Is LL Cool J the most important rapper ever ???
- Thread starter Mr. Met
- Start date
He might be right.
He is a hip hop legend and one of the most impactful rappers culturally and commercially to ever do it. What holds him back from recognition is he is an unabashed coon at times. 
He is a hip hop legend and one of the most impactful rappers culturally and commercially to ever do it. What holds him back from recognition is he is an unabashed coon at times.
I hear him, but no.
That final 90 seconds of this interview might make me reconsider my opinion.
That final 90 seconds of this interview might make me reconsider my opinion.
Last edited:
Agreed!
After that bit with the pool stick in this movie..? I'd say no 
(Said scene was also improvised by LL himself )
(Said scene was also improvised by LL himself
)
His longevity is legendary
His last album garbage though.
But, I’m not going to argue against his opinion because I have no argument.
But, I’m not going to argue against his opinion because I have no argument.
If you can't be the greatest rapper of all time then be the most important rapper of all time...
Rushmore for sure, but I'm picking Rakim.
i can agree with that. got a bunch of straight up classics, great rap battles and longevity.
Rakim’s flow was not timeless.
I like LL.....probably one of the first rappers that I started listening to as a kid.
When "I'm Bad" came out.....I was like....I need to get me a Kangol and rope chain right now.
He was the best to me back then,....but so many more better rappers have come along since then.
I would disagree that he's the most important rapper ever tho. That's saying a lot. Even outside of the GOAT debate.....most important would be a critical category to put yourself at the pinnacle of.
When "I'm Bad" came out.....I was like....I need to get me a Kangol and rope chain right now.
He was the best to me back then,....but so many more better rappers have come along since then.
I would disagree that he's the most important rapper ever tho. That's saying a lot. Even outside of the GOAT debate.....most important would be a critical category to put yourself at the pinnacle of.
Main article: LL Cool J discography
Studio albums
James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James),[3] is an American rapper and actor.[4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.
Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. He later re-signed with the label and released his fourteenth album, The FORCE (2024).
LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. He played NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaiʻi. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network.[5][6]
A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list.[7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.[8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.[9]
Studio albums
- Radio (1985)
- Bigger and Deffer (1987)
- Walking with a Panther (1989)
- Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)
- 14 Shots to the Dome (1993)
- Mr. Smith (1995)
- Phenomenon (1997)
- G.O.A.T. (2000)
- 10 (2002)
- The DEFinition (2004)
- Todd Smith (2006)
- Exit 13 (2008)
- Authentic (2013)
- The FORCE (2024)
James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James),[3] is an American rapper and actor.[4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.
Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. He later re-signed with the label and released his fourteenth album, The FORCE (2024).
LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. He played NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaiʻi. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network.[5][6]
A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list.[7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.[8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.[9]
let somebody else say it ...for one
for two some of this shit he mentioned i disagree ..
i fuck with L tho .... def up there ... top 10 ....
also he mentioned movies he was never big in that cuz Hollywood never saw him as a leading man like Will ...
even DMX was better n carried movies ... L cannot carry a movie i`m sorry just like DMX cant carry a sitcom ..
weird right ...lol
You're right, however his breaking of the common delivery styles is. Cadence, wordplay, etc stemmed from that Rakim tree
LL can’t wait on folks to speak nice of him because he knows the fickleness of rap listeners. Rap listeners are the folks you see in the background of gladiator movies. The minute you aren’t entertaining them they’ve moved on to something that will. I peeped game when Nas dropped the Queensbridge album. You’re telling me the dude who did Ill Bomb can’t get a verse?
Too Short will be Atlantic City in January. I’m going to do my part to acknowledge that brother’s catalogue.
As far as I can remember he did. Didn't he have an album named that back in the 90s?
From rap (first act signed to Def Jam & a long list of platium albums)
Fashion (him getting Fubu in the Gap commercial basically launched that company in the public eye)
Movies (Deep Blue Sea, the producers/writers changing the script to have him live to the end, based on the crowd reactions in the pre release showings)
Rock the Bells on XMradio
Fashion (him getting Fubu in the Gap commercial basically launched that company in the public eye)
Movies (Deep Blue Sea, the producers/writers changing the script to have him live to the end, based on the crowd reactions in the pre release showings)
Rock the Bells on XMradio
7 Reasons LL Cool J is the most important rapper in history for his contributions to hip-hop culture, music, and its mainstream acceptance:
1. Pioneer of Hip-Hop Longevity
LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) was one of the first rappers to sustain a career spanning decades, proving that hip-hop artists could evolve and remain relevant over time. He debuted in the mid-1980s and maintained a presence in the industry well into the 2000s, paving the way for artists to view rap as a long-term career.
2. First Major Solo Rap Superstar
Signed to Def Jam Records at just 16, LL Cool J became the label's first commercially successful solo artist. His debut album, Radio (1985), helped establish Def Jam as a powerhouse and demonstrated that rap could sell on a large scale.
3. Blending Hardcore and Commercial Appeal
LL Cool J mastered the balance between gritty street rhymes and smooth, commercially appealing tracks. Songs like “Rock the Bells” showcased his raw energy, while tracks like “I Need Love” were among the first mainstream hip-hop ballads, broadening rap’s audience, especially among women. Made hit records without being overly vulgar or hardcore.
4. Expanding Rap Beyond Music
LL Cool J became a trailblazer by transitioning into acting, opening doors for other rappers to explore Hollywood. His roles in TV (In the House) and movies (Deep Blue Sea, Any Given Sunday) showed that rappers could be multi-dimensional entertainers.
5. Iconic Battles and Resilience
LL Cool J was fearless in defending his spot in the rap game. His high-profile lyrical battles with artists like Kool Moe Dee, Canibus, and Ice-T solidified his reputation as a fierce competitor. His ability to emerge victorious and remain respected set a precedent for handling rivalries in hip-hop.
6. Cultural and Generational Influence
His style, charisma, and confidence made him a role model and a pop culture icon. LL Cool J’s signature Kangol hats, gold chains, wearing one pants leg up, coined the G.O.A.T., deals with GAP and FUBU became symbols of early hip-hop fashion, influencing countless artists and fans.
7. Advancing Hip-Hop as an Art Form
As one of the first hip-hop artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2021), Kennedy Center Honored, and Two time Grammy winner. LL Cool J's legacy is recognized as foundational. His ability to adapt to changing sounds over decades while staying true to his roots demonstrated hip-hop’s versatility as a genre.
In short, LL Cool J laid the groundwork for how a rapper could excel across music, business, and entertainment, while elevating the art form to a global platform. His success is a blueprint for many artists who followed. Many favorite rapper's favorite rapper.
1. Pioneer of Hip-Hop Longevity
LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James) was one of the first rappers to sustain a career spanning decades, proving that hip-hop artists could evolve and remain relevant over time. He debuted in the mid-1980s and maintained a presence in the industry well into the 2000s, paving the way for artists to view rap as a long-term career.
2. First Major Solo Rap Superstar
Signed to Def Jam Records at just 16, LL Cool J became the label's first commercially successful solo artist. His debut album, Radio (1985), helped establish Def Jam as a powerhouse and demonstrated that rap could sell on a large scale.
3. Blending Hardcore and Commercial Appeal
LL Cool J mastered the balance between gritty street rhymes and smooth, commercially appealing tracks. Songs like “Rock the Bells” showcased his raw energy, while tracks like “I Need Love” were among the first mainstream hip-hop ballads, broadening rap’s audience, especially among women. Made hit records without being overly vulgar or hardcore.
4. Expanding Rap Beyond Music
LL Cool J became a trailblazer by transitioning into acting, opening doors for other rappers to explore Hollywood. His roles in TV (In the House) and movies (Deep Blue Sea, Any Given Sunday) showed that rappers could be multi-dimensional entertainers.
5. Iconic Battles and Resilience
LL Cool J was fearless in defending his spot in the rap game. His high-profile lyrical battles with artists like Kool Moe Dee, Canibus, and Ice-T solidified his reputation as a fierce competitor. His ability to emerge victorious and remain respected set a precedent for handling rivalries in hip-hop.
6. Cultural and Generational Influence
His style, charisma, and confidence made him a role model and a pop culture icon. LL Cool J’s signature Kangol hats, gold chains, wearing one pants leg up, coined the G.O.A.T., deals with GAP and FUBU became symbols of early hip-hop fashion, influencing countless artists and fans.
7. Advancing Hip-Hop as an Art Form
As one of the first hip-hop artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2021), Kennedy Center Honored, and Two time Grammy winner. LL Cool J's legacy is recognized as foundational. His ability to adapt to changing sounds over decades while staying true to his roots demonstrated hip-hop’s versatility as a genre.
In short, LL Cool J laid the groundwork for how a rapper could excel across music, business, and entertainment, while elevating the art form to a global platform. His success is a blueprint for many artists who followed. Many favorite rapper's favorite rapper.
Are you saying L's style came from Rakim?
Similar threads
