Ice-T & SMG: The Repossession Live

Rapper-actor Ice-T (a.k.a. Tracy Marrow) and young rap group SMG (Sex Money & Gunz) do their best to enliven this concert held at New York's B.B. King Blues Club; however, their best is mediocre, and the paltry audience (Ice-T's excuse: people don't show up because they think they might get robbed) seems to agree. The Dolby Digital 5.1 recorded 20-song set--with guests such as Grand Master D and Public Enemy's Flava Flav--includes lukewarm renditions of “La La,” “Inferno,” “Did That,” and “Coat Room,” among others, characterized by lackluster beats, muddled lyrics, and extensive dousing of the crowd (be it champagne or insults to the “white boys”--who actually comprise most of the spectators). In one of the program's many lowlights, pioneer Ice-T combatively tests the crowd's hip-hop knowledge, but far from being a tribute to old-school hip-hop, this feels more like detention. DVD extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette on Ice-T on the set of his show Law & Order: SVU, as well as extra footage from a Miami concert, freestyle battle segment, and raunchy strip club after-party. Not recommended. Aud: P. (J. Williams)