LL COOL J exploded on the scene in the early 1980s rocking a dookie gold chain, Kangol bucket hat and matching Fila jumpsuit. Songs such as “I’m Bad,” “Radio” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” eventually made the Def Jam Recordings legend a household name before television solidified his reputation as the versatile powerhouse he is today.
But somewhere along the line, the pioneering MC was labeled the “forefather of pop rap,” which he apparently doesn’t understand. On Monday (April 12), LL COOL J had a fair question for his five million Twitter followers: “Me being called the forefather of pop rap is very confusing. What the fuck are you talking about?? LOL.”
LL COOL J might have a difficult time escaping the correlation. According to All Music, pop-rap got its start in the late ’80s, when artists such as Run-DMC, LL COOL J and the Beastie Boys began their mainstream crossover. Then, Tone Lōc, Young MC and DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince recorded singles “emphasizing their good-humored storytelling abilities” to massive chart success.
Hip Hop Mogul Lyor Cohen Shames Rock Hall For Snubbing LL COOL J - 5 Times & Counting
The Grammy Award-winning artist released one of the first Hip Hop love songs in 1987 called “I Need Love” from his Bigger and Deffer album. The song could quite possibly be considered the first of its kind. Rather than the bravado he flexed in “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “I’m Bad,” Mr. Ladies Love Cool James revealed a softer, more emotional side, something not exactly embraced in Hip Hop at the time.
“When I’m alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall/And in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call/Telling me I need a girl who’s as sweet as a dove/For the first time in my life, I see I need love,” he rapped over the sparse beat. “There I was giggling about the games/That I had played with many hearts, and I’m not saying no names/Then the thought occurred, tear drops made my eyes burn/As I said to myself look what you’ve done to her.”
Although LL COOL J doesn’t agree with the assessment, he’s influenced a roster of artists to follow in his footsteps. Drake, who has taken the “pop-rap” formula and ran with it, is often credited with bringing a more emotive side to rap with his R&B-tinged tracks, which likely couldn’t have been done successfully unless LL COOL J did it first.
LL COOL J is one of a handful of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees this year — his sixth time being nominated for the honor. Former Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen made his case for LL’s long overdue induction in an op-ed earlier this month.
Check out some of the reactions to LL COOL J’s “forefather of pop-rap” tweet below.
That shit does sound weird, who tf gave him that title?
Some white suburban kids going back on Apple Music and YouTube looking up 80/90s Shìt they all doing it now
Pop rap, rap rap, hip hop whatever LL one of the greatest of all time.
Cool J was the first person to start using that G.O.A.T acronym. Now everybody saying it
I always thought he was the best to do it, slightly in front of Rakim.
Who said that you can’t do you….. He did it. Well… My hat is off to LL. Congratulations for your accomplishments. I’d like to Thank You.
I don’t think that’s a title to be ashamed of. One of the best to do it. Cool J hard as fuck.
LL is the King of Rap.
LL is an icon in the culture but I believe that wack @ss song Accidental Racist is the reason for all things bad in the world.
“I Need Love” was the record that, in my opinion, showed other rappers that if you make a record that the ladies like, they’ll buy it. If the ladies buy it, the men will too because they’re trying to get with these ladies. In the end, you make bank. I don’t know if that’s necessarily “pop,” but I figure that’s what they mean when they give him that title.
This is white washed rap pop-rap lol
Title had me laughing…I can literally hear Uncle L…LMAO!!
they come with all this fake praise to try to categorize and marginalize the originals and greats while people who never had anything to do with what got built act like they are the ultimate judges. Every body who’s never done anything thinks they have the right to categorize and criticize. LL did it for real and the first rap record ever released was a worldwide number one smash. They don’t know us
Thanx Fam, I was thinking The Same Thing. Society tries in vain 2 categorize & criticize Black Music, as They try 2 copy it in their Own corny image. LL had crossover appeal, but he’s NEVER been ‘Pop’- I can understand MC Hammer or Vanilla Ice getting that tag, but not LL
-Just sayin’