In the latest episode of Complex‘s Magnum Opus, the “Ladies Love” Hip Hop legend goes in on the effects of living in the hood, when he first fell in love with Hip Hop and the incredible story of the “Rock the Bells” track. With timeless interview footage from Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Bill Adler and more, the icon hits on some sharp notes, saying: I Introduced the Term GOAT, But You Tell Me I’m Not the GOAT?!
“Young people couldn’t have had that ambition at the time. There was no rap on record…this is somebody who’s known what he wanted to do since he was at least 11 years old” said O.G. Def Jam Publicist Bill Adler. The fast forward of hearing LL Cool J: I Introduced the Term GOAT, But You Tell Me I’m Not the GOAT? in 2015 is anything but a vain cry for a crown. The statement is more a rhetorical question to the chronic hypebeasts and skeptics of the culture, not to mention his entire career. Don’t let the major television network gigs fool you, and apparently–don’t compare him to just anybody:
“They try to compare me to guys that copy me…how you gon’ compare me to somebody that learned from me??? [laughs, hard]”
Bill Adler continues the LL Cool J: I Introduced the Term GOAT, But You Tell Me I’m Not the GOAT? argument in detailing the “Rock the Bells” track, noting how different LL viewed himself and his approach to the mic:
“The world at large might not know about rap or LL Cool J in particular, but guess what he’s paying attention…he knows all about Madonna, he knows all about Bruce Springsteen. And when he gets the chance, he’s gonna rhyme about them–and put himself on their level. For that matter he’s going to put himself in bed with Madonna! (LOL) at 17 years old. Incredible.”
His first two singles hit it big without a master plan or any contracts. He’s consistently described as ambitious, reportedly knowing he was ‘ready to take it to the next level’ at 14 years old. After a lot of persistence, his demo got the attention of Ad-Rock from the Beastie Boys, who urged one of the culture’s innovators who was still a relatively unknown college student–to give it a listen:
“When you grow up from where I did, you just want your voice to be heard. Hip Hop was a way to escape that…then I met Rick Rubin. It wasn’t like planned, it wasn’t like I had some unbelievable strategy to tap into my inner genius…cause you know nowadays it’s trendy to call yourself a genius. [laughs]”
The episode is a fresh look at just how innovative LL really was for the genre and culture, not just from the likes of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin but peers like DJ Cut Creator, DMC of Run DMC, iconic journalist Bonz Malone and more. While whispers of the upcoming* G.O.A.T. 2 album have surfaced (featuring Murda Mook, Eminem, Raekwon, and more) the legend is still busy being booked–setting his sights on hosting a lip-sync battle show, and releasing new tracks as lead-ins. This is a trailblazing run for an artist who was part of Hip Hop as it grew beyond it’s borders to worldwide status, some would say in the vain of the NBA expansion during the Jordan era. LL and everyone of that time represent the originality of the culture, competition, love, disrupting the system, and doing what others could not or did not do.
“I wanted people to be able experience what I loved about hip Hop without having to go to a club, or if they lived somewhere where there was no club. It was so limited, this thing, I just wanted to share it cause I loved it.” –Rick Rubin
LL Cool J: I Introduced the Term GOAT, But You Tell Me I’m Not the GOAT? adds to the break-down of the groundbreaking “Rock the Bells” record and how LL, Def Jam, and Rick Rubin arrived at it. The episode is a definite MUST-WATCH for any Hip Hop fan, artist, producer, or curiosity of how Hip Hop took over the world–even though it didn’t mean to! DMC concludes…”LL is a phenomenon. People don’t give him enough credit. Everyone else had crews. Eric B. & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap…he’s the first to represent that DNA of Hip Hop.” So…is LL in your top 5, or is he in a league all his own??? Check the vid!
