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Sound Dialogue – The Legacy Of LL Cool J
Money Mike and I received some good feedback on our first Sound Dialogue which was focused on the comeback of the New Kids On The Block. This time, we’ll focus on the career and legacy of LL Cool J.
LL Cool J recently released his 13th album (he includes his greatest hits album) titled Exit 13, which is the last album on his current contract with Def Jam. We started with the new album.
GG: Before we get into LL’s career, I wanted to get into his latest album, Exit 13. First off, what did you think? I know you haven’t listened to it more than a few times, but give me your initial thoughts. And second, where does it rank in his catalog?
MM: I’m still digesting the album. I think it’s okay in spots. There are about 3 or 4 songs that I really like, but overall it’s on the bad side of average. He hasn’t made a consistently listenable album since “10”, and that was six years ago.
GG: Why do you think that is? Obviously, he’s a legend in the game. Is it hard for him to find what it was that made him so great back in the day now that he’s famous and successful? And not only in music, but other forms of entertainment. Why else can’t he stay relevant?
MM: Plain and simple, he’s Hollywood. No matter how many times LL goes back to Hollis, Queens, he’s not the same kid who made “Rock the Bells” or “I’m Bad”. He’s a financially stable 40 year old man, and he’d probably do a lot better being himself than trying to act like he’s the same guy who made “Mama Said Knock You Out”. He’s trying too hard to keep up with the Joneses instead of just creating good music.
GG: If LL came to you and said, “Money Mike, I need some help. Help me find the sound that I need to find and help me conceptualize my 14th album.” What would you say to dude?
MM: Listen to Mama Said Knock You Out again, because that was the pinnacle of his career. Back then, he was hungry and worried about falling off and losing his career both for his ego and for his livelihood. Now he’s stable. He knows that if his album flops, he can go do a movie or a TV show or write another book. The loss of his street cred would be a blow to his ego, but it wouldn’t end his career.
What he really needs to do is write about his life and stop trying to be current. Write about being a husband and father. Write socially conscious songs. Stop writing about jewels and being in the club, not only because the topics are tired, but because that’s not the life he lives. He has to be true to himself and stop worrying about having hits.
Photo by Saquan Stimpson/monstershaq200 0
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Paul’s Found Vinyl – Episode 1: Tycoon
Artist: Tycoon
Title: Tycoon
Label/No.: Arista AB 4215
Year: 1978
Peak Chart Position: #41
Producer: Robert John “Mutt” Lange
Singles: “Such a Woman” (Pop #26), “Slow Down Boy” (not charted)
SIDE A:
Such a Woman
Slow Down Boy
Out in the Cold
Don’t You Cry No More
Too Late (New York City)
SIDE B:
That’s the Way It Goes
Don’t Worry
How Long (Can We Go On)
Drunken Sailor
Count On Me
Judging by the Cover: I’ll be honest. It was all about the mustaches for me. And the band got co-credit for […]
Seven Years On: Back To Life, Back To Reality. But…
Today is September 11th, and while I would not only like to refrain from making political statements in addition to not sharing too much of my personal life on this blog, I have written something in reference to the events on this date in every blog I’ve ever had. This should be no different.
I always scratch my head when I speak to people or read the op-ed page in the newspaper (yes, I still read the paper) and hear or read people saying that people should forget the events that happened on this date. There are plenty of things in life I have no problem forgetting. You can forget songs, you can forget what you had for breakfast, you can forget your house keys, but there’s no way I can forget a day when my world and the lives of so many people changed for good.
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