THE BADDEST IS BACK

Rip It Up, Issue 167, 1 June 1991, Page 20

THE BADDEST IS BACK

LL Cool ] is one of the hip-hop demi-gods, an originator who has done the deal for four albums worth of hard-as-hell sounds in a genre where most artists are lucky if they can manage four singles worth mentioning. LL has helped define rap music and he’s currently on the phone half a world away.

Sohowareyou, LL2 “I'minNew York." Thisis going to be fun. Radlio, LL Cool J's first album, was one of those milestone albums that makes everything else around it sound totally stale. It still rates as an absolute monster (12" singles like ‘Rock The Bells' still fetch huge prices fromthe more fanatical members of the DJ community) and it was justa beginning.’‘Mama Said Knock You Out'is his fourth album and after the slightly disappointing ‘Walking With APanther’ it's a total return to form, a very cool album. If's an impressive record, especially in such afickle musical field and especially for a 22 yearold. To what would you attribute your longevity in the rap world, LL? “Well, ljust work hard and thank the Lord.” OK then. LL pioneered a whole new field with rap ballad ‘I Need Love’. What does he think of the new sound of actslike the Jungle Brothers and De LaSoul? “Willit still be new in five years? That's what matters. Everybody's new when they come out.” What about the new ultra-hard

rap, LL2 Acts like N.W.A. or the Ghetto Boys? “Thatstuffis cool as long as it comes from the heart.” Well, | don‘tknow about the heart, it'smore like the groin. Those boys have been in all sorts of trouble of late, how do you see this cencorship deal affecting rap? “You sew whatyou reap — everybody has a choice.” ButLL, | seem to rememberyou had alittle trouble around 1987, you were arrested for public lewdness forsimulating sex onstage? “Well, I've had my share of hassles butl just believe in working hard and trustingin the lord.” Uh huh. Life hasn't been all rough for LL. In 1988 he toured Africa and after donating money for a hospital he was made Chief Kwasi Achi-Brou by the elders of a village onthe Ivory Coast. Yousort of beat the Afrocentric movementthere, LL, it must have been quite an experience. “Itwas fun, yeah, it was real fun.” Wellthen. You seem to have taken amore mature approach on this album, LL, but there's still a real street feeltoo. Did you deliberately try for amore moderate lyrical style2 “Imean, redlity is reality, that's the reality of reality.” Ohboy. The Boomin' System'isa greatlifestyle single about just drivin’ round with that car system pumping. What kind of car do you have LL2 “Whate" Don'tworry. Mama Said Knock You Outis an excellent album, LL. Keep on making ‘em. “Thanks.” KIRK GEE