. The album has been described as a classic early hip-hop album and revolutionary for its time by Allmusic....
proved he was more than just a pretty face. It came out on the independent New York label Fresh
Fresh Records
Fresh Records has been the name of at least two different record labels in the 20th century:* Fresh Records - a US based company.* Fresh Records - a UK based company....
/Sleeping Bag
Sleeping Bag Records
Sleeping Bag Records is a defunct New York City-based old school hip hop and dance music independent record label that operated from 1981 to 1992...
label in 1986 and sounded like no other hip-hop album, thanks to his fast, forceful rhymes, human beatbox DMX, and the distinctive production of Mantronix
Mantronix
Mantronix was an influential 1980s hip hop and electro funk music group founded by DJ Kurtis Mantronik , and rapper MC Tee...
's Kurtis Mantronik. Ice was also one of the first MCs to embrace the teachings of the Nation of Gods and Earths on a recording, as well as being a pioneer in incorporating dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
-style toasting into hip-hop rhymes. The album is best known in Hip Hop circles for the single "Cold Gettin' Dumb"; the universally known beat can be found reworked on Redman's single "It's Like That" featuring K-Solo
K-Solo
K-Solo is an American rapper from Central Islip, New York who, along with EPMD, Redman, Das EFX, and Keith Murray, was part of the Hit Squad in 1990s.-Late years:...
, from the 1996 album, Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters (album)
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*composing – Redman, Erick Sermon*executive production – Erick Sermon*mixing – Dave Greenberg, Troy Hightower*performing – Method Man...
.
When he was held by Washington, D.C., police regarding the murder of a drug dealer in 1987 ("Murder, Drugs, and the Rap Star," read a Washington Post headline), it gave him an even greater notoriety (he was never charged with the murder). Declaring war on D.C.'s go-go scene and loudly criticizing Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
(very popular in New York at this time), Just-Ice set a pattern for many a future hip-hop feud. Little could halt Just-Ice's ascension to hip hop stardom, though the departure of Mantronik from Sleeping Bag was a bad omen. KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
stepped in to produce 1987's Kool & Deadly (Justicizms), an album that swapped Mantronik's hi-tech skills for raw, elemental beats and rhymes. The British and New York public that had so enthusiastically embraced Back to the Old School was indifferent about this one, and 1989's The Desolate One (with KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
back in the producer's seat) was no great improvement. Legendary turntablist Grandmaster Flash
Grandmaster Flash
Joseph Saddler better known as King Grandmaster Flash, is an American hip hop musician and DJ; one of the pioneers of hip-hop DJing, cutting, and mixing....
produced Ice’s fourth album and last for Fresh/Sleeping Bag, Masterpiece.
By 1990, both Just-Ice and Sleeping Bag appeared to be quickly fading as a new generation of MCs and labels overtook them. He continued to release albums at intervals across the 1990s, but they were on tiny independent labels—although one, 1993's Gun Talk, had major-label distribution and had five of the album's 10 cuts produced by Kurtis Mantronik—and were seldom noticed. This was in part due to Just-Ice's gruff exterior. In one instance at the now defunct Chicago hip hop radio station WJPC 950 AM, while promoting the album, Just-Ice went on an expletive-filled rant about the state of hip hop. The station abruptly cut off his mike, stopped the interview, had security escort Just-Ice out of the building, and took the lead single out of its rotation.
Just-Ice was a member of hip-hop super session the Stop the Violence Movement
Stop the Violence Movement
The Stop the Violence Movement was begun by rapper KRS-One in 1989 in response to violence in the hip hop and African American communities.In 1988, during a concert by Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy, a young fan was killed in a fight. The killing occurred shortly after Scott La Rock, a...
, which released one single ("Self Destruction") in 1989, which promoted peace in the communities.
In recent years, Just Ice released several white label 12-inch singles with production by hip hop superstar producer DJ Premier
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin , better known by his stage name DJ Premier , is an American record producer and DJ, and was the instrumental half of the hip hop duo Gang Starr, together with emcee Guru...
.
In 2010, Just-Ice teamed up with KRS-ONE again to release "The Just-Ice & KRS-ONE EP Volume #1".
Discography
- Back to the Old SchoolBack to the Old SchoolBack to the Old School is the debut album by American rapper Just-Ice. It was released in 1986, and was produced by Kurtis Mantronik. The album has been described as a classic early hip-hop album and revolutionary for its time by Allmusic....
(1986) - Kool & DeadlyKool & DeadlyKool & Deadly is the second album by old school/hardcore rapper Just-Ice, it was released in 1987, and was produced by KRS-One and Just-Ice. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums...
(1987) - The Desolate OneThe Desolate OneThe Desolate One is the third album by old school/hardcore emcee Just-Ice, released in 1989 and produced by KRS-One . In 1996, it was played in part on KROQ by Bradley Nowell of Sublime...
(1989) - Masterpiece (1990)
- Gun TalkGun TalkGun Talk is the fifth album by old school hip hop/hardcore MC Just-Ice. It was released in 1993, and it was the only album of his to have major-label distribution.-Track listing:# "Gangster Style Rap" – 3:13...
(1993) - Kill the Rhythm (Like a Homicide)Kill the Rhythm (Like a Homicide)Kill the Rhythm is the sixth album by old school hip hop/hardcore rapper Just-Ice, it was released in 1995.-Track listing:#"Bad Boy Back "#"Bring ’Em Back Alive"#"Ladies ’Nuff Respect"#"Keep it Real"...
(1995) - VIIVII (album)VII is the seventh album by old school hip hop/hardcore rapper Just-Ice, it was released in 1998.-Track listing:#Free Flow#Cool and Wicked#Pressure Dem#Way Back #Jedi#If Ya Kill Sound#Cold Getting Dumb...
(1998) - Gangster Boogie (2008) (digital download only)
- 32 Degrees (2009) (digital download only)
- The Just-Ice and KRS-ONE EP Volume#1 (May 2010) (digital download only)
External links
- [ AllMusic.com Biography - Just-Ice]