{"id":646,"date":"2018-06-25T10:56:53","date_gmt":"2018-06-25T16:56:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/?p=646"},"modified":"2018-07-19T10:39:54","modified_gmt":"2018-07-19T16:39:54","slug":"ll-cool-j-real-hip-hop-ambassador-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/ll-cool-j-real-hip-hop-ambassador-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"LL CooL J: Real Hip Hop Ambassador (Part 2)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In celebrating the launch of LL Cool J\u2019s recent launch of the Siruis XM channel \u201cRock The Bells\u201d radio wanted to continue digging in his extensive discography of tracks. Providing prime examples as to why LL Cool J among hip hop purists is considered to be one of the all time greats. Why he is an ambassador for real hip hop.\u00a0 Wanted to focus specifically on memorable \u201cposse cuts\u201d he was a part of.\u00a0 Tracks consisting of four or more emcees. In many cases this was a big event due to having so many high caliber artists on one track.\u00a0 Sparking debates among fans on who had the best lyrics and punchlines.\u00a0 Sometimes an emcee would have lines directed at another artist that was on that very same track.<\/p>\n<p>One of these tracks LL Cool J shined on was the classic remix of Craig Mack \u2018s 1994 smash \u201cFlava In Your Ear\u201d.\u00a0 This track has such historical significance, launching Bad Boy Records and Notorious Big into the stratosphere. Along with LL and Notorious Big on the track were Rampage, Busta Rhymes, and of course Craig Mack. The track also helped resurrecting LL Cool J\u2019s status in the hip hop community.\u00a0 At the time he was coming off of 1993\u2019s project <em><strong>14 Shots To The Dome<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 The album had only been certified gold.\u00a0 All his previous albums at that point had been certified platinum or multi-platinum.\u00a0 The \u201cFlava In Your Ear\u201d helped serve as a catalyst returning to multi-platinum status with 1995\u2019s <em><strong>Mr Smith<\/strong><\/em> project.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Craig Mack &#8211; Flava In Your Ear (remix)\u00a0 feat. Notorious Big, Rampage, LL Cool J, &amp; Busta Rhymes<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/PMbELEUfmIA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Mr Smith<\/strong><\/em> would end up going double platinum.\u00a0 On the b-side of the album\u2019s first single \u201cHey Lover\u201d was the remix to \u201cI Shot Ya\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 At this point in his career LL cool J\u2019s work would have a heavier presence of r&amp;b tracks.\u00a0 However, he made sure to still put out tracks to remind everyone that he can hold his own or outshine the best of the best emcees at the time.\u00a0 The track had Keith Murray, Prodigy from Mobb Deep, Fat Joe, Foxy Brown, and LL Cool J on the last verse. Mass Appeal(Link) <a href=\"https:\/\/massappeal.com\/ll-cool-j-i-shot-ya-remix-20-year-anniversary\/\">https:\/\/massappeal.com\/ll-cool-j-i-shot-ya-remix-20-year-anniversary\/<\/a>\u00a0 Put out a great article on how much of an impact the track had with all the artists involved.\u00a0 For LL\u2019s part he was going directly at Hammer, Kool Mo Dee, and Ice T.\u00a0 Tupac interpreted it as a subliminal diss in reference to his shooting at Quad Studios in New York in 1994.<\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>LL Cool J &#8211; I Shot Ya (remix) feat. Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, &amp; Foxy Brown<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8F-BFl4CAMI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The follow up project, 1997\u2019s<em><strong> Phenomenon<\/strong><\/em> showcases LL Cool J\u2019s most memorable appearance ever on a \u201cposse cut\u201d.\u00a0 The second single \u201c4,3,2,1\u201d produced by the one and only Erick Sermon. LL Cool J was accompanied on the track with Method Man, Redman, DMX, Canibus, and Master P.\u00a0 Each emcee provided classic verses.\u00a0 What makes this \u201cposse cut\u201d standout from the others is that LL was going directly at Canibus on the track.<\/p>\n<p>When Canibus originally went in the studio lay down his verse the original lyrics included \u201cL is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that\u201d. This was in reference to the tattoo that LL Cool J at the time had recently put on his right arm. Canibus was coming from a place of idolization. However, LL made him rewrite the verse. In the new version Canibus said, \u201cI\u2019ll snatch your crown with your head still attached to it. Canibus is the type who\u2019ll fight for mics\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Canibus Original 4,3,2,1 Verse<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BN8biMDFYU8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>LL decided to release some bars to put Canibus in his place.\u00a0 Canibus was new to the scene at the time.\u00a0 How could a newcomer have the audacity to think he could come at LL in such a way?\u00a0 A good portion of LL Cool J\u2019s part are strictly barbs towards Canibus.\u00a0 Most notably \u201cThe Symbol on my arm is off limits to challengers.\u00a0 You hold the rusty swords I swing the Excalibur\u201d.\u00a0 As well as \u201cNow let\u2019s get back to this mic on my arm.\u00a0 If it ever left my side it\u2019d transform into a time bomb.\u00a0 You don\u2019t wanna borrow that, you wanna idolize\u201d.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>LL Cool J &#8211; 4,3,2,1 feat. Method Man, Redman, Canibus, DMX, &amp; Master P<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zAZqlaDCLSI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The next significant \u201cposse cut\u201d LL showed up on was 1999\u2019s \u201c4 Seasons\u201d off of Method Man and Redman\u2019s album <em><strong>Blackout<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 The three emcees were accompanied by Ja Rule who was just beginning his massive run that would last several years.\u00a0 Even after being in the game at that point for almost fifteen years LL Cool J showed he could still be among the elite.\u00a0 Many to this day feel he out shined everyone on this track.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>\u00a0Method Man and Redman &#8211; 4 Seasons feat. LL Cool J and Ja Rule.<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AjAx0aP-3pI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The last posse cut to revisit from LL Cool J\u2019s discography is the remix to Freeze which was the second single off of the 2006 album <em><strong>Todd Smith<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 This was around the time he started to affiliate himself with 50 cent and G-Unit.\u00a0 The official title is LL Cool J \u2013 (Freeze Remix) You Can Bump This feat. 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks and Hot Rod.\u00a0 At this point the \u201cG.O.A.T\u201d had been in the game for 20 plus years and still could bring the heat.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>LL Cool J &#8211; (Freeze Remix) You Can Bump This feat. 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, &amp; Hot Rod<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5jnVSBUG_ks?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>In recent years LL Cool J has been primarily focused on his acting, dabbling with music here and there.\u00a0 Back in 2014 he had announced working on the <em><strong>G.O.A.T 2<\/strong><\/em>.\u00a0 A project that would be that raw, uncut, pure hip-hop.\u00a0 Hopefully sooner than later it will see the light of day and LL will remind us why he is an ambassador of real hip hop and one of the greatest of all time.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"UY6dB0oCX9\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/ll-cool-j-real-hip-hop-ambassador-part-1\/\">LL Cool J: Real Hip Hop Ambassador (Part 1)<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/ll-cool-j-real-hip-hop-ambassador-part-1\/embed\/#?secret=UY6dB0oCX9\" data-secret=\"UY6dB0oCX9\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;LL Cool J: Real Hip Hop Ambassador (Part 1)&#8221; &#8212; Hip Hop News Journal\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In celebrating the launch of LL Cool J\u2019s recent launch of the Siruis XM channel \u201cRock The Bells\u201d radio wanted to continue digging in his extensive discography of tracks. Providing prime examples as to why LL Cool J among hip hop purists is considered to be one of the all time greats. Why he is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":346,"featured_media":656,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[2,4,3],"tags":[109,87,506,286,5,500,460,509,512,507,155,502,504,505,153,508,287,503,498,511,469,262,501,510,471,499,466,465,259],"yst_prominent_words":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":655,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646\/revisions\/655"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/656"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=646"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}