West Coast veteran Ice-T is releasing a special edition of his eight studio album which will be available solely for digital download starting Wednesday (June 18).
The Gangsta Rap Special Edition features two previously-unreleased tracks, as well as an alternative silhouette version of the album’s original controversial cover.
On Tuesday (June 17), Gangsta Rap Special Edition was made available exclusively to Sprint PCS customers, through the wireless company’s New Track Tuesdays.
Released through PayUp Records, the digital label owned and operated by Ice-T’s longtime manager Mickey Bentson, and Final Level Records, the new album will be distributed through INGrooves.
“Like [Ice-T] says, ‘Hip-Hop is really on the ER table, and it needs resuscitation, it needs help’,” Bentson told AllHipHop.com. “We gave Melee a little over a year to work it, and we felt the time was right to give the album a second push. “Since a lot of people are claiming to do hardcore, ‘gangsta rap,’ it’s time to see what an O.G. does and how it’s done,” Bentson said. “Really envision the records, listen to the records, and you can actually feel the records when he’s finished. He’s always been able to get you to visually see what he’s doing, maybe that’s why he’s on TV today.”
The distribution arrangement will make the new album available through all online retailers, including iTunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon.com.
INGrooves also handles distribution for the likes of Too $hort, The Cool Kids, Ky-Mani Marley, and even Dolly Parton.
Originally released on Melee Records in October 2006, Gangsta Rap made a few headlines due to it’s cover: a nude rendering of Ice T and his wife CoCo.
