LL Cool J is keeping it 100 when it comes to his peers who only rap about money, sharing in a recent interview that a true MC should be able to draw from more than just their bank accounts.
“[When] a rapper comes out, and he’s talking that money talk, you love it,” LL explained during a sit-down with Baller Alert. “But 12 years later, he’s still talking that money talk, and now you’re looking at him like, ‘Dude, do you have anything else to talk about?’”
The Queens legend went on to compare the money-obsessed with artists like Bob Marley, whose artistry far exceeded any monetary value.
“He talked about something,” the Rock & Roll Hall-of-Famer said of the Jamaican icon. “He had something to say. And guess what? You don’t care what Bob Marley had in the bank. Because that’s not the metric for success. It’s not the metric for cultural success. Bob Marley did not have to be rich. He was rich in what he did and what he created and what he put in the world. That sh*t matters.”
“The wallet can’t un-corny you,” he added before encouraging talented up-and-comers who may come up against roadblocks on their way to success. “You can do anything you put your mind to,” he said. “Be open to receiving what you want and go for it wholeheartedly. And remember, to be a winner, you have to be comfortable with the idea that you might lose.”
LL Cool J on artists who only talk about how rich they are in their songs:
— Joey (@gothamhiphop) July 27, 2024
“Do you have anything else to talk about?…You know why [we all] know Bob Marley? Because he talked about something. Because he had something to say…The wallet can’t un-corny you.” pic.twitter.com/LhHbLtR3Lo
The MC born James Todd Smith is gearing up for the release of his first album in 11 years, The FORCE. The LP is set to drop Sept. 6 and features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Eminem, Busta Rhymes, and more. Check out the official tracklist below.
1. Spirit of Cyrus (Featuring Snoop Dogg)
2. The FORCE
3. Saturday Night Special (Featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe)
4. Black Code Suite (Featuring Sona Jobarteh)
5. Passion
6. Proclivities (Featuring Saweetie)
7. Post Modern
8. 30 Decembers
9. Runnit Back
10. Huey In Da Chair (Featuring Busta Rhymes)
11. Basquiat Energy
12. Praise Him (Featuring Nas)
13. Murdergram Deux (Featuring Eminem)
14. The Vow (Featuring Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)
