bigted

Send an email to MTV like I did if you're upset that they don't mention Will and need to get it off your chest :stickpoke: Like I said earlier the reason why I think people sleep on Fresh Prince as an mc is 'cause he ain't 'hood like 99% of the rappers they mention: "Even though the fans went out and bought enough/I guess they think Will ain't hard enough/Maybe I should just have a shootout..." Also I think it's 'cause Fresh Prince never really battled any famous mcs, the reason why LL gets mentioned is 'cause he destroyed Canibus and Kool Moe Dee, if it wasn't for that they'd sleep on LL too, maybe if Fresh Prince destroyed Eminem in 2000 maybe when he was called out people'd have a change of heart but my god though how many gangsta rappers have 4/5(maybe even 6 if I throw "Homebase" in discussion?) classic albums in their catalogs spanning 20 years? Maybe Ice Cube if you count NWA's early stuff and they mention him no doubt, LL ain't a gangsta rapper but we all know that LL has quite a bit of classics himself too but like I said earlier if he didn't respond to Kool Moe Dee or Canibus who knows if he'd even be mentioned, he'd be slept on like Will.... Obviously those who can't recognise that are 12 year olds who watch MTV, Fresh Prince got more classics than Em got albums, there should be no debate that he's top 10, most from his era don't even make albums now but he's probably one of the best today and he was one of the best then, Will coulda stopped when he won the first rap grammy and have his legacy set with 2 classic albums and going into acting full time but he just kept going strong: "Rock The House" "He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper" "Code Red" "Big Willie Style"(maybe not 'cause of weak production on some traxs) "Willenium" "Lost and Found"(same as "Big Willie Style")

http://community.allhiphop.com/showthread....581447#poststop Basically they're all saying the same thing we're saying, DMX's dissing Jay-Z/La Reid(Def Jam management) for having them jack 'Switch' for Rhianna's first ever single and releasing that before his single last summer, he also says I line in that verse making fun of La Reid wearing Chinese Slippers so it's obvious that was his intentions

Yeah I really don't think the list is as bad as it could be, I was just implying that just 'cause FP wasn't mentioned on the list doesn't mean that he don't deserve to be, MTV don't really give that many pioneers the props they deserve anymore, VH1 does cover hip-hop history much better these days, I think that documentary they've done on hip-hop and the Hip-Hop Honors shows are just way more on point than what emptv has done, I'm just happy that they at least mentioned KRS and Big Daddy Kane and didn't put Dre and Puffy again, you can't expect much from emptv so don't take it too seriously, btw we could all send them emails saying that Fresh Prince should be mentioned, somebody already left feedback for him already, some people leave some really good lists btw: http://www.mtv.com/news/youtellus/hip_hop/ "Where is the MC who has been around since day one, the man who won the first rap Grammy? Yes, I'm talking about the Fresh Prince himself. Show Will Smith some love. Brian, 25 West Greenwich, RI"

Will said the n word a few times in some interviews for rap magazines so what's the big deal with TI saying it?!! There's nothing wrong with using the n word if it's in a positive context like that's my dude right there, he's basically saying that Will's a real dude

Well the thing is that most of those rappers on that list were battle mcs, Will didn't really battle anybody in his career and I think that's the thing that might have the media sleep on his mc skills 'cause there's a lot of focus on battles, and there's not an mc out there that has made nothing but perfect songs in their careers either, most rappers actually only have a handful of great songs that they're known for, for example Nas' "Nastradamous" is probably just as weak as Will's "Born To Reign" but that don't hurt his status, "Encore" should actually be putting Eminem on the worst mc list it was so bad not only for the wack rhymes but he didn't rap with any heart on that album either, I mean "Born To Reign" still has soul even though it wasn't Will's best work, and a lot of rappers have had ghostwriters in their careers and they still get recognition, I mean MTV made a list a couple years ago and had Puffy and Dr. Dre in their top 10s and they don't write ****, a lot of people love Kanye but Rhymefest wrote his biggest song "Jesus Walks" so to put Will down for ghostwriters is just a part of hating, Will's wrote most of his rhymes in his career, a hell lot more than those 3 have done combined, lol... Will's image is basically the thing that hurts him the most though when it comes to the media, if they actually listen to the albums it's hard to deny his skills, it's just that he don't curse in his rhymes, if he rapped about hustling like Jay-Z he'd be in MTV's top 5 if not number one, that's not a knock to Jay but Will's got as much cadence and rhyme ability that Jigga has but people look at image more than anything, if you think about it there's a lot of rappers out now making hustlin' songs like Jay-Z but there's not any credible rappers that make clean cut songs that Will does, Wyclef was hot for a while but people sleep on him too now, he's not a hardcore rapper like most famous rappers are known for, that's why a lot of the pioneers get slept on too 'cause they didn't make hardcore music then, Will actually stayed true the most to the essence of hip-hop 'cause it started off as feel good music, before 1990 there wasn't much hardcore rap but now everybody's hardcore, hip-hop has changed so much over the years and it wouldn't be realistic to say Will's the G.O.A.T. since he's the only one out that don't curse in his rhymes, individualism don't get celebrated in the rap game it seems, Will's a unique mc, and to say Will don't bring effort anymore is a joke, it's like he just made one of the strongest albums of his career and in hip-hop in recent years in "Lost and Found" almost 20 years after he started, most rappers don't even make it that far, what has Big Daddy Kane done lately? If they could rank him in there for what he's done 20 years ago, why can't they mention Will who's still going strong today? How many albums does Will have to release to get recognition from the media, 50?!!! Will expanded this platform, that's what he should get respect for, if he retired or died right now, he should be celebrated for what's he's done already!!! It's not like Eminem's gonna be able to put out a strong album in 2020 either the way he's burned out now already, lol, there also seems to be a dead rapper bias too, it's like Biggie and 2Pac wouldn't be so ranked high now if they were still alive now, Coolio and Warren G were about as popular then but where are they ranked now? If LL was dead 15 years ago he'd be ranked #1, that's why I think these lists are corny, **** that list, Kool Moe Dee put Will at #23 on his top 50 list and he leaves Eminem out of his list, Will does get a lot of love worldwide too from hip-hop fans, his albums sold over 30 million worldwide in 20 years, he has fans from all generations, real recognises real, if MTV wants credability they'll play the film for Kool Moe Dee's "There's A God On The Mic" when it comes out

Eminem's style is definately the most annoying thing about him to me, there's many mcs with as much/more skills than him that put better content in their songs, it's not like he don't have any skills, he rapped with some heart in the beginning of his career I'll give him that but I think the last couple albums just shows that he's a slave to the biz and for MTV to call "Eminem Show" classic loses all credability for them, a real mc always puts their emotion into their rhymes, there's not an mc out there that has a flawless catalog of perfect albums either though let's be real but the thing that seperates the legends from the rest is that they always make songs from the heart and I just don't feel that from Eminem and a lot of today's rappers, most of them don't seem to do that much at all so like I mentioned earlier at least Eminem gets credit for doing that earlier in his career but I wouldn't consider him the greatest then either, I'll give him credit for that and leave it alone 'cause bashing Eminem in posts is getting played out now, basically he needs to come back and redeem himself if he wants a chance to be called a legend, he's not putting his skills to good use right now, at the end of the day though it's like who cares about these lists anyway, it's not like MTV has much credability these days anyway playing the same damn song all day with payola schemes, lol, everybody who buys albums from their favorite rappers are always gonna want to see them on top, real recognises real, hip-hop heads will always respect the true artists of the game even if the media don't

I tend to differ saying that Nas is too low, Nas is probably in my top 5 favorites so #5 is a great ranking for him, in fact it's debatable if he's better than KRS, Big Daddy Kane, Ice Cube, and LL, it's hard to compare different styles/eras but all of them should be in the top 10, and of course Eminem's the most overrated mc ever, there's no way he should be in the same sentence as those legends but MTV had to put at least one popular rapper on there at least to please their audience, now if you replaced him with Will the list'd be almost flawless, there's no perfect list that everyone'd agree on, so many legendary mcs deserve due that never get it

http://www.byroncrawford.com/2006/04/the_top_10_mcs_.html 1. Jay-Z 2. Tupac 3. Notorious B.I.G. 4. Rakim 5. Nas 6. KRS-One 7. Big Daddy Kane 8. Ice Cube 9. Eminem 10. LL Cool J Not a bad list considering it was MTV, I figure that they'd mention 50 Cent, Bow Wow, and Kanye, it's quite shocking that they mention KRS and Kane on there since most MTV fans don't know who they are :stickpoke: Of course like usual no mention of our beloved Fresh Prince and there's no pioneers before 1985 mentioned like Run-Dmc, Kool Moe Dee, or Kurtis Blow :tantrum:

RIP, when will the violence stop? :shakehead:

Will's image is what makes him real though, he always stayed grounded in his career, I have to disagree with what TI said there in that context but he does have good intentions, good to see that he acknowledge's Fresh Prince

:word: Like The Source said recently if LL died 15 years ago more people would be saying he's "The G.O.A.T." now and probably if Pac and Biggie were still alive today more'd say they fell off too, but real recognises real, like LL said in that interview though he doesn't mind if he receives criticism as long as he does what he feels he should do in his heart, I'm gonna be going to get the album soon to show my support, btw they added a secord part now, there's a great point he made about how you don't have to grow up as a drug dealer to get a record deal, but record labels don't seem to think that way, that sends a bad message to kids who think that they have to disrespect women and sell drugs to get ahead in the world, LL for president!!: LL Cool J: Nice Guys Finish First: Part Two By Amanda Diva LL Cool J continues his revealing conversation with AllHipHop.com. Mr. Smith reflects on his newest niche in the fashion game, and gives some wise historic context to some changing trends in the Hip-Hop game. Read on… AllHipHop.com: You’re back in the clothing game with a new line… LL Cool J: Yeah, the Todd Smith one. This is actually my third line that I’ve been involved in. [The] first line I was involved in a long time ago was T.R.O.O.P. - many years ago, in the late ‘80’s. And the second one that I got involved with in the early ‘90s up to the late 90’s was FUBU - which I’m still one of the owners of, but which has matured. I haven’t endorsed FUBU for about six or seven years because it was time for me to just go somewhere else. This is more music-related. The line is luxury. That was the risk I wanted to take. It’s very high-end, I brought the great designers I could find over, some of them from the UK, in order to help me put together the collection. Its men’s and ladies’ ready-to-wear, definitely high-end, in you know on a tier, on a level of Venia, Prada, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, and Dolce & Gabbana. In that, it’s all in that tier. AllHipHop.com: What made you decide to go that route as opposed to you know the more urban route that every other artist goes? LL Cool J: Because it’s more of a challenge, and I wanted to build a real company and a real business. I’m not doing this clothing line for it to be an extension of my fan club. I’m doing a clothing line because I want to build a company, and because I have this creative drive in me that I can’t, that I got to get out of me. No matter what I’m doing- if it’s a movie, if it’s music, if it’s TV, if it’s a fashion - I just have something inside of me that wants to build. So I want to build a company. And the way to build a real company is for me to put out a luxury brand, because that’s where my mind is at. I’m not just t-shirts and jeans anymore. This is an extension of where my mind is at. And my mind really is, you know thinking about, you know. private jets and luxury goods and you know, eating at the finest restaurants in the entire world, and dealing with the most important people in the entire world, on the entire globe. And I really do think like that. So I want the brand to represent that. It’s big. AllHipHop.com: You said [in Part One] that you still do Hip-Hop for love. Do you think that there’s anything that’s negative that’s brought to the game for folks who don’t do it for love? LL Cool J: You know what, not really. Because I can’t judge the people that don’t do it for love. I mean, their careers will reflect that. AllHipHop.com: You think? LL Cool J: Of course. Of course they will. I mean, remember the movie’s not over. The credits haven’t rolled yet. AllHipHop.com: Do you feel like the credits are rolling anytime soon, on Hip-Hop? LL Cool J: No, I think every individual is a different story and a different book. Every human being is a different movie. So you’re gonna have to wait to see the end, the credits on each of these individuals that you have in mind before you can really determine what the end is. So, it’s like that’s the beauty of being able to read a biography of someone that lived long ago. You can see all the mistakes and how it ended up. Because how it ends up, is not always how it looks the way it is in Chapter 7. AllHipHop.com: What role do you think the streets play in Hip-Hop today as opposed to early in your career? LLCoolJ: The streets have always been… it’s always been part of me. I mean, the same songs that me and my man, Shabazz would talk about on the train, and the beats that we would come up with, is the same stuff we did in the studio. So there was always a street vibe. But I think that Run-DMC ushered in the real kind of, the street corner attitude to a certain extent. I mean, there were always groups that were doing it, like Cowboy and the Furious Five were very street guys. You know, the Furious Five was more party oriented and you know a lot of their routines, when you look into “Flash to the Beat,” one of their original routines, and all of that was street Hip-Hop like the Force MC’s before they were Force MD’s, Busy Bee, Grand Wizard Theodore, and a lot of their battles and all of that had a street vibe to it. So you know, I don’t have a problem with the street thing at all. I think that the main thing is that you don’t necessarily have to have been a drug dealer, or have to have had a drug experience in the street in order to be credible as a rapper. You know, there’s like a lot of confusion, where people get a little confused about that. You know it’s really just about, you know are you nice on the mic and can you captivate the crowd and what are you, you know do you have a skill set? Whether it was performing, or freestyling, or maybe he’s a little more lyrical, but he can do this, you know everybody had their thing that they do. For me, the street part it’s important. My roots are important. I love the street - the positive aspects of the street. I don’t like the pain. I don’t like the fact that we have a lot of people who feel like they have absolutely no choice in life but to go out there and do wrong in order to succeed. I don’t like that part of it. But I do love my community, and love my neighborhood, and my hood. I would never try to act like I don’t, because I will never outgrow my love I have for my community. I stand on the shoulders of my community. That’s my foundation - other than God of course. But you know, at the same time, I think the street thing can get a little over done. It can limit your creativity.

i think this is the first time lil' wayne is discussed on this board and by looking at these lyrics i could see why we never talk about him :paperbag:

LL's one of the realest mcs of the game, I just don't get how some so-called hip-hop fans could say he fell off after reading that interview

I'm also curious to know did Kel Spencer get a record deal yet? You figure with a mixtape as hot as this it wouldn't take so long for labels to be bidding for him :stickpoke:

I heard this played on the radio a few times recently, the song with Fat Joe, Paul Wall and a couple others are on it, this is what Lil' Wayne said, I think it's just a reference, it ain't really a diss or a compliment: http://www.ohhla.com/anonymous/djkhaled/li...olla_at.led.txt "Okay, tell me s***, Lil Wayne f*** a b**** Lil' n***, big money, big gun full of that s*** N*** I ain't Will Smith, Nah, I ain't a Fresh Prince N*** I'm a young king, N*** I'm a Bun B Yup, I go hard, ask my broad Miss Stevie Wonder, she ain't lookin at y'all (She can't see)"

well no matter will does he's always gonna have some people hating on him, there's not an artist out there that everybody in the world loves, even the king of pop michael jackson gets hated on(mostly for his non-music related things but there's people out there that don't like his music either)

Well it's a possibility that it happened but what I'm saying is that it wouldn't surprise me if he made the whole thing up, like if it was a situation between him and a hardcore rapper, it'd be totally unbelievable 'cause most rappers would be like "f*** you lil' b****", but since Will's "Mr. Nice Guy" you figure that it is possible that Will'd have the patience to tollerate that lil' clown, it'd be funny if Will came out to denied this meeting happened and diss him but we know that Will wouldn't do that even if that happened 'cause obviously he could care less, he got too much more important things to worry about popping a lil' pimple like him, but most rappers would feed off the hype to increase their record sales, lol, that's why you gotta respect Will 'cause he don't use gimmicks like this to promote himself, and btw Trey Bow Wow should've definately ellaborated more on how he told Will that he realised that Will is a great music artist and he shouldn't have dissed Will for that but instead he goes on to talk about how great of an mc he is, he obviously hasn't learned anything from the meeting, he can't seem to be living in his own fantasy world so it's hard to believe anything this guy says, all Bow Wow needs to do is listen to "Lost and Found" and realise that he's lost

LL Cool J: Nice Guys Finish First By Amanda Diva What comprises a legend? Some would say it's commitment. That one's chance at leaving a legacy hinges on the dedication to their craft and diligence in perfecting it Others say it's heart. That one's passion drives them to do whatever necessary to guide them to that supreme success. Lastly, there are those that insist legends are a player a higher power’s divine plan – that God's will determines destiny. According to LL Cool J, it has been all three. These days, most artists are lucky to get a second single, let alone drop another album. In spite of it all, James Todd Smith has defied the odds releasing the 11th installment of his recording career, aptly titled Todd Smith. The album is chock-full of cameo appearances from the likes of Mary J. Blige, Mary Mary, Ne-Yo, Freeway, Juelz Santana and Teairra Mari. Here, the self-proclaimed “Greatest of All Time,” takes a moment to reflect on his career and the choices, Hip-Hop’s evolution, and God's role in the continuing saga of Mr. Smith. AllHipHop.com: You’re one of the longest running recording artist in Hip-Hop and that’s a fact. LL Cool J: You know what, I’m just a... God has blessed me. That’s the first thing I think that, you know, recognizing a blessing is very important. Having that ability to know that you’re blessed, and knowing that God has his hand on you. When God puts his hand on something, nobody can move it, you know. So beyond that, I really don’t have the answer. I don’t know how I’m able to do what I’m doing. I don’t have the answers. If I did, I’d be ten times what [i am]. What I can say, just in terms of just my part in the deal so to speak, has been just to love what I’m doing, to believe in what I’m doing - to work hard and not be lazy, to not feel like I know it all and to not be afraid to take risks, to not be afraid to look foolish and look stupid. I don’t have a fear of criticism. AllHipHop.com: Understood, can you expand on that? LL Cool J: Like in Hip-Hop, things that are weak - or perceived to be weak, can be strong, and the things that are perceived to be strong, can be weak. For example, let’s take something like a love song. You know when I first started doing love songs, it was perceived differently by the male audience, [within] the Hip-Hop audience. [You were] Just soft or you’re emotional, whatever you want to call it. But I think that the reality is when you’re willing to expose what’s going on inside of you, and you’re willing to put your emotions out there, it’s actually strong. So I think it takes a lot of courage to do different things. AllHipHop.com: So when you started rhyming, did you see an end in sight at all? LL Cool J: No, I never seen anything that had a limit to it. I kind of feel like when you started something and you start talking about, “I’m only gonna be rhyming this long,” and “I’m only gonna do it that long,” what you’re really saying is you’re gonna stop before you fall. This is not to slight any one [but] that’s really fear talking. AllHipHop.com: What would you consider one of those mistakes that you made? LL Cool J: I mean I make jillions of mistakes. I’ve spent money. I’ve you know wasted money. AllHipHop.com: Music wise. Any records that you think were a mistake? Or that people didn’t get, that you put out there with one kind of idea and the people didn’t get? LL Cool J: No, my art, I don’t have any regrets with my art. I don’t see any mistakes in my art. You know, everybody’s not gonna like everything. There’s nothing that you can do about that. And you have to understand that. And everybody’s not gonna be your fan. And that’s okay. It’s like artists that paint paintings, you know, you just paint. It’s no regret. You know what I’m saying? You just paint. AllHipHop.com: Do you find it easier to create, you know your masterpieces and what not in this climate where you are in your career right now or do you think it was easier when there was no pressure? LL Cool J: There’s no pressure now. There was, there’s never any pressure. AllHipHop.com: Never, there’s never any pressure? LL Cool J: No. There’s no pressure. What is the pressure? AllHipHop.com: Well, pressure to succeed. Pressure to, you know produce for the label, pressure to keep career flow. LL Cool J: See, I understand what you’re saying. You know, I just kinda get in the zone, and operate from that place. I don’t have pressure to produce for a label. What I’m supposed to do is have faith, [and] make the best product I can. I make the best music I can from the heart, and then go out and do all I can to support it. And leave it at that. If so, what pressure? I mean I don’t, you know -- AllHipHop.com: In a percentage, how much of your recording career at this point is love and how much of it is money? LL Cool J: Hundred percent love. AllHipHop.com: Really? LL Cool J: Absolutely. You have to love something to be with it for a long time. Look at marriages: you can’t be with somebody for money forever. No matter how much you try, at some point, it’s gonna just wear thin on you. It’s just gonna be difficult. The money thing is the effect. But the cause is love. You cannot tell me that Michael Jordan got as good as he got at basketball for money. You can’t tell me that Kobe [bryant] got that good for money. Like, it’s no way you can get that good. Tiger Woods, you can’t get that good at something without loving it. But the money will come because that’s the beauty of God’s system. Now remember, I didn’t say [nice guys finish last]. You can be a nice guy, but nice guys finish last when they’re stupid - not because they’re nice guys. AllHipHop.com: Because they’re idiots. LL Cool J: Right. Nice guys finish last when they’re stupid. So I didn’t say be dumb. I didn’t say don’t do the best deal you can. I didn’t say don’t ask for as much money or create and generate as much revenue as you can for your life and your family. I said love what you do. AllHipHop.com: What do you like and what do you not like about the game right now, in Hip-Hop’s current state? LL Cool J: What I don’t like is the fact that it seems like we can’t figure out anything for our women to do but strip for us. You know, that’s no disrespect to young ladies that are going through that, because you never know why a woman does what she does, or man. So you can’t judge people. But at the same time, we can lift our girls up. You know, the music can lift them up. It wouldn’t hurt us. It wouldn’t hurt anybody to lift them up, and to embrace them, and you know give them some love, because you got to remember that. You know it’s kinda like you know we’re catering to the weakness in all of us. AllHipHop.com: Right. LL Cool J: But you know, at the same time, I respect a lot of young artists. I think that they’re talented. I think that there’s a lot of great music out there. I think that there are a lot of people out there that are impressive for various reasons - whether it’s their music, or what their accomplishments are, or their business acumen. AllHipHop.com: So sell me and the readers this new album… LL Cool J: I wanted the Todd Smith record to just be a record that was displaying even more of me, the inside of me that [only] my family gets to see everyday. The side of me that grew up next door to you. The guy who loves gardens, the guy who loves his family, to be really, really honest and put together some music that’s gonna unify the community, and keep the theme. The theme of the record consistent and constantly bringing people together with the music. All different types of you know musicians and artists, different genres. But primarily you know Hip-Hop and R&B. AllHipHop.com: With this album, what are you trying to say? LL Cool J: The theme on this record is unity, just unifying. Or touching on a subject that could possible tear people apart, but if you can address them and find healing, they’ll bring you together. The Hip-Hop community and the Black community- we need to be closer. There’s a need for more unity and the need for togetherness. AllHipHop.com: What do you think is tearing us apart? LL Cool J: I think that materialism is tearing us apart to a certain extent, because the materialism turns everything into a dog-eat-dog situation. It makes everybody like at the beginning of the hockey game, everybody going for the puck, ridiculous, with no regard for anything else that’s going on around them. It’s not the money, remember money is neutral. It’s nebulous. AllHipHop.com: You recently launched your clothing line, Todd Smith. You seem to be a master of all trades… LL Cool J: No, you know what, it’s a couple of things. First of all, I try to balance it and I do try to balance everything. But you know there’s certain spiritual principles at work. Like, you know I pay my tithe, you know tithing is when you give ten percent of what comes into your life economically to your local church. I take ten percent or more of my money, and give it to God and I make sure that I support His Kingdom. That’s why if you really look at my career, it seems like timing is impeccable. But it’s not because I’m so smart, and because I’m able to really map it out like that, it’s because God has blessed me. AllHipHop.com: I just finished reading Raising Hell: The Autobiography of Run-D.M.C., And it talks a lot about the intense rivalry that you and Run had or supposedly had. Is this true and can you speak on it? LL Cool J: Oh yeah, yeah. Me and Run definitely – well, it wasn’t much of a rivalry really, because when we were on tour, they were just beating me up every night. It really wasn’t that much of a rivalry. I guess I was seeing the results of what he was feeling, because they were whooping me out every night. But one thing [about] going on tour, Run-D.M.C. taught me was how to perform. They taught me how to stand up against such a mega-group, every night. It’s like to be on tour with them every night for years, it’s kinda like, it’s almost like a boxer who spars with two people in the ring at the same time, all the time. So then when you get out there against one, it’s much easier, you know. But yeah we had… I remember the first time I met Run, you know I said yeah “I’m LL. I made, “I Need A Beat.” Run said, “No, you didn’t. Say the words.” And I rapped it for him, and he went and asked Russell [simmons].You know, one of the great guys, I have a lot of respect for him and DMC. May Jam Master Jay rest in peace, completely and totally, that was ridiculous. But as a group, I have the utmost respect. I mean, I learned a lot from them. You know, I studied them, you know, and I just think they’re a great group. AllHipHop.com: Is it true that “Peter Piper” was originally “Rock the Bells”, the -- LL Cool J: -- Yeah, yeah, yeah. “Peter Piper” was gonna be “Rock the Bells” and you know, but, you know Run lifted me. You know, it makes sense don’t it? “The Bells,” I was going through it, you know Rick [Rubin], I guess he felt like you know he had to do it to his little man [LL], like they’re all sick as a dog cause it was my idea, you know, sick. But you know in Jam Master Jay’s defense, he probably loved the “Mardi Gras” track too, because we all grew up on it, especially from that generation. We grew up with that music was the [bob James’] “Mardi Gras” beat. So you know, it is what it is. You know, maybe I do [“Rock the Bells”] anyways. AllHipHop.com: In the late ‘90s, you had a few freestyles on a Kay Slay “Street Sweeper” mixtape, where you talked about a notorious drug dealer Alpo and you rhyme Italian. You remember that? LL Cool J: Yeah, yeah. At the time, like when I did the albums like Walking With A Panther, when I had all the big Cool J diamond rings and minks, and girls with champagne, Hip-Hop didn’t embrace it then. But that was the street. That’s what Alpo and them were doing. That’s when my man Chuck and them were doing and you know that’s what [convicted drug-dealers] AZ and Rich [Porter] and all of those guys from 132th [street in Harlem], these are all the guys that I grew up around, and that’s what they were doing, and I was doing it, I was bringing that street culture and that urban inner city New York thing to music. But they weren’t ready for it. See, what I’m saying, like it wasn’t until Jay-Z and Puffy and them did it, ten years later - then people were really ready for all of that.

It honestly wouldn't surprise me if this meeting never happened in reality, he coulda just made this stuff up to keep his name in the news, probably part of his marketing scheme to be controversial like the other popular rappers are, fools like him give hip-hop a bad name

That's probably one of the best podcasts that I heard y'all do

I guess 'Death Row East' plans fell through before it even started, not really a surprise, Suge should just stay out of the rap game for real

I found this new article on the LL album on MTV.com just now: With Blige, J. Lo, Foxx On Board, LL Cool J's New LP Is A Guest Fest 04.07.2006 6:00 AM EDT Album features an unprecedented (for LL) number of collaborators. LL Cool J Photo: MTV News If it's up to LL Cool J, when he dies, he'll have nothing left. "I wanna max out everything that's inside of me. I want to die empty," he said, referring to accomplishing all his goals. "The richest place on Earth — the place with the most books, dreams, treasures, albums, paintings, novels, architectural innovation and technology — is the graveyard. So many people don't max out. I always ask myself, 'Are you making the best use of your talents?' If not, you need to do something about that." LL — who has been a mainstay in the rap world for more than 20 years — is doing just that. On April 11, he'll release his 12th album, Todd Smith (the title comes from two-thirds of his real name, James Todd Smith). "It's a blessing, man," he said of his lengthy career. "When I sit back and think about it ... If I was to tell you I mapped it out and knew how it was gonna go, I'd be lying. I'm not smart enough to orchestrate this. I'm just blessed." This time around, Cool J collaborated with more guests than ever before, including Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Ginuwine, Teairra Marí, Lyfe Jennings, Mary Mary and City High's Ryan Toby. Even his onetime nemesis Jamie Foxx contributed to the track "Best Dress," which is dedicated to finding true love. "I had so many people involved, it was crazy," he said, laughing. "But the way the guest appearances came about, we would hear a song and be like, 'This would be great for such and such to be on. Mary [J.] would sound good on this. Lyfe would sound good on this.' It just kind of evolved. It's definitely something you have to listen to, though — take your time and digest it, but it's right. "[Todd Smith] was almost like [Dr. Dre's] The Chronic in the sense that Dre and everybody was involved with the writing and the music. People were throwing around ideas left and right. I've never done that for a whole record. You have to allow yourself to grow. A great general [u.S. Army General Eric Shinseki, actually] once said, 'If you don't like change, you'll like irrelevance even less.' " LL's current single, "Control Myself," features Jennifer Lopez, but at one point, he considered the Black Eyed Peas' leading lady, Fergie, instead. "We were talking about Fergie, but it just didn't work out," he said. "I think that me and J. Lo work so well together. The chemistry is beautiful" (see "Jennifer Lopez Drives LL Cool J To Lose His Cool"). Producer Jermaine Dupri recommended that LL use his flow from "Going Back to Cali" for "Control Myself." "So many people take flow from other people's records that it's nice to take flow from your own songs," LL said. "It's nice to say, 'That was an old record; let me take that flow.' It just so happened that flow was from my record. "[Dupri] is a genius," he added. "Very intelligent, brilliant. When I heard that Afrika Bambaataa 'Looking for the Perfect Beat' [sample on the track], I felt like that was the move." Daddy Cool is eyeing "Freeze" (featuring Jennings) as a potential second single. "I've had times in my life where I've had a girl I really loved and had real feelings for, but I wasn't mature enough to have just one girl," he explained. "She wanted to be my main girl, and I wanted to be her boyfriend. But it's almost like I wish I could freeze her, go out there and sow my wild oats, go crazy, do all the things I wanted to do, and then unthaw her [when I was ready]. I think a lot of people could relate to that — whether it's a fear of commitment, intimacy. 'Freeze! I love you, I care for you, but freeze. Hold that thought.' It's something I went through, and I captured that movement." On another possible second single, "Favorite Flavor" (featuring Blige), LL raps a piece of a verse from a remix he did with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul almost 10 years ago. "That song is basically about everything flavorful," he said. "Her clothes, car, perfume. My style, my movement. What we eat, what I'm gonna spread on her body. Everything that's flavorful is in that song." As for LL's other goals, he said there will definitely be more movies and albums, but one of his greatest passions these days is his new clothing line, Todd Smith, which he had a hands-on role in developing. "There's a bigger world out there than being high-paid talent. I've done that, and now I want to do something else," he explained. "It's a real company with a working business model. God willing, we'll build a company that will represent my community properly, and people all over the world will want to be a part of this brand because it represents classiness, flavor, longevity, success, good values and family." — Shaheem Reid

They're gonna premiere Ice Cube's new video "Why We Thugs?" on BET tonight at 7:30EST after 106 & Park

I don't think hip-hop is in hell, there's still some dope mcs out there, hip-hop doesn't revolve around Bow Wow but if he's somebody that's supposed to be a leader of the game then hip-hop would be in hell is what I was implying there, he has no place in the game to me though, he's another disposable artist that won't be around much longer, he's not looked at as somebody that's gonna lead hip-hop to new heights, the way the rap game's going though it could be going to hell as the pioneers of the game all leave but I think sooner or later there'll be aspiring young artists like us coming along so I think the future for hip-hop will be ok

Hip-hop is going to hell if Bow Wow's the future of it, btw record sales don't measure the greatness of an mc, if Bow Wow's the future of hip-hop 'cause of his high sales then Vanilla Ice must be the G.O.A.T. :shakehead: There's a lot of teen rappers that could beat him in a battle, my worst raps at 15 years old are better than anything his ghostwriter's ever given him, lol, somebody outta slap him for saying in one of his interviews that you don't have to write your own raps to be an mc