New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)
| "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ice-T | ||||
| from the album New Jack City (soundtrack) and O.G. Original Gangster | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Studio | Wide Tracks (Hollywood, CA) | |||
| Genre | Gangsta rap | |||
| Length | 4:44 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters | ||||
| Producers |
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| Ice-T singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" on YouTube | ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | [1] |
"New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" is a song written and performed by American recording artist Ice-T. It was released as a single from the soundtrack album to the 1991 film New Jack City and from the rapper's fourth studio album, O.G. Original Gangster (1991). It was recorded at Wide Tracks Recording Studio in Hollywood, California, produced by Alphonso "DJ Aladdin" Henderson and Tracy "Ice-T" Marrow, and released in 1991 via Warner Bros. Records. Reaching a peak position of number 67 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the single remained on the chart for a total of 8 weeks.[2] It was nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance at 34th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out".[3]
Background
In the song, Ice-T raps about the life of a hustler. In the movie, Wesley Snipes plays a hustler named Nino Brown hence the title. The lyrics are narrated in the first person from the perspective of a drug dealer, and tell "the story of a cold-blooded coke dealer who's destined to fall. There'll be another one after me, he raps."[4]
The song uses samples from Bobbi Humphrey's "Jasper Country Man", James Brown's "Blues and Pants", Sly and the Family Stone's "You Can Make It if You Try", Stanley Turrentine & Milt Jackson's "Sister Sanctified" and ESG's "UFO".[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" (Master Street Mix) | 4:44 | ||
| 2. | "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" (Instrumental) |
|
| 4:44 |
| 3. | "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" (Master Radio Version) |
|
| 4:44 |
| 4. | "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" (Dub Version) |
|
| 4:44 |
Personnel
- Tracy Lauren Marrow – vocals, lyrics, producer, executive producer
- Alphonso Henderson – producer, programming, arranging
- Vachik Aghaniantz – mixing
- Dennis "Def-Pea" Parker – recording
- Steve Hall – mastering
- Dirk Walter – design
- Joel Warren – photography
- Jorge Hinojosa – management
Music video
The music video for "New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme)" was released in 1991. It features a cameo appearance by Mike Tyson.
Charts
| Chart (1991) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[6] | 73 |
| UK Dance (Music Week)[7] | 46 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[8] | 67 |
References
- ^ "New Jack Hustler - Ice-T". AllMusic. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Billboard | Music | Ice-T | Chart History | Hot 100 | New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) (From "New Jack City")". Billboard Hot 100. May 18, 1991. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ "Ice-T". Grammy Award. May 14, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ Ben Westhoff (2016). Original Gangstas The Untold Story of Dr. Dre, Eazy-E, Ice Cube, Tupac Shakur, and the Birth of West Coast Rap. Hachette Books, ISBN 9780316344869. Italics in original.
- ^ "New Jack Hustler by Ice-T on WhoSampled". WhoSampled. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 134.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. March 30, 1991. p. 26. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ^ "Ice-T Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
External links
New Jack Hustler (Nino's Theme) at Discogs (list of releases)