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

[Youngdev]

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)

Them whoudini nikkas sounded like they were still rappin in 84

 

[The Guru]

His innate ability to subdue knuckleheads.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

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

I wonder if L woulda got away wit it if it was him

 

[ThaBronxBully]

Imagine KRS One Splashing Around With His Shirt Off Talking Bout “Paradise Is Very Nice”

 

[iceberg_is_on_fire]

Because Ladies Love Cool James

This was my first words when I saw the thread. Moreover, he's the first rapper in my eyes that could have legitimately laid claim to the title of GOAT. What type of song does he sound out of place on?

Bars: The Ripper Strikes Back or Rock the Bells.
Love: Hey Lover, Around The Way Girl, Love U Better, I Need Love
Others: Jingling Baby, Goin Back to Cali, Boomin System, Doin It.

He's versatile as fukk.

Plus, the ladies do love cool James Todd Smith.

​

 

[mson]

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.

I'm 38 and I never said it was. That shyt was dope to me. It was like this old veteran that I heard so much about making a comeback. I listened to the same shyt you listened to except NL. They were mostly trash!

 

[<<TheStandard>>]

I'm 38 and I never said it was. That shyt was dope to me. It was like this old veteran that I heard so much about making a comeback. I listened to the same shyt you listened to except NL. They were mostly trash!

We're about the same age. I'm 37....

Yeah I'm kinda embarassed about my No Limit fandom. I was a kid and didn't know any better lol......In retrospect, they were trash but in 97-98, you couldn't tell me shyt about No limit.

 

[mson]

We're about the same age. I'm 37....

Yeah I'm kinda embarassed about my No Limit fandom. I was a kid and didn't know any better lol......In retrospect, they were trash but in 97-98, you couldn't tell me shyt about No limit.

I liked them for about 6 months.

 

[DaKidFromNoWhere]

 

[Rasille]

The sound and landscape of hip hop was steadily changing so for LL to evolve with the times was impressive. KRS One did ok in the 90’s though. Black Cop, Sound of The Police, MCs Act Like They Don’t Know and Step Into a World got play.

 

[O.Red]

He worked with relevant producers

He stayed in shape.

 

[O.Red]

We're about the same age. I'm 37....

Yeah I'm kinda embarassed about my No Limit fandom. I was a kid and didn't know any better lol......In retrospect, they were trash but in 97-98, you couldn't tell me shyt about No limit.

embarrassed for what?

No Limit had a lot of quantity over quality but the hard shyt was

 

[Black Hans]

Huh?

Because women thought that nikka was sexy!!

Plus LL made the transition to TV and Movies in the 90s like Will Smith did and mixed that with his music releases.

LL still getting paper with NCIS LA

 

[Ku$h Parker]

This was my first words when I saw the thread. Moreover, he's the first rapper in my eyes that could have legitimately laid claim to the title of GOAT. What type of song does he sound out of place on?

Bars: The Ripper Strikes Back or Rock the Bells.
Love: Hey Lover, Around The Way Girl, Love U Better, I Need Love
Others: Jingling Baby, Goin Back to Cali, Boomin System, Doin It.

He's versatile as fukk.

Plus, the ladies do love cool James Todd Smith.

​

Id also say GOAT Live Performer,being able to do a top notch Live Show was a requirement in the 80s

 

[re'up]

A lot like Jay did

caught the trends, watched the market, pivoted sometimes, moved accordingly, some trends really worked fro his style too, the Ja Rule era, gave us that J Lo collab and Luv U Better, and sometimes it didn't work, Deepest Bluest, HeadSprung, were bad songs. He was probably too late on that thug 50 Cent Queens album.

also, the subject matter didn't age, he didn't have to be tough or a hustler, he just had to be himself mostly. He's had a great career. Followed him since late 90's. I was a little kid hearing Doin It and Phenomonon, Loungin Remix, Imagine That