Legendary gangsta rapper Ice-T has done a 180-degree turnaround from the days when he was penning controversial songs such as “Cop Killer.”
“I used to hate the cops,” Ice said in an exclusive ENQUIRER interview.
“But now that I’ve gone legit and need the cops to watch my house, I don’t hate them anymore.
“I’m a big hypocrite.
“Honestly, I think everybody out there is hypocritical about the police,” said Ice.
“It’s like when you’re speeding – that’s when you don’t like them. (But) when somebody breaks into your car, then you call the cops to help you.”
Ice-T, whose real name is Tracy Marrow, was once a Crips gang member and pimp hustling on the streets of South Central Los Angeles. In the early 1990s, he caused a national uproar when he co-wrote and performed a song called “Cop Killer” that seemed to promote the murder of police.
But now the 48-year-old star plays a cop on TV – he’s portrayed Detective Fin Tutuola on “Law & Order: SVU” since 2000.
“When I was a criminal and I was out in the streets, the police were my opponents, and I wanted to get away.
“But back then I felt they were constantly harassing me and other people in the hood when we were just trying to survive our circumstances.
“Now that I’m legitimate, I need ’em. It’s as simple as that.”
By PATRICIA SHIPP
