Brehs, How come LL Cool J isn't talked about much when it comes to GOAT 90's Rappers?

[Shadow King]

His bones were made in the 80s

 

[lib123]

Um no…Mr Smith (95) was full of breakout radio friendly songs - doin it, hey lover, loungin - plus he had the Canibus battle that put respect back on his lyricism, and in addition to tracks like I shot ya and 4,3,2,1…mid - late 90’s LL was still very much on musically, plus he was at his peak culturally with Gap ads, the face of Fubu, movies and his sitcom.

LL’s breakout songs were in the 80s. I’m saying I’d imagine his songs from the 80s sounded dated by the mid 90s.

 

[prophecypro]

I always thought him and KRS made just enough good stuff in the 90s as the 80s

Commerically he was even more established in the 90s

 

[prophecypro]

LL was more successful and high profile in the 90s than even some rappers from the 90s we praise and say defy the era. But by then he wasnt new and it was considered more commercial


But come on I shot ya, 4,3,2,1, Round the Way Girl, Mama Said Knock You Out, Loungin, Hey Lover, Doin It, closing out the decade with Ill Bomb on the Flex/Kap Album. Those were big records and not in the 80s

 

[TheMailMan]

LL’s breakout songs were in the 80s. I’m saying I’d imagine his songs from the 80s sounded dated by the mid 90s.

LL was just as big in the 90s..his run even ran into the 2000s

 

[lib123]

LL was just as big in the 90s..his run even ran into the 2000s

LL remained big as a hip hop figure. As far as his music across demos you’re saying he was just as big in the 90s after Snoop, Dre, Pac and Biggie blew up?

 

[TheMailMan]

LL remained big as a hip hop figure. As far as his music across demos you’re saying he was just as big in the 90s after Snoop, Dre, Pac and Biggie blew up?

Hey lover ,doin it, lounging, 4321, tv show, fubu ads,battle with canibus. He was a big deal and this is all after big and pac

 

[King Poetic]

That 14 shots to the Dome in 93 put that nikka in the hospital and even tho he came back with Mr Smith, Death Row, Biggie, Nas, Wu tang and few others overshadowed him but he still was getting played on radio a lot

 

[Jigganaut]

This thread has been made/question has been asked multiple times on this board, better off looking at old threads for answers - when this board was more active

I've said this thousands of time LL through my mom's youngest brother Terry is who made me first fall in love with rap music.

 

[lib123]

Hey lover ,doin it, lounging, 4321, tv show, fubu ads,battle with canibus. He was a big deal and this is all after big and pac

Understood but he was largely the face of mainstream Hip Hop in the 80s.

 

[L $ C]

cuz L made his fame in the 80s not the so called mainstream gold era (94-2002)

 

[Crumple]

Came up on him all the way back to seeing him on his 1st tour. He's in my GOAT list.

What year did you see him live?

I respect that so much!

 

[Crumple]

LL was more successful and high profile in the 90s than even some rappers from the 90s we praise and say defy the era. But by then he wasnt new and it was considered more commercial


But come on I shot ya, 4,3,2,1, Round the Way Girl, Mama Said Knock You Out, Loungin, Hey Lover, Doin It, closing out the decade with Ill Bomb on the Flex/Kap Album. Those were big records and not in the 80s

I get his 90s hits. And commercial appeal.

But is his work in the 80s considered top tier and classic?

To me in the 80s he sounded very hardcore. Not commercial at all. But not too grimy.

Powerful. Like a bad guy version of Run DMC but he was still a good person....kinda (fukked a pregnant chick right b4 he hit the stage once)

But his voice sounds smooth and grimy at the same time in the 80s.

 

[AllHolosEve]

-He was basically considered consistent, capable & nostalgic, he was only considered that dude by people that were already his fans. He was respected but never considered THAT DUDE.

 

[Antdrewjosh]

His last album should have cemented his GOAT status.