Ice Cube Pays Homage To Ice-T In New TMNT: Mutant Mayhem Trailer
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" from director Jeff Rowe is shaping up to be a highly entertaining "TMNT" adventure fit for the whole family. It sees the young turtles take on their biggest challenges yet as novice crime fighters, with one of their most formidable opponents being Superfly (Ice Cube). This humanoid fly character — not to be confused with the scientist Baxter Stockman, who commonly takes such a form in "TMNT" media — is a newcomer to the franchise who's scary, dangerous, and seems to be a fan of Ice-T's music.
In the second, beautifully animated "Mutant Mayhem" trailer, Ice Cube's Superfly tracks down the four turtles in their iconic Party Wagon. He rips off the back door and utters the phrase "Six in the morning, police at my door" while staring down the mortified turtles. This is actually the opening line of Ice-T's song "6 'N The Mornin'." The track was first released in 1986 as the B-side of "Dog 'n the Wax (Ya Don't Quit-Part II)," though it more famously released in 1987 as part of the rap legend's debut album, "Rhyme Pays."
Even though Ice Cube doesn't break out and cover the entire song as Superfly, this nod to Ice-T's track highlights the enduring connection between "TMNT" and hip-hop.
TMNT movies have always been connected to the world of hip-hop
The minds behind the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" brand have brought creators Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman's shelled heroes to the movies for decades now. More often than not, these films have been accompanied by soundtracks with some rap and hip-hop songs of their eras. For instance, the soundtrack for the 1990 live-action movie — the first-ever "TMNT" film — includes works by M.C. Hammer and Partners in Kryme. The sequel, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze," famously features Vanilla Ice's "Ninja Rap," which he performs in the movie, and "Awesome (You Are My Hero)" by Ya Kid K.
Even the widely-panned "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III" kept this tradition alive with its soundtrack, with the likes of The Barrio Boyzz and Partners in Kryme on the tracklist. Years later, when the "TMNT" film series was rebooted, the 2014 Jonathan Liebesman-directed film brought with it "Shell Shocked" by Juicy J, Wiz Khalifa, and Ty Dolla $ign, featuring Kill the Noise and Brian Tyler. Thus, it's fair to say that Ice Cube's Superfly quoting Ice-T's "6 'N The Mornin'" fits right with the "TMNT" musical history.
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" emerges from the sewers on August 2.