LL Cool J

LL Cool J
a.k.a. James Todd Smith

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CALL IT A COMEBACK
Rebounding with the Resounding G.O.A.T, LL Claims Rap's Throne
His career began with a bang at the age of 19 with the bombastic single "I Can't Live Without My Radio," and ever since, rapper and actor LL Cool J has battled his share of MCs, from Kool Moe Dee to Wyclef Jean. Yet the Queens native remains the reigning king of rap. On his tongue-in-cheek new disc, which is confidently titled G.O.A.T. a.k.a. Greatest of All Time, LL is back in battle mode -- taking both Canibus and comedian Jamie Foxx to task. In between rounds, Barnes & Noble.com's R&B and Rap editor Tracy E. Hopkins spoke with the hip-hop heavyweight.

Barnes & Noble.com: What's the significance of the title G.O.A.T.?

LL Cool J: [He raps] " 'Cause for 15 years I kept y'all standin' in line lovin' the way I shine with my lyrics combined with the rugged-est, illest beats that Def Jam can find." Those lyrics come from the album intro. I'm a Capricorn [the goat is the zodiac symbol for Capricorn], but the title doesn't have any real significance outside of those lyrics. I named it G.O.A.T. 'cause it was better than naming it LL Is a Pretty Good Rapper.

B&N.com: What's the difference between this record and your last?

LL: The whole record is really consistent and strong. The last album, Phenomenon, was a little more watered down. I wasn't as focused or as passionate. But this album is more exciting to listen to. With the last album, I was writing a book and doing a TV show at the same time. I also had a lot of people advising me to clean up my image and not to be too crazy. So I fired a lot of people who were around me, restructured, and came to the party with something real.

B&N.com: Why do you think so many MCs have challenged you over the years?

LL: I really don't know. Maybe I look weak. Maybe it's 'cause I name my albums Greatest of All Time. [laughs] But what rappers do you know who aren't boastful? Especially the artists who come from the school of hip-hop that I come from -- it's all about boasting.

B&N.com: On the song "Back Where I Belong," you describe Canibus's new album, 2000 B.C., as "garbage." Is there still beef between you?

LL: I'm not going to diss Canibus in an interview. I have nothing against him. What I do on the record stays on the record. I wish him the best in his career.

B&N.com: During his Chris Rock Show appearance, your Any Given Sunday costar Jamie Foxx responded to being dissed on your new album. Was that strictly business, too?

LL: Jamie is welcome to go do stand-up about me. It's all in fun. He was talking about me on Chris Rock? I bet Chris got a kick out of that [on the song "U Can't F**k with Me," LL says Foxx isn't as funny as Rock]. Jamie is funny. We're just talkin' trash.

B&N.com: How did you select the guest artists on the album?

LL: I worked with DMX, Snoop, Prodigy from Mobb Deep, Amil, Jayo Felony, Ja Rule, Kelly Price, Redman, Method Man, Xzibit, and Carl Thomas. I worked with people I respect.

B&N.com: What other new rappers are you feelin'?

LL: Nelly is cool -- he's doin' his thing. I like Jay-Z on his earlier albums.

B&N.com: What records influenced you to become an MC?

LL: Run D.M.C.'s first album was crazy for me. Also Eric B & Rakim's Paid in Full and Big Daddy Kane's Long Live the Kane. For the record, Kane is one of my favorites, and I feel like he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

B&N.com: How does it feel to see other rappers from Queens blow up?

LL: I perform the song "Queens Is" with Prodigy. I moved away from the 'hood, but I still represent. It makes me proud to see groups come out of Queens, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Mobb Deep, Marley Marl, Nas, and Run-D.M.C.

B&N.com: How have you managed to keep your career afloat?

LL: I am not trying to stay afloat. I'm doing what I'm doing -- just making LL music. I'm making the music that I love. I think other old-school rappers would be more successful if they didn't try to follow trends.

B&N.com: Does the materialism in today's hip-hop turn you off?

LL: I don't see how the materialism could turn me off. I brought the champagne, the jewelry, and the girls [in 1985] with Walking with a Panther and got booed for it. I was doing that a long time ago.

B&N.com: Would you ever forsake rapping to pursue acting full-time?

LL: I enjoy acting and rapping, so there's no reason for me to limit myself -- unless I wasn't able to do music the right way.

B&N.com: What are your upcoming films?

LL: I have a comedy with Whoopi Goldberg called Kingdom Come coming out around Easter 2001. It's hilarious. And next summer, I have the action film Rollerball.

B&N.com: What's your guiding philosophy?

LL: "If a task is once begun, never leave it till it's done. Be your labor great or small, do it well or not at all." I got that [saying] from my grandmother. No one is perfect, but I feel like I've lived up to it in every area of my life.

B&N.com: Any last comments about G.O.A.T.?

LL: G.O.A.T. is one of my best records. I really believe that. It's hot! People are going to really enjoy it when they hear it. It's a happy record -- not like Mickey Mouse happy. But it has a good spirit and you'll walk away feeling like you had some fun. Even if 100 people come up to me and tell me they don't like it, I'll still love it.

September 14, 2000