Years after he was a bouncer-turned-bodyguard, uttered his most famous line, “I pity the fool” alongside Sylvester Stallone as Clubber Lang in Rocky III, and took on the iconic role of Sgt. B.A. Baracus on the A-Team, Mr. T started preaching safety and positivity to kids.
At the height of his popularity, Mr. T, born Laurence Tureuad on May 21, 1952, was appearing on television, PSAs, film, and cartoons with positive messages to children spanning building self-confidence and respect, not giving into peer pressure, and other negative influences.
A year after joining the A-Team, Mr. T also co-wrote, recorded, and released an EP of songs for children. Produced by Patrick Henderson, who co-wrote the seven-track album with Kip Saginor and Laythan Armor, Mr. T’s Commandments features musicians Paul Jackson Jr., John Van Tongeren, and DJ Afrika Islam, along with vocalists Howard Smith and Tata Vega.
Videos by American Songwriter
Mr. T’s 7 Commandments
The album is a collection of hip-hop and pop songs with a message from “Mr. T’s Commandment,” “Don’t Talk to Strangers,” “The Toughest Man in the World,” “Mr. T, Mr. T (He Was Made for Love),” “The One and Only Mr. T,” “No Dope No Drugs,” and “You Got to Go Through It.”
“Mr. T is taking his crusade against evil to the streets with his hot new album, ‘Mr. T’s Commandements,” read a promotional poster for the release. “It’s a positive revelation. Messages that millions of young Mr. T worshippers can benefit from, all tied together by the street rhythms of the ’80s.”
The album peaked at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart.
“Ice Tea”/ Ice-T
On the album, rapper Ice-T is also credited, under the pseudonym Ice-Tea, for Rap Direction on four of the tracks.
In 1984, Mr. T and Ice-T collaborated again in a motivational video, Be Somebody… or Be Somebody’s Fool! The video featured Mr. T in more motivational segments and raps, written by Ice-T.
The video co-starred Fame actress Valerie Landsberg and featured a title track video with New Edition, along with appearances by Fergie, Martika, and more emerging artists at the time.
Each segment delivered a new message and lesson for kids, including overcoming shyness and knowing your roots, working on anger and frustration, friendship, and being creative, along with “Peer Pressure,” featuring New Edition and Mr. T’s rap “Treat Your Mother Right.”
Photo: Frank Carroll/NBCU Photo Bank
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