Released: November 5, 1996
Genre: East Coast hip hop ∙ golden age hip hop
Label: Def Jam
Producer: L.A. Posse ∙ LL Cool J ∙ Marley Marl ∙ Quincy Jones III ∙ Rashad Smith ∙Rick Rubin ∙ Tone
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
LL Cool J is one of my favorite rappers from the Golden Hip Hop age. Born and raised in New York, LL (born James Todd Smith) was one of the first hip-hop acts to reach mainstream success with the likes of Kurtis Blow, Beastie Boys and Run-DMC, and continued to break racial and cultural barriers throughout his career. Not to mention, he became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. For over 35 years, LL has been consistent with giving his dedicated fan base quality music, and has had a successful acting career as well!
LL released his greatest hits record a week or so prior to the tenth anniversary of his debut album Radio. That fact alone makes him forever “goated”. Consisting of songs from 1985’s Radio to 1995’s Mr. Smith, All World peaked in the top 40 on the Billboard 200 & Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts at 29 and 21 respectively. The RIAA has since certified the greatest hits album as platinum.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you LL Cool J’s All World: Greatest Hits
I Can’t Live Without My Radio (from 1985’s Radio)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rick Rubin
Chart Positions: US R&B (#15) & UK (#95)
I Can’t Live Without My Radio was released as the lead single from the Radio album, with the lyrical content expressing his love for the boombox!
I Can’t Live Without My Radio contains samples of:
- I Need a Beat (Remix) by LL Cool J
- Rocket in the Pocket (Live) by Cerrone
I Can’t Live Without My Radio was sampled for:
- Radio by Eazy-E
- Brand New Funk by DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince
- How to Kill a Radio Consultant by Public Enemy
- Radio Station by Run DMC
- Funkadelic Relic by LL Cool J
Rock the Bells (from 1985’s Radio)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rick Rubin
Chart positions: US Dance (#35,) US R&B (#17) & UK (#98)
Released as the third single from the Radio album, Rock the Bells is a song that speaks to the rapper’s background, dreams and goals and his desire to make it big in the rap game. When you speak of classic rap songs, this is definitely one of them for sure. It stands the test of time as one of his best songs of his careers as well.
Rock the Bells contains samples of:
- Flick of the Switch by AC/DC
- Saturday Night Live from Washington D.C. Pt. 2 by Trouble Funk
- Good Times by Chic
Rocket in the Pocket (Live) by Cerrone
Rock the Bells was sampled for:
- Protect Ya Neck by Wu-Tang Clan
- Backseat Freestyle by Kendrick Lamar
Foxy’s Bells by Foxy Brown
- Go Cut Creator Go by LL Cool J
- Cool Breeze on the Rocks by De La Soul
- Peanut Butter by La Chat
- Raise the Roof by Public Enemy
I’m Bad (1987)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙Dwayne Simon ∙ Darryl Pierce ∙ Bobby Ervin
Chart positions: US (84,) US Dance (34,) US R&B (4,) NED (74,) NZ (34) & UK (71)
Released as the lead single from LL’s second album Bigger and Deffer, I’m Bad is another classic LL record where the rapper letting everyone know he’s the best rapper in the history of rap and can go toe to toe with anyone who comes his way. I can’t even lie, he was talking his SHIT! I’m Bad was LL’s first entry on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at 84. The song gave him a top ten hit on the Hot Black Singles chart (Now called Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
I’m Bad contains samples of:
- Theme From S.W.A.T. by Rhythm Heritage
- Theme Music from Courageous Cat and Minute Mouse
- Daisy Lady by Seventh Wonder
- Rock the Bells by LL Cool J
I Need Love (from 1987’s Bigger and Deffer)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Darryl Pierce ∙ Bobby Ervin
Chart positions: US (#14,) US R&B (#1,) GER (#6,) NED (#3,) SWI (#6,) UK (#8)
I Need Love is one of the best rap ballads of all time. Like I don’t think there’s been a song like it ever since. From a lyrical perspective, the singer shows remorse and regret from the women he played with in the past..cause he knows now that he needs substance in his romantic life. Also, I Need Love became one of the first rap songs to enjoy international success, helping LL’s image transform from a boastful lyricist to a heartthrob. The song became his first hit as an artist, peaking at number 1 on the Hot Black Singles and 14 on the Hot 100 charts respectively.
I Need Love was sampled for:
- Aston Martin Music by Rick Ross featuring Chrisette Michele and Drake
- Promise (Cool JD Remix) by Jagged Edge
- Song Cry (Live) by Jay-Z
- I Need a Thug by City Girls
- Miss Your Sex by Raheem DeVaughn
- Funkadelic Relic by LL Cool J
Going Back to Cali (from 1989’s Walking with a Panther)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rick Rubin
US (#3,) US R&B (#12,) UK (#37)
Going Back to Cali was originally recorded for the soundtrack to the 1987 film Less Than Zero, and was eventually added to the track list to LL’s third studio album Walking with a Panther as the lead single. From a lyrical perspective, the song speaks to Rick Rubin’s experiences with women after moving from New York City to Los Angeles.
Within the verses of the song, he describes a trip to LA where he meets several women who were too sexually aggressive for him. Selling over a million copies, Going Back to Cali gave LL another top 20 hit on the Hot Black Singles peaking at 12. The song also gave LL a top 40 hit on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at 31.
Going Back to Cali contains a sample of:
- Planet Rock (Instrumental) by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force
Going Back to Cali was sampled for:
- Hey Baby (Jump Off) by Bow Wow and Omarion
- Pocket Full of Stones (Original Version) by UGK
- 808 (Remix) by Blaque
- Kool Thing by Sonic Youth
- I Don’t Dance by Compton’s Most Wanted
Jack the Ripper (from 1989’s Walking with a Panther)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rick Rubin
Jack The Ripper was released on the cassette version of the Walking with a Panther album and on the B-Side of the Going Back To Cali single, but it is a song that was a shot back at the legendary rapper Kool Moe Dee, whom he had a feud with at the time. LL takes on the persona of being the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper, but figuratively of course speaking that he’s the lyrical beast he is.
Jack The Ripper contains samples of:
- Ashley’s Roachclip by The Soul Searchers
- Rock the Bells (Original Version) by LL Cool J
- Feel Good by Fancy
- Breakthrough by LL Cool J
- .357 – Break It on Down by LL Cool J
- Hold It Now, Hit It by Beastie Boys
- Funky Drummer by James Brown
- How Ya Like Me Now by Kool Moe Dee
Jack the Ripper was sampled for:
- Mad Props by Da Youngsta’s
- The Devil Made Me Do It by Paris
- Let’s Go by Kool Moe Dee
- Listen to the Lyrics by 8Ball & MJG
- Put It 2 Music by Audio Two
- U-Turn by Usher
- Cowards in Compton by Luke, JT Money and Clayvoise
Jingling Baby (Remixed And Still Jingling) (from 1989’s Walking with a Panther & 1990’s Mama Said Knock You Out)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Dwayne Simon ∙ Brian Latture
US R&B (#32,) US Rap (#6)
Released as the final single from the Walking with a Panther album, Jingling Baby is pretty much a request for oral sex. The concept of the earrings jingling and oral sex is while it is going on , it makes the earrings jingle. The song peaked at number 32 on the R&B charts, and was so good that the legendary producer Marley Marl wanted to remix the song and that version was included on the Mama Said Knock You Out album as well.
Jingling Baby (Remixed and Still Jingling) is a remix of:
Jingling Baby by LL Cool J
Jingling Baby (Remixed and Still Jingling) contains samples of:
- Walking Into Sunshine by Central Line
- You and Love Are the Same by The Grass Roots
- High Power Rap by Crash Crew
- Word to the Mother (Land) by Big Daddy Kane
- Give It Up or Turnit a Loose (Remix) by James Brown
Jingling Baby (Remixed and Still Jingling) was sampled for:
- Jingalin’ by Ludacris
- I’m a Bad by Redman
- Natural Thing by Tanya Blount
- This Is How We Do It (Funkmaster Flex Radio Mix) by Montell Jordan
Big Ole Butt (from 1989’s Walking with a Panther)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Dwayne Simon ∙ Brian Latture
Big Ole Butt was released as the third single from Walking with a Panther, that peaked at number 13 on the Hot Rap Singles chart.
Big Ole Butt contains samples of:
- Ride Sally Ride by Dennis Coffey
- Da Butt by E.U.
- More Bounce to the Ounce by Zapp
- Funky President (People It’s Bad) by James Brown
Big Ole Butt was sampled for:
- Jackin’ for Beats by Ice Cube
- Hat 2 Da Back by TLC
- Ghetto Booty by Bell Biv DeVoe
The Boomin’ System (from 1990’s Mama Said Knock You Out)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Marlon Williams
US (#48,) US Dance (#13,) US R&B (#6,) US Rap (#1,) UK (#83)
I love The Boomin’ System! Produced by the legendary Marley Marl, the song was number 1 on the Hot Rap Singles chart!
The Boomin’ System contains samples of:
- Funky Drummer by James Brown
- Hold On by En Vogue
- Cheesy Rat Blues by LL Cool J
- Bring the Noise by Public Enemy
- You Gots to Chill by EPMD
- Love Rap by Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
- The Payback by James Brown
The Boomin’ System was sampled for:
- Hold On (Hip Hop Remix) by En Vogue
- Alright by Kris Kross featuring Super Cat
- Get Lifted by Keith Murray
- G. Thang by Ginuwine featuring Magoo and Missy Elliott
- Warm It Up by Kris Kross
- Carhoppers (Radio Version) by Positive K
- Funkadelic Relic by LL Cool J
- A Little Somethin’ by LL Cool J
Around the Way Girl (from 1990’s Mama Said Knock You Out)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙Marlon Williams ∙ Rick James
US (#9,) US Dance (#7,) US R&B (#5,) US Rap (#1,) AUS (#1,) NZ (#27,) UK (#41)
Around the Way Girl is definitely one of my favorite LL songs of all time, and is one of his best period! From a lyrical perspective, Around the Way Girl is an ode to the “girl next door.” He talks about how he prefers the women he would see on a daily basis while being in his neighborhood instead of the superstar glamour girls.
Released as the second single from Mama Said Knock You Out, Around the Way Girl gave LL a number 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, along with being LL’s first top ten hit on the Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 7 and number 5 on the Hot R&B Singles chart respectively. The song has since been certified Gold by the RIAA.
Around the Way Girl contains samples of :
- All Night Long by Mary Jane Girls
- Risin’ to the Top by Keni Burke
- Impeach the President by The Honey Drippers
Around the Way Girl was sampled for:
- Every Good Girl by Blxst
- If My Homie Calls by 2Pac
- Funkadelic Relic by LL Cool J
Mama Said Knock You Out (from 1990’s Mama Said Knock You Out)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Marlon Williams ∙ James McCants ∙LeRoy McCants
US (#17,) US Dance (#7,) US R&B (#12,) US Rap (#1,) AUS (#37,) NED (#47,) UK (#41)
Don’t call it a comeback! I been here for years.
LL Cool J, Mama Said Knock You Out, 1990
Mama Said Knock You Out was in response to his grandmother telling him to metaphorically “knock out” the critics who wasn’t too pleased with his prior album, which was Walking with a Panther. With gangsta rap taking the music world by storm in the late 80s/early 90s, a lot of people felt that LL couldn’t hang with the newer school artists and he showed them what time it was with this lyrical rap masterpiece.
The title track to that specific album was released as the 4th single from the album, peaking at number one on the Hot Rap Singles chart, along with charting at number 12 on the Hot R&B Singles and 17 on the Hot 100 charts respectively.
Mama Said Knock You Out contains samples of:
- Trip to Your Heart by Sly & the Family Stone
- Funky Drummer by James Brown
- Gangster Boogie by Chicago Gangsters
- The Humpty Dance by Digital Underground
- Hook and Sling – Part I by Eddie Bo
- Raw by Big Daddy Kane
- Do or Die Bed Sty by Divine Sounds
- Spoonin Rap (A Drive Down the Street I Was Spanking and Freaking) by Spoonie Gee
- How Ya Like Me Now by Kool Moe Dee
- City of Crime by Dan Aykroyd and Tom Hanks
- Rock the Bells by LL Cool J
Back Seat (1993’s 14 Shots to the Dome)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Quincy Jones III
US (#42)
Back Seat (of My Jeep) was released on LL’s fifth album 14 Shots to the Dome as the second single from the album, with new jack swing influences. Although the song had moderate success on the charts, I love the song’s production and lyrical content of…sex in a jeep.
Back Seat (of My Jeep) contains samples of:
- You’re Getting a Little Too Smart by Detroit Emeralds
- Big Water Bed by Monk Higgins and The Specialties
Back Seat (of My Jeep) was sampled for:
Don’t Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days) by Monica
- Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings (Remix) by LL Cool J
- It’s All About You by Adina Howard
- Big Plans by Ginuwine featuring Method Man
I Need a Beat (from 1985’s I Need a Beat single CD/Radio)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rick Rubin
Next up is I Need a Beat (Remix,) which was LL’s official first single as an artist. The remix version was included on his debut album Radio.
I Need a Beat (Remix) is a remix of:
I Need a Beat by LL Cool J
I Need a Beat was sampled for:
- I Can’t Live Without My Radio by LL Cool J
Doin It featuring LeShaun (from 1995’s Mr. Smith)
Written by Rashad “Ringo” Smith ∙ James Todd Smith
US (#9,) US R&B (#7,) US Rap (#2,) AUS (#65,) GER (#36,) NED (#10,) NZ (#16,) SWI (#47,) UK (#15)
Doin’ It will forever be one of the best songs to come from the 90s, and rightfully so! From a lyrical perspective, the song is a raunchyyyyyyyy conversation between a man and a woman as they share the dirty and nasty details of the lusty night they’re having.
Featuring LeShaun from the group 2 Much (the song contains an interoplation of their song Wild Thang,) the song was commercially successful, peaking in the top ten on the pop and R&B charts at 9 and 7 respectively.
Doin’ It contains samples of:
- Wild Thang by 2 Much
- Go Stetsa I by Stetsaonic
Doin’ It was sampled for :
- I’m Really Hot by Missy Elliott
- I Don’t Know by Slum Village and DJ Jazzy Jeff
- Doin It Well by Nicki Minaj
- Nobody Can Freak You by LL Cool J featuring Keith Sweat
- Man Down by 50 Cent
Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) (featuring Total) (from 1995’s Mr. Smith)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rashad Smith ∙ Bernard Wright ∙ Lenny White
US (#3,) US R&B (#3,) US Rap (#1,) AUS (#56,) GER (#32,) NED (#11,) NZ (#11,) UK (#7)
Released as the third and final single from the Mr. Smith album, Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) is a remix of the original version that contains backing vocals from Terri & Monica. This version of the song is built around the sample of a Bernard Wright song titled Who Do You Love, and is lyrically about having an affair with a woman is who is not happy in the relationship that she is in.
Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) is a remix of:
- Loungin by LL Cool J featuring Terri & Monica
Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) contains a sample of:
- Who Do You Love by Bernard Wright
Loungin (Who Do Ya Luv) was sampled for:
- Is It Kool? by Luniz featuring MoKenStef
Hey Lover (featuring Boyz II Men) (from 1995’s Mr. Smith)
Written by James Todd Smith ∙ Rod Temperton
US (#3,) US R&B (#3,) US Rap (#1,) AUS (#11,) GER (#34,) NED (#12,) NZ (#5,) UK (#17)
Released as the first single from his sixth studio album Mr. Smith, Hey Lover was a collaboration done with LL and the legendary R&B group Boyz II Men about the rapper telling a story of love at first sight, with seeing a future with the woman. It was a successful hit for them, peaking in the top 3 on the pop and R&B charts at number 3 and number 1 on the rap charts respectively.
Hey Lover contains samples of :
- Lady in My Life by Michael Jackson
- All Night Long by Mary Jane Girls
LL Cool J will forever reign supreme as one of the best rappers to ever come from the golden age of hip hop. With the 40th anniversary of his first single and album approaching at the time that this post was released, it showcases his longevity as a musician. From the hardcore raps, nice production and physical features that drives the ladies crazy, James Todd Smith will forever go down as one of the best to ever do it. This greatest hits album eventually had a sequel released for his hit songs after the release of this compilation, which further backs up my statement. LL is the GOAT. -MW.
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