Body Count is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1990.

Body Count's self-titled debut album was released on Sire Records in 1992, and garnered much attention due to a controversy around the song "Cop Killer".

Three out of the band's original seven members are deceased: D-Roc died from lymphoma, Beatmaster V from leukemia, and Mooseman in a drive-by shooting.

Body Count's current lineup includes vocalist Ice-T, guitarists Ernie C and Juan Garcia, bassist Vincent Price, drummer Will "Ill Will" Dorsey Jr., and backing vocalists Sean E Sean and Little Ice (Ice-T's son).

Ice-T particularly enjoyed heavy metal, citing Edgar Winter, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as his favorite bands.

[6] Ice-T attended Crenshaw High School, where a few classmates shared his interest in the genre, including musicians Ernie C, D-Roc the Executioner, Beatmaster V, and Mooseman.

Ice-T began a solo career as a rapper, and later decided to form Body Count with these friends.

They did live instrumentation on the tracks The Girl Tried To Kill Me, Hit The Deck, and What Ya Wanna Do?

[9] The original line-up consisted of D-Roc on rhythm guitar, Beatmaster V on drums and Mooseman on bass.

In The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck, Ice-T wrote that "The people who did have a platform were way off backing me on the First Amendment.

[15] At a Time-Warner shareholders' meeting, actor Charlton Heston stood and read lyrics from the song "KKK Bitch" to an astonished audience and demanded that the company take action.

[15] The criticism escalated to the point where death threats were sent to Time-Warner executives, and shareholders threatened to pull out of the company.

[9][13][16] In an interview, Ice-T stated that "I didn't want my band to get pigeon-holed as that's the only reason that record sold.

Prior to the recording of Body Count's third album Violent Demise: The Last Days (1997), bassist Mooseman left the group and was replaced by Griz.

[20] In late 2004, rhythm guitarist D-Roc died due to complications from lymphoma, leaving only Ice-T and Ernie C from the original line-up.

"[14] In July 2006, Body Count released their fourth album, Murder 4 Hire on the indie record label Escapi Music.

[14] Its album cover, featuring Uncle Sam holding a cardboard sign reading "Will Kill for Money", compares the United States military to contract killers.

"[20] The band's presence between after 2009 was sporadic: On September 6, 2009, Body Count made an appearance at the Vans Warped Tour 15th-anniversary party at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles.

The group played a 20-minute set, covered Slayer, and closed with their controversial classic "Cop Killer".

Mike Sullivan of ExploreMusic caught up with Ernie C at the 2010 edition of the Vans Warped Tour.

[24] On December 9, 2012, Ice-T announced on Twitter that Body Count would begin production on a fifth studio album in January 2013.

Guest musicians confirmed to appear on the album are Max Cavalera, Randy Blythe and Dave Mustaine.

[34] On June 22, 2021, Body Count announced on their Facebook page that they had started work on their eighth studio album Merciless.

[6] According to Ice-T, "We named the group Body Count because every Sunday night in L.A., I'd watch the news, and the newscasters would tally up the youths killed in gang homicides that week and then just segue to sports.