LL COOL J has slammed Akademiks for making disparaging remarks about Hip Hop pioneers.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Famer made a rare appearance on Instagram Live on Wednesday night (September 21), where he lectured the controversial media personality after he branded old rappers “dusty.”
“It came to my attention that a DJ — and I’m not gonna say any names ’cause I don’t think it’s necessary — a DJ basically said that a lot of the pioneers in Hip Hop, they’re dusty or how can they be the person that invented Hip Hop if they don’t have a lot of money, or if they don’t represent like they have a lot of dough,” he began.
“Let me explain something to you: don’t think just because somebody knows how to get money — or fails to get money — that they didn’t make a contribution to the culture. No one discusses Miles Davis’ bank account. We don’t talk about John Coltrane’s bank account. A lot of even rock musicians … a lot of great country artists, we don’t talk about their bank accounts.”
He added: “This idea that you have to have money or else you don’t have any value is a bad idea and it’s a misinformed way of looking at the world and the culture.”
LL went on to illustrate why he believes Akademiks is “misinformed,” pointing out that early Hip Hop artists weren’t able to benefit from a thriving industry like today’s rappers are.
“Today, you can come up with your five-year plan, your 10-year plan, your 20-year plan. You can go find a manager, you can find an accountant, you can find a team that helps your career go to the next level,” he continued.
“When Hip Hop first started, there were no managers, there were no accountants that believed in it. Record companies didn’t even believe in it! Nobody believed in it. How can you make a five-year plan or a 10-year plan on something that doesn’t even exist yet?”
He added: “So just because [these pioneers] didn’t get rich, just because they weren’t able to pile up millions or billions of dollars, does not mean that they didn’t make a contribution to this culture. They created an industry that we all ate off of! They created an industry that you eat off of!”
The Queens, New York native admitted that while making money is something he’s always preached, that shouldn’t get in the way of Hip Hop forefathers being shown their proper respect, especially from those who earn a living in the very culture they helped create.
“When you go monetize your brand, when you go negotiate your deals and negotiate your checks and talk tough, guess what?” he said. “That food that you eating was created by those same people that you disrespecting. That industry was created by them same people that you calling, you know, foul words.
“I’m all about getting paper, I’ve been talking about it my whole career. But don’t ever, ever, ever confuse being rich with making a contribution to our culture. Don’t ever play yourself like that again.”
He concluded: “Approach this game with humility and be glad and be thankful that these pioneers helped create this culture. And let’s show them love, let’s elevate them, let’s celebrate them … There are people that started this thing, and I think that they deserve to be honored and respected.”
Hip Hop Pioneers Respond To Akademiks Calling Them ‘Dusty’ After LL COOL J Lashing
While LL COOL J refrained from mentioning Akademiks by name, former Hot 97 DJ Mister Cee later connected the dots by posting an audio clip of the Off the Record podcast host’s comments, followed by LL’s response. The remarks were made during a recent Twitch live stream.
“Them old rappers, man. Have you seen any of these old rappers who be like, yo, they’re the foundation of Hip Hop really living good?” Ak said. “Them n-ggas be looking really dusty, I kid you not. And none of y’all try to come for me ’cause I don’t fuck with y’all n-ggas either, so I’m just telling y’all the truth.”
He added: “Every time there be like an old, old n-gga talking about Hip Hop, you be like, ‘Yo, bro. You sure you invented this? ‘Cause everybody else is looking better than you.’ Facts!”
LL COOL J’s Instagram Live lecture was applauded by many of his rap peers, including Busta Rhymes, Royce Da 5’9″, Doug E. Fresh, Lloyd Banks, DJ Z-Trip, MC Sha-Rock and Scorpio from Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five.
“God Talk!! Thank you @llcoolj,” Busta wrote on Mister Cee’s Instagram page, while Royce commented on LL’s original post: “Man. People just saying anything at this point… You’re the perfect person to place perspective on this one.”
This isn’t the first time Akademiks has come under fire for his outspoken views on Hip Hop. In July, The Game checked the former Everyday Struggle co-host for claiming the rap industry and the “streets” are no longer one and the same.
“I’m sittin’ here listening and Akademiks, you made some fucked up points,” the Compton rapper said on a Clubhouse call. “You sayin’ the rap shit ain’t the streets shit. N-ggas been smoked — rappers, regular n-ggas, street n-ggas […] Since Biggie and ‘Pac died, this shit been rap and street shit.
“Bro, y’all better get off this, get from behind the muthafuckin’ computer screen and catch a bullet or something to know this for real.”
No lies was told by LL . Some people love to disrespect. Everything started from nothing and builds. When you look at sport the old timers were not getting paid much. They paved the way for the next generations. Things like football.. basketball..tennis..boxing. They all grew over the years. So akademiks is saying the ones at the beginning are dusty. He’s a clown.
What some people do for Attn: these days. LL you and all the other pioneers NEVER need to scold these idiots as it’s what they want. Real Hip Hop heads know. Just let these cats try and battle you to see where they really stand LMAO
I’m starting to not like this akademiks fool isn’t he the same douchebag who said Trump needs to b president again????
This fat bitch knows he has had ZERO contribution to Hip Hop so he tries to use money as validation, because that’s all he has. I do my best to not wish harm on anybody, but Ak and his rainbow haired girlfriend need the unsurvivable fade.
Please tell me how wetbacks CREATED hip hop lmaoooo
You sound real dumb right now
YOUR MOMS A WETBACK AFTER I BUSSED ON HER CHEEKS.
LETS MAKES SOMETHING CLEAR. NONE OF THESE TALKING ASS PLATFORMS AND PERSONALITIES LIKE VLAD, AKADEMIKS, AND THE OVERSATURATED WAVE OF INTERVIEW PODCASTS CONTRIBUTE TO THE CULTURE IN ANYWAY. THEY ARE ALL MERE SPECTATORS.
I beg to differ, Math Hoffa and his team has something very special going on. Since tuning into that I don’t check for anything else.
Math Hoffa is an industry plant ‼️
MATH AND HIS SHOW ARE OK FOR NOW, BUT IF MATH ISN’T SPITTING IN THE BOOTH OR IN THE BATTLE RAP SCENE, HE IS NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE CULRURE. GOSSIPING WITH DUDES AND TELLING STORIES IN A BARBERSHOP IS NOT A CONTRIBUTION. NOT EVERYONE WANTS INSIDE SPORTS FAM. SAME GOES FOR NORE AND DRINK CHUMPS (A SHOW I REALLY DISLIKE). WITH THAT LOGIC, TMZ MIGHT AS WELL BE CULTURE CONTRIBUTORS TOO. I’M GONNA PEACEFULLY AGREE TO DISAGREE.
Akademiks is not from the culture, he is a kid who found a niche and is making a lot of money.. he deserves credit for that.. but we can’t confuse this.. he is not from the culture, so we can’t expect him to treat it with any knowledge or respect.
I actually like how the pioneers built it…they all did it respectably…these “business” rappers make hiphop so “old” and “tired”…see the oxymoron here?
Rap music seems to be the only genre with ageism. But I also blame the older rappers for bowing down to that bullshit. They need to make a new album every year like Too Short does. They need to keep making hits. Dont go on a tour to perform one song like Rob Base. And most importantly, stay the fuck away from verzuz. That shit aint nothing but a circus sideshow for older rappers. Its like saying ” you cant make new hits, just play your old shit”.
if you don’t have the love for the music of course it’s just about the money – this guy might be trolling older dudes but it’s because older dudes have no standards and want what the younger dudes have. guys are still close to the industry and are thirsty for a check so they start comparing young boy with tupac and all this nonsense acting like it’s all the same just a new generation and all this simp sht. so if it’s all the same who started it? clowns painted the nose on themselves now the game has to be remade anyway there’s no going back
I new Akademiks was a dip shit years ago. Anyone who talks about the pioneers of hip hop in a disgraceful way can get the fuck out of here. The garbage now is killing hip hop!!! Nobody respects the art form anymore. Too many people rapping with no talent. Akademiks is a joke. This is the guy who thinks Tekashi is a good rapper. What a clown!!!!!
Dude is a fucking, and fake ass dj too!
Nice email bruh
Real shit.
academiks is such a cornball. dont even know how this dude even became relevant.
This broad DJ Ak he needs to be smacked around so he can gain some respect, like Mike Tyson these computers messing people up they think they can just say anything. Because nobody can punch them in the mouth while they are behind a computer screen. He talking the pioneers don’t get money he is so dumb, it’s like saying that Bill Russell, Oscar Robinson, etc. didn’t get money but those guys are the reason LeBron, Durant, etc. are getting all this money now cause the old heads paved the way. So you got to respect the OG’s.
Excellent point comparing hip hop and basketball. Imagine saying Russel, David Thompson, or Chamberlain are bums because they didn’t make the money of todays players. Forget stars, some of these average players have made way more than some better more impactful pioneers. Regardless, this is a mirror of our society and what we value. Respect does not mean the same for many youth today. Cool, let’s see how you are treated and viewed when you’re old and dusty Ak. No contributions to the culture. Just a gossip girl with a chip on her shoulder. Mama said knock you out!
I grew up on hip hip and it’s all smoke and mirrors
One of the reasons 2pac was respected and loved cause he gave respect and props to the pioneers always one if em was in his Song “Old school” .. also hip-hop ain’t supposed to have an Age Limit.. The Old heads Can keep dropping Albums,Too short and E-40 still do that till this Day,Shit don’t matter… This a God given talent and The Genre is a Business too… you cant be too old to get More money and keep ya name Alive.. Common… And Fuck That Fat retard akademiks by The Way…Stupid Ass
I think a lot people might not understand that when rap/hip-hop first started, there wasn’t a whole lot of money to be made. To base anything on dollars make no sense.
Akademiks a straight goof ball,talking down on the pioneers of the rap game. If it wasn’t for those cats you wouldn’t have a career Akademiks,bow down to the pioneers of the game from a new style of music that came from the streets of the big NY to worldwide dominance. Akademiks you a straight goof ball who is standing on the shoulders of giants!!!
Can you truly call yourself “Akademiks” when you choose to ignore and disrespect the history of the art form that you’re supposedly contributing to? I think “Preskool Dropout” is a more accurate name in this instance.