LL COOL J has admitted that his feud with Canibus was his doing, but that at the time he was unable to take the higher road because he “wasn’t there yet mentally.”
The pair began feuding in the late ’90s when they exchanged diss tracks and subliminal shots, but it wasn’t until 2014 that they buried the hatchet on stage at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
In a recent interview with Million Dollaz Worth of Game, LL took responsibility for the way things unfolded while reflecting on their beef more than 20 years later.
“With him, I think it was more my fault because I could have addressed him a little differently,” LL said of Canibus. “He wanted to get a tattoo like mine. I could have said, ‘Good luck with that,’ but I didn’t understand that path at that time.
“I wasn’t there yet mentally so I was like, ‘The fuck you mean you gonna get something like me?’ That shit sounded crazy to me at that time.”
He continued: “My brain was not developed, I was not developed like that…Now I understand it was a compliment, he was just showing love and, you know, admiration. That’s why I don’t go at him now or try to hurt these dudes. I’m not gonna play that.”
The tension between the two rappers started in 1997 when Canibus seemingly jabbed LL COOL J on his own song, “4,3,2,1,” which also featured DMX, Method Man and Redman.
His verse opened with the line: “Yo L, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that,” referencing the rap legend’s famous tattoo.
In an old interview with MTV, Canibus revealed LL called him after he recorded his verse and asked him to change it because he found it disrespectful. ‘Bus said he obliged, but was then “distraught” when he heard LL’s verse had dissed him directly.
The pair eventually down their arms during LL’s annual “Christmas In Brooklyn” event at the Barclays in December 2014, which Cannibus later said was a hilarious moment for the former foes.
“You remember the Barclays? I came out to the Barclays to perform with him, right?” Canibus told Outside With Gorilla NEMS back in February. “Hoodie jawn on and I’m sitting there and this n-gga got so much gold on him. I’m like, ‘Yo, you know what? I can’t go out there with you. I need one of them ropes.’ So nicely, I asked him. I said, ‘Yo I got an idea.’”
He continued: “We staring down. He staring up at me and I’m telling you what I’m saying in my mind. Basically it’s like, ‘Aw, here we go again.’ And he looked at me. I could see the whites of his eyes off the makeup on his cheek. That’s how I could see he was staring straight at me.”
“And I was looking at him like he could read my mind, ‘If you don’t give me that chain!’ That’s what I was thinking. He said, ‘Yo, get Canibus the baby rope!’ That’s why y’all seen me come out with the baby rope!”
In other news, LL COOL J debuted his new single, “The Force,” on Rock The Bells Radio last week. The song serves as the first preview of his upcoming 14th studio album, which will be produced entirely by Q-Tip.
of course it was his fault.. damn big ass ego got in the way, and he thought Bus was insulting and “disrespecting” him when he wasnt. fragile ass diva type of ego. may or may not have even played a part in using his clout to blackball canibus. L is a top 10 all time rapper undeniably, but this was some sucker shit the way he handled this.
Probably just roid rage LOL.
Onlys reason LL won was because he had a big fanbase.
Damn Cannibus is one ugly mutherfucka lol
Dude talking about another dudes looks. You gay? Bc it’s okay if you are. It’s 2023 baby. Come out the closet. No judgement. Just don’t go around acting cis Hetero and judging a man looks unless you are. Lol. You are part of the problem. You e been institutionalized by the system to judge another person by their looks, and not their artistry. That’s why they went at “dark skinned” Lauryn Hill, and why Ice Spice is riding waves when she’s barely C status and being presented as an A. Grow up. This ain’t elementary. Take that tone to US weekly or some other gossip sites, ya bish…
He’s better looking than your absent father and your drag looking mama lol
Dude really wrote an essay for a reply? I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you.. You ugly motherfuckers must stick together.
Mother jokes? You fucking child 🤡
LL should also expand on the fact that he did him additional dirty by saying he was not going to spit that verse, Bis having to change his verse, and then LL laying his verse down. His ego is that much. But at least he’s acknowledging his past 2 faceness. But I wonder, why now with an album about to drop? Why not before? He KNOWS the real heads side with Bis and it’s been an ongoing debate.
‘Bis straight went at that nigga, had to respect it. That arrogant LL shit was all the fuel he needed. I mean I get not wanting someone biting your style but, ultimately it was just showing homage.
“Now let’s get back to this mic on my arm…”
LL’s verse was dope though, I dont blame him for saying “fuck it”. Damn same this overshadowed the REAL highlight of the song, the first time most people outside of NY heard DMX.
Yall don’t know Hip Hop. The first time everybody heard him [DMX]was on west coast tracks so that statement makes no sense.
Jayo Felony ft Meth and DMX, and I think the Ice Cube We be clubbing remix came before that.
LL is a beast but that ego….But that ego tho…
Nobody gave a shit about those songs, this was a hit. And I didn’t say everybody, I said most people.
This was a hit? Are you implying that the others arent. Remember NY is a NY thing. You guys cut yourself off from the world and is now paying for it. Those joints with DMX are stilled played in more places. I just heard the we be clubbin remix in Vegas. “Nobody gave a shit” you probably weren’t even born. Speak on your life, u don’t give a shit because it’s outside if your realm of knowledge. Some weak ass shit. It’s all hip hop, you must be born from the dumb self centered gen
I’m from The Bay and I said what I said. We Be Clubbin was an embarassment, the remix is even worse, and Jayo Felony probably works at Dave and Buster’s now. T
here’s a reason we’re still talking about this classic and not the weak shit you brought up. Stop your babbling.
You sound truly dumb. We be clubbin was an embarrassment. I’m embarrassed you Said that. You must be from a later gen or a regional idiot that don’t respect anything outside of they are used to. Who cares where the dude works, that’s dumb af. You probably look at other dudes outfit and critique them too. Lost ass. It is a classic but the point was the history. Stay on topic wit yo don’t respect the culture lookin ass
“Woops, sorry I threw a tantrum and forced Russell Simmons to have the entire industry blackball quite possible the most talented lyricist who has ever lived; I was immature”. BITCH, you were fucking 30? You got Downs’ or something??? Fuck this powder room cupcake pussy ass mf