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Definition of Down: My Life with Ice T & the Birth of Hip Hop - b/w version
Darlene Ortiz was with Ice T for 17 years, beginning with his early days hustlin' on the streets and his subsequent rise to fame. In Definition of My Life with Ice T & the Birth of Hip Hop , she tells how hip hop started with intimate glimpses into their daily life with stories about their climb to the top and all the rappers that got their start in those times. This black-and-white edition is filled with stories and photos never seen before of many hip hop icons.
Shawn Setaro, Forbes contributor and host on The Cipher, had this to say about Definition of
"Darlene Ortiz and Heidi Cuda have given us not only a beautiful and important hip-hop story, but a great California story, family story, and love story to boot. 'Definition of Down' is a must-read for anyone interested in how hip-hop came to be America's popular culture. Darlene was there at the forefront – dancing at Radiotron, hanging with the Furious Five and the Zulu Nation, rooming with Biz Markie, fighting Tipper Gore on 'Oprah,' and documenting the filming of 'New Jack City.' This book gives us her one-of-a-kind perspective on those heady days when rap went from a fad to a cultural force."
Shawn Setaro, Forbes contributor and host on The Cipher, had this to say about Definition of
"Darlene Ortiz and Heidi Cuda have given us not only a beautiful and important hip-hop story, but a great California story, family story, and love story to boot. 'Definition of Down' is a must-read for anyone interested in how hip-hop came to be America's popular culture. Darlene was there at the forefront – dancing at Radiotron, hanging with the Furious Five and the Zulu Nation, rooming with Biz Markie, fighting Tipper Gore on 'Oprah,' and documenting the filming of 'New Jack City.' This book gives us her one-of-a-kind perspective on those heady days when rap went from a fad to a cultural force."
154 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 23, 2019
What lover of hip hop does not remember Darlene Ortiz? I mean...come on! She is the sexy cover model and original video vixen from Ice T’s album covers and music videos from the late 80’s. She was Ice-T’s girlfriend and original ride-or-die chick. Darlene oozed sex appeal and even Stevie Wonder could clearly see it.
When I learned she had written a book it was immediately ordered and placed at the top of my TBR pile. It took me less than 24 hours to read, and I was not disappointed.
Definition of Down is a small book filled with big stories and great pictures. There were sad moments in her story, yet the author never came off as a victim. Emotionally and physically abused by her mother as a child, Darlene took matters into her own hands when police refused to protect her. Determined to end the abuse, she set her mother’s bed on fire...while her mother was asleep in it.
Darlene shared her story very tastefully. I didn’t sense any malice in her tone as she wrote about her life with Ice T. She was transparent and real. Her experiences are hers to tell and she did a great job of doing so. This memoir is juicy but not messy, heartfelt but not depressing.
I had always wondered what happened to Darlene. One minute Ice T was with her, then the next thing I knew, he was with the other woman. I no longer have any questions. Because in this book, Darlene fills in all of the gaps.
The relationship between Darlene and Ice T is a love story, turned cautionary tale. The moral of their story is...never depend on a man to financially take care of you even if he promises to take care of you for the rest of your life. Because one day, he just may change his mind.
When I learned she had written a book it was immediately ordered and placed at the top of my TBR pile. It took me less than 24 hours to read, and I was not disappointed.
Definition of Down is a small book filled with big stories and great pictures. There were sad moments in her story, yet the author never came off as a victim. Emotionally and physically abused by her mother as a child, Darlene took matters into her own hands when police refused to protect her. Determined to end the abuse, she set her mother’s bed on fire...while her mother was asleep in it.
Darlene shared her story very tastefully. I didn’t sense any malice in her tone as she wrote about her life with Ice T. She was transparent and real. Her experiences are hers to tell and she did a great job of doing so. This memoir is juicy but not messy, heartfelt but not depressing.
I had always wondered what happened to Darlene. One minute Ice T was with her, then the next thing I knew, he was with the other woman. I no longer have any questions. Because in this book, Darlene fills in all of the gaps.
The relationship between Darlene and Ice T is a love story, turned cautionary tale. The moral of their story is...never depend on a man to financially take care of you even if he promises to take care of you for the rest of your life. Because one day, he just may change his mind.
March 28, 2016
Liked the book
I really liked the book because it wasn't about her trying to get revenge. She had Tracy's back even after he left her and his son. She's really the definition of down because any other women would of sued his ass for child support. 5150 NATION holla
I really liked the book because it wasn't about her trying to get revenge. She had Tracy's back even after he left her and his son. She's really the definition of down because any other women would of sued his ass for child support. 5150 NATION holla
August 31, 2021
Solid autobiography, great photos. Rather short but still a good read.
November 19, 2019
This is a review of the Audible Book
I am a fan of Ice-T and was interested in hearing Darlene Ortiz's story. That this book was narrated by her makes it extra interesting so I picked it up. I am so glad I did. This is truly worthy of a 5 star rating.
Darlene Ortiz narrates her story in a way only she could. You feel what she was feeling then and how she is feeling now. You can tell she still is in love with Ice-T and maybe wishes he would find his way back to her one day.
As I listened to her tell her story I could feel the emotion she felt coming from a crappy home life, finding those lights that got her away from it's darkness until finally hooking up with Ice-T and the rush of the roller coaster of that life until it all finally came crashing down. Throughout the story you get the feeling that Darlene Ortiz is a genuinely good soul with a spark to her that goes beyond the physical attractiveness that brought her to fame. It's really kind of cool to dig that and I did listening to this.
Very recommended to anyone who wants to hear a roller coaster life story that, even though it may not end like a fairy tale, the main character never stops shining.
I am a fan of Ice-T and was interested in hearing Darlene Ortiz's story. That this book was narrated by her makes it extra interesting so I picked it up. I am so glad I did. This is truly worthy of a 5 star rating.
Darlene Ortiz narrates her story in a way only she could. You feel what she was feeling then and how she is feeling now. You can tell she still is in love with Ice-T and maybe wishes he would find his way back to her one day.
As I listened to her tell her story I could feel the emotion she felt coming from a crappy home life, finding those lights that got her away from it's darkness until finally hooking up with Ice-T and the rush of the roller coaster of that life until it all finally came crashing down. Throughout the story you get the feeling that Darlene Ortiz is a genuinely good soul with a spark to her that goes beyond the physical attractiveness that brought her to fame. It's really kind of cool to dig that and I did listening to this.
Very recommended to anyone who wants to hear a roller coaster life story that, even though it may not end like a fairy tale, the main character never stops shining.
December 29, 2015
I always wondered about Darlene. In articulate how it ended. Now I know. Time to read Ice's story.
December 27, 2018
I zipped through this book in one afternoon! It’s a quick read that takes you from the outskirts of Los Angeles (Riverside County, to be exact) to Hollywood, and all around the world.
Darlene crafted her and Ice-T’s “hip hop love story” very well, and although the writing was very one dimensional, I was able to feel the excitement she must’ve felt being up front and center during the early days of rap alongside her first love, whom she referred to by his first name, Tracy.
I also have a newfound respect for Darlene and her unconventional love story with Ice-T; although I grew up seeing her on Ice-T’s iconic album covers, I didn’t know much about her. Darlene told her story in her own words, and it is clear that she did her best to show Ice-T respect and not completely air him out.
Although I found myself wanting just a bit more of her story, it is a quick read, and I would recommend it to my fellow hip hop heads.
Darlene crafted her and Ice-T’s “hip hop love story” very well, and although the writing was very one dimensional, I was able to feel the excitement she must’ve felt being up front and center during the early days of rap alongside her first love, whom she referred to by his first name, Tracy.
I also have a newfound respect for Darlene and her unconventional love story with Ice-T; although I grew up seeing her on Ice-T’s iconic album covers, I didn’t know much about her. Darlene told her story in her own words, and it is clear that she did her best to show Ice-T respect and not completely air him out.
Although I found myself wanting just a bit more of her story, it is a quick read, and I would recommend it to my fellow hip hop heads.
May 29, 2022
Good quick read.
June 15, 2017
Not the most uplifting book ever, it's quite dark actually.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews