Other than the fuss around “Cop Killer,” I couldn’t remember much about Body Count’s career in the early ’90s. Watching their 2003 performance on the new DVD SmokeOut Presents Body Count Featuring Ice-T does more than just remind me, because the band doesn’t seem to have changed at all. The rap-metal hybrid sounds stuck in its time. Take that for what you will. If you liked Body Count a dozen or so years ago, you’ll probably like this video; if not, they won’t win you over.
The group essential spins around Ice-T who comes onstage, does a few push-ups and then namechecks his own group more efficiently than the Game alludes to Dre. It’s okay, though, he makes up for it with an ever-present “motherfucker” ready to go. T’s more offensive than exciting throughout the group’s 30-plus-minute set. It’s a shame to see a once vital artist calling a half-interested crowd “pussies” for not be active enough. It’s dull to see him talking about the “faggot” music that’s pushed his style to the side. I’ll take faggot music over his misogyny and homophobia (note: “KKK Bitch” isn’t funny — it’s just a substitution of woman-hating for racism).
The band performs well enough. Ernie C has what he’s always had, and the rest of the group (not all the originals — the drummer, I think, has passed away) supports him and T. T tries repeatedly to rally the crowd, but they’re not as interested as the occasional mosh moments and frequent crane shots would lead you to believe. The setlist contains the tracks you want to hear (the aforementioned ad “End Game,” “Drive By,” and “There Goes the Neighborhood” are the highlights).
Visually, the disc’s only so-so. It suffers from the same ailment as so much recent concert footage — too fast cuts. Speeding up cuts doesn’t put a viewer in the middle of the action; instead, it just alienates the viewer by continually reminder her of the camera’s interpretive role.
The special features are subpar. The first contains monotonous skateboarding footage from the festival, and the second is a documentary that covers festival set-up as well as the creation of the DVD. Neither would likely be rewarding on a second viewing (and I couldn’t get through the skateboarding feature on a first).
If you’re a Body Count fan, you might enjoy seeing them in a recent incarnation. Otherwise, this disc is skippable.