Why was LL Cool J able to stay relevant in music way longer than his 1980’s rap peers?

[Jerz-2]

No offense taken G'z, I agree with you 1000%.

We was kids tho bro, lol, when L was 30 I was like 13 I guess, keep that in mind, lol, nig was a dinosaur in my eyes.

In hip hop the youth dictates what's hot and what's not, that's a huge part of the problem imo.

No doubt.

 

[Will Ross]

he was will smith with an edge.

 

[Cuban Pete]

Cause he was able to evolve with the times, switch the flow up and the content without hating and dressing like a bitter old head, and he took care of himself by working out which made him marketable to women and look young well into his late 30s-mid 40s

 

[Juggalo Fred]

BECOMING AN ACTOR HELPED
KEEP HIM RELEVANT.





​

He was terrible in Halloween 7

 

[Why-Fi]

Why did Big Daddy Kane get such a negative feedback when he tried to switch over?

do you feel the Def Jam emblem(branding) made it more acceptable for fans to gravitate towards LL and not Kane?

Or Kane music afterwards was just that "wack"

true shyt at least for me, that madonna book killed kane. he ODed on that sex symbol shyt. got real weird

 

[Why-Fi]

He was in movies and had a globally circulated tv show.

And, pause, he was a good looking guy and kept in shape.

His career was similar to Will's. The difference is that LL had a better career as a rapper (though Will had monster hits) whereas Will had the much better on screen career.

LL won though.

will can still do rap on a high level he just doesnt. he could easily be bigger than LL

 

[mson]

He was ahead of the curve in making music for women and the mainstream and he could adjust to pretty much any era.

Look at the records LL Cool J was making in 1995-1996








These LL Cool J were just as good as anything Bad Boy or Death Row released.....


Now look at what Whodini was doing in 1996.......they sounded completely out of touch despite Jermaine Dupi updating their sound.




Look what Rakim dropped in the 1997 in the heart of the Puffy and Bad Boy era. Gangsta Rap and Street Rap had dominated and he just looked corny, still rapping about microphones. This record didn't even chart.....it was completely wack and out of touch.





If you don't update your sound and connect with what's new and hot, you will fall off. LL did it really well.


Even Mc Lyte did a good job at it with records like Cold Rock a Party (Bad Boy Remix)

I remember that Rakim record getting some spin. I'm not saying it was a hit. But it got spin. And I don't recall anybody saying it was corny either.

 

[MegaTronBomb!]

Did the same thing y'all accuse Jay-Z of doing.

Nobody has ever accused women of liking Jay-Z's looks and acting ability.

 

[bobbiewishbone]

Every time he makes an album, he makes sure to have 1 or 2 singles that will be sure to get radio/tv placement.

 

[Rekkapryde]

Bc he was more versatile and broadly appealing to a wider audience


He transitioned to acting also

This.

And still could spit with the best.

 

[BlackMajik]

LL knew how to reinvent and update himself

 

[<<TheStandard>>]

I remember that Rakim record getting some spin. I'm not saying it was a hit. But it got spin. And I don't recall anybody saying it was corny either.

Just curious, how old are you?

When that Rakim record came out, I was in middle school.......in the heart of the bad boy era, that shyt was corny to me. I didn't want to hear what this old nukka was dropping when Bad Boy, Wu Tang, No Limit and Bone Thugs were killing shyt.

Rakim was obviously a legend but it was nothing like Paid in Full or even Follow the Leader.

 

[Bboystyle]

He kept up with the times. He adpated and made what was popular. He also made music for the ladies and as the goat once said, thats where the money is at (2pac)

 

[Bboystyle]

Just curious, how old are you?

When that Rakim record came out, I was in middle school.......in the heart of the bad boy era, that shyt was corny to me. I didn't want to hear what this old nukka was dropping when Bad Boy, Wu Tang, No Limit and Bone Thugs were killing shyt.

Rakim was obviously a legend but it was nothing like Paid in Full or even Follow the Leader.

Only folks who supported Rakim during that era (guess whos back) were some dedicated east coast heads and underground/back packers.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

He was a sex symbol

Spoiler

you were expecting a pause

BDK too and he had to have Madonna to give a lil juice by the 90s