When hip-hop burst on the scene in the ‘70s, no one expected it to become a cultural touchstone or for it to experience the longevity it has achieved. But here we are more than 50 years later, and it’s widely considered the most popular and influential music style in the world.
One of the true game-changers of hip-hop culture is LL Cool J. He’s one its first major crossover stars and has remained among the genre’s most influential artists since the early ‘80s. During a recent interview with Apple Music’s “Le Code,” the rapper/actor reflected on his long career and hip-hop legacy.
“I’m [going to] say this humbly, but I really mean this,” he said. “I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL Cool J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe, one day, people are going to say that.”
He explained that it’s not just his music that has impacted the genre, but his style and crossover appeal that helped move it to a new level of success.
“They’re gonna look and say, ‘Wow, when it comes to the jewelry, this is the guy that introduced all the diamonds, and the ice and the jewelry and the champagne,” he said. “They’re gonna say when it comes to the love songs, they’re gonna say, ‘This is the guy that introduced the love songs and all the love shit.’ When it comes to the bad boy vibes, ‘This is the guy who introduced all the rebellious, bad boy vibes before it was done.’ When it comes to the G.O.A.T terminology, they gon’ say, ‘This is the guy who came up with all the G.O.A.T stuff.’ I could go on and on and on.”
Honestly, he’s not wrong. Long before hip-hop was dominating Grammy nominations and headlining the Super Bowl, LL Cool J was the one making rap a household name. He’s the one who made girls scream with “I Need Love” and “Around the Way Girl,” while also hyping up guys with “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “I’m Bad.” He was the first artist signed to Def Jam Recordings, the powerhouse rap label that would later house other greats like Jay-Z, DMX, and Method Man.
When he transitioned into acting and began starring in movies and TV series, fans stopped talking about his influence. But look how many rappers followed in his footsteps and used the trail he blazed? We’re not trying to diminish the popularity or influence of his contemporaries, but we definitely need to give the “Goin’ Back to Cali” artist his respect.
To the surprise of no one, social media had thoughts on his comments. However, Black Twitter was ready to give the legend his props.
One person thinks it will be hard to convince younger fans he’s right, writing on X, “He is 1000% correct, but unfortunately the newer generation doesn’t care about things they didn’t see in real time with social media.”
Another user acknowledged his longevity, posting, “And the way he’s revitalized his career in multiple decades needs to be studied.”
One user agreed with him, citing his wide-ranging influence, posting, “LL Cool J was undeniably a trailblazer in hip-hop. He didn’t just open doors; he kicked them down with charisma, versatility, and longevity that few have matched. His influence on rap’s commercial success and cultural appeal is monumental. If we’re being real, he showed the world that a rapper could be both hardcore and smooth.”
One person did have different thoughts on the matter, writing, “He’s up there, but most important is a stretch.”
And in case you were wondering if LL Cool J plans on slowing down anytime soon, the answer is not likely. He recently released “The FORCE,” his 14th studio album.
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