LL Cool J, the legendary rapper known for his lyrical prowess and cultural impact, has once again made headlines. This time, he’s taking aim at the current trend of money-focused rap lyrics. In a candid interview with Baller Alert, LL Cool J showed his disappointment with rappers who only talk about money and nothing more meaningful in their music. He didn’t hold back, saying,
“When a rapper comes out and he’s talking that money talk, you love it. But 12 years later, he’s still talking that money talk, and now you looking at him like, ‘Dude, do you have anything else to talk about?’
LL Cool J speaks on rappers who only make music about money: “The wallet can’t un-corny you” PIC.TWITTER.COM/MXXMM1RAFL
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) AUGUST 6, 2024
LL Cool J showed his frustration about what he seems to feel is a deficiency of imagination or depth in today’s rap music. He feels that there should be more to music than what he has been seeing, which is flash and traffic of money, and that the artiste really should try to carry some meaningful lyrics. Drawing a powerful comparison, he cited Bob Marley as an example of an artist who had something to say, and whose influence abides because of the significance of his messages.
“The wallet can’t un-corny you,” LL Cool J declared, hammering home his point that financial success doesn’t mean artistic quality.
LL Cool J called for modern rappers to have variation in their content and operate outside the realm of just talking about money. He says reliance on wealth in lyrics is a sign of non-growth. According to him, hip-hop should always be a means through which one tells stories or expresses themselves. He wants them to flex their creative muscle and describe experiences that stretch beyond iced-out chains or fat bankrolls.
For LL Cool J, meaningful lyrics are not a question of making music; they are a question of making a social statement. He has been socially conscious his entire career. “Hip-hop has always led the charge when it comes to social justice,” he said, referencing Public Enemy and Ice Cube. He spoke about many issues, such as inequality and social justice—a talk that made him seem a bit like one of his intended opinions.
Since the 1980s, LL Cool J has been one of the forerunners of hip-hop. His first album, “Radio,” issued in 1985, set the platform for a commercially successful but very substantive career as well. Such hits as “I Need Love,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and “Doin’ It” proved he could merge rap with R&B and conceptualism. With ten platinum albums in a line, LL Cool J’s impact on the music industry is no less than profound.
LL Cool J’s impact, however, is beyond the music world. He has carved out a niche in acting with guest lead roles in the NBC sitcom “In the House” and in films like “Deep Blue Sea” and “Halloween H20: 20 Years Later.” Presently, starring as Special Agent Sam Hanna in the very popular television show “NCIS: Los Angeles,” he has many recognitions to his name for his contribution to entertainment, the most one most prestigious being a Kennedy Center Honor in 2017.
After all these many years, LL Cool J will release his latest album, “The FORCE,” on September 6, 2024. This work represents his first disc within 11 years that brings together collaborative works from big boys like Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Saweetie, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and Nas. To do this record for “The FORCE” has been a type of journey of “relearning how to rap,” certainly proving that LL Cool J doesn’t mind changing or evolving the sound so he can reach his audience.
One of the many highlights of “The FORCE” is the collaboration between LL Cool J and Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, who produced every track on the album. LL looks to meet listeners at where he currently is without being too preachy or heavy on the didacticism. This does reveal an intention to remain pertinent at a juncture in his life when he passes on a 50-year anniversary mantle to new and longtime fans in droves.
LL Cool J has had his share of controversy, including a public beef with social media personality DJ Akademiks. The whole problem started when Akademiks called LL Cool J “dusty” in a discussion about hip-hop legends. He responded right away on social media, calling out the tone Akademiks was using to address him. Even after that exchange, Akademiks earlier expressed a willingness to meet with LL Cool J and squash the beef.
LL Cool J does not fear dealing directly with his fans and critics. Recently, he began to respond to a tweet that had gone viral online; this tweet criticized his old music videos for the “ridiculous” scenes they contained. He responded by posting a video explaining what contributed to all those moments being set up in his videos, standing up for the artistic expression that was made and relating himself with a public audience.
LL Cool J‘s call to meaningful lyrics and the artistic growth of hip-hop reminds us what is possible with this genre in inspiring and engaged society. Marked by high-profile adjustments in music and acting, his career continuously shows loyalty to the furtherance of creativity and social justice. Setting “The FORCE” to record, LL Cool J stays a voice in an immediate need to get artists to look within for depth and richness of material that will strongly impact fans.
