Why and when did LL Cool J fall off?

NatiboyB

NatiboyB

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LL is still a legend but for example he doesn't rely on rap to eat anymore much like Ice-T...Rappers from the 80s have damn near been in the game 30-40 years they don't fall off their fan base just gets older...LL can throw a concert today in my city and a ton of over 40 somethings will be there...But that isn't the crowd that mainstream music media/radio caters to.

LL is top 10 DOA
 
L. Deezy

L. Deezy

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I was listening to s very recent Kane interview..

Out his own mouth, he admitted that once Ready to Die and Illmatic dropped, he knew he was done. The fact LL survived that 90s transition is just a testament to his ability as a MC/Artist.



39:11 mark

I think if the 80's NY artist would have incorporated what was going on in the streets (Reaganomics and the rise of Crack) not from a first person aspect like Im a shooter or anything, but just from what was happening as a reporter, they would have been able to transition much easier. Hell, Melle Mel gave them the blueprint to that. its basically what NWA did.
 
Sinister

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In terms of so called "relevance" and success LL started off strong in the 2000s with GOAT and 10. By the time you get to Definition and especially exit 13...the label stopped promoting and caring.

In terms of like fans thinking he's hot....he's fallen off several times.

Walking with a panther era until Mama said knock you out rejuvenated him

14 shots to the dome era until...he reinvented himself around Mr Smith

Hell...in the actual moment people thought Canibus killed him before his last major run

What hurts LL is that he's a love song making, lip gloss wearing, actor and a very positive family guy. But talk to anyone from Nas to Budden to Em to even adversaries like KMD or Canibus or even Pac when he was here and they will all tell you what's up with L.
 
DANJ!

DANJ!

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Time is gonna do it to everybody, but considering how long LL was able to run, I can't even call it "falling off". It's like saying James Brown, Prince, or Michael Jackson fell off... dude ran for 20 years in a genre that used to change every two years and will chew up artists and spit them out in a heartbeat. There's literally only a handful of people in hip-hop who can say they stayed "on" for that long.

He had some bad years, but he always bounced back, I'd say the point where he stopped being able to bounce back is when he "fell". After that album with "Headsprung" on it, and then he had that song with J.Lo and people just passed that shyt by, then he had a gripe with Jay-Z and Def Jam, then he put that other weak album out... that was the real end for him.
 
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frush11

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Probably after 'Paradise' joint with Amerie, relevance wise

Skill wise, he's never fell off
 
V

vdfebduderocks

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When did LL Fall off? Around 2001-2002. 10 was pretty puch panned at that point. This was around the time Daymond John wasted a lot of money with FUBU and a short-lived record label called FUBU Records. Apparently millions were wasted on that album, which had the Fatty Girl single. Both of the brand declines happened around the same time. By this time, LL's already knee deep in film.

Why did LL Fall off? Mostly because of the pivot to film, age (elephant in the room), and that Def Jam didn't need him anymore. Truthfully told, DMX & Jay-Z's 1998 releases was the beginning of the end for LL. Take that + Ja + Luda + merger with Island + Russell basically leaving and LL was basically the old guy at the label. They really tried putting Def Jam cats on some of his albums to make him appeal to younger audiences, but it all failed. Wasn't LL's fault, but it was age. No, Jay-Z shouldn't have put any more resources into LL albums.
 
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LL fell off after The Definition album. He was still relevant with that album. People can clown "Headsprung" now, but that was a big song as was the follow-up in "Hush". That album went gold and MC wise, LL Cool J was still dope:




When Def Jam signed me
They hit the lottery
It wasn't free but don't call it a robbery
They underestimated me quite possibly
It's like that when you a godfather b
I'm the greatest of all time
You heard that before
But now when I say it
It means so much more
Cause It's so true
No hype man, No crew
No reason for ghost writers
Every year I get tighter
Mothers and daughters agree I'm on fire
Check ya T-Mobile it's all over the wire
Cross ya legs baby hide ya desire
You think I'm hot
You preaching to the choir
Smiling and giggling
Thirsting like Gilligan
More flavor than cinnamon
They rush with adrenaline
I make 'em nervous
I do it on purpose
I come back hotter
Every time I resurface
Drop to ya knees baby
Praise the king
Now ask Russell Simmons
Who built the west wing
I ain't gotta be cocky
I do the damn thing
Paint ya girl with strawberry frosting
Internationally known and respected
You talk slick I'm too large to be affected
You crank call my cells disconnected
You keep slipping but my games perfected

^^^ outside of that strawberry frosting line, this was a dope verse from an MC that was 20 years in.
 
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