Because his classic material didn't age well. He doesn't have an illmatic, Ready to die, paid in full, reasonable doubt, MATW, etc that transcends eras
What is LL Cool J missing that keeps him out of real GOAT discussion?
- Thread starter BBG
- Start date
Headcase
The Angry Young Man
His lack of dope music after 1997.
ArchStanton
All Star
To me, Mama Said is a classic, but most don't think of it that way--but that album has something for everyone, in a good way. And it really showed that a rapper could have a long career and bounce back from what some considered a failure. Before that, you had your run and then you were done.
Pac is routinely in people's Top 5 up to Top 1 as OP mentioned. Is his rapping ability better/that much better than LL?
Rocket Scientist
Superstar
He got destroyed by Kool Mo Dee. Clown Canibus all u want but his "99% of ya fans wear high heels" line was truth.
Awesome Wells
The Ghost of Jack Tripper
This right here.
Cool J is literally the blueprint for what a complete MC would be seen as after he dropped his first few albums. He can make any kind of record and has more than a few classic tracks for pretty much every category there is in the genre. He's the culture's first real superstar and also has one of the game's best runs. Anyone that says he just makes records for girls or whatever, doesn't know shyt about dude's catalog, lol. At all. Only a handful of MC's have had a 20 year career. He's had a 20+ year run with actual hits. That doesn't happen often in Hip Hop, or any other genre for that matter. Dude has always been Top 10, which is why he's the last person anyone should want to battle. He ended Moe Dee and Canibus' careers with jokes about their lives and music. Because there's literally nothing you can say about dude in a battle that can insult his run. He had the career every MC wanted back then. It's damn near untouchable.
LL is way higher on my list than BIG and Jay
I would not bat an eye at all if anyone lists him as their #1, so I can't relate.
I would not bat an eye at all if anyone lists him as their #1, so I can't relate.
Is this supposed to mean that LL doesn't have hits that are popular as well as critically acclaimed?
I'd say LL has more legit chart topping hits that are also loved by the streets than any other rapper
Nah. He more like Drake. All these songs have a message.
Interesting angle
I cannot recall a Cool J song with a message. I'm sure he's made some but none of his popular songs are of any intellectual type value
CHAIN
All Star
Technical skill.
He never developed advanced rhyme patterns.
BIG wasnt as technically advanced either but he definitely was aware of certain techniques and started getting into that bag heavier in 1996.
(Keep Your Hands High - Tracey Lee)
LL never went through that lyrical growth spurt most high ranking rappers went through from 1994 to 1996. Nas and Jay included.
He never developed advanced rhyme patterns.
BIG wasnt as technically advanced either but he definitely was aware of certain techniques and started getting into that bag heavier in 1996.
(Keep Your Hands High - Tracey Lee)
LL never went through that lyrical growth spurt most high ranking rappers went through from 1994 to 1996. Nas and Jay included.
LL is one of the greatest for certain.
Also the fact he kept in shape and is healthy - that's inspiring. Mental and physical beast on the mic. All of that counts!
Dope album art too - Bad, Radio, that one with the blue gear and platinum jewlery.
That pink cookie something title is still a trip when I read it today.
Literally mc'd the Grammy awards.
He's great.
Also the fact he kept in shape and is healthy - that's inspiring. Mental and physical beast on the mic. All of that counts!
Dope album art too - Bad, Radio, that one with the blue gear and platinum jewlery.
That pink cookie something title is still a trip when I read it today.
Literally mc'd the Grammy awards.
He's great.
Smokin Rider
I been official
He's one of the greatest surface level rappers, but never gets too deep on anything. A legend but not a GOAT