What is LL Cool J missing that keeps him out of real GOAT discussion?

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

He had that light skin mainstream appeal.

Everyone knew of and respected him to some degree. Like how Drake is today.

He’ll go down in history, but not really in the way he should.

People will forget him in favor of those who had more substance or larger events happen in their career like an early death for ex

LL Cool J is light?

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

LL started mid 80s
Battled various guys
Was the biggest solo artist in the Golden Era
Pulled off one of the biggest comebacks in hip hop history
Held his nuts in what could have possibly been the most talented era ever in rap mid 90s
Continued to deliver hits into the mid 00s

This is with minimal wave riding (not none...minimal)

LL has to be anywhere between 5-10 ever

 

[Amare's Right Hook]

LL Cool J is light?

LL is CSI Los Angeles

 

[King]

LL Cool J is light?

I’ve heard this from multiple NY dudes who grew up in that era.

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

I’ve heard this from multiple NY dudes who grew up in that era.

When I think light I think of Steph, Klay & Sinbad

 

[King]

When I think light I think of Steph, Klay & Sinbad

This was back in the 80s breh, shyt was different back then. Idc however you spin it, LL was considered light skin. That’s why the sensitive lover image worked so well for him, but also why he had to continually build and defend his street cred.

 

[ISO]

He’s a G.O.A.T.

 

[Cryptocurrency Scarface]

After he won the Canibus beef he stopped going as hard

 

[Devil Plisken…CMS]

This was back in the 80s breh, shyt was different back then. Idc however you spin it, LL was considered light skin. That’s why the sensitive lover image worked so well for him, but also why he had to continually build and defend his street cred.

 

[King]

Aight it’s obvious you can’t listen FOH

 

[xiceman191]

Older cats definitely got him in the GOAT discussion.

 

[Pop123]

His music content isn't as life defining/life changing/impactful as a Pac or Nas or Jay-z, etc... Not to mention he was considered "old school" when those dudes first came out, lol, we tend to under-rank the mid-80's guys when making Top 5's.

But aside from that, LL is in the G.O.A.T. discussion. As long as you're Top 10-15 you're in the discussion. I think most knowledgeable/historically versed people have L in their Top 10, probably around 10.

He isn't really "A" (even tho I've seen people have him in their top 5 before) but he is at least "B" to most.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

His catalogue from the 90’s and on isn’t that strong. Once Nas, Pac, Big, Jay, Wu, Etc came in the game, he kept dropping music but never dropped an album that really showed he was as good as everyone that came in the game shortly after him.

He had some dope emcee moments like I Shot Ya, 4321, and the Canibus beef, but his discography wasn’t that strong once the golden era started.

 

[BmoreGorilla]

This was back in the 80s breh, shyt was different back then. Idc however you spin it, LL was considered light skin. That’s why the sensitive lover image worked so well for him, but also why he had to continually build and defend his street cred.

The sensitive lover image? Explain how Kane became a heartthrob then. It worked for both of them cuz hoes wanted to fukk them. shyt had nothing to do with complexion. Plus LL was a star before he even got on that tip

 

[GoFlipAPack]

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 has had a 30 year run.