Episode 131: Darlene Ortiz

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Darlene Ortiz is best-known for her iconic pose on the cover of Ice-T’s 1988 album Power, a shot that no one who has seen it has ever forgotten. But there’s far more to her than bathing suits and guns.

She was right by Ice-T’s side during his rise to the top of the rap game. The two met when Darlene was a 17 year old hip-hop obsessive, and she and Ice quickly became rap’s first power couple. She appeared on his album covers and in his videos, and was right by his side for tours, TV appearances, movie roles, and the infamous “Cop Killer” controversy.

Darlene has a brand-new memoir called DEFINITION OF DOWN:My Life with Ice T and the Birth of Hip Hop, published by Over the Edge Books.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Maria Vidal, “Body Rock”
2. Babe Ruth, “The Mexican”
3. Eye on LA episode #3 New York City Breakers vs Los Angeles 1980s
4. Jazzy D
5. Ice-T, “Cold Wind Madness (Part 1)”
6. Ice-T, “6 In The Mornin’ (Original Version)”
7. Public Enemy, “Bring the Noise”
8. Ice T - The Iceberg Video 1989
9. Ice T - The Iceberg Video 1989
10. Oprah Ice-T 1990 Part 1/4
11. Oprah Ice-T 1990 Part 3/4
12. Oprah Ice-T 1990 Part 4/4
13. Frank Zappa, “Bobby Brown Goes Down”
14. Body Count, “Cop Killer”
15. Die Pig Die
16. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off”
17. new jack city- i wanna shoot you so bad
18. Ice-T, “Power”
19. Divine Styler, “Loves, Lies and Lifetime’s Cries”
20. House of Pain, “Jump Around”
21. L.O.X., “Blood Pressure”
22. 7-21-15 The Corey Holcomb 5150 Show - Bitches Who Don’t Want to Work
23. Teena Marie, “Definition Of Down”
24. Paul Simon, “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”

Show notes:

1. Los Angeles Times, “POP MUSIC REVIEW : Rappers OD on Glitz During Marathon ‘Say No’ Jam Tour”
2. Ice-T: The Iceberg Video