A Look at a Legend: LL Cool J

A Look at a Legend: LL Cool J
Longevity is not something common in the hip hop industry, as opposed to most other genres. It’s just hard to stay relevant, while also staying true to yourself, for various reasons. The industry is kept very tight and controlled, but one MC who carved out a name for himself broke the stereotype for what was expected at a time when the lines between hip hop and RnB were clearly drawn. LL Cool J was born for hip hop, he was only 17 years old when he made his first big hit “I Can’t Live Without My Radio”.
Changing the Game
After introducing himself as a typical hard-nosed rapper, who expressed life on the streets of New York, LL Cool J flipped the script and started putting out hits for the ladies, rapping about love and feelings, like if Michael Jackson did hip hop, it would sound something like LL in “I Need Love”. After LL Cool J’s first two big hit records, he went back to more hardcore hip hop in the spirit of N.W.A. and Iced T with his huge return to the charts with “Mama Said Knock You Out”. LL continued to put out chart-toppers well into the mid-2000’s, winning multiple Grammies and music awards along the way, and while he hasn’t seen the same level of success since then, he remains a strong lyricist and a respected member of the hip hop community.

Ladies Love Cool James aka The Hip Hop Bully
When talking about hip hop’s greatest ever artist LL Cool is J is a name that full fills the criteria quiet like no other. From being a true originator at the tender age of sixteen way, way back in 1984, to selling over 30m hardcore bangers and classic r&b club records world wide. But if the mechanics of the the hip hop arena operated anything like the brutal world of professional boxing LL would most defiantly be recognized has one of the greatest, if not the greatest champion the sport has ever seen.
The legend comes out his corner fighting with an impeccable record of no defeats. From his first bout with, formidable champion at the time, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J took on and defeated a list of champions and legends in there own right. And whiles there are those who may say LL took some real heavy blows in the early stages of his bout with young gun and most dangerous opponent by the name of Canibus. Fast forward a year or two, after seeing the colossus flex his muscle using his power to send the young challengers career tumbling to unrecoverable depths, on his way to selling millions of classic hip hop records him self, I think we can all agree there was only one winner on more levels then one.
Let us not forget the time Ladies Love Cool James KO’d three legendary opponents in one bout. Featured on the classic ‘Mama said knock you out’ album ‘To the break of dawn’ is the ultimate diss track. In a fashion Floyd Mayweather would be proud of LL crushes Ice T, Mc Hammer and Kool Moe Dee in one swoop.
Not only is LL’s music career an impressive tale of skill and talent, his acting resume isn’t half bad either. Musicians often find their acting dreams short-lived, it’s just a hard transition to make, even for artists with big personalities. LL Cool J has the face and the delivery that has made him a decent living through acting alongside his music career. He has appeared in numerous films and TV shows, which still continues to this day, including: B.A.P.S., Halloween H2O, Any Given Sunday, Kingdom Come, Deep Blue Sea, NCIS: LA, and Lip Sync Battle. LL Cool J has even put out his own fitness book, which only makes since, considering he is probably one of the most in-shape hip hop artists for his entire career.
A Role Model
It’s not by accident that LL Cool J has experienced so much success in so many facets of his life, including having a long-lasting marriage with his wife of over 20 years. He didn’t get contracts and parts in Hollywood with just his good looks. This man is notorious for his hard work ethic and smarts in the entertainment industry. He’s got his Hollywood Star, it’s just a matter of how long he’ll keep putting out records before he’s inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[Intro]
Yeah
(To da break of dawn)
All my sex involved
As we get funky
Rhymes so bizarre
Everybody knows
When it come to a situation like this
Little more effects
And I can't resist
So we get funky in the house
Youknowmsayin?
L.L. Cool J style
What?
This ain't on a pop tip
Check it out

[Verse 1]
What is a panther? A animal that kills
I'm like a shark with blood comin out the gills
You could never in your wildest dreams
Get a piece of this gangsta lean straight from Queens
Strong as liquor, to be seen in a limousine
Now you're gettin done without Vaseline
Wouldn't bite because your rhymes are puppy chow
Made another million, so competitors bow
Homeboy, hold on, my rhymes are so strong
Nothing could go wrong, so why do you prolong
Songs that ain't strong, brother, you're dead wrong
And got the nerve to have them Star Trek shades on
Ha, you can't handle the whole weight
Skin needs lotion, teeth need Colgate
Wise up, you little burnt up french fry
I'm that type of guy
And I slammed you know, just like a sumo
Put him in Pampers, leave my drawers in his hamper
When I'm through, you need a brand-new identity
I was scoopin girls before you lost your virginity
Your jam is just a dreamin MC scheme
Gettin crushed by a L.L. theme
Somethin like Shaft, put you in a cask' - bo!
You little blood-clot boy, you must not know
The rep I keep, the MC's I peep, sweep, play cheap
And freak with a chic unique technique
Get rid of the yukmouth smile
Cause brother, you ain't got no style

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[Chorus]
Keep on
(To da break of dawn)
(To da break of dawn)
Yeah
Keep on
(To da break of dawn)
Hey yo, that's kinda funky
But check this out here
(Rock that shit)
(To da break of dawn)
Yeah...

[Verse 2 ]
Immaculate styles I use to abuse
MC's, so light the fuse
And spread the news, you lose
To the damager, microphone manager
Cold crush and bruise and bandage a amateur
That amateur swingin a hammer
From a body bag, so run and get your camera
Get a flick of the stiff dead-shot to get swift
But I'm the wrong brother to dance with
Cause I don't need a partner to swing
Keep your eyes on the Cool J ring
Shootin the gift, but you just don't shoot it right
You couldn't bust a grape in a fruit fight
Wouldn't throw a rock in a ghost town
So don't try to play post, clown
You know the L.L.'s back in town
And all the wanna-be sherrifs is gettin shot down
Gimme that microphone
I'mma show you the real meaning of the danger zone
Stop dancin, get to walkin
Shut your old mouth when young folks is talkin
Huh, you little snake in the grass
You swing a hammer, but you couldn't break a glass
Gimme a lighter - woof!
Now you're cut loose
From that jherri curl juice
Cool J is back on the map
And when I see ya, I'mma give you a slap
That's right, a little kick for that crap
Cause my old gym teacher ain't supposed to rap