Hip-hop legendary rap artist/actor/rock''n''roller, lyrically sound gangsta rap artist Ice-T is at it again; mixing rap and metal on ‘Murder 4 Hire’ (Escapi Records) by Body Count, to be released August 1, 2006. Lead guitarist Ernie C, bassist Vincent Price, drummer OT and rhythm guitarist Bendrix hit the metal hard on 12 tracks of what is sure to be controversial argued over and put down right from the jump.

"Fuck the cops" shouts the rap artist / rock’n’roll actor in the opening track "Invincible Gangsta," who, ironically plays a cop on NBC-TV's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. The track harkens back to the 1992 Body Count track Cop Killer (1992) which attacked, in graphic terms, various aspects of racism and criminality in South Central Los Angeles (now South Los Angeles), including corrupt police officers. A few months after its release, police groups, parent groups and other advocates began protesting the rap song ‘Cop Killer’. Weeks later, according to his own words in his book ''The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck?'' (1994), Ice-T decided to remove the song from the album; it was re-issued under the band's name and included a rock-flavored remix of an older Ice-T solo song. After this incident the band was released from the contract with their record label Warner Brothers.

Musically, the bombast of the Murder 4 Hire metal, with all its sweeping rock grandeur, is oftentimes offset by a total all-out thrash breakdown.

Lyrically, the rap in the songs range from political ("The End Game"), personal ("You Don''t Know Me [Pain]"), and religious ("The Passion Of The Christ"), to obsession ("In My Head"), armageddon ("Dirty Bomb"), hate ("Lies") and "Relationships." Obviously, Body Count, circa 2006, ain''t backing down from anybody or anything. A eulogy for fallen band member D-Roc is also included ("D Rocs [RIP]") as is a hilarious take on deep south rednecks ("Down In The Bayou"). The title track is an instant hit man anthem. The CD closes with "Mr. C's Theme," a show-stopping hard rock instrumental.

Murder 4 Hire (Escapi Records) by Body Count, to be released August 1, 2006.