Ice-T Reflects on the Rise of “O.G.” and His Unexpected Stardom

Hip-hop pioneer Ice-T is celebrating a milestone this year as his fourth studio album, O.G. Original Gangster, turns 35 on May 14. The rapper and actor recently opened up about his journey, the origins of the term “O.G.,” and how he never imagined becoming a household name.

Early Days in Hip-Hop

Speaking on the Allison Interviews podcast, Ice-T recalled the early days of his career in the 1980s. At the time, hip-hop was still finding its footing, and few artists had achieved mainstream success. “I didn’t think I was going to be big, because there was no one big yet,” he explained. “Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five were still struggling. Hip hop wasn’t big enough. We’re talking about 1982. Original Gangster was way later. That was three albums in.”

The Birth of “O.G.”

The conversation turned to his landmark album, which introduced the term “O.G.” to audiences outside of Los Angeles. Ice-T explained that “O.G.” was originally used by L.A. gangs to describe the first generation of a set, but it also carried the meaning of “The Original.” When the media began labeling the emerging genre as “gangster rap,” Ice-T embraced the title and positioned himself as the “Original Gangster.”

“They didn’t have a name for [the genre] when we first started. They were calling it ‘Reality Rap,’ but I was like, ‘Well, this is not everybody’s reality. This is just some particular kids’ reality,’” he said. “So, Ice Cube did Straight Outta Compton and the press said, ‘Oh, he referred to his rap group as a gang. They’re gangster rappers.’ That’s where the media gave us that name and I said, ‘Okay, if this is gangster rap, I’m the Original Gangster.’”

A Phrase That Went Global

Ice-T admitted he was surprised by how quickly the term spread into pop culture. “I shoulda trademarked it,” he joked. “But Rakim says, ‘I’ll take a phrase that’s rarely heard, flip it; now it’s a daily word.’ A lot of terms come from Hip Hop, but yeah, I put ‘O.G.’ into the game.”

Lessons From Rap Beef

Beyond his influence on language and culture, Ice-T reflected on lessons learned throughout his career. One of them is the futility of rap beef. In a 2024 interview, he noted how social media has amplified conflicts in ways that can spiral out of control. “The problem with beef is it can escalate away from you,” he said. “Social media is an amplifier to everything. It forces a reaction that really could be squashed so much simpler.”

Legacy and Influence

Now at 67, Ice-T continues to balance his legacy as a rap icon with his successful acting career. His reflections underscore how hip-hop has evolved from a struggling underground movement into a global cultural force—and how one phrase, “O.G.,” became a permanent part of the lexicon.