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Ice-T Describes His Unique American Journey

From street hustler to rap icon to Law & Order SVU star

Kareem Black/Day Reps Ice-T’s new memoir, Split Decision: Life Stories, cowritten with his friend Spike and journalist Douglas Century, details some dark periods in the legendary rapper and producer’s life. Before Ice-T found fame, he and Spike grew up in gang-controlled Los Angeles neighborhoods, where they became partners in (literal) crime. While Ice-T, 64, left the criminal world behind as his music career took off, Spike was arrested for a jewel robbery and propelled down a very different path.
We spoke with the musician about his book, music and reinvention. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

You started out as a street hustler then a hip-hop star Now you ve played a cop on Law & Order Special Victims Unit for 20 years Does that all feel odd to you br

At first, it did. When I was first a cop in [the 1991 film] New Jack City, I thought that was career suicide. I didn’t really know how people would accept it. But it’s acting. If they cast a street cat as a street cat, that’s not real acting. But if you cast me as a cop, you get a cop with a very interesting dynamic.

Are you going to continue with SVU

SVU has been picked up for the 24th season. That’s been my day job, which has given me a solid career, where I’m home. I’ve got my kid. I’ve got my wife. It’s not like a record, where you put it out and cross your fingers. “Small decisions change the trajectory of your life.” —Ice-T

What s next for your music career

As far as making music, I’m aware they are never going to play an Ice-T record on the radio. I’m out of the loop. Hip-hop hits between [ages] 15 and 25. That’s the audience. But me and [Big Daddy] Kane and and Nas will be touring forever. I always think of it like — people just want to come out and hear our catalog. I just make records because I love it. Flowers & Gifts 25% off sitewide and 30% off select items See more Flowers & Gifts offers >

And you are a family man

I have a 6-year-old daughter, Chanel. When she was born, the very first thing that came to my mind was: You just can’t die. You’ve got to take care of yourself. You just can’t get away with the stuff you got away with in your 20s and 30s. By 50, no mistakes allowed, because it takes longer to recover.

Your new book Split Decision is candid about your youthful crimes What advice would you give that younger self now

I’d say to myself that there are other options. When people are breaking the law, they don’t really see any other options. You become “street poisoned,” like [writer] Iceberg Slim says. You start to believe that anything legit is for squares and suckers. The only lanes that seemed open to me were hustling. Those were the only people around me I saw getting money. When hip-hop hit [in the 1980s], it opened a lot of lanes for a lot of kids.

And today

Now there are tons of options. There are all kinds of things you can do, but I was pre-internet. As opportunities open up, there’s less reason for people to go to jail. I’m looking at kids now and thinking there’s no way they need to do some of the [stuff] we were doing. AARP Membership — $12 for your first year when you sign up for Automatic Renewal Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine. More on entertainment AARP NEWSLETTERS %{ newsLetterPromoText }% %{ description }% Subscribe AARP VALUE & MEMBER BENEFITS See more Health & Wellness offers > See more Flights & Vacation Packages offers > See more Finances offers > See more Health & Wellness offers > SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS