‘Why Test the Streets’: Ice-T Highlights Why L.A. Emcees Don’t Flaunt Jewelry In Wake of PnB Rock’s Fatal Shooting
Legendary West Coast emcee Ice-T is fed up following hip-hop’s latest tragedy. As previously reported, earlier this week, Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock was shot and killed during a robbery attempt while dining at Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles in South Los Angeles with his girlfriend, Steph Sibounheuang. The two reportedly shared their location on social media before the heartbreaking incident. The rapper was 30.
“I’m done explaining LA Gang culture,” Ice wrote in a Twitter post the morning after the Monday, Sept. 12 shooting. “MFs will not listen. It’s not a game.. At all.”
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 12: Ice T attends the annual charity day hosted by Cantor Fitzgerald and The Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund on September 12, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Mike McGregor/Getty Images for Cantor Fitzgerald)
Still, many people online continued to question the 64-year-old Hollywood star on gang culture in the area and why it was such a dangerous environment, especially for celebrities. It’s best to note that while never in a gang, the “Law & Order SVU” star was affiliated with the Crips organization.
“People are still hitting me up about my comments about LA Gang culture,” Ice wrote in another post the following day. “If you NOTICE, LA rappers don’t wear a lotta Jewelry,” the actor highlighted.c“Me, Snoop, Cube, Dre, Game, Kendrick.. The list goes on.. It’s not cause we’re broke. LA is just a Dangerous place, rapper or not. Why test the streets.”
It’s not unusual for social media users to push back on better judgment, as did one user who replied to the post with a photo of the rapper The Game wearing a massive chain. However, the “New Jack City” star quickly dismissed the findings, writing back, “That’s on certain occasions when you’re ready for whatever…”
Ice added, “I have Big Jewelry too… But you don’t wake up EVERYDAY and put it on to go down the block..” before reiterating his previous statement: “As I said before… Challenge the hood, somebody’s gonna catch that Fade.”
“‘LA….. Home of the Bodybag…’ Somebody said that 30 yrs ago….,” he wrote in a follow-up tweet, referencing his 1991 record “Home of the Bodybag.”
LAPD Chief Michel Moore confirmed with FOX 11 that Rock, born Rakim Allen, may have been targeted after he shared videos of himself wearing expensive jewelry on social media before Sibounheuang’s post confirming their exact whereabouts. Investigators believe the suspect(s) used that information to track them down. No arrests have been made.