For BODY COUNT, it’s been a history of being both respected and feared – a barbed-wire thread that stretches from Merciless back to Body Count’s origins as a project between Ice and Crenshaw High friend, Ernie C. Their first shot fired, the song “Body Count”, was a mission statement on Ice-T’s 1991 O.G. – Original Gangster. That’s the blueprint that BC has been running on for thirty-five-plus years. They touched a nerve with their first, self-titled 1991 album and its divisive track, “Cop Killer”, which inspired hatred, fear, and paranoia, but also inspired generations of bands to follow. In 2021, they received the Grammy for Best Metal Performance for their song "Bum-Rush" from their last album Carnivore. What they took from growing up with Black Sabbath and then being inspired by fellow L.A. legends like Slayer and Suicidal Tendencies has only upped the ante for generations of homies and hardcore fans. BODY COUNT's upcoming LP, Merciless, is a testament to the band’s resilience and creativity having continuously overcome social opposition as well as personal challenges to emerge stronger than ever time and time again.