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

[Ripp]

Fellow Legends like KRS ONE, Kane, Rakim, Kool Mo Dee, Slick Rick, Run DMC was basically washed by the time they hit 30 meanwhile LL in 2004 at 36 years old was still churning along releasing massive records and getting plaques

In 2004 he was 36 and them dudes was like 46-50. He was younger that's the answer

 

[Tribal Outkast]

He was a star and everybody knew it. That scene from Krush Groove showed that he had IT! Dude knew how to adapt.,

 

[mson]

In 2004 he was 36 and them dudes was like 46-50. He was younger that's the answer

The comparison is not between them in 2004, it's between them at the same age.

 

[Tommy Gibbs]

Fellow Legends like KRS ONE, Kane, Rakim, Kool Mo Dee, Slick Rick, Run DMC was basically washed by the time they hit 30 meanwhile LL in 2004 at 36 years old was still churning along releasing massive records and getting plaques

Krs at 30 dropped the classic KRS ONE album and at 31 had another gold album with I Got next and his 2nd highest charting single with "step into a world". Rakim at 31 was trading verses with Canibus and released this single


Rakim at 39 and KRS in his 40s released this

 

[Street Knowledge]

LL continued to stay relevant by aligning himself with the hottest acts every couple years. LL's first 4 albums had no features. Even on 14 shots, there were no major features as LOTUG weren't known yet. So starting with Mr Smith, he started aligning himself with the hottest mcs of the moment every album and that kept his relevance. Some guys won't do that, but it paid off for him, Jay, and others that did. Even in 1990, Mama said Knock u out was a make or break album and Marley was the hottest producer at the time. Some musicians are just too prideful to do that, but it keeps you relevant with each era. An era in hip hop may be only 2 or 3 years. Eras come and go fast.

Headsprung and Hush were top 30 records and had zero of the “hottest mcs” so it can’t be that

 

[Mac Ten]

LL is a hip hop icon but let’s be honest he hasn’t been really relevant musically in over 20 years. Might have to do more research but I think he’s only had one big song in the past 20 years (Headsprung). But LL is basically a whole Hollywood actor and a consistent role on television. Being a sex symbol doesn’t hurt either PAUSE

Yes he is….

Dude is almost 60 and hasn’t aged a bit.

It’s like he’s a Vampire. Dude looks the same since the 90s.


It would be nice if they reboot “In The House” and give it a darker vibe like they with the Fresh Prince Reboot

 

[Mike Wins]

The answer is simple. LL was by far the most commercially successful of them in the 80s. He was very comfortable stepping into the contemporary pop lane. He became a major celebrity outside music due to his acting career. And he got by far the most label support. Dude was getting top beats from top producers and had expensive videos in constant rotation.

G Rap never had much commercial appeal. By 1998 he sounded the most contemporary of em all because so many of the top NY rappers was obviously influenced by him, and he was killing guest spots with younger acts left and right but never had a decent label situation. At least he got a nice check from Rawkus.

Kane had some memorable guest spots too but that 1998 album he dropped was obviously done on the cheap and got no push.

Rakim never really updated his style. The 18th Letter was cool and did well, but The Master was a kind of like the Kane joint, and obviously done cheap with minimal label support. Aside from the great Premier single. Supposedly Dre wanted him spitting gangsta shyt on Aftermath

Slick Rick dropped a successful and contemporary sounding album in 1999 with a bunch of next generation features he sounded at home with, still don't understand why he never had a follow up. This is the newest album from any of em that's actually good and worth going back to with any consistency

 

[patscorpio]

LL legit had one of rap's greatest runs but he def had some bumps in the road

 

[Ghost Utmost]

GOAT type thangs

Like the Brehs said, adaptability.

He's got more smash hits than anyone. From different eras.

 

[TheJet]

LL just that dude man. That Mr..Smith album gave him a whole new audience in '95 and added to his legend.

Then he got wit VA producers later on to keep him relevant in the 2000s, after that NCIS put him on yo grandmammy tv every week.

 

[Art Barr]

The answer is simple. LL was by far the most commercially successful of them in the 80s. He was very comfortable stepping into the contemporary pop lane. He became a major celebrity outside music due to his acting career. And he got by far the most label support. Dude was getting top beats from top producers and had expensive videos in constant rotation.

G Rap never had much commercial appeal. By 1998 he sounded the most contemporary of em all because so many of the top NY rappers was obviously influenced by him, and he was killing guest spots with younger acts left and right but never had a decent label situation. At least he got a nice check from Rawkus.

Kane had some memorable guest spots too but that 1998 album he dropped was obviously done on the cheap and got no push.

Rakim never really updated his style. The 18th Letter was cool and did well, but The Master was a kind of like the Kane joint, and obviously done cheap with minimal label support. Aside from the great Premier single. Supposedly Dre wanted him spitting gangsta shyt on Aftermath

Slick Rick dropped a successful and contemporary sounding album in 1999 with a bunch of next generation features he sounded at home with, still don't understand why he never had a follow up. This is the newest album from any of em that's actually good and worth going back to with any consistency

I have to show a force of resistance to the last slick rick album being good.
That shyt had nuffin on it. The only gem is the original shelved remix to sitting my car. Which is arguably the hardest rocking remix in a hiphop party for the era. That rivaled shut'eem down. The pete rock remix live in venue when spun.



When tone used to drop this shyt in a Dem dare party.
It was over ova.
Mad luv....

oh I miss that. What that was. Live.
Y'all so deprived.





Art Barr

 

[The Amerikkkan Idol]

In 2004 he was 36 and them dudes was like 46-50. He was younger that's the answer

No, that's not true.

LL was born in '68
Rakim in '66
Slick Rick in '65
Run in '64
DMC in '64
KRS in '65
Kane in '68
G Rap in '68

Basically, LL is the same age as Kane & G Rap and only on year older than Jay-Z

He's only 3-4 years younger than other dudes who had wayyy harder time adjusting to life in the mid to late '90s.

He was still relevant while people the same age as him were done.

 

[parallax]

BECOMING AN ACTOR HELPED
KEEP HIM RELEVANT.





​

two time black horror movie survivor

 

[iLLusoYuN_Da_Adidas_King]

LL cool j was that nikka that is why.
He wa always willing and able to compete.
His skillset didn’t really have a limit.
He was a hit maker a Bboy and an ator
An he was snatching everybody bytch for 20 year minimum.
Plus I u ever violate or got outta line he would end your fukking career.
Yeah he had tv shows and movies but he also put Funny on saved defjam twice and could hol his own with any top 10 rapper ever.

 

[nyknick]

Really did it to these meatballs