BOSTON (AP) -- The rapper and actor Ice-T will be giving an inspirational talk to students at University of Massachusetts-Boston this week.

School officials say the lecture on Tuesday will concentrate on how to overcome the impossible.

Ice-T was orphaned as a child and became involved in the Los Angeles gang scene before spending four years in the U.S. Army.

Now the Grammy Award winner plays a detective on the TV show "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

Along with his wife, he also features in TV reality show "Ice Loves Coco."