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Rhyme Pays is the debut album by Ice-T, released by Sire and Warner Bros. on July 28, 1987. It was one of the first major-label rap albums from Los Angeles.
The story
Sire signed Ice-T after years of electro singles on Saturn Records. The album gathered “6 ‘N the Mornin’,” his 1986 street tale that helped define gangsta rap, alongside “Make It Funky” and “Somebody Gotta Do It (Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy).” It was his first album to carry a parental advisory sticker, peaked at No. 93 on the Billboard 200 and No. 26 on the R&B chart, and went gold.
Sound and production
Afrika Islam, a Zulu Nation DJ from the Bronx, produced, with DJ Evil E on the cuts, blending hard drum machines, rock guitar samples and scratching.
Legacy
It set the template for LA street rap before N.W.A broke nationally, and launched one of hip hop’s longest careers.
Tracklist & credits
Produced by Afrika Islam
- A1Intro/Rhyme Pays6:29
- A26 'N The Mornin'7:11
- A3Make It Funky5:09
- A4Somebody Gotta Do It (Pimpin' Ain't Easy!!!)3:03
- B14095:20
- B2I Love Ladies4:44
- B3Sex2:57
- B4Pain3:36
- B5Squeeze The Trigger6:12
Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.
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