- LP
- Recommended
Ice
Each Man Makes His Destiny
Strut
- Cat No: STRUT 296LP
- updated:2025-11-04
Making its official vinyl debut for the very first time, this buried treasure of 1973 Afro-funk gets a remastered reissue. Formed in 1970 in Long Island, New York as The Bobby Boyd Congress, the group relocated to France in 1971 and began weaving African-derived chants and rhythms into their funk — the result being their debut under the name Ice, "Each Man Makes His Own Destiny."
Track List
Strut proudly reintroduces a classic from the Topomic catalogue, Ice’s ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, officially available on vinyl for the first time.
After relocating from the United States to Paris, Ice began performing regularly in the city’s Barbès district, a vibrant area with a large North African immigrant community.
The band’s heavy Afro-funk sound caught the attention of producer Pierre Jaubert, leading them to become the resident session musicians at his independent Parisound studio.
Immersed in the local influences, Ice began integrating African-inspired chants, textures, and rhythms into their distinct funk style. In 1973, the group recorded their debut album, ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, a psychedelic funk exploration that hinted at the evolving sound that would later define them as the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band and, eventually, Ice once more.
Produced by Jaubert, the album brings some powerful social commentary on claustrophobic tracks like ‘Too Little Room’ and ‘Suicide’, under-pinned by a determination to succeed despite the adversity.
After relocating from the United States to Paris, Ice began performing regularly in the city’s Barbès district, a vibrant area with a large North African immigrant community.
The band’s heavy Afro-funk sound caught the attention of producer Pierre Jaubert, leading them to become the resident session musicians at his independent Parisound studio.
Immersed in the local influences, Ice began integrating African-inspired chants, textures, and rhythms into their distinct funk style. In 1973, the group recorded their debut album, ‘Each Man Makes His Destiny’, a psychedelic funk exploration that hinted at the evolving sound that would later define them as the Lafayette Afro-Rock Band and, eventually, Ice once more.
Produced by Jaubert, the album brings some powerful social commentary on claustrophobic tracks like ‘Too Little Room’ and ‘Suicide’, under-pinned by a determination to succeed despite the adversity.
They operated under a great many aliases, including The Lafayette Afro Rock Band, Crispy & Co and Sweet Exorcist, and even scored a hit in Japan as Captain Dax with "Dr. Beezar, Soul Frankenstein." They also played on "Candy Girl," the ultra-rare, promo-only jazz-funk date by jazz composer Mal Waldron, known as an accompanist to Billie Holiday, and in later years backed countless disco productions. Here, an early gem from this legendary band returns to print — a psychedelic, funky exploration that marks the very point where 1970s black music and European funk crossed paths.