Body Count

Body Count: Murder 4 HireMurder 4 Hire (2006)
Escapi

Reviewer Rating: 2

Contributed by: AnchorsAnchors
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on December 22nd 2006This is who we have to thank. Next time you hear the names Limp Bizkit, KoRn, or P.O.D. and think "good God this is awful," then you can think "thanks, Body Count, for starting this awful trend." Granted, I'm sure they did not have the foresight to know an entire awful genre of music would spa.

This is who we have to thank.

Next time you hear the names Limp Bizkit, KoRn, or P.O.D. and think "good God this is awful," then you can think "thanks, Body Count, for starting this awful trend."

Granted, I'm sure they did not have the foresight to know an entire awful genre of music would spawn from what they laid down, but blame is theirs regardless. In 1992, Ice-T, bored with the word of gangsta rap, decided to start a rap-metal band. Body Count was that band, and I'm sure everyone is aware of the turmoil caused by their controversial track "Cop Killer." 14 years later -- Murder 4 Hire is released.

If it's any sort of consolation (probably not) it's better than anything most rap-rock/rap-metal bands recorded during the heydey of that turgid genre. What sets this apart is that the band behind Ice-T actually has a good amount of talent. Behind the rap veneer is a band hungry with intensity and a penchant for blistering riffs and cascading drum fills. "The Passion of the Christ" ends with a minute of just straight guitar and drum intensity. Lead Axeman Ernie C lays down some truly quick and impressive riffs before slowing down at the end and doing his best Jimi Hendrix impression.

For the most part, though, the talented members of the band take a backseat to Ice-T's rantings. Now, I like Ice-T as a rapper. Quite a bit actually, but his personal style is one that simply does not meld well with any sort of heavy music. He seems unsure of himself at times, as "Down in the Bayou" has him take on almost a southern twang, in direct contrast to the dangerous Compton sound he's most well-known for. Points for the attempted diversity, but there's something to be said for knowing your own strengths and expounding on them. And nowhere on this record does Ice-T sound dangerous -- complacent, if anything. Shouting over some heavy riffs does not make the point get across any better, and this is something that the whole band needs to realize before they can actually move forward. They flirt with bits and pieces of good songs, but fail to deliver on one entire effort.

14 years ago, they were far, far ahead of their time. Only Anthrax had come close to the realm that Body Count was bringing to the mainstream, and their controversial lyrics stirred up some serious public attention. In this day and age however, they really needed to go that extra mile rather than settle into a false sense of security. And that's exactly what happened.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Donkeykongjr (September 18, 2007)

Fred durst wacks off to this cd every night

GlassPipeMurder (January 12, 2007)

Just got this and I think it's pretty strong. Granted they've moved from the more or less punk sound of their self titled to more metal/hardcore with Murder 4 Hire. "The Passion of Christ" is amazing, easily the strongest track on the album, "Dirty Bombs" is also really good.

Anonymous (December 24, 2006)

i think as far as pushing rapmetal into the mainstream you have to mention the judgement night soundtrack. that really seemed to put the idea of rap and metal co-exisiting into a lot of people's heads, as well as the onyx/ biohazard remix of slam

Anonymous (December 24, 2006)

Definitely do not consider RATM rap metal. When I think of good rap metal, I think of the Quicksand song "Omission". Rage was all over the place..to label them rap metal is kind of insulting.

dazed (December 24, 2006)

"Body Count" the song has always reminded me a ton of Suicidal Tendencies, the band didn't really come from a vacuum.

I like Ice-T better as a rapper but Body Count's cool too.

Anchors (December 24, 2006)

I wouldn't even consider Rage rap metal, though. Maybe it's splitting hairs, but I didn't hear much metal from that band at all. Whatever their hybrid would be considered is irrelevant though, because they ruled.

BrandonSideleau (December 23, 2006)

Rap Metal is not a bad concept...it's just been execute, for the most part, very poorly and superficially. I mean, there were some great bands- Rage Against the Machine for example. It's a shame Limp Bizkit, Korn, and fuck knows how many others had to rape it for all it's worth before it could even form an underground version.

Anonymous (December 23, 2006)

Ha Ha!

I guess they never figured out "who gave those niggas rock guitars"

I wanted a rock guitar for Christmas, but Santa hates me...

at_the_drive_in_21 (December 23, 2006)

Ha ha ha, go check out the cover art for Ice-T's new album "Gangsta Rap".

at_the_drive_in_21 (December 23, 2006)

According to wikipedia, Mooseman, the band's original bassist, was shot in a drive by while working for Iggy Pop of all people. What the fish?

at_the_drive_in_21 (December 23, 2006)

The first Body Count record has some good songs, unfortunately, it has some serious filler as well. Remember 'Voodoo'?

Ahhhhh! My fingers! Bitch!

FuckYouOiOiOi (December 23, 2006)

cop killer!

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

Public Enemy sampled Slayer too.

I think the world and society is to blame for Limp Bizkit.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

Actually, you can blame Faith No More for the rap/metal genre. Kinda sucks since FNM only had one rap/metal song, and it just happened to be their biggest hit.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

he plays a COP on Law and Order!! ironic??

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

the album title reminds me of that simpsons episode where the "murder-4-life" tour comes through springfield.HA!

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

score is for Biohazard reference.

sickboi (December 22, 2006)

I thought Suicidal Tendacies started rapmetal.

That's one thought, but you could even argue that Run DMC started it with all the metal samples they used and the collaboration with Aerosmith. Rage Against the Machine started in 1991, so that also beats out Body Count.

You can also count Downset, Anthrax, Biohazard, the Beastie Boys and especially the Red Hot Chili Peppers - all of which preceeded Body Count.

BrandonSideleau (December 22, 2006)

Body Count is great and this is why- the band is TOUNGE IN CHEEK, is that so hard to understand? It's great and fun music.....and btw Ice T is NOT a homophobe, as a matter of fact he has written many rap songs denouncing the prevalent homophobia present in the genre. This album would have been good, but it suffers from very poor production values.

GlassPipeMurder (December 22, 2006)

scratch that, he's on law and order.

GlassPipeMurder (December 22, 2006)

ha, yeah. he's made a pretty impressive transition from cop-killin' gangsta rap to primetime television.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

i thought Suicidal Tendacies started rapmetal. isn't Ice-T on CSI?

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

No, really, he reeks of Hendrix. Earlier this year i catched them on a festival and they played for 55 minutes on their 45 minute-slot and then came out and jammed some hendrix for atleast 25 minutes and staff were afraid to tell them to stop. Ice-T is hilarious.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

Ice-T is a homosexual, for real yo. Not that there's anything wrong with it.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

Every Body Count song ever:

BODY COUNT MUTHAFUCKAAA!
BODY COUNT
BODY COUNT MUTHAFUCKAAA!
BODY COUNT

Fuck this "band".

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

you only compared him to hendrix cause they are both black.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

Cop killer!!!

GlassPipeMurder (December 22, 2006)

i haven't heard this, but their 1992 self-titled debut was great. The song "Body Count" had a great influence on the way i grew to perceive society in a different way as the middle-class white kid from Iowa i was. Score is for Body Count.

Anonymous (December 22, 2006)

ICE PICK PUNK BITCH BLOOD IN THE MOSH PIT

Haha, Ice T is hilarious.

-Will

Dante3000 (December 22, 2006)

I really have mixed feelings about this band and I feel this review sums it up.
It was so strange to see him at Warped Tour a few years back calling all the audience "faggots".
-Dante