On Spotify there are seven different covers of Cop Killer. The original Body Count version is not available. Why?

[u/100YearsAndCounting]

Do you think if he/ they made it available they would still catch heat right now where others get a pass? Is this a Dynamite Hack Boyz in the Hood situation where anyone that covers it neuters it so it's allowed? Are there any other songs you can think of that were so "objectionable" at the time that currently would seem like not as big of a deal? Maybe it has something to do with us having much more of a monoculture at the time?

[u/stev_mempers]

It's "controversial."

[u/Confident-Piano-4080 → u/stev_mempers]

i think the record label just dont want the headache even now, they probly got spooked from the backlash back then and never bothered to put it back up. the covers fly under the radar cause nobody cares about them, but if ice-t drops the original again it would stir up all the same talking points

[u/100YearsAndCounting → u/Confident-Piano-4080]

This is exactly what I was wondering. Between their label as well as the machine behind Law and Order SVU, I was wondering at this point if it was a mutual decision.

[u/100YearsAndCounting → u/stev_mempers]

That's exactly what I'm saying. It can be covered but God forbid they have the original?

[u/AX11Liveact → u/100YearsAndCounting]

Makes absolutely no sense - which is exactly how this stupid world is working, nowadays.

[u/Shipsnipe1313]

Body Count and the label (Sire/Warner) pulled the track and the physical release within weeks of release.

At the time, the name Body Count was on all the establishment's lips. Even the president knew who Ice-T was.

The label probably still owns the rights to the original recording and won't release it.

That doesn't prevent Body Count or others from playing it or recording new versions. There are plenty of live Body Count Cop Killer performances out there to listen to.

I don't think Ice-T is particularly worried about any controversy as he has continued to record music with similar sentiments and themes: Talk Shit, Get Shot / Point The Finger / No Lives Matter

[u/Smedleycoyote]

Luckily i still have my original CD with it.

[u/potat0f4rmer → u/Smedleycoyote]

Kick myself about that. I had this on cassette, maybe on CD, when they first released it. It disappeared at some point. It's over $200 to get it on vinyl, and they're all in Europe. I think about getting it sometimes though

[u/fatjeff1980]

It IS on YouTube music tho.

[u/thegooddoktorjones]

Because Spotify is for cop loving punk ass bitches

[u/HaydenWar]

If you pull up the "cover" by an artist called Splare, it is the original Body Count version, I don't know who actually uploaded it.

[u/ken120]

Think more along the lines of payment. Spotify doesn't pay the best for the songs they stream.

[u/100YearsAndCounting → u/ken120]

I do not disagree with the sentiment behind your comment at all. Saying that, practically everything else they've recorded is available on Spotify.

[u/ken120 → u/100YearsAndCounting]

Wouldn't know off hand what they have available. Just be my choice to keep the more controversial stuff where I would get paid more. Keep the more easily accepted stuff where it won't cost me and the riskier stuff where I stand to make the most money.