LL COOL J Leaves Jay-Z & Kanye Off Def Jam Mt. Rushmore, Talks Kendrick vs Drake, GOAT & New Album

Hey, just a thought. Rap about something. other than the P. Just a thought. How. many different ways you going to tell me. about that P, baby? Yeah, and by the way, I BELIEVE YOU.

HELLO, WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPISODE OF. CLUB SHAY SHAY. I am your host, Shannon. Sharpe, and the guy that's stopping by. for conversation and a drink today, this. has been 3 years in the making. He's one. of the most successful rap artist of all. time. He's the first rapper to amass 10. consecutive platinum-selling album. He's. the youngest recipient and the first rap. artist to ever receive the prestigious. Kennedy Center Kennedy Center Honor. Award. He was inducted into the Rock and.

Roll Hall of Fame. He has a star on the. legendary Walk of Fame. A Grammy Award. winner, an Emmy Award winner, an NAACP. Image Award winner, a multi-talented. actor, producer, performer, TV. personality, musician, entertainer, entrepreneur, a powerhouse in the. entertainment industry, a New York Times. best-selling author, a music mogul, mogul, an avid philanthropist, an. all-around hitmaker, razor-sharp. wordsmith, one of the pioneers of hip. hop, a father, a husband, we're going to. talk about that also, a cultural icon,

the first rock star of rap, the rap's. longest-running superstar, almost 40. years in the game, a living legend, the. one, the only, LL Cool J. Bro, I need you I need that as my alarm. clock. I need I need that as my alarm clock in. the morning, you know what I mean? If. that ain't inspiration, what is, man? Bro, we got to toast this, bro. 40 years in. the game, everything that you've done, and you still have the urge, the desire.

to spring up out of bed. And we were. talking off camera earlier, like, bro, I'm so excited to hit this world stage. again, because it's been a while since. you had a world You had a a domestic. tour, but you said, man, I'm ready to do. this world thing again. Yeah, man. I just want to go around the. world showing what I do, man. Get the. music out there. Have some fun, you know. what I'm saying? I'm glad to be here, too, by the way. Bro, let's let's toast This is my This. is my own cognac. Yeah, cheers. BSOP. Bro, to all your success, not only in. the past, but in the future.

You know, I don't drink like that. That's That's good. That's going to be. it for me. Oh, THAT'S ALL THAT'S ALL WE NEED. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH. I'll be I'll be army. crawling to a after party inside this. city. This ain't even my I don't even know how. you got me to drink that [ __ ] I don't. even drink like This is water? This water. Oh, good god. Yo, what's good, though, champ? Well, you're going to tell us how you. made all the hits. Now we got Now we got. that in you. You're going to tell us how. you made ALL THE HITS. GOT HIM. Um. just having fun, loving what you do.

It's just like you with sports, you. know, when you fall in love with it. And if you. have the spiritual and psychological and. physical. gifts or that inclination to do it, you go for it, you know what I'm saying? And I really love hip hop. Bro, five years in the I mean, five. decades. The '80s, the '90s, the 2000s, the 2010s. Here we are the 2020s. When you go back and look at it, in the. '80s you had Rock the Bells, I'm Bad, Going Back to Cali- Cali, I Need Love.

'90s, Mama Said Knock You Out, Doing It, Loungin, Hey Lover, Round the Way Girl. 2000s, Head Sprung, Love You Better, Paradise. Bro, what's What's LL's favorite era of. music that he's created? I mean, yo, the new music I'm coming out. with is crazy. I really love it, man. You know what I'm. saying? Like it's hard for people. because see as an artist it's different. from the commercial considerations. You. know, I'm saying? Right. People have experienced a lot all of. those songs you're talking about. The. new music a lot of them haven't.

experienced it. I like the new music. though. It's crazy. How much of the new stuff are we going. to get the old LL? I don't think you ever get. A true artist is always going to move. the needle forward. Okay, you evolve. You got to evolve man like you know, James Cameron does a new movie you know, you know, even if it's a sequel it's. going to be a new version. It's going to. be new technology. Avatar is different than Titanic. There you go. It's a new approach. You. know, what I mean? So. like I mean these records are crazy. You.

know, I'm saying like the joint I got. with Saweetie you know, it's you know, called proclivities. It's um. I mean, you know, you know, it has it's. It's new. [ __ ] is new. It's new, Shan. Let me ask you this. L, you're one of the pioneers of this. And you seen from the infant infancy of. it. Nobody thought it would be what it. became. Who ever thought? Yeah, yeah, exactly. So you at you were.

at the very beginning, the grassroots of. this thing. And you see where it is now. Yeah. Was it easier then to become what you. became or is it easier now? Two different two different things. Um. the barriers to entry were greater then. Okay. See. hip hop when I first started would be. like the NFL or the NBA today. In a. sense that you have to go through a. certain process, go be vetted. It is a. lot that goes into you actually making. it to that level.

Okay. To getting a recording contract. Right. Now hip hop is pretty much democratized. which there are some good things about. that, but it is different in a sense. that it's like the whole audience can. play now. Okay. Everybody can bounce a ball. Everybody. can play quarterback. Right. Anybody can be a wide receiver or. attempt. Right. So that changes the standards in the in. the way things flow work. That being said, um it's just completely. different. Before it was harder to get in, but it. was less noise once you got in. Now, you. can get in like this, but it's so much.

noise you got to really be. you know, you got to be you got to. really be him or be her to actually get. heard. You know what I mean? So, like. me being able to cut through now, like. we cracking a different type of code, you know what I'm saying? Like. you know, my first joint dropped at '84. So, for us to be having this conversation. and for it to be like legit like it's. 40. No, it is. Legit music like to have. this conversation 40 years later is. another level, you know what I'm saying? So, I don't you know what I'm saying?

We haven't had a rapper that have stood. the test of time like LL. We've seen it. in when other genre R&B, we see it in. the movies, we see it in Yeah, we see it. in a lot, but not the rap game. Not to. the level in which you've done it. Yeah. What do you think are some of the keys. to your success? Keys. Um. First of all, you got to love it. And um. you can't be so full of yourself that. you can't hear nobody else talking.

You know what I'm saying? Yeah. See see some people. they they operate in that space of they. they too cute for everything. You know what I'm saying? But you can't. learn nothing that way. Um and then you got to humble yourself. Like one of the things I did like. straight up. I went back and studied how. to rhyme again. It's like going back in the gym and. working on your jump shot. Going back in. you know, back on the field working on. your footwork. You know, you know you. know, don't step back. Right off you You know, you just. you know, it's like so I had to I really.

focus on just improving and getting. better at what I do. You know what I'm. saying? So, it's like. that's the main thing, you know what I'm. saying? Um is loving it and being. creative and then also, I mean, you ain't going to be able to. connect with people that you can't. relate to. Right. So, all that running around with the. gray poupon, asterisk, You know, what what what do you call it? Ascot. Yeah, asterisk. With the asterisk. Asterisk, ascot. With the ascot around your neck and the.

god damn long cigarette holder like a. like a [ __ ] 1940s movie with her and. all that [ __ ] Like all that. You got to be able to connect with the. people, at least for me. Right. You know what I'm saying? I love. connecting with the people and being a. real, you know, dude. And I also love. the challenge, right? Cuz it's like. there are two audiences for LL. When it. comes to my music, there's a don't call. it a comeback audience and there's a oh, he wraps audience. Yeah. two audiences are are are separate, but. they're coming closer and closer. together now because of the new music.

So, that's. You know. You said that you had to learn. how to rhyme again. Was it because, not. that you forgot, but because you had. done so many other things in between. when you originally started because you. had a TV, you had a sitcom, we're going. to get into that. You did movies, we'll. get into that. You had a TV You had a TV. series, we'll get into that. So, it was. because you were doing so many other. things, did you lose the cadence? Did. you lose What What did you What did LL. lose that caused him to have to go back. to the lab?

You don't have to lose anything to want. to gain something. Oh, okay. Okay. what I'm saying? Yeah. You don't have to like nothing has you. know, the desire to get better. doesn't have to come with, you know, loss or failure. It just comes with an. aggressive spirit. That champion spirit. You want to go get it, you know what I'm. saying? And I know that the game is. evolved. I respect. the artists out there that are out there. now. I respect the way people process. the music and the way people approach. it. And I, you know, I don't want to try.

to pick up where I left off. I want to. do I want to give them a new version. Because, you know, when you. if, you know, if you going to coin a. term like the goat, like I coined that. term. If you going to coin that term that the. whole world is using now and you really. consider yourself that, then you have to. be able to deliver on call at any time. when it comes to making these making. this music and making these songs. Right. And so, that was what it was. You know. what I'm saying? So, it's not that I was. losing anything. It's just like, yo, this is an opportunity for me to.

show people what's possible. We're not. used to. artists going away 10, 15 years. No. and re-emerging with and being hot. Mhm. We used to, oh, he's famous now, but the. music's mediocre. Oh, oh, he's a celebrity now. Yeah, I. heard it once. Eh, we used to that. We're not used to, yo, I can't wait to. hear this fourth album. Yo, this. Saturday Night Special with Joe Yo, this. this passion Yo, these joints is I I. want to hear the rest of the You know, we're not used to that that level of.

anticipation from let from mature. artists. hip-hop. So, that to me was another challenge. I took that as an opportunity. It's kind. of like Bron playing in his 21st year. Right. Or 22nd. You know what I mean? It's like. that kind of a thing. You know what I. mean? Yes. Yeah. As you did other things. and I don't want to use the term that. you got, but you kind of like sit rap. rap went to the back burner and now. acting, TV shows, other things. Mhm. was prioritized.

Yes. How much in your own time away from the. cameras. Mhm. away from the stage. did you were you in the studio? Were you. still honing that craft? Because in. order if you don't use something, you. lose something. So, you've got to. practice even if it's not in front of an. audience. 100%. You got to keep that knife sharp. Yeah, I've been in the I've been in the. studio for 1,000 years. I mean, I. I'm always messing around in the studio. I have countless albums that haven't. been released. So, I'm always tinkering around with. something. Okay.

I've been tinkering around with stuff. for years, but the question is am I. ready to put something out? Do is this. something that I feel meets the standard. of me saying stamping it and saying yo, this is my new Let's go with this. Right, cuz I do different two different. types of albums. And people who really. know my career know this. I do. culturally impactful albums and then I. do really weird kind of to the side. albums that don't make a lot of sense to. most people, but they get me off. artistically. Right. Right? Mhm. So, it depends on the mood I'm in. The. last time I did an album it was one of.

those weird kind of small kind of. experimental albums where I'm doing all. these weird stuff. And I I love it, right? This album, cultural impact album. So, it's been you know, it's been but it's. been probably 20, 30 years since I did. one of those. Cuz I because of that long. space in between with the show. You do realize. when you take this long off. don't call it a comeback. You supposed to have been here for. years. No, I've been here for decades, bro. Yeah, yeah, it's more than years.

Cuz you you know the anticipation. You. know who you are. You know what you. represent. You have the longest standing. Yeah, there were guys that did it before. you, but they're not doing it currently. and they didn't do it as long because if. you go back and look at it L, if you. really look at it in its totality, even. the greats. Yeah. might have been had a 6-year, maybe a. decade run. Yeah. Not a two. Oh, yeah. three. Yeah. Not a four. You've had a four-decade run. Yeah, five. Yeah. So, you know what the expectations are.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. No. question. No question and I love that. I live for. that. Like I love yo, raise the bar. I. love it. I can't get enough of that, man. The more you you know, the the. bigger the challenge, the more I enjoy. it. The great The greater the. accomplishment, the greater the. expectation that comes along with it. Good. Good. Good. Great. Good. You ready? Turn the mic on. Turn the mic. on. You [ __ ] Do a bear [ __ ] in the. woods and wipe your ass with a rabbit? Your man ready, B.

Yo, this is what I do. I love it, man. Look, let me explain something to you, man. I can't get enough of that, man. That's everything I love, baby. I hear the passion. I see the excitement. that you're exuding. tell you something. Shannon, I'm like I'm the dude on your team. that's like, "Yo, Yo, we down we down by. a touchdown with. 2 minutes Yeah, let's get it. Let's get. it. I'm you know, I'm at halftime. Like. I'm I love all the challenge. I want all.

the smoke. Oh, they don't think he can. win the Super I need to get that Super. Bowl. Like you don't even understand, man. That [ __ ] turns me the [ __ ] on, bro. Like I want to go get it. Like I'm. very very very, you know, when people. see me so funny they see these. interviews the way I they just. aggressive. Yo, very aggressive. Yes. when it comes to going after my dreams. Like animal savage [ __ ]. You I've always admired. people that have accomplished so much.

And they go about it like they. accomplished nothing. I look at arrested. soul Kobe. I look at LeBron. I look at. Jordan. I look at some of the greats. Tom Brady. Oh, yeah. I'm looking at some of the Denzel. Samuel You look at them I'm listening to. you. You've got five almost five decades. in this and the way you talk is like, "Man, I can't wait this is my first. album. I can't wait to release this. I. can't wait for people to hear me.". Because you do realize now there's a. large.

populace that only knows LL the celeb. They don't know LL the rapper. And that's what I love about it. That's. the opportunity. That's the opportunity. to convert. Yo, let me tell you something. Like I. was on my Instagram. Um, follow me by. the way. Stop bullshitting. Um, it was on my. Instagram. Um, this lady a teacher she. had played my first single Saturday. Night Special with uh Rick Ross and Fat. Joe. She played it for some kids. Right. And when they heard my part, the kids. said to her, "Oh, wow. Man, he would.

have been a great rapper if he wasn't an. actor.". You said I love that [ __ ] That's what. gets me up, bro. Because you know what. that is? That shows you that you have. the skill, you have the you have the. ability, you have the wherewithal, you. have the tools. Now it's just a matter. of making them aware. I love that, man. I love that like I. love the idea of being able to Look, think about it this way. Here we are. I started in '84. Here's. 2024 and we're talking about me breaking. new ground in music.

Just. Right. Put in perspective. This is like when I think about Kobe, when I think about um. Yeah, y'all y'all can't believe it, right? You just can't believe it, right? You. You. can't believe. That's your people, LL. Yeah, yeah, they yeah, YEAH, YEAH. YO, WE BUSY, SHANNON. We got a lot of. [ __ ] going on, bro. I BELIEVE IT. I BELIEVE IT. WE GOT A lot of [ __ ] going No, no, it's um no, it's just like you think. about Kobe, you think about Jordan, you. think about like. you know, Tom who, you know, you know, you know, wear my Giants out.

and all that. That's a whole 'nother. thing, respectfully. But I remember. seeing Tom um at a um when he was the. first Bowl and uh we was in a cafeteria. or something around the pre-festival. I. said, "Yo, y'all going to win?" You. know, I was just seeing what he was. going to say. He said, "We we going to. kick their ass." You know, it was a you. know, but you know, yeah. But anyway, you know, I got to. bless him. You know, you know what I. mean? But he was on it. So, yeah. Um. You know, now that's amazing feeling, man. I love it, B. Because Let me ask you this. It's very interesting. Because you've.

been at the game for so long, you've had. so much success not only in the rap. game, but in other avenues. How many of. these young How many of these young guys. Mhm. come up and ask your opinion or get your. advice on certain things? I mean, every now and then, man. But, you know. Are you surprised more don't? L, you do. realize YOU BIT YOU GOT 84 THAT'S 40. YO, I'MMA BE REAL with you, man. And I. And I I don't know. I'm I might have. been guilty of it, too, man. I mean, when you young and you getting a couple.

of dollars, you think you know every. guy. You do. You do. YOU LIKE, "WHAT THE WHAT YOU. GOING TO TELL ME? I know everything. My. [ __ ] hot. I'm rocking. I got money in my. pocket. You can't tell me nothing.". Yeah. My grandma used to say, "Boy, money don't buy sense, though.". You ain't You You ain't lying. Especially common sense. You know, it. might buy buy some incense. You know. what I mean? But, you were the first. that I can recall. rapper. that actually sung to women. Yeah.

I mean, that. There's an answer to that, too, Johnny. Kevin, why? Because, obviously, you was. having success doing it and everybody. was having success doing it the way. What made you because Did you feel you. was taking a risk or chance at the time. getting away from what everybody had. known LL to be and what everybody else. had were already doing? Um well, the answer is, first of all, the risk didn't matter to me. Okay. Because I do what I'm inspired to do.

Okay. And, you know, like, you know, I. like as a kid I would laugh at peer. pressure. To a certain It It shouldn't mean It. meant nothing to me. You know. You know, like, so. I did it because it was from the heart. Right. And I did it because, you know, I like girls. I wanted TO RAP TO THEM. IT WAS PRETTY SIMPLE. It was pretty. basic. Like, it wasn't really even that. deep of a Now, mind you, did I get some. resistance from certain label people and. certain producers and certain Yeah,

little bit of that. Right. This [ __ ] got my mouth watering, B. I'm. so not used to alcohol. I feel like I'm. I feel like I'm a [ __ ] rabbit. You. know what I mean? But, it got you high. But, see, now Now. Now getting the we getting the real LL. cuz he hyped now. Yeah, you get the real regardless. You know super juicy get the real man. You get the real regardless. Nah, but. yeah, I just was inspired. I was. inspired Shan. Did you I because let me ask you a. question. What did the the rap the. hip-hop community say? Because that was. the first that you spoke directly to.

them. Yeah, yeah, they um. A lot of them weren't too happy Shan. They weren't too happy. Were they not were they were they upset. because you did it first or were they. upset that they couldn't do it? I think they was upset that they was. sitting in the car and their girl looked. really excited to hear my [ __ ]. THAT'S WHAT I THINK. THAT'S WHAT I. THINK. SHE. SHE got them little shorts on that baby. oil them legs and LL [ __ ] playing homie. sitting there tight as a drum.

You know that's nasty B. It's got to. feel nasty. You know what I mean? But let me ask you a question. How how. was it like because the hate. You it can't it can't but how how were. you able to stay so focused? Because. that man he making out with Katie. He. making out that that. No, it wasn't cuz it wasn't Katie. It. was. I know it wasn't but that's what they. tried to do to you. You know what? I. It come with the territory man. I was. hanging out with guys that. you know. you know hustling every day and doing. all kind of getting smooth on them.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. [ __ ] yo, so nah, I just I didn't even. I didn't even entertain it Shan. Really? Nah, because I mean I would talk about. it in the records a little bit but like. when you super excited man, you got that. jewelry hanging man and them cars and. you moving around man. You ain't. The fat chain you know the chain and the. fat chain with the K on the corner. He. tight. He upset. Like it don't it's like.

You know it's just I didn't even get I. didn't feel that um. I just never felt that kind of pressure. from that. Does that make sense? Yeah. Where do you get Where did you get. inspiration from? Did you all Did you. always know what you wanted to be? Was. there anything LL wanted to be outside. of a. Did you want to play sports? Did you. want. Yeah, of course. I wanted to be a. football player, you know what I'm. saying? I That was like a huge dream of. mine to be a football player and. Well, hell, you still in shape right. now. YOU MIGHT. YEAH, RIGHT.

GIVE HIM A GIVE HIM A RUN ON THE FIELD. and run off. Yeah, I'll give you a. I'll run on the field. Hey, all right. I'LL GET YOUR ASS. UP THERE. I'M RUNNING BACK. You know, that was the dream back then, you know. what I'm saying? Like I loved football. and I loved boxing, you know what I'm. saying? I never wanted to be I never saw. myself being a boxer, but I was always. in love with boxing and I wanted to play. football. Like that was the two sports, you know what I'm saying? But I did all. kind of sports growing up. I did. gymnastics, wrestling, judo, god damn. karate, each one, wing chun. I mean, I.

was just like a athletic I was my thing, you know what I'm saying? Well, obviously New York is the. birthplace of hip hop. Yeah. Who inspired LL? Man, all the early all the early MCs, even before vinyl from. Treacherous Three, from the Cold Crush, from you know, Fantastic Romantic Five, from then a little later from Fearless. Four. Obviously, um Grandmaster Flash. and the Furious Five, um. you know, Crash Crew, um Soul Sonic. Force, um. you know, Zulu, you know, all of that.

Uh. and then there was all kinds of artists. in between there. Like, you know, there. was you know, there was Eddie Cheeba's. tapes floating around and. you know, this tape floating around and. it was um. it was the most amazing time in the. world for me, man. It's like, you know, I felt like as a young black man walking. around in my neighborhood, you feel. invisible. Right. Your friends die, nobody cares. You know what I'm saying? This was like. the first time like that I heard people. sounding so empowered and so strong. It.

was like magical for me. You know what. I'm saying? Like it was magical, B. It. was magical, man. Did you know the first time that you. start like I don't know where you in. your bedroom, you in your basement and. you like you heard somebody doing you. like. I think I can do that. 100%. As a matter of fact, I know I can. do that. Well, you know what the thing is about about. when you really want to be successful, you know that it's not really about.

I can do that. It's about the step to. through that magical doorway. You know what I'm talking about? When. you you're imagining it, you're seeing. it in your mind and then you're a little. kid, you start like Remember, I started. I became a fan of hip hop and became as. soon as it was born. I was 8 years old. As like and then 9, 10, 11, at 12 years. old I started writing. 11 or 12. You know, I've like I've been doing this. like literally my whole life for real.

This ain't no oh, I started 10 years. ago. Even that. This ain't even 20 years. ago. This is like from 8 years old. to that 50 years ago. Yo, you know what I'm saying? Well, not. quite, BUT. WE ABOUT TO SAY AMEN, J. L. L. WE ARE. We are. We are. I think I No, we know you I'm older than. you. What you got me by a year or two? I'm. 56. Well, I'm 56. So we. Well, we the SAME BUT WHAT I'M SAYING. OKAY. CONGRATULATIONS. HEY. YOU TRYING TO HOLD IT UP. OH, L, YOU TRYING TO.

CONGRATULATIONS, MAN. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? WE WE hit Hey, we we we we closer to 60, BUT WE BUT WE LOOK GOOD, THOUGH. I feel good. My bones still hard. You know what I'm saying? All of them. That's see you drink drink a lot of milk. when you was growing up. SOMETHING LIKE THAT. YOU HIT. YOU'RE ONE OF THE FEW I THINK NOW, back. then, you about to been. your largest audience and correct me if. I'm wrong.

You had the females from the jump. I don't know if I don't know I don't. know if it was the lick lip lick lip. lick lip licking. I don't know if it was. the the Kangol the fact that the swag. Whatever you do don't do no rap records. bro. No no whatever you do whatever you do I. know I have flow L I have flow L I have. flow no no real talk. Yeah flow ON THAT 40 ON THAT 40 YARD. DASH YEAH YOU HAD SOME FLOW all right. knocking heads off. you going to take that you going TO TAKE. THEIR NECKS OFF.

BUT I'M SAYING BUT I'M SAYING though L. I mean I mean your your base especially. it's it's expanded obviously but the. women loved you from the jump you tried. to do that too. That's why you did that. YEAH. THAT'S WHY. YEAH THAT'S WHY THAT WAS THE GOAL. yeah of course. um. man listen man I. I had both audiences man you know it's. it's just um. you know. hey man if they was choosing they was. choosing bro like you know you know. don't blame yo don't hey women women buy.

records yo blame the game no no no. because they try to see guys are funny. that's like a little tactic yo dudes use. on me. I had both fans bro. both fans. Let me ask you a question. Like when Rock the Bells had both fans. I'm bad had both fans. Do you care if they buying records? Yeah I want them all to buy them. Exactly. them all to buy them. So if 70% I love the women but it wasn't. no 70% it wasn't LIKE THAT. NO I KNOW IT WASN'T NO 70% BUT I'M JUST. SAYING. YOU KNOW DUDES love 4321 and love I shot. you and love Ill Bomb and love Mama Said.

Knock You Out it wasn't the women saying. no Mama Said Knock You Out it was the. guys. I know I know I know I know. Going Back to Cali. But you know it's just kind of like you. know. you know. Yeah dude dudes always try to undermine. a dude if a guy walks in and the girls. are looking at him you know it's just. like. it it. you know. He ain't all that yeah yeah you know you. know you know what I'm saying? I do. He's not a man's man you know something. like that always not. was both audiences, man. Um. but I'll tell you this, I'll keep it. real with you. I never like.

at least early on. most of the time with the taking the. shirt off and all that, that was about. just taking your shirt off cuz you're a. little kid. Right. That morphed into something else. Mhm. You know what I'm talking about, you go. like growing up kids are running around. in the you know, you see 16, you got. your shirt off. Yeah, for sure. It ain't like. the shirt off like, you know, mainly did that if we at the park. playing ball and they you know, they. they they out there watching we Yeah, but it ain't like baby Drizzy. WITH THE GOD damn shirt going off and.

[ __ ]. Like it wasn't like, you know, it was. just like whatever, you know what I. mean? But um. Nah, man, I love both audiences, man. Like that's why this album is so. I think balanced in that regard, you. know what I'm saying? Like I want to. make sure that my male audience dudes. like it ain't about like. it's about the art, you know what I'm. saying? Right. Like I made the you know, yeah, it's. warm in this [ __ ]. Well, hey, hit this turn this off. Yeah, no, I mean it's all good, but I. just. No, I'm I'm you know, you know, I'm I'm. Yeah, in a minute like, you know,

you ain't going to have no wrinkles cuz. this [ __ ] will sweat all the wrinkles. out of my head. You want some ice to keep going? Some ice? Yeah. You want to have some ice in there? Yeah. Uh-huh. You can just keep going. I need some Uh-huh. No, no, I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. Yeah. Let me ask you a question. Mhm. Do you write or do you freestyle? I write. I write my songs. I don't I don't know. what. Have you ever had a ghost writer? No. No. I've collaborated with people on. courses. Right. collaborated with people on.

different things, but all of these songs. that I'm thinking of. That's you. Come on, bro. I don't even know where. people Like like that's a very. interesting thing. Cuz I heard they saying I I was I don't. know what they paradise did they say 50. wrote for you? 50 Cent wrote the chorus, bro. But you heard that too, right? Of course I heard it. Okay. He wrote the chorus. Not We've been through this before. Act. like the elves can't bag them no more. He ain't write that [ __ ].

That's you. Of course. Like people be tripping. But you know. that's a big compliment for me. Yeah. When when you get to the point where. you're so. You've been doing it so long and you're. so prolific that they look like somebody. else shot the basketball. LeBron didn't shoot that [ __ ]. That was [ __ ] KD. Yeah. KD really shot that [ __ ]. Or that was. Yo, yo, yo. Steph shot that [ __ ] Like. that's how Because you've been in the. game so long. L, why is ghostwriting. frowned upon so much? Well,

because as an MC you're supposed to. write your stuff together. Okay. You know what I mean? You are. You know, it's different like if you get. in the studio, let's say you're working. with an artist like and we write a song. together and I'm collaborating with. somebody on something. That would be different from somebody. writing my rhymes, writing my verses, writing out my lyrics, because then. you're not a real MC. You're not real It. would be like somebody It's different. It's like being a pop act. Wow. It's like being a pop act. It's very different. Collaborating with. somebody and sitting there like and.

y'all coming up with lines together. That's one way of doing it and you can. do that and play around with some songs. and mess around. But when it comes to. doing Mama Said Knock You Out and. But the outsourced But the outsourced. Hey, I need you to come up with. something for you boy. No, bro. No, it don't work. It don't. work, B. It's ridiculous. And it's funny to me because. like people just be wanting to like I. don't I. you know, like do I got to write some. [ __ ] right now? Like do I have to literally sit here. right now and write a rhyme for the for.

people to like like what we need to do? Do you feel people like When people say. LL has ghostwriters they accuse. I don't hear that a lot. No, but but but do you feel they try to. shortchange you and undermine you? got to. They got to. You got to do. something. Why they just can't go and give you the. credit for that you deserve? I mean, Shannon, it's like seeing a dude. who's in shape. Like he's on steroids. It's easier to say that. It's easier to. say, "Oh, he, you know.". Because I'm doing what you won't do, like going to the gym and eating like. I'm supposed to and exercising. Yo, dog, like.

I. I remember when I first lost weight when. I did my, you know, physical. transformation back in 2000, came out. with "Love You Better". Dudes was. running around talking I got I got a rib. removed. What the [ __ ] is you talking about, bro? Like you you I got a ghost rib. You. know, LIKE [ __ ] LIKE, "YOU GOT. the ghost rib The ghost writer go with. the ghost rib.". Right. You know? And you know why they say this? Cuz they. see a scar over here. Shannon. Got my appendix taken out, bro. Wow. You know, that. Yeah.

Yeah, that People actually do do that. Yes. I know that might seem like an. amazing, unbelievable announcement to. people, but people get their appendix. taken out. For sure. [ __ ] say. I got a rib removed. So, I collaborate with somebody on a. song. Oh, yeah. Got ghost writer. This dude is crazy. Because of some of the heavy hitters you. have on this album, you think we're. going to hear some of the some whispers. of. he wrote. No. No. No. I mean, after this they will.

because you you just put it out in the. ether and that's, you know, it probably. was five comments, that'll be 500, but. whatever. I mean, at the end of the day, listen, man. You know, anybody who, you know, if you feel that way, then, you know, there's a, you know, there's a lot of. ways to find out. You know what I mean? So, you know, if. they want to go there and and and we. really want to fight Like if you think. that I've been rapping since 8 years old. using ghost writers, like, you know, if. y'all really that. Hold on. YOU TRYING TO GET DOWN WITH THE.

VERSES? I MEAN, HOLD UP. YOU LIKE THAT? HOLD ON. YOU REALLY trying. Well, our verses can't prove none of. that. What I'm saying is. Oh, you talking about just rap battle. I'm saying like however you want to do. it. Like we can we can write You know, we can go ban for ban. You know, like if. you want to if y'all want to sit we can. go M for M. If y'all want to if y'all. want to if y'all want to um sit. somewhere and write so we can do that. And let's just see how it go. Like like. that's my challenge. So you can talk all. they can talk all that [ __ ] they. want. Yo, bring the pen and the pad. Turn the.

cameras on. Turn the beat on. Let's sit in the. studio together. Never cut the camera. Leave it on. How long we getting? How long we. getting? It don't matter. It don't even matter. I'll bring you I'll bring somebody in. the studio. We going to get the cameras. rolling. We got a beat. We got 1 hour. You god damn right. I'MMA WHOOP THEY. ASS. WHAT? I'MMA WHOOP they ass, B. Y'all heard Y'all heard him Y'all heard. HIM, MAN. YO SHANNON. YO SHANNON.

All right. Hey listen, man. Listen Yo Shannon, I'm. trying to tell you, man. I Listen to. your man. Listen to your man. Listen. Listen. I mean, I know everybody want to come up. with all these fantasies and these tall. tales about different [ __ ] but there's. a reason why. the guy who started Def Jam. is sitting in right here right now. It's a reason, Shannon. This ain't This isn't no Like there's a. reason why. Right. the guy who was the first artist on Def. Jam T La Rock had It's Yours. Right. It was a song. It was on a Streetwise.

Party Time label. It was Def Jam. Productions. I bought that record. I. made a demo and sent it in the Rick. Ad-Rock and the Beastie Boys heard it. and sent it. There's a reason why I'm. still here. And then I'm not being. cocky. This ain't about no cocky rocky. [ __ ] cuz I don't do that. That's how you. get your head handed to you. I'm just. saying there's a reason why I'm still. here. You know what I mean? You can't. manufacture this, Shannon. Not for that. This is not Now you can't manufacture. this, bro. Not that long. This is not what it is. So but my thing. is instead of you guys want they want to. comment, people You to question. You.

want to question what I am then. you know, you want to lace up and and. you want to. race Usain, you want to race Usain, you. want to race Deion, you want. And you lift weights, you know what I'm. saying? You believe you lift weights, champ? All I'm basically saying is, man, like. I'm ready to If we want anybody want to. write rhymes and we want to sit there. and and see what that is, we could do. it. And we could just settle it. How about. I think one of the first diss records. that I actually heard was you and Kool. Moe Dee going back and forth. Right. Did y'all Did you Was Was that Was that. the official first diss that you know?

It was not the first diss. Who was the first diss? It was many of them, but I mean. But you could But y'all made it But. y'all made it popular. popularized it at that point, but there. was the Cold Crush Brothers the. Fantastic Romantic. There was Moe Dee. when he went at Busy Bee, which was like. really one of Well, Cold Crush and. Fantastic Romantic were always kind of a. great back and forth thing. Busy Bee. versus Moe Dee was like. super popular at that time, you know. what I'm saying? Like that battle. between them two was crazy. That. everybody loved that. What What caused What caused you and Moe. Dee to go at it?

I mean, same type of [ __ ] you talking. right now. All this old [ __ ] ghost. write this, that, [ __ ] girls, all. this old [ __ ] Same [ __ ] you talking. Same [ __ ] It's same [ __ ] YOU. KNOW WHY? CUZ THIS IS WHAT THEY WANT TO. HEAR. Y'ALL WANT TO HEAR THAT [ __ ]. They love it, man. I I can't get AWAY. FROM THIS [ __ ] ALL I WANT TO DO IS SAY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS MAKE AN album. And y'all Who started Did you start it. or he start. You know I ain't start that [ __ ] Shady. YOU JUST. I AIN'T START THIS [ __ ] THIS TIME. WHO. STARTED THIS [ __ ].

I WAS JUST I JUST SAID I. I WAS JUST SAYING I AIN'T GOT NO GHOST. WRITER. YOU GOT A GHOST WRITER? YOU GOT I JUST. I DON'T think I'm asking any question. that you haven't been that you haven't. been asked. That's like especially now because. they're like, "Well, damn, L, you 40. years old." That's asking like, "When be. you know, you got lifts in your shoes?". You know, it's just like, you know, come. on, bro. Like. 7'4", dog. YOU ASKING YO YOU A 7-FOOTER IF YOU GOT.

lifts in his shoes. Right. So let me ask But you know. You grew up in New York. They battle. rapping I mean like cuz I saw I saw the. what did the documentary of I think a. documentary of hip hop and they had all. these like you said uh uh. uh. Grandmaster Flash, you had and you had. the Cold Crush, you have different. groups and they just meet up somewhere. And battle. and battle. Is that how you grew up? Is that why you. like following that? You like. Have you had Did you ever battle? Oh yeah, of course. So that's So in order in order So that's.

how you really cut your teeth. I I. I cut my teeth. battling. rhyming in public, rhyming in cyphers, indirect battling just by rhyming with. people. I did it the real way. I did. everything in hip hop as a. MC you could You know what I mean? Like. You know what I mean? Like the whole. thing. I did it battling. I did it. rhyming in cyphers. I did it. being in groups. I You know, I DJed. I.

started off DJing before I even you. know, I was DJing. I You know, like. breakdancing wasn't [ __ ] but I was. breakdancing. Now you know that's in the Olympics now. Yeah, I know. I know. Good thing it. ain't me. It's a good thing it ain't me in that. joint. You know what I mean? But no, breakdancing um. graffiti Right. I did it like I'm really. like like the embodiment of all that. like hip hop, man. Like I really I. really really have lived this [ __ ] like.

for real. Like on every level, champ. Not playing Best Ball Draft Kings, you're missing out. Here's what you need. to know. Draft Kings Best Ball. Millionaire Contest is the biggest. fantasy contest ever. We're talking 15. million in guaranteed prize pool with. two That's right. Two millionaires being. crowned for first and second place. If. you're a set it and forget it type, then. Best Ball is for you. No waiver wires, no roster management, bigger rosters, so. injuries won't end your season. Only the. draft and that's it. You're set for the. season. Still not convinced? Check this.

out. This year DraftKings is offering. everyone Draft one, get one special. Your $20 entry fee scores a bonus. ticket. Get in on the Bestball action. Download DraftKings app. Use code. Shannon. That's code Shannon. All. customers who enter NFL Bestball $15. millionaire contest to get a bonus. ticket and get a shot at being crowned. one of two millionaires. Only on. DraftKings. This tattoo? Yeah, the mic on my arm. What what I How did you I mean cuz it's.

always interesting when people say the. What was the inspiration behind the. tattoo and why they got the tattoo? Why. did you decide to get a mic? Man, this thing took me around the. world, Shannon. This thing took me around the world, you. know what I'm saying? And it's always. on, the switch is on. Took me around the. world. It um. It's a game changer. Let my voice be. heard. You know, writing and saying the things that are. important to me. Getting it out there in the world and. then on the other side I got respect.

Even though it looks like a tribal, it. says respect. Yeah. Cuz you got to give it to get it. Okay. You know what I mean? And it's just like. with this mic, man, I mean it it was a game changer, you. know? Like. I mean I mean just. just what we did with Def Jam. Just. think about how the world would be. different if if we did you know, if I. didn't send my tape in the Def Jam. Look, I want to I just was I find it I. find you because because it relates to. this microphone. Cannibus heard you heard his voice uh. his verse and he said, "Yo L, is that a.

mic on your arm? Let me borrow that.". Let me borrow that. Yeah. Yeah, and I. You you didn't take that You didn't take. it as a compliment? Not not at that time. I was an. egomaniac. But I thought you said you weren't no. egomaniac. No, I said I was No, I said I'm not an. egomaniac right now. I ain't never tell. you I also said to you when I was. younger I wasn't listening to nobody had. to say. Did I not tell you that Daddy? You did. You did. You know with your bad PROSECUTING ASS. YO. YO. Tell him. Tell him. Cannabis.

Yo. Cannabis. He just got He hit branded. to me when my ego was a little I should. have just said, "Nah, you know." He was. like cuz I met him I saw him outside of. studio and he said, "Yo, oh man, I'm. going to get a tattoo just like yours.". And I was like, "You got to get your. own." But that's how it was. Right. You know what I'm saying? It was like uh. I felt like somebody was trying to wear. my boxing trunks or something. It was. like or you going to walk in a locker. room and the dude got your cleats on. That's how I felt to me. Okay. So when he told you I mean so you. didn't look at it as a sign of respect. You like, "Hold on bro, stop biting my.

style. Get your own.". immature. Yeah, I was immature. I wasn't. involved. Savagery, man. Savagery, man. Animal, man. It wasn't his fault. It. wasn't his fault. I mean, you know, he. just ran into a you know, a maniac. You. know, he ran into a guy that's so. intense that he could start hip-hop at. eight eight at eight years old and be in. his 50s still doing it. It's a lot of. intensity. Right. You You got to understand that that. comes with a lot of intensity. Yeah. Like, you know, when you So. you know, I just back then in my mind it.

was just like. don't even come near anything that's. mine. So you feel like anybody that they would. like they would come and they would come. at LL. LL at any level, man. Like don't come. near nothing that I claim to be mine. I'm defending it like a. Yeah, but you claiming everything. You. can't claim everything. Everything. Everything. And her. Like everything. Everything. Foul. You know what I mean? You see the trailer of Denzel? I don't. know what his character is in the new.

Gladiator. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And he got like whatever that was. I. didn't see it yet, but I'm just saying. everything, B. I want it all, man. Savagery, man. Sawed-off, shirt. sawed-out, shirt off. I'm running in the. village. I want it all. I want. everything. So, when you have these when. you have these bad you had this diss. with Kool Moe Dee and you had this with. Canibus. When it was all said and done, you bump. into him. I love him. I love you now. Oh, I love you. It's only on the field. Right. It's on the court. I don't you. know, ain't no issue. I don't We don't.

take anything We don't take anything We. don't take anything off the because they. do that now. So, you used to keep it on. the wax. You keep it on the mic. Because. you know, look man, like. one thing about me, yeah, we on the like. I talked about the challenges of studio. ramen, let's do it. You can you got. questions, let's let's let's answer. them. But when it comes to like treating. people as human beings and treating men. as men and women as women and treating. people with respect, I do that. Right. You got to give it to get it. I don't. play them games. Like I don't do the the.

the cocky rapper Hollywood tough guy. [ __ ] because you know, Shannon, as you. know, and especially in football because. the damn kicker, he's tough. Everybody. think they tough in football. Everybody. tough. People going to find out just how tough. you are now. Exactly. That's my point. So, you don't. put yourself in that position. You don't. go in the locker room with your chest. poked out trying to be the baddest dude. in the locker room. You're going to get. knocked out quietly by a teammate and. then they going to talk about it and. then everybody going to be good. So, don't do that. So, I learned so I. wouldn't I would never try to.

go up against these dudes in personal. press them or be a you know, you know. what I mean? I don't need to keep it on. wax. Just keep it on wax on vinyl. And. that's what I did. But that being said, when it comes to that vinyl like I'm. very I was you know, extremely. you know, and to a certain extent I. still am like you know, I just you know, I would have to make you know, it would. just have to be somebody that's worth my. time. But other than that, you know, like uh. you know, you know, leave me alone.

You know what I mean? When I come to you. look at Jay-Z and Nas, 50 and Ja Rule. had theirs, Tupac, Biggie and now. Kendrick and Drake. Yeah. If you had if. I You know what? I'mma put you in there. I don't know who your who your favorite. diss is. It was it Moe Dee or Canibus? But if you had to rank one through one. through five. the greatest rap. diss. You can't do it that way. I know what. you want, but the reason Let me explain. to you why. Explain it to me. Because context is everything. Okay. It's like there's no way.

to. measure when Kareem was playing on Magic. and Bird would play and versus, let's. say, LeBron now. Right. Or Steph. You can't measure it. Okay. Two different eras. Not only is it two different eras, but. the internet the context of the internet. is saturates everything. Right. So, yeah. You know, like the internet makes. everything 10 times You you get a. narrative. You know what I mean? I'm. talking in your house. I'm I'm. rearranging your furniture. I got You. know, I'm You know what I mean? It's too. much. So, it's different. That being.

said, I think they were all great for. different reasons. And I think all of. the people that you mentioned are. supremely talented. Now, some had good. days, some had off days, but that's. sports. That's entertainment. That's. art. It happens. But all of those dudes. are talented. Like I Listen. I'm not um. Like I got respect for those guys, man. Like all of them. Like I'm not I'm not. funny style like that. You know what I'm. saying? Um in terms of. I don't know. It depends. You know? Because a lot of people don't even. realize because they don't think if it.

if it happened before the internet, it. didn't happen. So, now the internet. everything that All the internet Oh, this is the greatest player we've ever. seen. He's the greatest player. And half of them was born before the. internet. I'm like, I guess you ain't. never happened. I said, bro, stop this. So, people like don't know that yo, it's. like dog, you you know, your mom's was. having sex before the internet. You don't believe me? You hear You older than No, you don't. believe me? You don't believe your mama. was having sex before the internet, [ __ ]. Do you believe this is good for for Is. this good for the music? I think it's great. I think it's great. in the sense of.

reaching people. Now, the you know. look. do does it cause the records when you. got a hot record. you know. people they get into it quick and they. they. they play that joint they play. Not like us? Yo, they play them joints. I love that. joint. They they play them joints like. you know like it's it's it's not like. back in the days where the radio would. kind of manage your consumption.

you know even the TV shows. You have a TV show now like people going. to listen to that joint. They going to. watch your whole season in an hour. Right. You know this [ __ ] is. you know when you where's the new. season? I just made that [ __ ] last week. But. Nah, I think it's great man. I I'm you. know just is what it just different. But. but if it gets to a situation like okay. Kendrick and Drake and then Rick Ross. goes to Canada and then you see that. situation happen like it does. If we. just going to keep it on wax.

No, you got to keep it on wax. I'm all I'm all for that. First of all Ross is my man. Yeah. That you know what I'm saying that's my. dog. Right. I have respect for all of them guys. I. don't think that there's any reason to. go beyond. like we have to keep things in a. perspective man. Lives are too. important. All of the people that you named have. lives that are valuable. Right. You know what I'm saying? I like that. 50 went through something that was very. traumatic in his life. He realizes the importance of his life. That's why he lives it fearlessly.

All of these men that you mentioned and. there's women out there too. Their lives. mean something. And they deserve to be able to live you. know and make their music and have a. battle have a friendly battle. have an insult contest have some fun but. don't take it beyond that. You shouldn't. have to lose your life. in order to you know have some fun and. have a have a fun battle. Cuz that's all. it really is because none of this [ __ ]. is that serious Shannon. You know at the end of the day you know. if you got a remote control, food on the. table, AC and heat, you Gucci.

Right. And your your lights is on. You know what I mean? So, it's not that. serious. Serious. To to take, you know, Somebody life. Yeah, we don't need to attack. When I see you, you got it. My man got. a, you know, but a lot of that is also. the youthful vibe. Like, you know, you. know, we used to have fights outside. movie theaters and, you know, you know, little things, you know, little dust up. Little brushed up. Yeah, yeah. You know, things happen, you know. You. might be young in the Navy and, you. know, getting a you know, little bar. fight doing my, you know, give a dude a.

little touch up. It happens. But, it shouldn't be like. Yeah. You know what I mean? Not for this. Right. When L is in his car and he's not. listening to himself, who are some of. the guy Who are some of the rappers you. listen to? Like, all day long? Yeah, I mean, who you like obviously, you know, we got these new, we got. obviously, you got the Drake and the K. Dots and the Lil Wayne, but who do they. like? L Cool J, I never [ __ ] with you. It's a great answer. Um Who do Who do I like? Um I like a lot. of different artists, man. But, I listen. to everything. I listen to everything.

from SZA. to. from Lil Baby to SZA from. I mean, you name it, man. It could be. It it it depends, but I go also I might. listen to Bob Marley, man. You know, the like I might listen to Bob. Dylan. I might listen to. the Eurythmics. I might listen to. Annie Lennox, Sweet Dreams. Yeah, Annie Lennox Yeah, I might listen. to that. I might. the rain again. You know what I mean? I listen to what. whatever moves me in the moment. Yeah.

You know what I'm saying? Like. I don't feel obligated to listen to. nothing. But, if I want to hear. GloRilla, if I want to hear Sexyy Red, I'll listen to it. If if the Meg joint. is playing and I'm feeling it, I'll play. it. And do I If it's a Lil Nikki, is it. is it Cardi, is it, you know what I'm. saying? Is it Lil Durk? We got to hear. some Durk on there, okay. You know, if I need to hear it, you know. what I mean? Do I want to hear some A$AP. Rocky or, you know what I mean? I want. to go to Canal Street with it. Like like. it depends on my mood. I might listen to. Rihanna though. But then I might listen. to Sia. I might listen to Mick Jagger.

You know what I'm saying? Like I'm you. know, I listen to what I just cuz I like. greatness. Right. Michael Jackson, Prince. I like greatness, man. You know, but then I flip it and you know, Lauryn. Hill's son with that that song, you. know, that that you know, that joint, you know. Like Ooh, I got one. I got two questions for you. Give me your Mount Rushmore. Def Jam artists. Def Jam on? Yeah. That was you heard it?

Def Jam on? What is it? Def. Def. D E F. YEAH. I wrapped that one. I spit that one. I. quit. I mean, listen. Look, if you tell me, "Look, My Rushmore, that forehead. I'm looking. I'm listening to you. So, I'm the first artist on Def Jam. So, I mean, YOU'RE NOT HAVING A. ALL THAT ALL THAT LOOK HERE, MAN. YOUR HONOR, HE FILIBUSTERED. He filibustered. Yeah, he he meandering. He meandering.

me. You [ __ ] ghost writing king over. here. You know, the whole interview with. my guy. I'm helping the people at home. I'm not. having these people waiting to be. wearing me the [ __ ] out about this. nonsense about some [ __ ] ghost. writing. Hey, yo, man, listen. I get here and I Okay, my Rushmore Okay, we got Jay-Z, we got Kanye, we got LL, we got Rihanna, we got DMX, we got Luda, we got Nas, we got Jay-Z. LL got four. foreheads. twice. Secondly, you didn't say Public. Enemy. Okay. So, you told me about the Def Jam.

Def Jam. How you going to do a How you. going to do. Put four heads on there. You know you. was there. Put four heads on there. It's It's LL. It's Public Enemy. It's It's It's the Beastie Boys. And it it would have to be. It would have to be SLICK RICK. OKAY, THAT'S ALL YOU HAD TO SAY. BECAUSE IT'S DEF JAM. OKAY. Was Was Hov not at Def Jam? Yeah, a thousand years later. that uh. Let me ask you a question. If I say give. me your Mount Rushmore presidents c-. I'm not talking about talking about. No. No, I'm not saying current.

No, no, no, no. No, I'm not I'm not saying the c- I'm not. saying the current heads. I'm saying all. the presidents. If you want TO PUT ALL. THE PRESIDENTS, give me four. So, since all of all the four I want. four Def Jam artists. It's wild, bro. It's crazy. I need FOUR DEF JAM ARTISTS. WE GOT ONE. CERTIFIED. WE GOT ONE. OH, I'M COMING back with another I'm. coming BACK WITH A. I GOT ANOTHER ONE, TOO. NO, NO, NO, I AIN'T FINISHED. LET'S STAY.

ON THAT MOMENT. OKAY. OKAY. OKAY. Um. Like I said, when you think about that era, when you. think about cuz I'm when I say when you. think about Mount Rushmore See, most. people it's a lot of ways What's the. criteria for it? Is it Is the metric. popular success? Is the metric impact. meaning? Is the metric Because Public. Enemy what they did in terms of building. a label, LL what he did in terms of. building a label. And then I got I'm. sorry. What about Rick and Russell? LL, it's your list. Whatever metric you.

want to use. It ain't my list. Yoruba. So, so, so, so, so, so just so we're clear, Yoruba, it's. whatever evidence I want to use. Yes. All right. Yes. All right. So, so his his evidence is. inadmissible. It's all about my [ __ ]. Anything I'm thinking about, Yoruba. Anything. That's your That's your That's. your. Yeah, so like I said, you got to have LL. Cool J, you got to have the Public. Enemy, you got to have the Beastie Boys, and you got to probably do Slick Rick. because Now and now these comments are.

going to be nuts because. I don't know what the comments going to. be. I haven't read the comments yet. You know exactly what the comments going. to be. This [ __ ] so teed up. They're. going to be wearing me out. This [ __ ] is. going to be crazy. This [ __ ] is going to. be nuts. He's capping. He's hating. It like LL's. cat Yo. You know what they what I'll do. I will. I will give you a chance to redeem. yourself. The king of cap. I will give you a chance. The cap king. Oh my god. I can read it now. Let me get. some water and [ __ ] as I prepare for.

this [ __ ]. Hold up. Let me just prepare myself for. this [ __ ]. Now we toasting one. That's his list. now. I got nothing to do with that. Oh lord have mercy. Lord have mercy. What can you do any of What about not. just Def Jam? What about. All right. All right. You know what? Four pictures of Rihanna. Everybody. happy now? No. No. No. He already gave you his. list. He already gave you his list. BUT. LET ME LET ME ask you this L. When people talk about greatest rappers.

of all time term that you Ali was the. first to say that I'm the greatest of. all time but you coined the phrase goat. Which incidentally I got because of Earl. the Man of Goat. Street. The street. The street. Yeah. Yeah. And put them together. But yes. Yes. Okay. When they talk about these you hear them. mention Hov and Tupac and Biggie and Nas. and Eric and Rakim and KRS-One all of. them. Wayne.

L never comes up bro. Uh. I don't know if that's true. I don't feel like that. I don't feel like that at all. No. I'm not. I'm saying I don't know I mean I and I. was thinking me and my homeboy was. talking I was like man. the man has stood the test of time for. 40. Nobody's had a career. that spans this long. okay. Everybody got the right to. entitled to their own opinion man. I. don't like What am I supposed to feel? I'm supposed to feel [ __ ] feel left. out?

Hell yeah. Why? Man you don't THINK WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT. THE GREATEST. I GOT I GOT GRAMMYS. I'm in the Rock and. Roll Hall of Fame. I mean my resume. speaks for itself. You know what I'm. saying? Like I mean the the the dudes. that they mentioned, you know, most of. them had, you know, peak success when. they at the birth of the internet. Why. would I trip off of that? And guess what? What? I grew up in the music. I started off at 16. I don't I don't I. just don't care about that [ __ ] Like it. doesn't That's not because.

Do you used to care? No, because I already believe that about. myself. That's why I coined the term. You got to remember. like they're calling everybody the term. that I created. Not a term that they So it's like, oh, you know, he's the goat. He's the goat. So for me, it's like think about it from. my end. It's like. why would I care? Why would I care? Explain to me why I would care.

Why you would care? Yeah. I think when you have the level of. success that you've had and a lot of. guys. that sentence just I think that. No no no no no no. I'm I'm I'm just. saying. I mean, when you. That's why I wouldn't care. No, but when you've had the level of. success. Right. we all want validation. That Hold on. That Grammy is validation. That Emmy you. got is validation. That walk That star. on the Walk of Fame is validation. The. Kennedy Honor Award is validation. You. don't want those? You didn't want those?

You I think you're putting them all. No no no no no. I'm just asking a simple. question. Simple yes or no will suffice. FROM A GRAMMY. HOW? IT'S DIFFERENT. IS THAT NOT validation for what you've. done? Is that the Rock and Roll Hall of. Fame? It's all validation. But you don't want that. It's all validation. don't want that. No no no no. It's all I want it all. I. want it all. WELL, SAY THAT. I WANT IT ALL. HOWEVER, HOWEVER, HOWEVER, here's the difference. You know what I mean? You're not going. to make me care about some [ __ ] just. because I got this [ __ ] It's like, yo,

I got a blue couch. I got a green couch, I got a purple couch, I got a blue. couch. You ain't going to make me care. about this [ __ ] gray couch over. here. But you want me TO WANT THE GRAY. COUCH. I GOT ALL THEM COUCHES. I DON'T. NEED THAT COUCH CUZ I GOT ALL THEM. COUCHES. YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING? BUT. YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME WANT THIS. PARTICULAR COUCH CUZ SOMEBODY ELSE'S. funky ass is sitting. SO IT'S EASIER. NO, NO. IT AIN'T ABOUT. no easy. Dog, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. Listen. When you When you When you launch.

you know a label like Def Jam. Yes. When you When you get you know, when you. you scoop up a couple of Grammys, get. nominated 11 times. when you get into the Rock & Roll Hall. of Fame, when you get Kennedy Center. Honors, when you have albums platinum in. a row, when you have all of these. accolades, when your wall is full of 10. It don't It whatever it is. 10 consecutive platinum. Yeah, whatever it is. Oh, you know, whatever it is. No, no, I I had my. people WRITE THAT. YO, WHEN YOU DO you know, you know, when. you have all of that. Yeah. you don't trip off of Like I don't see.

lack. Oh. I don't see lack. You fulfill, you got everything. I see a No, no, I see abundance, bro. Like I'm winning. What you want me to do? Like why you Why you don't want me to be. mad? Like this is why you want me to be. mad ABOUT SOME [ __ ]. YOU WANT ME TO BE MAD. I SEE WHAT IT IS. I SEE THAT YOU WANT ME. TO BE MAD. You can't be mad at that. I What am I be mad at, man? Like like. what I'm going to be mad because another. person loves Tupac? Like why would I be. mad because somebody else loves Tupac?

That's like, you know, like listen. I love I respect Bron at the highest. height. I like Jordan. Right. you're a Bron guy. Yes. I'm not mad at you for that. Right. I'm not mad at somebody cuz they love. Biggie. I'm not mad at somebody because they. think Wayne is dope because guess what? All three of them are dope. And I do respect their artistry and they. do got some hot ass [ __ ] So I can. understand that and respect that. Of. course. But that's But you got to remember. when you talk to me, you're talking to. an MC.

See, people are only thinking about the. rap career. They're not thinking about. the MC. And the one thing that the. difference is that MCs appreciate other. MCs. MCs don't That's not The thing that. people think is missing is actually. motivation and inspiration. That only. gives me the a desire to want to do. better, to make a better album, to make. more [ __ ] to make hotter [ __ ] and to. prove my case on the music. You cannot. talk your way into the Hall of Fame. You. can't talk your way into none of that. [ __ ] You can't talk your way into a.

Super Bowl championship. You have to. deliver. So, if somebody has an opposing opinion, then you got to respect that and do. something about it in the booth. But check L's resume. Homie, in term Yes, for in terms of in. terms of my personal accomplishments. because you Remember, you raised the. term validation, right? Well, I think I. got enough validation, if that's what I. was looking for. However, here's the. thing. I never said I'm looking for validation. because the whole key to MCing and the.

whole key to even life and being. successful is to be self-validated. The. validation comes when you validate. yourself. You got to have self-validation. You got. to be able to look in the mirror and. say, "I'm going to go kick ass. I'm. going to get that job interview. I'm. going to take it to the next level. I'm. going to take my life and my career and. elevate it. I'm going to go I believe in. me." When you believe in you and you you. self-reference you, when you understand. deep in your heart and in your soul that. you're capable of going to the next. level, you don't need no validation from. nobody else. I don't walk in no rooms.

wishing that somebody would say. something different. I'm who I am. You know what I'm saying? Yes. Like that That's important. Let me ask you a question. Go ahead. Is record sales, is ticket sales. validation? Does that validate a. company? Everything is Everything can be. validation or social everything. A. [ __ ] can tell you they like your. shirt and it's validation. You're going. to go buy 900 of the same [ __ ] shirt. so you keep getting validated? Validate. to give me some more. Validate me some more. Let me see if. Hey, got that validation. [ __ ]. walk about your L. Got that validation.

Got that validation for you, partner. Like, what what what are we doing? We. going to just validate like JUST BE. VALIDATED OUT? LIKE, what are we doing, man? We going to roll up some valid Got. that validation pack. You like we going to just roll up the. validation pack? You know what I mean? Yes. It's like So, IT'S LIKE IT'S JUST LIKE, YO, LISTEN, MAN. It's nothing wrong Listen, I love. awards just like the next man. I love. accolades like the next man, and I. respect them, too. And I respect all of. those bodies that get bestowed those. honors on me. I really do. And you do have millions of people who.

think that LL is the goat. It doesn't. matter whether they they show up in this. poll or that survey or whatever because. I see them every day in the comments. Right. Every day. Every day. If you go on my. comments right now on YouTube and you. look at Passion, you'll see it. But, the. point is how do you feel about you? How. do you feel about your game? When you step on the court, when you. step on the field, are you on your. A-game? Are you maximizing your. potential? Are you to be in the best. that you can be? When you bone up for. that bar exam, are you being are you on. your A-game? You know what I'm saying?

Do you need somebody to tell you you. look great today? Like, this is real [ __ ]. Right. So, when on this album the on the four. the fourth that's coming out. Yeah. you believe that you laid your best work. down. Thus far, yeah. I do. And you sleep good at night knowing that. this this is the best work you've done. Absolutely. Absolutely. [ __ ] is hot. I. love it. And that don't mean everybody got to. like it. I love it. Yeah. Yeah. Have there ever been an album that you. put out that you like.

this [ __ ]. Hey, this going this going to rock and. didn't get the commercial success that. you thought it would? No. No, because. you know, I make different types of. albums, and you know, you have some that. perform at a higher level than others, but you know, that's okay. You pouring. the water like it's liquor. That's all good. I'm going to make you. got to keep you hydrated. I got to keep. you hydrated. See, I see how you do it, man. You you. you you you you like I get it now. I get. it now.

Nah. Nah, nah, Shan. Nah, I just. I just do what I do, you know what I'm. saying? It's like. It's kind of like sports. Art is. different from sports because you can. keep doing it a longer time. With that. being said, it's kind of like you have. seasons where you win the championship. You have seasons where it blows up. You. have seasons where you have a great. season. You have seasons where your.

numbers you look at them like You have a. season where it explodes again. It doesn't mean you're not a pro. You. are professional throughout. You're. still a pro. You but your whole career. you had different You had your peak. You had different seasons, but you were. still a pro. You felt like a pro though. every year, regardless. You know, maybe. you tweaked the ankle. Maybe something. was hammy was, you know, whatever. It's all good. Nah, I feel good. You were in the studio when Biggie. recorded Who Shot Ya, correct? Absolutely. Did What what was going through your.

mind? Cuz it's interesting cuz I like. hearing when people like in the studio. and they seeing other artists do their. thing, their craft. I mean, obviously. like Tupac I don't think Tupac like Hov. don't write don't write anything. I. mean, Lil Wayne and Hov they don't they. just go off the top of their head. And I. don't know if Biggie had anything down. on paper, but it's interesting to see. cuz when I went to the Pro Bowl I like. to see other guys like, "Okay, I can. understand why he's like he is. I can. understand why they're like that." So, you're in the studio and you're seeing. Biggie and he's recording Who Shot Ya. What what was it like? Did you Did you.

know that album was going to do that. song was going to do. I thought it was great. I thought it was. dope. And I'm just sitting there vibing. with him, you know what I'm saying? I. mean, I just asked him, "Yo, Big, why. you smoke so much weed?". He said, "Cuz it make me feel like I'm. in the track. You know what I mean?". Right. It was fun. It was just a vibe. We was. just vibing. You man, want to get some. water? Yeah, it was just a vibe. You. know what I'm saying? we we we we keep you hydrated. Yeah, hey, hey, hey. Give me Give me yo. Yo, yeah, yeah. Yeah, we we. Nah, nah, that was it. He was just. vibing. You know what I'm saying? He.

was, you know, putting his putting his. thing together. Putting I watched him. put it together. You know, who shot you? Separate the. weak from the oppressor. You know what I. mean? It was crazy. It was dope. Did you pass on two tracks with Biggie? Pass on them? What do you mean? Like he recorded like you were supposed. to do those. You were supposed to be on. those. No. No. That's not true. That's not true? No. No, I didn't pass on no no no tracks. from Biggie. So, Sky's the Limit, Junior Mafia, Players Anthem you didn't. No, but you know what? Now, if did the. producer send it to me on a beat tape or. something? I don't know. They might.

have. They might remember that more than. me. Right. You know what I mean? Right. Like like sometimes you'll have. producers they'll send a put a tape. together with a bunch of beats on it or. CD back then at that era. Right. Send it to you. I might have heard it. and didn't But it don't matter because I. probably wasn't going to do nothing with. it anyway. Like what Biggie did on it. was what was supposed to be. Okay. Okay. I'm looking at your you looked at. Jennifer Lopez, Run DMC, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, 112, so many more in the. studio. Like when you go in the studio. and you work with these different. artists, do you pick up anything from.

the how they do it like you said Big. Biggie smoked a lot of weed. What's LL's. vibe in the studio? Um. Water. Flowing. Protein protein bars. yeah, yeah, yeah. Protein oatmeal with. protein on top of it. You like that? Right before you go in the studio with. no milk or water. Real dry. And I just. get it in. DON'T. YEAH, LIKE THAT. IS THAT BETTER? JUST DRY. JUST. WHAT'S LL'S WHAT'S LL's vibe in the. studio? just just. You just go in there. I extract all the fun out that.

[ __ ] I If there's some fun, get. rid of that [ __ ] Hey, there's some fun. Ha, get rid OF THE FUN. HA, YEAH, just. yeah. So, I mean so so you going to the. studio, obviously, you got the I mean, like. when you doing let's let's just say for. the sake of argument, mama going to. knock you out. Right. Like. Mama said knock you out. I'm I'm I'm in a game and when the when. the game like I'm having one of those. games, yo, Uh-huh. I don't hear nothing. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's like it's like everything. is just like moving in slow motion.

That's how I FEEL RIGHT NOW. IT'S LIKE. ALL [ __ ] IS MOVING IN SLOW MOTION, BRO. that Is that how you Is that how like. when you go in the studio and you get on. a you get in the zone? We get in the zone, man. You get in the. zone and um. you know, sometimes you can write. conscious streaming It's like streaming. consciousness. Sometimes you um can go. back and forth and iterate, kind of like. Ernest Hemingway. Mhm. Um. it all depends. You know what I'm. saying?

Um and you know, it also depends on who. you're working in the studio with. Oh, okay. Because that, you know, 1 + 1 can equal. 3, 1 + 1 can equal 2, 1 + 1 can equal 4. It really depends cuz there um. intangible elements that come to play. when two artists get in the studio. together. You know what I'm saying? So, um. yeah, that's what it is. You know, something can like. like person might be playing a beat and. I might look a certain way and they're. like, "Mhm, I need to change that. baseline." Just cuz the way I looked or. I I might say a verse to somebody and.

they're like they kind of like, "Okay.". And I'm like, "Mhm, that didn't He. didn't feel it. Let me. You know what I'm saying? So, it. depends. It really depends on, you know, who you're working with. But uh in the. studio, my thing is that. I approach it like I've never done. anything. Interesting. You know what I'm saying? Like like. You still you like I'm still. it like I I've never done anything. Ever. Ever. I know nothing about the process. So, if. I'm working with a producer, it's like, "What you thinking?".

I've I've never done anything. Wow. You know what I'm saying? Like. that's how I approach it. You know what. I'm saying? I don't I don't go in with a. like a whole bunch of I know how to do. this and I know how to do that. You know. what I'm saying? Who is it. LL. been on the track with that you like I. really like I really like the way he. vibe. Who haven't you been on the track. with that you like to be on the track. with? You. I think we should do like a.

[ __ ] like a real up-tempo Let. It Roll. Get both. We should remix Set. It Off by Big. 256-year-old. can't be on no rap album. That's [ __ ]. No, hell no. Oh, here you go with your [ __ ]. Don't be holding me TO YOUR STANDARDS. I KNOW. I SAID TWO. ONE. ONE. ONE. ONE. LISTEN, MAN. Don't No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I got nothing to do with that. That's your own personal hell. No, I'm saying you because of the old. clues. I know I don't wrote me into that. I know how you feel. No, I feel fresh. I feel fresh. I've heard you say that a lot of people.

after they reach a certain age say they. feel like they don't have anything to. rap about so they No, no, you've heard. other people say that. You comment on. that. No, no, you comment on that. No, I'm. saying they say it. I'm not saying you. said it. That's but that's just. You have to stay curious about the world. and interested in the world. See, the. difference people make a lot of music. They make a lot of analog analogies or. meta- They try to use sports as a. metaphor or or make it analogous to. music and art, but it's different. because as long as I stay curious, as.

long as spiritually I'm I'm open, as. long as I listen to new things that are. happening, as long as I care, as long as. I'm really interested in pushing the. envelope creatively, I can do anything. Mhm. There's no reason. Like because at the. end of the day, if I'm 19 if I'm 20, the. only thing that matters is when I press. play, do I like that [ __ ]. Okay. That's the only thing that matters. So, do you feel that should be the only. thing that matters right now? Well, it is the only thing that. ultimately matters. I mean, it you you. might have a few that are little.

resistant or hesitant early on, but. ultimately when they press play and they. like it, they going with it. People going to rock to the [ __ ] that's. hot. A lot of dudes a lot of older dudes. don't want to you know respect that. You know like people going to rock to. what's hot, man. You going to you going to you going to. be a up on the stage like Mick Jagger? You god damn right. Absolutely. Can't wait to do it. I. started WEARING ROLLING STONES T-SHIRT. TODAY. AND THAT'S FACTS. That's facts. Absolutely. You know what. I'm saying? Yes.

I do. Absolutely. You know what I mean? You. think you you know like let me tell you. something. If you have fresh fresh legs, if your. legs felt fresh and your back felt. fresh, you wouldn't be out there? That's a yes. No. Yeah, he was. I ain't going to lie yo. I cuz I I. retired at 35 and I felt fresh, but L. them they started they they started. moving too fast and them knees. You You heard what you just said, right? Yeah. You heard what you just said, right? Yeah. Yeah. You made it external, but. your body you was Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Well, me. Well, see I had already been a. validator. I had already been validated. You know what I'm saying? I got them. Super Bowls. I got the bronze. I want to. validate bronze together right now. You. know what I'm saying? You already know it. Well, well he's 20s so he's 20 something. years old. 22nd 22nd year to coming up. All right. So. still doing it? Oh yeah. Yeah. He's still He's still But. see like you, you still have a passion. to ride. You still have a passion to get. on the stage. You still having a passion. to pack that stuff up. Live live in a. suitcase. Live out of a suitcase and go. country to country. Little suitcase. Tiny ass suitcase.

Little tiny ass suitcase with a whole. bunch of [ __ ] in it. And buying clothes as you go along. Yeah, just buying [ __ ] T-shirts out the. airport. God. Nasty. How about this? I love New York. I'm good. Now you you know. where's the show tonight? How do you feel about sampling? Love it. You cool? I cuz think didn't Biggie I'm. going back to Cali didn't he. Yeah, I mean he didn't sample it but he. it was an interpolation going back to. Cali. I mean Ye has done like a lot of.

people use my stuff all the time. Yeah. You know, I don't you do you tell. anybody no? Yeah. Yeah. And then you know oh I hate it. Yeah. Well, yeah, yeah, I got to hate. Yeah, I'm a big hater. You know, I'm the. biggest hater in the game. You know what. I mean? Oh yeah. That's my my go-to move is just hate on. some [ __ ] Yo, you trying to be. successful? [ __ ] that. Yeah. No, stop that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, cut that off. How do you determine who you let sample. and who you say no to? I mean, you know, if it sounds like dog. [ __ ] I'll probably say no.

Oh, so they got to let you hear it they. GOT YOU GOT TO HEAR IT FIRST? WHAT YOU. THINK? HEY, I'm going to go send you the check. first. Man, [ __ ] A CHECK. IT'S ABOUT A CHECK FIRST. LET ME HEAR THAT RECORD, MAN. You ain't even You ain't even going to. use my cuz they going to They going to. mess around and tell them about that. here. You talking about validation? I can get. a cheeseburger, You know, we can talk money later but I. can get your boy your boy can get a. cheeseburger. So, let me let me let me. hear the song. Right. Let's start there. Okay. Okay, let's start with the song. Let me. hear it.

Okay. and then we go from there. Right. And you know, and I but I give them. love, man. Like I don't I try not to be. too brutal with the with the especially. with the young artists when they make. new music. I don't want to like over. judge them. I don't want to A&R their. material. I mean, if it's just like. I can't take it. I'm like nah, I ain't. playing. I can't do it. But if it's. borderline, sometimes I give them a. pass, you know what I'm saying? Because. I I feel like. I would want somebody they may have a a. you know, a kind of approach I don't. understand or something. So, I give them.

that. You know what I mean? You give them. benefit of the doubt. I give them benefit of the doubt. I. don't I I don't want to you know, I. don't I want to see kids make it. I like. to see people succeed, you know what I'm. saying? I like that. I really do, man. Like it it. I just like even on my new album, I got. a song called The Vow. I put three new. kids on it that are unknown. You know, this kid Don Pablito, he's from. Southside Queens. This kid. Mad Squabbles from Philly and this kid. Jay Sand from Lafayette, Louisiana. And. I got all three of them and they all the. new song and and we found them on the.

internet, me and Q-Tip, and I put them. on it. I made a vow because I got the. M&M's on the album. I got Snoop Dogg and. Nas and all of these, you know, Ross and. Joe and all of these superstar heavy. hitters, goats and, you know, artists on. there. So, it's like let me get some. people that haven't. who've never had that opportunity. opportunity. I made that vow. And so, I. I really love seeing other people win, too. You know what I'm saying? You know? Do you feel that that's a responsibility. for artists that have made it to go back. and possibly give other artists that's.

up and coming an opportunity? You know what's funny, Shannon? I know. the. the politically correct answer is for me. to say yes. Mhm. I think the real answer is to say a. artist needs to do what they feel. inspired to do. That's the real answer, dog. You know. what I'm saying? Like, I could say, "Yeah, you know, it's a responsibility.". And everybody be. But that's not like it's Are you. inspired to do that? Like, I was truly. inspired to give those kids an. opportunity. I didn't sign them. I didn't It was no BS attached to it.

There's There was no contingencies, no. strings. I just wanted to give them an. opportunity. And so, yeah, I that's how I move. You know what. I'm saying? Does that make sense? Yes. You know, and then so, like. I think artists, you know, like like my. new album, my only obligation was to. be purely inspired and write from the. heart and create something, whether it. was imaginary, whether it was fiction, whether it was fact, or what whatever. mixture thereof. Just to give people a home-cooked meal.

that they can really enjoy. You know. what I'm saying? And that's what the. album is. You know what I'm saying? I want to talk about this new album cuz. then I want to get into a little bit of. your your career outside of music. Okay. The Force. Yeah. Your first album in 11 years, your 14th. studio album. You have Eminem, you have. Nas, Snoop Dogg, Ross, Fat Joe, Buster, Saweetie. Q-Tip produced the entire. album. Yeah. What motivated L after 11 years. to go back in the studio, roll his sleeves up. Yeah.

and do it up? Roll them shits up the hill. Cut them, you know, make sure them cats. is. What What What was the motivation? Man, one, I really love it. Mhm. Two, I love the challenge. Cuz it it just hasn't been done. Nobody, you know, in hip-hop is, you. know, been in year 40 dropping heat. I just think that's really cool [ __ ]. You know what I mean? To just be in year. 40 dropping heat is crazy.

You know, like. I. It hasn't been done. It excites me. And. I like what it sets up for the for the. future generations. Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like it it says to them it's possible. Like I went to a Rolling Stones concert. and I saw Mick Jagger. I was like, "Yo.". I was actually playing with the lights. that, you know, they had a part in the. show. I was working the lights. I'm. messing with the lights on Mick. I'm. like, "Yo, this is, you know." And it. was like. it was just like. It just shows the possibility. He approaching 80, isn't he? He's 81.

All right. He's 81. L, you really trying to be up. there another 24 years? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, man. Why not? Why not? Would Would Would. Would Would it make people happier if I. just I'm just sitting down, you know, relaxing? At the end of the day, you got to make. what it will make you happy. So they can pretend in their minds that. I'm somehow in their way. It's like, "Motherfucker, you wasn't. going to do [ __ ] no way.". You acting like I'm in your way. Like, "Oh, if L would just stop, then I can. succeed." I don't think so, homie. So.

it's like, nah, yo, I love it, man. Yeah. I love what I do. I love hip-hop, man. I love Like I love being called a. rapper. I love being called a MC. I'm. not uncomfortable with that and I. unapologetically love it. I don't have. to hide behind any of my other business. dealings. I don't have to hide behind. anything. It's I love hip-hop. who you are. I love hip-hop. You know what I'm. saying? And when you see me, you getting. that hip-hop [ __ ] And that's what it. That's what's walking in the room when I. walk in. I mean, I'm I'm a man first and. a lover of God and the God in me and the.

God above first. That being said, and I. love my family, but that being said, I. love hip-hop. You know what I'm saying? I I can't think of a better person to. ask than you because you was at the the. very beginning in early '80s. Obviously, hip-hop been around 50 years, but you've. been. like almost 50 years. Is rap dying? Well, you know, we got to edit this [ __ ] cuz. you can't pause and think anymore cuz. everybody thinks a pause is pregnant and. you get a.

You giving birth to the worst answer. ever. You know, so you know, like or if. you stumble on a word or the answer is. like cap. You know, you know, it ain't. got nothing to do with my mouth being. dry and the fire was hot as hell. I've. been needing Chapstick for 15 minutes. That's nothing to do with that. It's all. cap. You know, that being said, that being said, you know what I mean? No physiological issues at all. It's all. just emotional capping. They don't realize that an interview. that you don't get the questions. You. having to answer questions as they come. out. So, I didn't get a script.

Yeah. You know, you know, if I flub a line, don't take. it as a lie or I'm capping, okay? So, that being said, um. I think it's evolving. because I think that. remember, the the the the the hip-hop that a lot. of people were. know about. that that emerged early on was rooted in. hip-hop culture. The rap was rooted in. hip-hop culture. Yes. The So, the rap that's rooted in hip-hop. culture ain't going nowhere. Okay. The.

rap that's rooted in hip-hop culture is. still strong, is still solid, and that's. why you have people putting out albums. and that day one audience loving it. Rap. that's not as rooted in the purity of. the culture, it can be. different because it's very pop now. And you know, there just a lot of. different variables. You know what I mean? There's. so many variables, man. Something as. simple as. a producer not being musically trained. but sampling people who are musically.

and thus keeping the integrity of a. sound recording and that sound recording. hitting people in their souls because. they are musically trained people apart. or a part of the creation. Whereas if you're just tinkering on a. laptop and you're not musically trained, it's going to you may catch a vibe and. catch a moment, but it's not sonically. the same. I don't want to get. complicated with people cuz it'll drive. me insane. Basically, what I'm saying is. don't make [ __ ]. That was a way to go all the way left.

I'm telling YOU WITH YOUR. DON'T make [ __ ] You know what I. mean? He's like, "Let me Let me just put. it in language that people can. understand. Don't make [ __ ]. Right. You know, and it's just like, you know, Nah, it ain't dying, man. Nah, it you. know, it's just like it grows and it. evolves. It ain't the newest thing no. more. Right. There's subcultures. Afrobeat has. exploded. Reggaeton and and and the. Latin music has exploded. There other. genres that are blowing up. So, it ain't. the young upstart anymore. There's. genres that are. younger and fresher in that sense, but.

not it ain't it ain't It's just. evolving. You know, but the thing is. it's just like, look, man, with these dudes and and with these guys. and these girls, like we you know, if we. going to only rap about, you know, money and pee only? Only? Yes. Get a little exhausting, babe. Right. It's like, how many time How many. different ways you going to tell me. about that pee, baby? Yeah. Yeah. You know what I mean? Hey, hey, hey, by. By way, I BELIEVE YOU.

OH, I BELIEVE YOU. OH, NO, I BELIEVE. YOU. YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YOU YOU YOU I'LL TAKE. YOUR WORD FOR IT. I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT. YOU MIGHT. HAVE TO remix that [ __ ] though when you. talk about something else this week. Right. Just once. Right. It's just a It's just a thought. Right. Hey, just a thought. Rap about something. other than the P. Just a thought. Just But then the flip side of that is. if I'm going to talk about money on. every song only. and nothing else. Right. Or running down on the. Well, I mean, look, those are all parts. of life, but it's also You know, a dude. told me this a long time ago, very. talented super producer. He said,

"Things can be in bad taste as long as. they don't taste bad.". Mhm. What he was basically trying to say is. you could talk about all the things that. we just talked about, but it's the art. Are you injecting art into it? Right. Is it being Is it artful storytelling? Is it artful Is it an artful approach? Or is it just the same old same old? But that's where, you know, it's not about criticizing. what's going on. Right. It's about if you have a different. opinion, then you need to get in the. booth.

Right. Right? So, like my thing is if Oh, LL, you feel different? You think it should. be something Well, then get in the booth. and prove it. Don't tell us what to do. Don't tell us how to make Make the music. that you think, you know, should be. leading the way. Mhm. And then we'll decide from there. Right. So, I go kind of more in that space. Last couple minutes, I want to go. L. I don't want to. What made you decide to say, "You know. what? I've mastered this rap. I don't know if. you use the term master, but I've done a. lot in this game of rap.

Let me try TV. Let me try movies.". How did you come to that How did you. come to that conclusion? Well, a couple of things. One, when you got more than one talent, you. use it. And then two, I just didn't want. to be a slave to music. I wanted to be able to express myself in. different areas. and have the freedom to benefit. from what I do. See, I'm in a position where I can do, you know, many things. I can do many things.

and I'm grateful for that. And I have. many relationships, great relationships. with great people. And they all give me. love and I give them love and I'm able. to work with different people, different industries, and that's a lot. of fun. I just didn't want to limit. myself. Right. Shannon, I didn't want to limit myself. You know what I'm saying? When did you realize that you had that. you could do other things? Because it. seemed to me like early on you like, "Okay, I yeah, I like the fight. I like. boxing, but I ain't really want to be no. boxer." Now, the NFL thing, if that. could have worked out, I could have been. that. But you like the rap. Yeah. It's like your heart was into that. And.

now all of a sudden you like, "Well, hey, TV interests me, too. And so do the. movies.". Yeah. So, um. I mean, the short answer, um. man, I just. I just, you know, I just decided that I. was just going just make it happen. I'm. just a dreamer, Shannon. Right. I'm just a dreamer, bro. Like I'm a dreamer. I'm one of them. dudes that like if I dream about. something, if I say I'm going to do. something, I do it, man.

And I just go get it. Right. And I don't I don't I'm relentless, man. I'm relentless. See, that's the thing. that people don't understand. I'm. relentless, man. Like I'm the guy like. if I tell you, "Yo, if I tell you, "Yo, it's 7 years, I'm going to be hiding in your bushes on. May 11th, [ __ ] you better On May 11th, you better be ready in the for them. bushes, bro.". Right. And it might be the bushes across the. street on me. Uh so, don't You know what. I mean? So, I'm like that dude. Right. And so, so it's like. I just loved it. I see a lot of I see a lot of myself in.

you, Al. You strike me as a guy. that. you worked extremely hard to get to a. level. And a lot of times people work. extremely hard to get to a level and. they're okay with that. You worked. extremely hard to get to that level and. worked even harder to go even higher. And and want to just keep going. And want to just keep growing and keep. going and keep getting it. Because guess. what? Apple trees don't retire, bro. You. from the country. When a peach tree retires, it's dead. Yeah, for true. For. What do we peach tree Oh, I'm not I'm.

I'm you know, I don't feel like giving. up no peaches this week. I'm going to. chill this season. I'm going to take a. season off. Yeah, you only get a couple years not to. bear no fruit. They got to chop you. down. You feel me? You see what I'm saying? Yeah. You keep bearing fruit in life. So, whatever that fruit chooses to be. You. could be a mechanic. You could be a girl. doing hair. You could be a doctor. You could be a. surgeon. You could be a a lawyer. You could be a. damn mechanic or, you know, you could. work a baggage handler at the airport. It don't matter. Whatever it is that you. do in your life,

you want to take care of your kids. You. want to take care of yourself. You want to put yourself through class. You want to take an online class. You. Whatever it is. You bear fruit in life. You know what I'm saying? You maximize. your personal potential. You here doing this. A lot of lot of big whole of, you know, guys like you, high-level athletes, they just. let it go. You ain't let it go? No. Why you ain't let it go? Cuz you wanted. more. Right. How much is enough? More. Right. It's not about So, it's like we're in.

this world to maximize our potential. Right. I'm not here to pretend to like not to. be too cool to have goals. I ain't got time for that [ __ ] I want. it all. I'm going to get you out of here on. this. I think. you accomplished so much. in the music industry, film industry, Yeah. television, you're an entrepreneur. Yeah. L, I'll be honest with you. I think the. most impressive thing, you've been the same woman for damn near. 40 years.

Yeah. I know my audience want to know. how when you the success that you've. enjoyed for 40 years. And. a lot of times when one individual wants. to be successful, the other individual. must be willing to sacrifice maybe their. goals and what to stand behind that. person and push them forward. Well, look, what I do is this, man. If there are times when I need to. go in my room and close the door and and.

relax and take a break, I know when to take a break. Okay. All. right. That being said, when it comes to. helping somebody pursue their dreams, Mhm. helping them become. whatever it is they need want to become, helping them be the business woman or. career that have the career they want to. have, I'm willing to help and encourage. that. And that not only goes for Simone, it also goes for my daughters, my son, and all of them. Right. So, it's a matter of being helpful when. I need to be and take a space for me. when I need to. You know what I'm. saying? So, I'm not above taking some.

space. I'm telling you. I'm that guy. Oh, okay. I'll take some space. Right. That being. said, I'mma be there. I'mma help. I'mma. do everything I can to encourage you to. go to the next level in your life, and. I'mma be supportive all along the way. because I want you to be. successful and independent and able to. take your life to the next level. And. that's what I do. How did you know she was the one, L? Because you knew what you wanted to. become. You saw You saw the future. You.

saw like I'mma do this. You don't know. You don't know. And there is no answer to. There ain't no right answer. no answer to. So, people be lying when they tell you. oh yeah, Uh uh. These is your little thirst bucket ass. dudes. I knew she was the one, dog. Yo, you know what, man? Yo, you like that skirt? Cut that [ __ ] out. These dudes You don't. know. I Listen, you know, some things. are best just, you know, let them be Let time answer them. questions. You know what I'm saying? I. just put it like this, man. In life,

man, we got to maximize our potential. Mhm. We got to be, you You you want to be the. best human being you could be. Um you got to have faith in God, faith. in yourself. And you got you know. You also got to allow some things to. happen in your life. It's not only about. hard work. It's about actually tuning. into the frequency that's going to allow. some good things to happen to you. And. it's also wanting the best and wanting. to see other people succeed. You know what I'm saying? Like it's just like when you called me. when you called me the first time about. this podcast it was just an idea. This.

is before all of the big interviews and. the blow up and all that. I had already. said yes. Yeah. So you got people watching this all I. don't want to get on Shannon now that. they hot. This was 3 years in the making. Yo, but see but that's the You said it. but I'm just saying you you know what I. mean? So it's like letting You got to. let life. happen. You got to let life happen man and if. you tuned into the right frequency good. things will happen. And so you ain't got. to be. Like I don't try to be perfect. You know. what I'm saying? I don't claim to be. perfect. You know what I'm saying? I'm not that. guy. I also don't claim to be like you.

know off my rocker. You know, I'm not going to ruin my life. just to be successful. It's just like. cuz that's not success, right? So I'm. not going to be publicly I'm not going. to publicly ruin personally ruin my life. to have public success. You know what I. mean? Right. You just kind of live and that's what I. do. You know what I'm saying? And then take care of them kids. Make sure they can take care of. themselves. And then just give the people love. That's it. How do you. What I struggle with Al is that.

tough men. create easy times. Mhm. Easy times create weak kids. Yeah. How do you How did you balance you being. who you are. but also like you saying trying to raise. kids to let realize that you know. just because you're my child that. doesn't mean it's going to be as perfect. or and it's never was perfect. I get it. I get it. How How How did you do that?

I mean. the real thing is like. don't ask me for nothing that ain't. attached to a dream. Oh, wow. You know what I mean? I'm not here to be. your personal, you know, concierge. service. So, your video games is all, you know, that ain't my job. Right. Like, you know, my kids growing up, they. ain't even have TVs in their rooms. I. wouldn't let them. Wow. Why? Because I wanted them to use their. imaginations. Imaginations. Because that's the where you get the. preview of life's coming attractions,

right? Their imaginations. We good. We. good. You know what I'm saying? That's. where we That's right? Yeah. So, I didn't They have TVs in their. room. And then, it's like. Okay. Custodial account. Yeah, I'mma do all. that. Yeah. Yeah, we're going to hook it. up. But, what's the dream? What's the. goal? I'm not here to buy you a bunch of. shoes. I'm not tricking on my kids. Right. grow up tricking on them. Mhm. You know, and also encouraging them to. be creative. And what do I mean by. creativity? I'm not talking about just.

the arts. I'm talking about in life. You You know what I'm saying? Like. that's a real important. factor. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because. if they don't have that inner desire to. create, you you'll have rich bums. You know what I'm saying? Cuz it's easy. to Like, listen, man. You know, money doesn't. make you more of a man.

Like, you can have all the money in the. world, be goofy as hell. Right. And you just be at restaurants eating. with people and eating with, you know, you'll be eating with a girl and she's. just there cuz she like the scenery and. [ __ ]. Mhm. You know what I mean? Like, you could be. goofy and rich. Easy. You know what I mean? So, you can also. be A kid can be from a wealthy. background and be a bum. Because their mentality. Right. They got a bum mentality. My kids don't. have that. My kids have a wealthy. mentality. Their spirits are rich. Right. Because I you know, when I was when they.

was 8, 9 years old, I was taking them. down to the stock exchange, going around. the back, showing them, "Oh, yeah, all. the meat, trillions of dollars go. through here." Just so they could see. what was going on. You know what I mean? Teaching them. about being entrepreneurial, teaching. them about spirits. And now, you know, you know, the spirit. And now, you know, one has her denim line, and another. works with me at Rock the Bells and my. company, and another one has her skin. line, and and and their mother has their. jewelry line. Right. You know, like all of them are working. and doing different things. them have their dreams, didn't you?

Because people ask me about my kid, they. say, "Well, your son didn't play. football." I said, "That was my dream. That wasn't his.". 100%. I want them to live their life. Yeah. Cuz I got an opportunity to live mine. Yeah, that's why I didn't name my son a. junior. You know, and I'm a third, by the way. So, he would have. You could have been a fourth. He would have been a fourth. And then you could have been a fifth or. I know, but I. You stopped it, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I want him. because I. That's too old to be. You know, that's too old a order. Like, you know, I want him to be his his own. man. man. You know I'm so I'm the third, you know.

James Smith, like like probably the. 14,000th, but that's a whole another. goddamn. That's a whole another show. Yes, Smith. But yeah, yeah. The votes count, man. But I was the third, so it's like. But yeah, that's the thing, man. Just. teaching them to dream. And not spoiling them. Like, you know, like I'm not with that, man. Like I you. know, like people like I'm low. maintenance, man. High expectations, Shannon. Wow. what I like that. Low maintenance, high. expectations. No question. You know, I don't I don't. need require a lot of pampering and.

preening and all that [ __ ] but I. want the best in the world. I want to I. need luxury around me. I want to feel. but with with an asterisk of not all. that extra. that comes along with it. Yeah, man, it's corny. It's boring. Or you leading with your wallet. You. know, you trying to you know, tell. everybody you got money, so that's why. they should like you. It's like, come. on, man. Like, who are you inside, bro? You know, when I'm in the gym and we. sitting there on the bench or we talking. or we, you know, we we doing some curl. and and ain't about your your bank. account. You know, when we Can we just have a.

conversation, man? Can we just have a. conversation, bro? Like, you know, I. know you got your contract, big dog. Congratulations, doc. Congratulations, doc. You know what I mean? But. so that's kind of like how I live my. life. And when I look at artists, when I. look at my kids, when I look at human. beings, when I look at people, I come. from that space. What up? You know what. I'm saying? Like nothing changed like, you know, except yes, I've evolved, but I haven't changed in terms of my. view of human beings. I still love. people. You know what I mean? The one and only. The album is The album.

out? The album September 6th. September 6th, The Force. Frequencies of real creative energy. Almost 50 years in the game, the one and. only LL Cool J. Peace. Ah. My man. Love it, bro. Awesome. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, pay the price. Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life. All my life, I've been grinding all my. life. Sacrifice, hustle, pay the price.

Want a slice, got to roll the dice, that's why. All my life, I've been. grinding all my life.