Years in the making, LL COOL J sits down with Questlove Supreme for a career-spanning comprehensive interview. The discuss LL's earliest rapping days, his first three albums, and the life and times behind one of Hip-Hop's first superstars. From far-reaching questions about lyrics, acting roles, and chapstick, this is one of the best QLS conversations ever. LL COOL J holds court with charisma, passion, and incredible stories about his past, present, and future.
Original Air Date: November 22, 2023
0:00 - Questlove Supreme with LL COOL J rollcall and catch-up
5:30 - Questlove introduces LL COOL J and why he waited years for the conversation — even after The F.O.R.C.E. Tour
9:30 - What was LL COOL J’s life like a year before fame, in 1983?
11:00 - LL COOL J talks about his time in North Babylon, Long Island when he was dividing his time between there and Queens
12:30 - LL COOL J started writing raps as a child, especially by 11 or 12
14:40 - LL COOL J on battling somebody who inspired him, in Kool Moe Dee
15:25 - LL COOL J’s grandfather bought him his first equipment; he can DJ. He is also heavily influenced by Jazz due to his musical family
19:40 - LL COOL J nearly quit rapping after he could not get signed — Sugar Hill Records was among the labels that passed on him
21:00 - LL COOL J’s “I Need A Beat’ was on his demo; he describes making it as an adolescent
22:30 - LL COOL J’s demo contained something that the Beastie Boys used later during Licensed To Ill
23:00 - LL COOL J named the legendary Chung King Studios; he recalls making initial Def Jam demos with Rick Rubin and those early days
29:00 - LL COOL J trusts his producers as a collaborator
31:30 - Rick Rubin did not like “I Need Love” and LL COOL J explains why — and why he asserted for that song. LL also reveals that “I Want You” was initially made to an Isley Brothers classic that Biggie Smalls later used
35:50 - Def Jam Records executives were unsure about “Around The Way Girl” and “Doin’ In”
37:40 - Questlove asks about the beat history involving with Bob James’ “Take Me To The Mardi Gras,” LL COOL J’s “Rock The Bells,” and Run-DMC’s “Peter Piper”
40:00 - What does Rap stardom look like in 1985?
43:40 - How did LL COOL J avoid the Bridge Wars between the Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions? And why he never responded to MC Shan’s “Beat Biter”
46:30 - Some more context about the disses at Kool Moe Dee and Ice-T back in the day, and the difference between competition and beef
51:00 - LL COOL J plays his album cuts on tour. Blame Questlove and DJ Z-Trip
52:00 - LL COOL J expanding his sound and collaborators with Bigger And Deffer
54:00 - What was an album recording budget for LL COOL J like in the 1980s?
55:30 - LL COOL J still owns his grandmother’s house. He describes why he writes songs there
58:30 - Walking With A Panther Questlove’s favorite LL COOL J album. LL remembers working with the Stop The Violence Movement by writing for MC Lyte and working with EPMD
1:01:30 - LL COOL J’s father used to manage him
1:03:00 - LL COOL J pivoted the acting, and he took it very seriously
1:04:20 - The role LL COOL J turned down in New Jack City
1:06:20 - LL COOL J remembers the Latin Quarter, a place he was in OFTEN
1:09:40 - LL COOL J on connecting with Marley Marl and the comeback aspect of Mama Said Knock You Out
1:11:00 - The public criticism of Walking With A Panther was deeper than music
1:13:30 - LL COOL J talks about performing his catalog without Pro Tools
1:17:00 - Some lip balm comic relief
1:18:30 - What is LL COOL J’s fountain of youth?
1:20:10 - A funny story involving Questlove and LL COOL J and a landmark chicken restaurant, and another bonus story
1:23:35 - LL COOL J reflects the Mr. Smith album, revealing that he scrapped an earlier version after getting with Chris Lighty, Trackmasters, and Chris Lighty
1:27:00 - LL COOL J talks about his upcoming album produced by Q-Tip
1:27:45 - Why Rock The Bells as a radio station and a company is so important; why Hip Hop is treated very differently than Rock & Roll
1:34:10 - Some Canibus 4,3,2,1 reflections
1:36:30 - Remembering the Phenomenon album and Authentic
1:38:30 - LL COOL J explains what he was trying to do with Brad Paisley collaboration Accident Racist
1:40:50 - LL COOL J revisits some classic songs from over the years
1:43:35 - What is in the LL COOL J vault? He reveals a Dr. Dre beat that was originally his
1:46:30 - Some unforgettable rapid fire questions involving Michael Jackson, The Bomb Squad, the upcoming F.O.R.C.E. album, and some relationship advice
2:02:30 - Flowers and gratitude for LL COOL J
