Ice-T often fields questions from fans (and haters) on Twitter, his preferred social media platform. On Sunday (June 14), he was asked why it was acceptable for black people to use the term “n*gga” but was forbidden to be used by white people.
The O.G. gangsta rapper had a logical answer to the question, explaining, “Here’s a VERY SIMPLE rule.. If the word doesn’t apply to YOU, DON’T use it.. Example: If you’re not fat don’t call people fat.. If you’re not Gay stay away from words they can call each other.. If the word does not apply to YOU…… Don’t use it.. So simple..”
In 2014, Public Enemy frontman Chuck D spoke on the word “n*gga” being so prevalent in mainstream rap music and encouraged artists to stop using it.
“That shit is over,” he told Billboard. “If there was a festival and it was filled with anti-Semitic slurs… or racial slurs at anyone but black people, what do you think would happen? Why does there have to be such a double standard?
“It’s just a sloppy presentation of the art form, the worst presentation known to man. It’s negligent. There needs to be a greater representation of the culture and the community on that radio station.”
The Hip Hop legend was prompted to speak out after Hot 97’s Summer Jam that year, which was littered with what Chuck calls a “derogatory term.” He quickly got into a Twitter war with the New York radio station and radio personality Peter Rosenberg who ultimately apologized.
Ice has also teamed up with Naughty By Nature MC Treach for a new movie on the topic of racism in the police force called Equal Standard. The two veteran rappers spoke to Page Six about the film
“It’s not just a black issue anymore,” Treach said. “It’s a humanity issue. You can’t treat these people like this. It’s 2020, and enough is enough. We have been screaming out for help since the civil rights era . . . Anything they can do from within the police force is going to help when they go out in the streets.
“It’s the relationship … When all the conversation you have with police is: ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Move from this corner’ … Instead of ‘How is your day going’ and ‘What’s up?’ ”
Ice added, “Right now at the protests you are actually seeing them [the police] in action, pushing down old men and beating little white girls down. You are seeing what we see on a daily basis.”