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As the title says, Ice-T returns to the street and the hardcore beats with his sixth album, Return of the Real. In fact, the return isn't just to hardcore -- it's to hardcore that happened before gangsta rap, before the message and the music became diluted with endless B-boy posturing and loping P-Funk beats. In concept, the album is brilliant -- Ice-T has always had an eye for lyrical detail and has always been a vocal supporter of hardcore, street-oriented hip-hop; at the very least, his rejection of G-funk/post-NWA gangsta rap is a bold political move. However, Return of the Real doesn't quite re-establish Ice-T as a force, mainly because the production sounds a bit dated. Sure, there are the occasional contemporary flourishes -- usually in the guise of a Wu-Tang-style soundscape -- but for the most part, Ice sounds like he's in his own world. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that he has created a unique sonic world; it just means that he hasn't progressed far since 1991. Of course, there are a number of tracks that sound vibrant and alive, but Return of the Real can't help escape a creeping sense of stagnation that permeates through the entire album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Wendall Winston, Composer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - San Man for Mood Swing Productions, Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Santiago Sanguillen, Composer - DJ L.P, Music Production, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Mark Ogleton, Composer - Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - E-A-Ski, Producer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - CMT For E And C Productions, Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - The Underdog For Bite It!, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Shon Adam, Composer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Hot Dolla, FeaturedArtist - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer - Powerlord Jell, FeaturedArtist - Mr Wesside, FeaturedArtist
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, Background Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - S Sanguillen, Composer - San Man for Mood Swing Productions, Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Angela "Gi Gi" Rollins, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Sean E Sean, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - SLJ, Producer - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Steffon Johns, Composer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - G, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Mad Rome for Mad Vybe Productions, Producer - Big Rich for Mad Vybe Productions, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Badale, Composer - Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer - Steffon Johns, Composer - Prilly, Composer - Perreault, Composer - Slej - The Ruff Edge for Rhyme Sydicate Productions, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Dee, Performer, AssociatedPerformer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - David Brown, Composer - Wendall Winston, Composer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Hot Dolla, FeaturedArtist - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer - Powerlord Jell, FeaturedArtist - Marlowe Bates, Composer - DJ L.P, FeaturedArtist
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Richard Ascencio, Composer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - DJ Ace For Rhyme Poetic Mafia, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Bobby Ross Avila, Computermusic Voices, AssociatedPerformer - Tracy Morrow, Composer - Teddy, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Mad Rome for Mad Vybe Productions, Producer - Big Rich for Mad Vybe Productions, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Dante Givens, Composer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Aquel, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Daniel Martinez, Composer - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - DJ Evil E, AssociatedPerformer, Turntablist - Trails of Flowastics for Gee Enterprise, Producer - Kenny Laboriel, Composer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Tracy Morrow, Composer - TOM BAKER, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ice T, Producer, Executive Producer, MainArtist - Hen Gee For Gee Enterprises, Producer, Associate Producer - Silkski, Producer
(C) 1996 Rhyme Syndicate Records Inc This label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved. (C) 1996 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
Album review
As the title says, Ice-T returns to the street and the hardcore beats with his sixth album, Return of the Real. In fact, the return isn't just to hardcore -- it's to hardcore that happened before gangsta rap, before the message and the music became diluted with endless B-boy posturing and loping P-Funk beats. In concept, the album is brilliant -- Ice-T has always had an eye for lyrical detail and has always been a vocal supporter of hardcore, street-oriented hip-hop; at the very least, his rejection of G-funk/post-NWA gangsta rap is a bold political move. However, Return of the Real doesn't quite re-establish Ice-T as a force, mainly because the production sounds a bit dated. Sure, there are the occasional contemporary flourishes -- usually in the guise of a Wu-Tang-style soundscape -- but for the most part, Ice sounds like he's in his own world. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean that he has created a unique sonic world; it just means that he hasn't progressed far since 1991. Of course, there are a number of tracks that sound vibrant and alive, but Return of the Real can't help escape a creeping sense of stagnation that permeates through the entire album.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 20 track(s)
- Total length: 01:09:15
- Main artists: ICE T
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: EMI Catalogue
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1996 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 1996 Virgin Records Limited
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