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The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!

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The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!
Studio album by
Ice-T
ReleasedOctober 10, 1989
Genre
Length55:42
LabelSire
Producer
Ice-T chronology
Power
(1988) 		The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!
(1989) 		O.G. Original Gangster
(1991)
Singles from The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Just Watch What You Say
  1. "Lethal Weapon"
    Released: 1989
  2. "What Ya Wanna Do"
    Released: 1989
  3. "You Played Yourself"
    Released: April 5, 1990
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Chicago Tribune[2]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[3]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[4]
The Village VoiceA−[5]

The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say! is the third studio album by American rapper Ice-T, released on October 10, 1989, by Sire Records. The album has an uncharacteristically gritty sound, featuring some of the darkest tracks that Ice-T ever released.

Background

[edit]

The album was released after Ice-T was encountering censorship problems on tour. In The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck? the rapper states that "People had already told me what I could not say onstage in Columbus, Georgia. You couldn't say anything they called a 'swear' word. You couldn't touch yourself. They were using the same tactics they used on everyone from Elvis and Jim Morrison to 2 Live Crew".[6]

The album's cover, featuring a B-boy with a shotgun shoved in his mouth, and two pistols pressed against each side of his head, reflected Ice-T's experiences with the concept of freedom of speech. "The concept of that picture is, 'Go ahead and say what you want. But here comes the government and here come the parents, and they are ready to destroy you when you open your mouth'".[6]

Accompanying VHS

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The album was accompanied by a VHS entitled The Iceberg. This mixed footage of Ice-T's gigs with his own commentary. In the first section, he said that some of the footage was of poor quality because it was filmed on equipment from a pawnbroker or stolen from a mall. The video featured some footage of the Dope Jam tour, including Doug E Fresh, KRS-One and Kool Moe Dee.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleLength
1."Shut Up, Be Happy" (featuring Jello Biafra)2:36
2."The Iceberg"4:21
3."Lethal Weapon"4:33
4."You Played Yourself"4:14
5."Peel Their Caps Back"3:42
6."The Girl Tried to Kill Me"4:10
7."Black 'n' Decker"1:16
8."Hit the Deck"3:46
9."This One's for Me"4:33
10."The Hunted Child"4:27
11."What Ya Wanna Do?" (featuring Bronx Style Bob, Donald D, Everlast, Hen Gee, Nat The Cat, Randy Mac, Shakell Shabazz, Toddy Tee, MC Taste, and Divine Styler.)8:57
12."Freedom of Speech" (featuring Jello Biafra)4:11
13."My Word Is Bond"5:07
Total length:55:42

Sample credits

Personnel

[edit]
  • Afrika Islam - producer, programming (tracks 1, 3–13)
  • Arnold Turner - photographer
  • Beat Master V - drums (track 6)
  • Devious Doze - artwork
  • D.J. Evil "E" The Great - scratches
  • Ernie C - guitar (track 6, 11)
  • Ice-T - main artist, executive producer, producer
  • Johnny (Sleepy John) Rivers - programming (track 2)
  • Lloyd Roberts - bass (tracks 8, 11)
  • Mark Wolfson - engineer mix
  • Mary Ann Dibs - design
  • Vachik Aghaniawtz - engineer mix

Charts

[edit]
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA Charts)[10] 81
US Billboard 200[11] 37
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[12] 11

Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[14] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Henderson, Alex. "The Iceberg: Freedom of Speech... Just Watch What You Say – Ice-T". AllMusic. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
  2. ^ Tanzilo, Robert (January 11, 1990). "Ice-T: The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech (Sire LP and Warner/Reprise video)". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  3. ^ Relic, Peter (2004). "Ice-T". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p. 401. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  4. ^ Sandow, Greg (1995). "Ice-T". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 190–191. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  5. ^ Christgau, Robert (December 26, 1989). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  6. ^ a b Ice-T; Sigmund, Heidi (1994). The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck?. Pan Books. p. 165. ISBN 0-330-33629-0.
  7. ^ Ice-T (1989). "Hit The Deck". The Iceberg/Freedom Of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!. Sire/Warner Bros. Records. UPC 075992602822
  8. ^ Ice-T (1989). "The Hunted Child". The Iceberg/Freedom Of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!. Sire/Warner Bros. Records. UPC 075992602822
  9. ^ Ice-T (1989). "My Word Is Bond". The Iceberg/Freedom Of Speech... Just Watch What You Say!. Sire/Warner Bros. Records. UPC 075992602822
  10. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 134.
  11. ^ "Ice-T Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  12. ^ "Ice-T Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  13. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Ice-T – Freedom of Speech". Music Canada.
  14. ^ "American album certifications – Ice-T – The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech...Watch What You Say". Recording Industry Association of America.
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