LL Cool J has revealed his Mount Rushmore of Def Jam artists, but his list contains a few notable omissions.
The rap legend sat down for a wide-ranging interview on Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay podcast on Wednesday (July 31), during which he was asked to share his picks for the iconic Hip Hop label’s top four acts.
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LL began by making a case for his own inclusion, reminding Sharpe that he was “the first artist on Def Jam.” (His 1984 song “I Need a Beat” was the label’s first release, while his classic 1985 debut LP Radio was the first album it put out into the martketplace.)
After Sharpe listed other legendary acts who’ve been signed to Def Jam, including JAY-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, DMX, Ludacris and Nas, LL overlooked them all and instead turned the clock back to the label’s pivotal early period.
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“It’s LL, it’s Public Enemy, it’s the Beastie Boys and it would have to be Slick Rick,” he argued.
When quizzed about his exclusion of Hov, he replied: “Yeah, [he was on Def Jam] a thousand years later!”
LL Cool J has been snubbed by JAY-Z himself in the past.
During an interview with Big Boy in 2022, the Queens, New York native reflected on his friendly competition with Hov when they were teenagers and revealed that he has never been invited to Jigga’s annual Roc Nation Brunch.
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“Look, I hardly remember that stuff,” he said when asked about him laughing at Jay’s raps when they were younger. “I love everybody. I don’t have no problems with none of these guys, man.
“If I laughed — okay, so what? Laugh at me. How many people have you laughed at or snapped on in the lunch room? I don’t even remember it! I laughed at you, so now I can’t have no brunch? I can’t have no finger food?”
LL Cool J is currently gearing up to release his first new album in over a decade with The FORCE, which is produced entirely by Q-Tip.
The pair shared the latest single, “Passion,” last month, which features a shuffling, dance-inspired groove and plenty of slick bars from LL.
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“It’s in my DNA to let ’em play in the enclave/ Twerkulate while songs play, Andre the Giant, 3000 ways to make ’em obey,” he spits over Tip’s kaleidoscopic production.
The project is set to arrive on Septembver 6 and will boast appearances from a host of fellow Hip Hop greats like Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and Fat Joe.
