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Tuesday, September 28, 2010 | 2:50am
LL Cool J Gets the Rock & Roll HOF Nomination. But is he a Hall of Famer?
In light of Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five and Run DMC’s inductions, is LL worthy of such high acclaim just yet?
@LLCOOLJ #HOF
So I read in the New York Times this morning that the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees for induction have been announced and among them is Hip Hop’s own LL Cool J. The long-time Def Jam artist joins The Beastie Boys and heavy hitters Neil Diamond and Alice Cooper among the 15 artists nominated for consideration.
Previously Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five broke the culture barrier becoming the first Hip Hop identifying act to be inducted. (Be sure to check out my interview of Grandmaster Mele Mel just a week after the induction). GF and the Furious Five of course blazed the trail for the culture from their music to the rebellious fashion and of course the advent of the use of turntables as an instrument of sound.
Then Last year the Hall came knocking to the Hollis’ finest, Run DMC. The group of course meant everything to the culture and as the antithesis of Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, their laidback and personable style with the addidas and tracksuits connected with fans.
And now their former protege, LL Cool J is up for a bid. But does he deserve it? While LL definately has longevity on his side and is credited for delivering the exclaimation points on rap fueds that ended the careers of previously high profile artists. But is he Hall of Fame, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame worthy.
In MY OPINION, LL has always been one of the luckiest and most overrated emcees of all time. He flourished under the wing of Russell Simmons and his budding Def Jam imprint and rocked arenas off the strength of the talents and success of Run DMC. While his early work was historic the almost two decades of music following his ‘Don’t Call it a Comeback” proclamation were uneventful and rather ho hum save a hit here and there.
Don’t get me wrong I have always admired LL Cool J but the standards of excellence to which the Hall of Fame should uphold leave him on the cusp for me and open to debate for his eligibility. While I feel the Rock & Roll HOF has chosen to recognize Hip Hop far too late in the game I caution them not to haphazardly accept nominees in pitty. At the end of the day I believe LL deserves to get in but he certainly not the legend that would demand first or even second ballot status.
The inductees will be announced in December, and the 26th annual induction ceremony will be held on March 14 at the Waldorf-Astoria in Manhattan. Artists become eligible for nomination 25 years after the release of their first single or album, and the awards are voted on by more than 500 music professionals.
FILED IN Business & Marketing, Editorials, Music, News
I definitely think that LL Cool J qualifys for being a Hall Of Fame rap artist. Hes had an incredible career and he was one of the pioneers of the modern rap movement along with other classic rap stars Run DMC, Public Enemy and Jay Z. LL Cool J`s slick rhymes and his hot rap & hip hop music videos still look good today and have successfully stood the test of time and can now be considered classic rap songs and classic rap music videos. Even rap superstar Eminem also paid tribute to LL Cool J as one of the early rappers who inspired him to take up rap music so there is no doubt in my mind that LL Cool J qualifies for this prestigious honor.
Since LL has been doing it since atleast ’85(I’ve heard that his first single I Need A Beat was released in ’84 though) & he’s one of the first rappers that I remember as a child(I was 11 when I first heard his music) & his music still sounds good to me today, I’d say YES he is HOF worthy, that’s jus’ my opinion though. Also, I’ve heard that Russell Simmons & Rick Rubin started Def Jam Records to release his first album. So, I’d say YES he is HOF worthy. PEACE!!!
U got a co sign wingman right here gphi and Rick Rubin was the 1 who discovered him along with Adam( King Ad-Rock) Horowitz from the Beastie Boys. Just a footnote L.L. was not the 1st release on Def Jam, it was T-La Rock’s “it’s yours”. L.L.deserves 2 be in tha HOF along with RUN-DMC,Grand Master Flash and the Furious 5 but I hope 2 c more Hip Hop heads in the Hall soon. but u have 2 have had a career of deuce 5 yrs at least so it may b awhile 4 a few.
I love it when yall get all nostalgic on me. That’s why the Nation is the best ever.
L.L. mos def deserves 2 b in the Hall of Game and Fame if we are talking strictly from a longevity stand point, there are only a few Pop artist with the stretch that L.L. has had Madonna, maybe my boy Prince, Springsteen, U2 I could even go with New Edition but as Hip Hop artist there will be no Hip Hop artist with that loooooooooooongevity ever again, won’t happen as shakey as this business is u lucky 2 get fans 2 stay 4 your 3rd cd much less 13 of them shits. Name me another Hip Hop artist from the 80′s that’s still doing it and doing it and doing it well. Maybe Ice Cube and Maybe Dr.Dre’s lazy ass. L.L. was out of the 2nd generation of acts along with RUN-D.M.C The Beasties as well. He has paved the way 4 a whole generation 2 follow .I think the R&RHOF is an element of all kinds of music and Hip Hop my fav of all music , is no acception .This is L.L.’s 2nd go around I hope he gets in becuz I aint going front and u all shouldn’t either u still bump “Rock The Bells” I saw dude in OK.K.Klanhoma early Sep he still had the crowd jump’n .I’m the baddest/Taking out all rookies/so 4get oreos /eat Cool J. cookies/ I’m Bad . Str8 poetry.
Correction it was late Aug 2010 in Ok.k.klan….homa
Agreed. There have been few artists that have signed a 10 album contract let alone completed one. I would bet he’s the only one in Hip Hop history.
I think u r right Juan 10 albums is unheard of even back then bcuz when L.L.Cool J signed with Def Jam no 1 knew Hip Hop would last this long .Is Lil Wayne going 2 last 25yrs I doubt it How about Drake maybe another 25 months T.I. is gett’n 25yrs so when he gets out Hopefully Hip Hop will still be around.Rock The Bellz… Bitches.
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i def think L.L. deserves his due. hall of fame top five or whateva! when you can stand on your own 2 with run dmc public enemy, big daddy, kool g, rakim, and krs, not to mention kurtis blow , fat boys, and then transcend and still stand on your own 2 with big, pac ,nas, jay, busta,etc.. hes gotta be there. that g.o.a.t. album is a classic along with the album him standin on the car wit the troops on lol..when your rap career expands over 3 decades im sorry 4 decades (80′s, 90′s 00, 10)then the homie deserves whateva