'New Jack City' turns 30: Wesley Snipes recalls trying to make the 'Black Godfather'

Wesley Snipes' turn as crimelord Nino Brown in the 1991 movie New Jack City remains a career highlight. And while promoting his latest, more comedic role as warlord General Izzi in Coming 2 America, Snipes explained how he first met Ice-T on the set of New Jack City.

"I didn't know who Ice-T was at the time," Snipes said of his co-star, who played cop Scotty Appleton. "I thought the name Ice-T was kind of weird from a New Yorker's perspective ... it sounded kind of soft."

Snipes added, "But when I saw him, it was clear that he wasn't soft by any means, you know?"

Watch more from Snipes in the video interview above.

Video transcript

- You're killing your own people.

- And what can you offer them? What, another "I Have a Dream" speech, some of that same [BLEEP] you ripping off to me? Look where we at. Not a pot to piss in, or a window to throw it out of. You're the fool, old man.

KEVIN POLOWY: We are coming up on the 30th anniversary of "New Jack City," a modern classic if you ask me. I mean, what memory most vividly pops out in your mind from-- from the making of that movie?

WESLEY SNIPES: I think I remember the first time I met Ice-T. I didn't know who Ice-T was at the time, actually. I was, you know, familiar with rap, but mostly East Coast rap.

Had no-- and thought the name Ice-T was kind of weird, actually, from a New Yorker's perspective, you know? But-- and it sounded kind of soft. But when I saw him, it was clear that he wasn't soft by any means, you know? So I understood the metaphor, you know what I'm saying?

KEVIN POLOWY: Mm-hmm.

WESLEY SNIPES: Yeah, yeah, man. I could write a book about the stories on that movie. The original film was supposed to be the Black godfather. I guess you can say we came close?