Ice-T And Arabian Prince Highlight Z2’s New OG Hip-Hop Transmedia Project ‘Death For Hire’

Some of the baddest veterans of 90s hip hop are joining forces on a new hard-crime story universe that spans comics, animation, music, toys, NFTs and more. Yesterday, music-oriented graphic novel publisher Z2 and Monster Forge Animation announced Death for Hire, created by musician and actor Ice-T, founding NWA member Arabian Prince, and award-winning artist Tommy the Animator, which promises New Jack City style gangsta-soaked action galore across a range of platforms.

A new graphic novel, Death for Hire: The Origins of Tekh City, sets the stage for an animated series where a murderer’s row of iconic stars from rap’s 1990s glory days including Ice-T, Coco, Busta Rhymes, Tracy Morgan, Mike Epps, Styles P, and Roxanne Shanté lend their voices and likenesses to the proceedings. Dr. Dre is slated to deliver an original score.

Death for Hire is set against the backdrop of Tehk City, a cesspool of crime and corruption where crooked mayor Chuck Davis (Ice-T), his deadly female assassin Rhonda Knuckles (Coco) and right hand man Maniac Max (Treach) rule the roost. But Davis’s grip on power is challenged by the Round Table Gang of Benny Tang (Ben Baller), Azul Michoacan (Emilio Rivera), and Vinny “Pipes” Roselli (Jeffrey Peterson), the longtime kings of Tehk City’s underworld. Pretty Black (Snoop Dog) is the wild card playing both sides as an informer stirring the pot. The book is scripted by Gary Phillips and drawn by Montos.

“You want some real punch-you-in-the-face action? Then DEATH FOR HIRE is it!” said co-creator and writer Ice-T.

The project, which is slated to debut next summer, represents a big leap into the wider media world for Z2, a recent entry into the comics publishing world that’s successfully merging the worlds (and lucrative fandoms) of music and comics. The company licenses top musical properties and talent across all genres, and recruits the cream of comics writers and artists to turn them into stories that reach beyond typical comics fandom.

“Ice-T, Arabian and Tommy have assembled an all-star cast of hip-hop heavyweights and Hollywood superstars to populate Tehk City from the ground up,” says Z2 Partner Josh Bernstein. “Z2 is truly honored to work with rap royalty as we build out this vast IP universe together.”

On Death for Hire, Z2 is joining forces with Monster Forge Productions, a transmedia and IP development firm led by producer Shannon Eric Denton and writer Steve Niles (30 Days of Night). Denton will serve as coproducer on the project alongside Z2 partner Josh Bernstein.

The creators and producers see the story world as a springboard for additional media and merchandise opportunities. Death for Hire: The Origin of Tekh City will drop in standard and deluxe hardcover format, with the deluxe edition containing movie poster art prints and collectors cards. There will also be a super-deluxe Platinum Edition signed by Ice-T, Arabian Prince and Tommy the Animator. NFTs and other merchandise are also in the mix, according to the company.