LL Cool J Declares Himself As The G.O.A.T Hip-Hop Pioneer, Reflecting on His Legacy: ‘Most Important Rapper That Ever Existed’

by

As a lifelong fan who has witnessed the evolution of hip-hop culture, I must wholeheartedly agree with LL Cool J‘s assertion that he is indeed one of the most important rappers to ever grace the scene. His influence on the genre and its subcultures can be traced back to the very foundations of modern rap, from his pioneering use of flashy jewelry and love songs to his creation of the bad boy persona and the term G.O.A.T.

James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is once again being recognized as a favorite among other top rappers due to his discussions about his impact on hip-hop culture and contemplation of his artistic legacy. Born as James Todd Smith, he is one of the most influential rappers who found commercial success early in his career and set numerous trends within the culture.

More recently, Smith openly expressed his perspective on cultural influence and pondered over his significance in hip-hop legacy during an open dialogue on Apple Music’s Le Code with Mehdi Maïzi. In this honest discussion, the 56-year-old rapper modestly asserted, “Although I say this with humility, I genuinely mean it: I believe one day people will come to understand that LL Cool J is the most significant rapper who has ever lived. I truly feel that sentiment will be widely accepted someday.

Emphasizing the substantial influence he had throughout his illustrious career, the rapper from Murdergram highlighted how he played a crucial role in molding the culture of rap and hip-hop as it is known today. From embracing bling-bling accessories and penning love ballads, to embodying a tough guy image and even coining the term Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.), which was the title of his album released in 2000, Smith claims credit for these trends.

Smith shared some details, stating that he was the pioneer who incorporated all the diamonds and bling-bling into rap music. He further mentioned, “As for romantic ballads, they’ll acknowledge, ‘He’s the one who introduced those tender tunes and all the love-related topics.’

The influence of the rapper from Rock the Bells transcends music, reaching realms of film and fashion too. Notably, he has also tasted success in acting, with notable roles such as NCIS: Los Angeles, Mindhunters, S.W.A.T., Last Holiday, Deep Blue Sea, among others.

Discussing his impact on the rise of hip-hop’s street style, Cool J emphasized that he played a significant role in conceptualizing the idea of launching clothing lines, notably contributing to the success and endorsement deals of brands like FUBU and Kangol.

LL Cool J spoke about how some currently famous and wealthy artists, who initially rose to fame on the same Def Jam label he started with, were part of his journey. As he reveled in his success, he was mindful not to appear arrogant and emphasized that it came from a place of affection and admiration for them.

Read More

2024-12-03 15:27