LL Cool J on Legacy, New Music, and the Future of Hip-Hop

LL Cool J's one artist whose name truly carries weight. In 1985, he became the first artist at 16 on the Def Jam label with his debut album "Radio".  Later he would drop the classics like "I Need Love," "Mama Said Knock You Out," and "I'm Bad" that catapulted his career.  He later appeared in the movie “Krush Groove” celebrating Def Jam.  

With a music career that spans several decades, LL Cool J made himself one of the most enduring and influential artists in hip-hop history. In addition to his music career, LL Cool J has had a successful acting career.  In 1995 he starred in a situational comedy role in the TV series “In the House”.   With numerous films and television shows, his most notable role was Special Agent Sam Hanna on the TV series "NCIS: Los Angeles.  LL would also host the Grammy Awards and the Spike TV show "Lip Sync Battle."

I had a chance to catch up with LL to discuss his journey through the rap and movie industry and how things have changed.  LL mentioned that although the industry has evolved, he still managed to grow to become a better artist for the culture and the state of rap. Some of LL Cool J’s rap accolades include being a 2 tie Grammy award winner, being a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame, a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, a New York Times-selling author, the first hip hop artist to receive a Kennedy Center Honor, 30 million records sold, and the list goes on.

Today he is celebrating 40 years in hip hop, collaborating with Q-Tip to make his next hit record.  The song features Fat Joe and Rick Ross, called Saturday Night Special.  LL mentioned how the road to becoming a good artist has its ups and downs, but through the years, he has always remained consistent.

As we dive into the 50th anniversary of hip hop, we are taking a look at the artists who have made huge impacts on the industry and culture, and today we take a look at De La Soul.

The group from Long Island, New York started up in 1988, and came out of the gate strong.

De La Soul consisted of hip hop legends Kelvin "Psodnous" Mercer, David "Trugoy the Dove" Jolicoeur, and Vincent "Maseo" Mason. Trugoy the Dove sadly died in February of 2023, after battling heart issues for several years. Just days before his death, the group performed on the Grammy Awards, but without him present.

"You were the heart of our group. You brought so much creativity, energy, and passion to our music, and your influence will be felt for years to come," the group said in an Instagram post after his death. "Your passing is a great loss not only to us, but also to the entire hip-hop community. You were a true artist who used music to inspire and uplift others, and you will be deeply missed by all who knew you."

The first album from the group, "3 Feet High and Rising," was a smash success and catapulted them to stardom. They were key members of the Native Tongues Posse, alongside Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest and others.

The band's second album, "De La Soul is Dead," is where they cemented their presence as icons of the genre. We profiled that album here.

Here's a look back at De La Soul over the years.