Without a shadow of a doubt, James Todd Smith aka LL Cool J has done more to damage rap music and the culture it represents than any other artist over the past two decades.I’m an expert and a self proclaimed LL historian. I actually met the dude once. That was when he lived in Bayshore, Long Island, way before he had the confidence to remove his dingy Kangol, and reveal the mega dome that was cleverly hidden beneath. Way before he started reppin’ Queens. This was back when he only licked his lips when they were chapped, and way before his skin looked smoother than a baby’s butt.
You see, I’ve been peeping his style since 1985, when he made his now famed cameo appearance in the classic rap flick, Krush Groove. They said he was only sixteen, but he looked like he was at least twenty-six. And when he asked for them to turn on his box, and he did his thing, he made Run-DMC look about ten years older than that. They had underestimated the drive and potential of this young man. Like a steam engine, he rolled over all of his competition. Quickly becoming the real “King” of rock at Rush, as he single handedly destroyed the careers of Kool Mo Dee, Ice T and MC. Hammer.
This rap phenomena was born on August 16, 1968, and from that point forward he has accomplished many feats across the course of his rap and acting career. How has LL ruined Rap Music for the past 20 years? Let's see, where do I start?
First and foremost this dude had the audacity to commercialize the rap battle. How do you commercialize the rap battle, kid? Two emcees going head to head in a creative battle of wits and lyrics. He did it. Throughout the course of his career he took one of the most grimiest elements of the rap game and used it to sell records. This hurt the game. LL is the reason for rappers making their little diss records over the past decade to make a name for themselves. As a matter of fact, if Ja Rule wants to know who really destroyed his career, he need not look at 50. It was another “Queens” rapper that put the nail in his coffin, way before his career even got off the blocks.
Secondly, this whole “Stop Snitching” campaign was kicked off by LL. Years ago, his man Earl got shot in the meaty part of his butt muscle and LL not only didn’t do anything, but he also failed to cooperate with the police. From his vantage point (hiding behind a dumpster full of discarded fish scales), he witnessed the entire altercation, but failed to offer any leads to assist with the investigation. Because of LL, Biggie, Tupac and Jam Master Jay’s deaths have all gone unsolved. I can also create a case for why LL may have been the reason for Big Pun’s death as well. But, I’ll follow up on that one later.
Also, you ever wonder why all the rap songs today sound alike? It’s LL. He stole “I Need A Beat” from T-La Rock and “Rock the Bells” from MC. Shan. Basically, borrowing a sound in order to further his own shine. This was a “no can do” before LL, and it has continued to be the trend over the last two decades in rap music. There used to be an unwritten rule that required you to wait a certain amount of time before you jacked a beat. LL broke the rule. I mean, he jacked “The Boomin’ System” within a couple months after En Vogue’s release. As of late, he’s even started jacking his own styles from yesteryear (using the Going Back to Cali flow most recently). This guy doesn’t even have loyalty to himself.
Lastly, he made the rap game sexy. Before LL, there was no sexy rappers. Rap wasn’t supposed to be sexy (unless you were a chick). Kool Herc ain’t sexy. I mean, the Soul Sonic Force looked like they were some old men that just beamed down from planet Funkenberry. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five looked like the Hip Hop Village People, and Run DMC were like rap’s version of Shaft. But, see LL came out all baby oiled up, licking every crevice of his lips as he kicked his “hardcore” lyrics for the not so hardcore chicks that loved him.
“I need love.” I almost upchucked my lunch when I heard that sh*t. I had just caught a charge and was sitting in a cell feeling militant when my muscle bound cellmate walked in humming the chorus. Needless to say, I had to scrap with that dude. For whatever reason, LL’s song was invoking feelings within the males at Rikers County that no one previously knew existed. That was the first time a rap dude purposely tried to make you feel soft and warm inside.
Over the years, LL has also given everybody (no matter their body type) an excuse to rip off their shirts and baby oil their nipples. From fat (Bone Crusher) to skinny (DMX), LL is the main reason for oily chest rappers. I hate that dude for what he did to the game. I don’t know what it is with this dude. He looks younger today than he did when he first came out. Does he sleep in an incubator? In any case, this baby faced dude continues to come out every couple of years and corrupt the game. It’s amazing that I’m the only one who sees the damage he has done to rap music and the culture.
Igna Ramos is a community member from Bayshore, New York. He is an aspiring D-Jay and an automobile salesman. His views and allegations do not represent 88HIPHOP or its staff.