4 a long time after releasing his debut album Radio, LL COOL J has kicked off a brand new sequence of vinyl reissues with contemporary editions of two of his largest data: 1996’s All World: Best Hits and 1997’s Phenomenon.
Launched simply over ten years into LL COOL J’s profession, the RIAA Platinum-certified All World: Best Hits was an early testomony to his unparalleled physique of labor, gathering hits from his first six LPs. It featured large singles like “Rock The Bells” and “Mama Said Knock You Out,” which samples the previous. As a part of the celebration, “Rock The Bells” additionally has a music video for the primary time, a black-and-white montage of New Yorkers rapping the tune of their on a regular basis life, and directed Gregory Brunkalla.
Phenomenon adopted instantly after in 1997, peaking at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 and in addition incomes an RIAA Platinum certification. The tracklist included standouts like, “Candy” with Ricky Bell and Ralph Tresvant, and “Hot, Hot, Hot,” which notably sampled Tom Tom Membership’s “Pleasure of Love.” The recording course of was not with out some drama. Erick Sermon-produced monitor “4, 3, 2, 1” positioned LL COOL J alongside Technique Man, Redman, DMX and Canibus. However after one among Canibus’ strains offended LL COOL J, the monitor morphs into extra of a rap battle, with LL firing off a few of his most memorable bars (“Your naive confidence gets crushed by my dominance.”)
One of the crucial well-liked rappers of all time, LL COOL J turned humbled beginnings in Brooklyn right into a decades-long profession. He’s a two-time Grammy Award winner, a Kennedy Heart honoree and a member of the Rock & Roll Corridor of Fame—his firm Rock The Bells encompasses a music pageant, SiriusXM radio station and intensive cultural and philanthropic work.
In a current interview for Apple Music, LL mirrored on his profession, sharing: “I’m [going to] say this humbly, but I really mean this…I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL COOL J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that.”
Watch the official music video for LL COOL J’s “Rock The Bells” now.
