Body Count Band: From Cop Killer to Grammy Winners — The Full Story

The Body Count band changed everything people thought they knew about hip-hop and heavy metal. When Ice-T and guitarist Ernie C brought their South Central LA crew to Lollapalooza in 1991, nobody was ready. Here was a rapper — the guy behind “6 in the Mornin'” — fronting a thrash metal band that played faster and angrier than most of the rock acts on the bill. What followed was one of the most controversial, tragic, and ultimately triumphant runs in music history: a free speech firestorm that reached the White House, three original members dead in eight years, and a comeback that landed them two Grammy Awards three decades after the world tried to cancel them.

Quick Facts: Body Count Band

Formed	1990, Los Angeles, California
Founders	Ice-T (vocals), Ernie C (lead guitar)
Genre	Thrash metal, crossover thrash, heavy metal
Albums	8 studio albums (1992–2024)
Grammy Wins	2 — Best Metal Performance (2021, 2023)
Label	Century Media Records (current)
Known For	“Cop Killer” controversy, crossover metal, Ice-T’s dual career

How Body Count Started — Five Kids From Crenshaw High Who Loved Metal

Before Body Count was a body count band on MTV and magazine covers, they were just a group of kids at Crenshaw High School in South Central Los Angeles who happened to love Black Sabbath as much as they loved N.W.A. Ice-T (born Tracy Lauren Marrow) and lead guitarist Ernie C (Ernie Cunnigan) had been friends since the early 1980s. While the rest of their neighborhood was bumping Parliament and Rick James, these two were sneaking Suicidal Tendencies and Slayer records into the rotation.

The lineup came together organically. Bassist Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts), rhythm guitarist D-Roc (Dennis Miles), and drummer Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) all came from the same South Central scene. They weren’t rock kids playing at being street — they were street kids who genuinely loved metal. Ice-T later said in interviews that nobody in their neighborhood believed Black guys could play heavy metal, which only made them want to do it more.

The band’s big break came before they even had an album. Ice-T featured the track “Body Count” on his 1991 rap album O.G. Original Gangster, introducing the concept to his hip-hop audience. That same year, they played Lollapalooza alongside Jane’s Addiction and Siouxsie and the Banshees. The response was immediate — audiences who came for alternative rock found themselves in the middle of a mosh pit led by a rapper who could scream just as hard as any metal vocalist alive.

Body Count Band Songs — The Essential Tracks From 30+ Years

With eight studio albums spanning 1992 to 2024, the body count band songs catalog runs deeper than most people realize. Here are the tracks that defined each era:

The Early Era (1992–1997)

“Body Count’s in the House” — The opening track from their 1992 debut is pure adrenaline. It’s a statement of arrival: we’re here, we’re loud, and we’re not asking permission. The song debuted at Lollapalooza ’91 before the album even dropped.

“Cop Killer” — The most controversial song in rock history (more on that below). Musically, it’s a straightforward thrash track. Lyrically, it ignited a national firestorm that reached the President of the United States.

“There Goes the Neighborhood” — From the debut album, this track directly addresses the racial gatekeeping in metal. Ice-T’s lyrics confront the idea that Black musicians don’t belong in rock with his typical bluntness.

“Born Dead” — The title track from the 1994 follow-up is darker and heavier. After the Cop Killer controversy, Body Count had something to prove, and this album was their middle finger to everyone who tried to shut them down.

The Comeback Era (2014–2024)

“No Lives Matter” — From Bloodlust (2017), this became Body Count’s modern anthem. The premise is simple and devastating: the system doesn’t care about anyone. It went viral in 2020 during the George Floyd protests, introducing a new generation to the band.

“Black Hoodie” — Also from Bloodlust, this track addresses racial profiling with the same directness Ice-T brought to “Cop Killer” 25 years earlier. The hook is unforgettable.

“Bum-Rush” — From Carnivore (2020), this won their first Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 2021. After 29 years of making metal, the Recording Academy finally recognized what fans already knew.

“Comfortably Numb” — The Pink Floyd cover from Merciless (2024) features David Gilmour himself on guitar. Gilmour didn’t just approve the cover — he volunteered to play on it after hearing Body Count’s version.

The Cop Killer Controversy That Almost Ended Everything

No discussion of the Body Count band is complete without the Cop Killer controversy — the moment that turned a metal song into a national crisis.

Here’s the timeline. In March 1992, Body Count released their self-titled debut album on Sire Records (a Warner Bros. subsidiary). Track 8 was “Cop Killer,” a first-person narrative written from the perspective of someone who snaps after witnessing police brutality. Ice-T was clear in interviews that the song was fiction — a character piece — but that distinction got lost immediately.

By June 1992, the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) organized a boycott of Time Warner, the parent company. Then Vice President Dan Quayle called the song “obscene.” President George H.W. Bush publicly condemned it. Actor Charlton Heston walked into a Time Warner shareholders meeting and read the lyrics aloud, word by word, to shame the company into action.

Death threats followed — not just to Ice-T, but to Time Warner employees. The label’s offices received bomb threats. Police organizations across the country joined the boycott. It was the biggest censorship battle since the PMRC hearings in 1985, and it was happening in real time.

In late July 1992, Ice-T made a decision. He voluntarily pulled “Cop Killer” from future pressings of the album. He was clear: nobody forced him. He did it because Warner Bros. employees were receiving death threats, and he didn’t want anyone hurt over a song. The original pressings with “Cop Killer” became instant collector’s items.

The irony that defines Ice-T’s career? In 2000 — eight years after writing “Cop Killer” — he was cast as Detective Odafin Tutuola on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He’s been playing a cop on television for over 25 years, making him one of the longest-running cast members in the Law & Order franchise. As Ice-T himself has joked: “I went from ‘Cop Killer’ to cop on TV. America is a wild place.” If you’re a fan of the man behind both the badge and the mic, our Ice-T – O.G. Original Gangster Hoodie pays tribute to the album that started it all — the record that introduced Body Count to the world.

Three Deaths in Eight Years — Body Count’s Darkest Chapter

Between 1996 and 2004, the Body Count band lost three original members. It’s the part of their story that doesn’t get talked about enough.

Beatmaster V (Victor Wilson) — The band’s original drummer died of leukemia in 1996, just four years after their debut album. He was the heartbeat of the band, both literally and figuratively. His death came during the recording of Violent Demise: The Last Days (1997), which was dedicated to his memory.

Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts) — The bassist was killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on July 22, 2001. He was 30 years old. The tragedy was grimly ironic — Body Count spent years writing about violence in South Central, and that same violence took one of their own. Mooseman had also played bass for Ice-T’s hip-hop recordings.

D-Roc (Dennis Miles) — The rhythm guitarist died of lymphoma in 2004. With D-Roc gone, three of the five original members who started the band at Crenshaw High were dead. Only Ice-T and Ernie C remained from the original lineup.

Most bands would have quit. Ice-T and Ernie C didn’t. They recruited new members — including bassist Vincent Price and drummer Will “Ill Will” Dorsey — and kept going. Not out of obligation, but because they believed the music still mattered. As Ice-T put it in a 2017 Rolling Stone interview: “The guys who died would want us to keep playing. That’s what we do.”

The Comeback — Two Grammys, David Gilmour, and a Legacy Secured

The Body Count band comeback story is one of the best in all of heavy metal. After a seven-year hiatus following Murder 4 Hire (2006), Ice-T and Ernie C returned with Manslaughter in 2014. Nobody expected much. What they got was a band that was tighter, angrier, and more focused than they’d been since the ’90s.

Then came Bloodlust in 2017, and everything changed. Produced by Will Putney (who works with Every Time I Die and The Acacia Strain), the album sounded massive. “No Lives Matter” became a viral anthem. “Black Hoodie” proved Ice-T still had something to say. Critics who had written Body Count off as a novelty act had to reconsider.

Carnivore (2020) cemented the comeback. The album’s track “Bum-Rush” won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 2021 — 29 years after Body Count’s debut. Ice-T accepted the award with characteristic bluntness: he’d been making metal for three decades, and it took the Grammys that long to notice.

They did it again in 2023. “Fuck What You Heard” won Best Metal Performance, making Body Count two-time Grammy winners. For a band that the music industry tried to destroy in 1992, the recognition was deeply satisfying.

The latest chapter, Merciless (2024), might be their most ambitious. The album features a cover of Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” with David Gilmour on guitar. Gilmour didn’t need convincing — he heard Body Count’s take and called Ice-T directly, offering to lay down the solo himself. When a founding member of Pink Floyd volunteers to play on your record, you’ve earned something that transcends genre labels.

Ernie C’s contributions extend beyond Body Count too. In 1995, he produced Black Sabbath’s Forbidden album — connecting the South Central metal kids directly to the godfathers of the genre. For the full story of Ice-T’s hip-hop career that launched it all, check out our deep dive on Ice-T’s greatest rapper songs.

FAQ — Body Count Band

Who are the original Body Count band members?

The original Body Count lineup was Ice-T (vocals), Ernie C (lead guitar), D-Roc (rhythm guitar), Mooseman (bass), and Beatmaster V (drums). All five members grew up together in the Crenshaw neighborhood of South Central Los Angeles. Only Ice-T and Ernie C survive from the original lineup.

What genre is Body Count?

Body Count is a heavy metal and thrash metal band, not a hip-hop group. While frontman Ice-T is famous as a rapper, Body Count plays live instruments with heavy guitar riffs, blast beats, and metal song structures. They’re classified as crossover thrash — blending hardcore punk and thrash metal with elements from Ice-T’s hip-hop background.

What happened with the “Cop Killer” song?

“Cop Killer” appeared on Body Count’s 1992 debut album and sparked a national controversy. Vice President Dan Quayle and President George H.W. Bush both condemned it publicly. Police organizations boycotted Time Warner, and the label received death threats. Ice-T voluntarily pulled the song from future pressings to protect Warner Bros. employees. Original pressings are now collector’s items.

How many Body Count members have died?

Three original Body Count members have died: Beatmaster V from leukemia in 1996, Mooseman in a drive-by shooting in 2001, and D-Roc from lymphoma in 2004. Despite these losses, Ice-T and Ernie C continued the band with new members.

Has Body Count won any Grammy Awards?

Yes — Body Count has won two Grammy Awards for Best Metal Performance. “Bum-Rush” won in 2021 (from the album Carnivore) and “Fuck What You Heard” won in 2023. Their first Grammy came 29 years after their debut album.

Is Body Count still active?

Yes. Body Count released their eighth studio album, Merciless, in 2024. The current lineup features Ice-T on vocals, Ernie C on lead guitar, Juan of the Dead on rhythm guitar, Vincent Price on bass, and Ill Will on drums. They continue to tour and record.

What is Body Count’s connection to Ice-T’s rap career?

Ice-T first introduced Body Count on his 1991 rap album O.G. Original Gangster, which included the track “Body Count.” The album bridged his hip-hop and metal worlds. Ice-T maintains both careers simultaneously — he still raps and still fronts Body Count as a metal vocalist.

Did David Gilmour really play on a Body Count album?

Yes. David Gilmour of Pink Floyd plays guitar on Body Count’s cover of “Comfortably Numb” from the 2024 album Merciless. According to Ice-T, Gilmour heard their version and volunteered to contribute his iconic guitar solo to the track.

From Crenshaw High to the Grammy stage, Body Count proved that genre boundaries are meaningless when the music hits hard enough. They survived the biggest censorship fight of the ’90s, buried three of their brothers, went silent for seven years, and came back swinging harder than ever. Ice-T wrote “Cop Killer” at 34 and won his first Grammy at 63. That’s not a comeback — that’s a career that refused to die. The Body Count band legacy isn’t just about metal or hip-hop. It’s about what happens when artists refuse to be told who they are and what they’re allowed to create.