LL Cool J is a true hip-hop legend who doesn’t need to prove his impact on the culture. Right now, he’s in the spotlight promoting his new album and sharing some strong opinions. On the Club Shay Shay podcast, LL stated he deserves a spot on the Def Jam artist Mount Rushmore. Although Shannon Sharpe mentioned other big names like JAY-Z and DMX, LL is confident he should be top of the list.
When asked by Sharpe which four artists define Def Jam, LL quickly responded with, “It’s LL, Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, and Slick Rick.” These choices are hard to disagree with since they were all big names in the 1980s and helped shape hip-hop. LL Cool J was the first major solo artist to cross over and the first artist signed to Def Jam, so he feels he has earned his place on the list. But Sharpe didn’t stop there.
Sharpe brought up other famous Def Jam artists like JAY-Z, Kanye, Rihanna, DMX, Ludacris, and Nas. LL Cool J wasn’t fazed, pointing out that JAY-Z joined Def Jam much later, about ten years after he did. LL also mentioned a past disagreement with JAY-Z, including a 1996 parking lot rap battle. While LL admitted the battle happened, he said he had already rapped with JAY’s partner before facing JAY, claiming to have worn him out.
LL Cool J and JAY-Z have never worked together, and their comments about each other often include subtle digs. In an Out of Context interview, LL cleared up a rumor that he dissed JAY-Z in his song “Loungin.” He said he wouldn’t have had a reason to diss JAY-Z back in 1996 because JAY wasn’t well-known enough at the time. LL bluntly asked, “What could I possibly want with him in 1996?”
