LL Cool J finally reveals why he had an issue with Canibus original verse for the song 4,3,2,1.

[Deltron]

Canibus was gonna fail no matter what. His fans are some of the most delusional fans in music

Like they really thought he could actually have been some kind of star

I'm not all the way delusional. Maybe a little bit...but

He just wanted to borrow the mic.

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

LL is an icon.

I did buy Canibus album though off the strength of the diss

 

[threattonature]

He wasn't buzzing off that damn Lost Boyz album. Most people didn't even hear that track. Or The Firm appearance, or any of those. His run on the mixtapes is what got labels interested in him. That's why UMG, Def Jam and Jive and everyone wanted him. He was being thrown on those tracks because of Violator. Not because he was popular. That's how you got developed back then. The streets knew him from the tapes. Nobody cared about those guest appearances until the LL cameo on "4,3,2,1".

When he came to Def Jam to meet about signing, the first thing he was told was "We see what you're doing on the mixtapes". That's what people knew him from. THAT was his calling card in '97. He says the same, all the time. He wasn't getting hot off those lukewarm albums, lol. This isn't like what X was doing back then.

You really trying to act like Beasts From The East didn't create a ton of buzz for him? That shyt got quotable of the month in The Source when it meant something. Most of the country didn't have access to mixtapes like that. That song was marketed as X and Canibus having next. He was already hyped before that verse. Getting on The Firm and Common albums were major placements and he killed em both. He already had a name before that LL feature. I know cause even living out in Missouri nikkas was hyping him up as having next.

 

[TheNig]

Dude is so unnecessarily aggressive.

 

[SteelCitySoldier]

He was doing that.

Dude used that "mic on the arm" line in mad freestyles on those old Clue tapes. And on other tracks, like "Get Retarded". That's why LL felt dude was weird. He just kept saying the same sh*t over and over again. He was obsessed with LL. So Cool J had to shut him down.

LL ain’t know shyt about that previous shyt BACK THEN. If I’m wrong I will take that L but I refuse to believe that he knew about the previous shyt or would have said that. nikka would have been like “yall think this some shyt about one verse…NAW SON BEEN THROWING SHOTS” and would bring the receipts but in every single interview I have seen or heard regarding this, it’s the exact same answer

 

[Elim Garak]

I understand what he's saying lol, but he killed dudes confidence and he was never the same as a lyricist smh.

 

[Kinguno]

He should apologize to Mr.Can but over time it’s so obvious that Cann was starstuck by LL but LL wasn’t feeling it but we the people got great art

 

[WhenWeWereKings]

in hindsight, it kind of ruined Canibus's career, LL was well connected and anyone that was on LL's side kind of shunned Canibus from any opportunities as a new artist. At the same time, Canibus kind of did it to himself by going the battle rapping route on most of his music, not developing as an artist and dropping the hits required in order to stay relevant. LL is right though, EGO at an all time high in hip hop will block a GREAT AMOUNT OF YOUR BLESSINGS. Those that let their ego go a bit and actually played the game by doing a few commercial joints, basked in their fruits of their labor. The difference between Pun and Bis is that Pun LISTENED and got himself a "Still not a player". All those "Nah i ain't selling out" type rappers never lasted. Looking back, it ain't sh*t to have 1 or 2 commercial joints on your album, you stilll had 85% full control of the rest of your project to spit whatever hard sh you thought would get you your respect. Biggie showed you the blueprint.

Agreed. This is why the backlash Nas received in 96 was so silly. Clearly he made the correct decision.

 

[Yehuda]

Always thought the opening lines were suspect...

Now if a bytch sucks yo dikk, for $5 per square inch
And gets $40, including a $5 tip
How big was the dikk she just sucked? (say what?)
Said how big was the dikk she just sucked? (wha...?)

This can't be a real song.

 

[Awesome Wells]

You really trying to act like Beasts From The East didn't create a ton of buzz for him? That shyt got quotable of the month in The Source when it meant something. Most of the country didn't have access to mixtapes like that. That song was marketed as X and Canibus having next. He was already hyped before that verse. Getting on The Firm and Common albums were major placements and he killed em both. He already had a name before that LL feature. I know cause even living out in Missouri nikkas was hyping him up as having next.

I saw it in real time in NYC, and I actually copped that Lost Boyz album just for that track. Which was actually featured on a Clue tape. LOL!!

His buzz, even according to him, was from doing the mixtapes, and the Clue, Doo Wop, S&S and Ron G joints. He speaks about that all the time. Everyone knows that his mixtape run was what got him the shine he needed to get the attention of the labels. Violator went to him after he got hot on the tapes. Not the other way around. They were the ones who put him on those albums for the features, but all of that was because he had done the work on his own, making that mixtape run.

In NYC, nobody knew who he was until the mixtapes started having him featured. Even on the covers. That's how you got hot in the streets back then. Doo Wop drove around the city and was looking for 'Bis to get him on his tapes. Then when Clue had him, he always says he made sure to have him in the best slot for the tape because everyone wanted to hear what Canibus was going to do on them. Without that, he doesn't get signed and Violator doesn't even know who he is. That's the hottest he ever got. And that's what got him in that bidding war. The mixtape run.

Everything he did after that was late, by NYC standards. So all of those features and things y'all may have heard out of state was way after NYC had already spent time listening to dude and after the bidding war too. But even 'Bis says the most popular he ever was, was when he was getting mad calls to do freestyles on the mixtapes. That's common knowledge now. But I get if you're not from the city, you may have missed that run.

 

[The Intergalactic Koala]

I'm not all the way delusional. Maybe a little bit...but

He just wanted to borrow the mic.

NGL, I'm hoping he pop out and show out on LL's new album, but my AC been acting like ass.

 

[Barney Rubble]

LL doesn't like biters. Canibus asked permission and LL said no. Canibus did it anyway and LL saw it as disrespect. I have no problem with L checking him.

 

[Awesome Wells]

LL doesn't like biters. Canibus asked permission and LL said no. Canibus did it anyway and LL saw it as disrespect. I have no problem with L checking him.

It's like Wyclef said, "It's crazy to see a man's tattoo and go get the same one". He said Canibus was acting like Single White Female. HAHA! And it's true. There was a high level of obsession with him for LL. So I never had an issue with L calling him out for it. It was some weird sh*t.

 

[Turbulent]

This can't be a real song.

Still a legendary emcee

 

[Yehuda]

Still a legendary emcee

Aye this is actually dope lol, the scratching with "fukk LL" at the end.