By DJ YRS Jerzy
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Usually, the Wednesday Throwback consists of taking a classic song from years back and opening up discussion for it. But, this week, something different had to go down just because of the big homie Todd Smith, LL Cool J. Five years ago, LL Cool J did the media run and promoted Def Jam one last time with Exit 13.
Half a decade has gone by since LL Cool J last picked up the mic for a full-fledged album and a lot has changed. Look around, none of this even existed as recently as 2008, so it took a lot for LL to even consider a return to rap. But, once the music is inside of a person, they cannot get it out unless they put out more projects.
It doesn’t matter how big the rapper is or what they have done over the years, they owe homage to LL Cool J. Some rappers had commercial success before LL Cool J, but not like him. Every rapper has out at least one song dedicated to the ladies out there, go ahead and thank LL Cool J for that too.
By the 2000s, LL Cool J made it big as an actor, but he still delivered nothing but hits from 1985 through 2008. In between time, LL showed rappers how to beef, going up against Kool Moe Dee at the start of his career and later MC Hammer, Ice-T, and Canibus. No rapper has been able to peacefully last as long as LL Cool J, imagine a rapper trying to go for twenty years WITHOUT having somebody coming for their spot.
To last as long as LL Cool J did, versatility plays a major part. Radio, his debut album, was made up of straight hip hop tracks, including the title single, “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” Putting Russell Simmons’ Def Jam on the map with his debut album, LL Cool J continued to pace the game with his Bigger And Deffer album. Using the acronym of the album title, LL Cool J dropped “I’m Bad” and then he changed the game with “I Need Love,” now every rapper makes love songs.
LL Cool J created two staples, along the way, the love songs were the first ones and they later came with a hook from the biggest R&B singer at the time, ranging from Boys II Men to Ne-Yo. Later LL Cool J love songs came in the form of “Around the Way Girl.” But, LL Cool J’s other staple came in the form of the posse cut. Every summer, DJ Khaled lines up the biggest rappers in the game for his new single. Of course, LL Cool J also mastered this concept with such songs as “I Shot Ya (remix)” and “4,3,2,1.”
There is very little LL Cool J didn’t do during his run over the years and it is good to have him back.
Watch music videos from LL Cool J’s biggest hits below:
Watch LL Cool J perform “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” on “Soul Train” below:
Watch LL Cool J perform “Rock the Bells” on “Soul Train” below:
Watch “I’m Bad” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “I Need Love” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Going Back to Cali” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “I’m That Type of Guy” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Big Ole Butt” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Jingling Baby” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “The Boomin’ System” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Around the Way Girl” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Mama Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “6 Minutes of Pleasure” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “How I’m Comin'” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Back Seat (of My Jeep)” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “I Shot Ya (remix)” by LL Cool J ft. Keith Murray, Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown below:
Watch “Hey Lover” by LL Cool J ft. Boys II Men below:
Watch “Doin’ It” by LL Cool J ft. LeShaun below:
Watch “Loungin’ (Who Do Ya Love)” by LL Cool J ft. Total below:
Watch “Ain’t Nobody” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Phenomenon” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “4,3,2,1” by LL Cool J ft. Redman, Method Man, Canibus, and DMX below:
Watch “Father” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Zoom” by LL Cool J and Dr. Dre below:
Watch “Imagine That” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “You and Me” by LL Cool J ft. Kelly Price below:
Watch “Luv U Better” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Paradise” by LL Cool J ft. Amerie below:
Watch “Headsprung” by LL Cool J ft. Timbaland below:
Watch “Hush” by LL Cool J ft. 7 Aurelius below:
Watch “Control Myself” by LL Cool J ft. Jennifer Lopez below:
Watch “Rocking with the G.O.A.T.” by LL Cool J below:
Watch “Baby” by LL Cool J below:
See LL Cool J’s album covers below:
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