*LL Cool J is one of the few rap veterans who can boast relevancy across four decades, with hits like “Radio” and “I’m Bad” in the 80s, “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Loungin'” in the 90s, “Heaadsprung” in the 2000s and Billboard Hot 100 charter “Accidental Racist” with country star Brad Paisley” in the 2010s.
We caught up with the legendary Ladies Love Cool James back when he was a brash, confident, Kangol-wearing 21-year-old star on the verge of releasing his third album, “Walking With a Panther.” It was about to takeover the summer of 1989 and beyond with its singles “I’m That Type of Guy,” “Going Back to Cali,” “Big Ole’ Butt” and “Jingling Baby.”
At the time of our interview, it had been two years since his second album “Bigger and Deffer” blanketed radio with “I’m Bad,” “I Need Love” and “The Bristol Hotel.” It had also been two years since Kool Moe Dee dropped “How Ya Like Me Now?,” a direct shot at LL that set off their infamous beef. The line, “I’m bigger and better, forget about deffer,” left no doubt that LL was the target.
Moe Dee felt that the Queens MC had jacked his rap style. He also thought that LL calling himself “rap’s new grandmaster” was disrespectful to hip hop elders Grandmaster Flash and Grandmaster Caz. To make things clear, Moe Dee’s album cover for “How Ya Like Me Now?” has a red Kangol under the wheel of his white jeep.
LL fired back with “Jack The Ripper” (listen above), a B-side to “Going Back to Cali” that ramped up the rivalry with lines like:
Prince of the growl is on the prowl
How you like me now punk? You living foul.
Here’s what my game is, here is what my aim is,
A washed up rapper needs a washer, my name is
Jack the Ripper.
LL also took aim with:
“How Ya Like Me Now?” I’m getting busier
I’m double platinum, I’m watching you get dizzier.”
It was 36 years ago today, Aug. 11, 1987, that “Bigger and Deffer” went platinum, making LL the first rap solo act to reach that mark. His beef with Kool Moe Dee was still a thing when he spoke to Radioscope on June 1, 1989. Our reporter asked if he wished Kool Moe Dee would stop talking about him.
LL didn’t hold back, managing to also touch on writing MC Lyte’s “Self Destruction” verse and repeatedly proclaiming, “I don’t like other rappers.”
Listen below:
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