LL Cool J is back and better than ever with the announcement of his new album, "The FORCE," produced by none other than A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip. With a lineup that reads like a hip-hop hall of fame—Nas, Eminem, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Saweetie, Snoop Dogg, and more—this album is set to be a game-changer. To kick off the celebration, the rap legend dropped by Charlamagne Tha God’s Out Of Context series to clear up some long-standing myths and spill some serious tea.
First up, the infamous rumor about Jay-Z roasting LL in a ‘90s rap battle. LL Cool J didn’t hold back, calling it "bullshit" and setting the record straight.
“Here’s what really happened,” LL began. “I see the guy, he’s in the club trying to flash money to get my attention and I’m looking like, okay. And then his man Sauce [Money] came up to me and was rappin’. So, I had a couple of rhymes… remember, I’m albums in now."
"These are guys that ain’t had that deal. So, when I ain’t had a deal, I had a suitcase of rhymes. Now I’m albums in. Sauce said some rhymes. I said a couple of rhymes. Then I said a little bit of a song, “Ain’t No Stopping This.” A little bit. Then Jay came up rapping. I was out of rhymes, b. In no scenario was I fully loaded and ready to rhyme. If I was, I’m not exactly the first rapper that you wanna get into that shit with."
"So yes, did I run out of rhymes? Was I finished rapping? Abso-fucking-lutely. Was it their peanut gallery? Absolutely. But do you really wanna get into some of that shit with LL? You really want that? You dudes want those problems or it’s just a nice story to have?"
Charlamagne also couldn’t resist asking if LL’s 1996 track “Loungin” was a subtle diss aimed at Jay-Z, especially since the music video features LL riding in a Lexus—a car Jay-Z was famously associated with at the time. LL laughed it off, saying he had “no reason to diss him” and that he prefers to keep it positive. He even empathized with Drake, dealing with the aftermath of Kendrick Lamar’s scathing diss track “Not Like Us.” “You’ll be fine, bro. Don’t trip,” LL advised, suggesting rappers shouldn’t take diss tracks too personally.
LL Cool J is making it clear: he’s back, he’s better, and he’s still not one to be trifled with. As he steps back into the spotlight with "The FORCE," it’s evident that the legend is here to remind everyone just why he’s a force to be reckoned with.
Photo: Monica Schipper/Getty Images
