Ice-T's friends Al P. and Sean E. Sean went to prison. Al P. was caught in 1982 and sent to prison for robbing a high-end jewelry store in Laguna Niguel for $2.5 million in jewelry. Sean was arrested for possession of not only cannabis, which Sean sold, but also material stolen by Ice-T. Sean took the blame and served two years in prison. Ice-T stated that he owed a debt of gratitude to Sean because his prison time allowed him to pursue a career as a rapper. Concurrently, he wound up in a car accident and was hospitalized as a John Doe because he did not carry any form of identification due to his criminal activities. After being discharged from the hospital, he decided to abandon the criminal lifestyle and pursue a professional career rapping. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, he won an open mic competition judged by Kurtis Blow at the Carolina West nightclub. According to Michael Khalfani known as Disco Daddy, Ice-T won the first week of the competition under the name of DJ Tracy, but got beaten by Disco Daddy the second week, which led to the name change of Ice-T (Khalfani got signed to Rappers Rapp Records).
ice-t's friends al p and sean e sean went to prison al p was caught in 1982 and sent to prison for robbing a high-end jewelry store in laguna niguel for $25 million in jewelry sean was arrested for possession of not only cannabis which sean sold but also material stolen by ice-t sean took the blame and served two years in prison ice-t stated that he owed a debt of gratitude to sean because his prison time allowed him to pursue a career as a rapper concurrently he wound up in a car accident and was hospitalized as a john doe because he did not carry any form of identification due to his criminal activities after being discharged from the hospital he decided to abandon the criminal lifestyle and pursue a professional career rapping two weeks after being released from the hospital he won an open mic competition judged by kurtis blow at the carolina west nightclub according to michael khalfani known as disco daddy ice-t won the first week of the competition under the name of dj tracy but got beaten by disco daddy the second week which led to the name change of ice-t (khalfani got signed to rappers rapp records)