As he considers his unparalleled legacy and indisputable contributions to the culture, LL Cool J has spoken out about who the true Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.) of hip-hop is.
As he discusses his artistic contributions to the genre, hip-hop icon LL Cool J is now reclaiming the title.
Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, is a highly influential rap artist who made a lot of money a few years ago and helped to start a lot of cultural trends.
The 56-year-old rapper recently spoke candidly with Mehdi Maïzi on Apple Music’s Le Code, saying,
“I’m going to say this humbly, but I really mean this. I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL Cool J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that.”
Expanding on his noteworthy influence throughout his illustrious career, the rapper described how he had played a major role in forming the current rap and hip-hop culture.
He attributes these trends to himself, including his penchant for ostentatious jewelry and love tunes, his bad boy persona, and even the use of the term Greatest of All Time (G.O.A.T.), which is the title of his 2000 album.
Cool J added,
“When it comes to the love songs, they’re gonna say, ‘This is the guy that introduced the love songs and all the love s–t.”
His influence extends beyond just music. In addition, he has influenced a lot of people in fashion and film. NCIS: Los Angeles, Mindhunters, S.W.A.T., Last Holiday, Deep Blue Sea, and others are among his films.
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Speaking about his legacy of promoting street fashion in hip-hop, Cool J emphasized his impact on the concept of starting clothing lines, including assisting the well-known brands Kangol and FUBU in gaining recognition and endorsements.
LL Cool J also spoke about how some of the biggest artists, who are now billionaires and worldwide superstars, began their careers on the same Def Jam label that he did.
While reveling in his success, he took care to avoid coming across as conceited and made sure to mention that it came from a place of love and respect.
