Reviews (page 4 of 7)
A good album , best song by far is the title track, one of the first rap songs i ever liked and it still holds up
My first reaction to this was annoyance at how long it was. But you know, it's a pretty enjoyable album. It's pretty funky with some nice rhymes in there. I'm not a hip-hop guy, but I much prefer these kind of vibes compared to some of the more modern stuff.
Kind of average hip hop.
Any time I paid attention to the lyrics they were SO cheesy, but the music makes me feel like I'm strutting down the street with a boombox on my shoulder, so overall I had a good time
Non è brutto, ma è anonimo come il voto
This is technically very tight: the production is progressive and immaculate, while LL Cool J's delivery and rhyme schemes are extraordinary. Subject-matter wise, a lot of this falls into the category of 'why do we need to know this?'', but as a vehicle for the technical prowess of LL Cool J and his producers this is a good album. Title track is unreal but it's all very listenable.
This was really fun! Rap is not for me, but LL is a great entertainer, and I was surprised at how easy a listen this was. I was really getting into the cornier tracks like Mr. Good Bar and Milky Cereal. Maybe I just enjoy songs about food products - All of these lyrics are supposed to be taken at face value right?? ✨
Good beats for the most part. The rapping is often quite good. I just would appreciate more singing.
Favorite Track: Mama Said Knock You Out
Not my thing, but it’s a fun album
I liked about half of this album, and the other half was pretty cheesy
Nice album for 1990 3/5
Surprisingly good. I shan't listen again but it's thr kind of hip-hop i can get on board with
The Milky Cereal was kinda wild, but it was a cool listen.
Rap. Nah. At least it's not mumble rap. 3/5
The title track and “Farmer’s Boulevard” still hold up, but there are a lot of skips on this one.
Some cringe lyrics ('I sure wouldn't rape you'?) but there's still some enjoyable moments here and there. Suffered by comparison from listening to Kendrick the prior day. Standouts: Mama Said Knock You Out, Milky Cereal
Very nice but not really my jam
Great 90's sound but nothing stuck with me enough to revisit
Title track is a classic and for 1990 it generally doesn't sound too dated, but as usual with a lot of hip-hop it could definitely do with trimming a few tracks. The last few you could probably just clip off completely and have a solid 45 minute 90s rap album.
I wanted to get into this alot more than I could, it's just a bit dull
Smooth
Probably better than I expected
A pioneering rap album
What originally turned me away from hip hop is that a lot of rap artists had seemed to hard-focus on lyrics and put pretty much all the other aspects of music production on the back burner. As someone who's a lot more fond of instrumentation than vocals and doesn't like analyzing lyrics all that much, for the longest time, I thought that rap was something that I'll never be able to get into. I've since learned that this approach to hip hop production is not at all universal. There's a lot of hip hop, especially in the last couple of decades, with more detailed and engaging (at least for me) instrumentals and more variety in lyrical delivery. But a lot of modern hip hop and most of the older hip hop still consists of basic, rhythmic, repetitive beats and flows with not much variation, of which I'm not huge fan. This album is definitely of the more "traditional" variety. The tracks here are not bad, but none of them excite me. Like, I didn't mind this album playing in the background—the beats and the rapping are solid—but nothing about it made interested in paying more attention. This album is just pretty generic and not that imaginative. But if you're into this style, I can totally see you enjoying this far more than me. Cool J is a good rapper (can't really talk about the lyrics because I didn't pay a lot of attention to them), and the production is pretty clean. But this minimalistic approach is not for me. This album is fine, but it's not something I would consider relistening. There's a lot of hip hop I like, and none of it follows this formula.
I do understand that this is an impactful album for people, and there are plenty of songs and moments that are gems, but for some reason it was a struggle for me to get through. 3.5 stars.
Some decent tracks for a non hip hop enthusiast like myself. I really liked Mama said knock you out, Cheesy Rat Blues, the boomin system (awesome sampling). I didnt know how young he was here - dayum
This is one listen through for me - kind of fun and silly - not sure I'll come back. Decent songs: Murdergram, Mama, 6 Minutes. Makes me wanna lick my lips. Had no idea this is where Run the Jewels name came from (Cheesy Rat Blues) - I like some of their stuff, so 2.5 rounding up.
3 maybe 4
Rap
Those New Jack snares.
3/5
LL Cool J found himself in an odd position at the start of the 90s. Having started as a hip-hop wunderkind, he had seemingly regressed into a punching bag for fellow rappers to lay their licks in and LL was taking notice. He dropped the phony act, put on his own boxing gloves and reformed himself from punching bag to power machine, hence Mama Said Knock You Out. Of course, that was just one song; the remainder of the album contains not just brazen reminders of LL's initial potential but a silver of what was keeping him down in the eyes of critics (Mr. Good Bar and Milky Cereal coming after the title track are egregious examples). Overall, Mama Said Knock You Out offers a valuable lesson to supposedly struggling rappers everywhere: if you want to remind those that you are tough as nails, you probably need to sweat out the Atlantic Ocean. Favorites: The Boomin' System, Eat Em Up L Chill, Murdergram, Cheesy Rap Blues, Farmers Blvd. (Our Anthem), Mama Said Knock You Out, Jiggling Baby (Remixed But Still Jiggling), To Da Break of Dawn, The Power of God.
His big comeback after falling off in the late 80s. Several songs have that early 90s NYC, "boom bap" sound. I feel like he can't decide if he wants to be extra hard street dude or Mr. Ladies Man. Highlights: "Around the Way Girl" (big pop rap hit with a sticky hook. The type of thing that Puffy would do and make lots of money from in the mid-late 90s), "Murdergram" (where LL pretends to be Ice Cube and actually does pretty well), "To Da Break of Dawn" (flow is a little old school but the music is coolly funky, reminds me of a Pete Rock production with the horns on the chorus, makes sense because he learned from Marley Marl who produced this track) Notable: "The Boomin' System" (voice seems deeper, something about the flow reminds me of "Summertime"), "Mama Said Knock You Out" (should've been the opening track instead of halfway through the album), "Milky Cereal" (um...ew)
Some good songs, but too bloated. Easy to lose interest listening to it.
Funnier than I expected. Overall it was decent beats and flow. Easily distracted, but for the most part it did a good job of keeping my attention
Enjoyed this on the whole, some amusing rhymes which had me laughing a few times, marred slightly by grating choruses on a couple of tracks Favourite tracks: 6 Minutes of Pleasure, Mama Said Knock You Out & Cheesy Rat Blues Will probably revisit. 3/5
As rap R&B goes, it’s pretty good. Seems all the R&B these days talks about wet pussies and fucking bitches. I tried to listen to the latest stuff on Apple Music… made it thru 3 songs and about 50 N-Words. It’s worthless crap. No hope for black youth in America.
Old Skool’s last gasp was fun enough
Decent
Favorite Track: Illegal Search
I’m a fan of early 90s rap, and this album definitely brings that classic sound—with hard beats, battle-ready bars, and a confident delivery. But LL Cool J just isn’t really my guy. “Mama Said Knock You Out” is a legendary track and still hits hard, but beyond that, most of the album didn’t leave a lasting impression. Solid for what it is, just not something I’d come back to often.
It was ok. I'm not a rap guy, but it's LL Cool J, and his stuff is mostly reachable. a couple of hits I remembered from the '90's, the cereal song was funny.
This album helped bring that 90's vibe to hip hop coming out of the 80's. There is a harder sound to this one compared to LL's earlier albums. The two nostalgia songs for me are Around the Way Girls and the title track, mainly because those were the only two songs I've heard from this album. I love the positive messages in some of these songs. There's something about LL Cool J that is different than anyone else in this genre. It's a testament to his strength that he is still releasing albums today. He's one of the OG rappers and he is still going. Legend. This gets a 3 from me.
Fun listen with a lot of energy. LL Cool J is going to steal your girl. 3.5
Straight forward original hip hop with the title track being a heavy hitter. Round the Way Girl is a nice classic also. I like that a hip hop originator made the list.
I don’t know that I have a lot to say about this album. It’s clearly a hip-hop classic, and it’s both well known and well loved. I just never really found myself enjoying it. It’s a weird thing to listen to an album you know is good, without actually feeling it at all.
Fun album. LL is a fantastic producer, with the title track and "Around the Way Girl" being his best showcases on the album. The lyrics are a little corny at times - sometimes so corny as to be charming, as on "Milky Cereal". Most of the songs on this album kinda blend together and aren't super memorable, but the vibe is pretty great. 6.5/10
My whole workout playlist right here.
I never really listened to LL Cool J before. This was pretty good.
SHOUTOUT TO CEREAL AND MILK! Favourite Songs: Around The Way Girl, Murdergram, Mama Said Knock You Out. Least Favourite Songs: Farmers Blvd. (Our Anthem), 6 Minutes Of Pleasure.
Classic 90's rap. Works for me.
Corny? Maybe. But LL has always been in the same lane as, say, Will Smith. A fairly radio friendly east coast rapper who can mix corny shit/comedy in with fire (for the time) bars. Trackwise, the title song still goes hard 35 years later... 'Cos he's fronting in his ride and his word is bond.
a nice enough listen but nothing special
3.5
Title track is dope
Quite good, entertaining and nice for a sort of background to cooking (or at least how I listened to this).
Not really my kind of music but I appreciate it being able to listen to a rapper whose words I could understand. Good diction and annunciation
Pretty decent album
wholesome 90s rap
I don't remember most of the album but in my defense I was walking and talking with my girlfriend
ughhh
LL: I have so many rhymes. My rhymes are amazing. You found yours in a garbage can Also LL: Down rhymes with down! In fairness, there's only one example of this that I found on this album, but I feel like if you're writing about your attention to detail, misspellings pretty much make your argument moot. I absolutely could do without the chorus of Milky Cereal. Otherwise, great song. Great beat There were a couple of clever lines in To Da Break of Dawn that made me laugh out loud. 3.5
Decent beats but questionable lyrics and pretty repetitive. Light 3.
Not my genre but I thought this was very good. Liked the beats and appreciated it wasn’t as misogynistic as most.
It's hard to listen to this through the lens of hip-hop as we know it now. LL Cool J only really has one flow but at the time there was nohing wrong with that at all. He is rapping with the ferocity of someone who knows they need a comeback and I do think he's successfull overall. "Cheesy Rat Blues" had a lot of groaners but elsewhere it was funny that he said "I get hot like pastrami". I cannot decide if "Milky Cereal" was an interestign lyrical excercise or one of the dumbest rap songs I've ever heard.
I really enjoy this era of hip hop, the production and flow always make me smile. This isn't LL's best work though. There's a lot of lyrical repetition and some gross 90's cultural stuff that hasn't aged well.
Very good
mammanpoikia. näinh. tälläiseltå kuulostaa antiikin musiikki. niin on luukalut esillä. cyrus mahtava kutsui palatsiinsa hauskimmat narrit ja miellyttävimmät muusikot; tältä se tapaaminen kuulosti. "That is so true ! Thats so true hahahahaha!" sanoi cyrus, kuninkaiden kuningas.. kun kuuli biisin cheesy rat blues.. eikä edes teloittanut muita (suvaitsevainen, nöyrä) jahhallahmahlahhahhlalah.. anywayyys, im tired. im gonna go to bed now. byeee mama said knock younout
I remember back when the title track was a big hit and I absolutely hated it. Every time he says "Mama said knock you out" there's this sound like a childs crying doll being stepped on. It's one of the most annoying sounds that I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. It shouldn't be much surprise that I wasn't looking forward to this album, but I actually enjoyed this more than expected. The beats are generally ok, his flow is great and lyrically it's mostly impressive. Unfortunately some of the lyrics really haven't aged well and the title track still sounds terrible.
Not really my thing. The instrumentation, sampling, and production holds up, but the lyrics are rough.
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Rap.
This is a pretty important transitional hip-hop/rap record. But I never really thought LL was that Cool, J.
Pretty solid 90s hippin and a hoppin
Some of the songs got a little tedious, but overall not bad.
I missed a lot of this kind of stuff in the 80s and 90s. I just want really exposed to it. It's a pretty fun listen for more than just "mamma said: knock you out" which is the only one I've heard before.
This was surprisingly good. I've only heard the title track, but the whole thing holds up.
It was decent, like a 3.5. But by 1990 youre starting to get acts like Public Enemy, De La Soul and NWA which I'd say is leaps above this
This was ok. It’s not as corny as the other 90s rap/hip hop but it’s still up there. He was kind of always corny, though.
Love LL, but this shit kinda aged like milk
He's a good actor!
Aika kasarit beatit mutta ihan jees flow! Menköön nyt kolmosena mutta ei tää nyt mikään super ollut. 3/5
Mukavan laiska ääni riimittelijällä ja ihan jees taustat. 3/5
Smooth, muscular, and very fun old-school rap. This feels like a major vibe and sound shift from most of the other 80s rap I’ve heard on the list, as full bass-driven beats dominate here. LL Cool J isn’t exactly a virtuoso, but he’s still a charismatic and talented rapper who sells every song successfully. Best song: Mama Said Knock You Out
I thought this album was kind of a joke back when I first heard it, but it grows on you. Still not a top 10 by any chance, its a little too posture-y, you know? But anyway its not bad. 3/5
I really enjoyed that. I know that might surprise you Dear Reader, but not as much as it surprised me. Not sure I can explain why, but I guess I don’t have to justify it. I know I’ve just listened to it, wasn’t offended by it, and liked the variety and originality.
I shall have to use similes to describe my feelings towards this; If LL Cool J is a finely crafted film like 'The Excorcist', then most modern rappers are like 'The Human Centipede'. I remember seeing him on the cover of the the NME etc and my natural reaction was to frown and avoid like the plague. So this is the first time I've got to actually hear anything by Ladies Love. First impressions were very favourable, pretty good use of samples, the lyrics didn't sound particularly offensive, but the most impressive thing was that his lyrics rhymed. All in all, excellent for its genre. 3
Several years ago, I found out that LL Cool J stood for Ladies Love Cool James and it's been difficult to take Cool James seriously ever since. The title track is a great song, but besides that, there isn't much to recommend on this album, Around The World Girl is pretty enjoyable I suppose. There's nothing particularly bad either. Cool James even promises a woman that he sure wouldn't rape her, which definitely puts him above Notorious BIG.
Somewhat dated now, and hip hop lyrics improved massively over the decades but a couple of hits have stood the test of time
Svårt. Jag lyssnar inte på Hip hop speciellt mycket. Det slår liksom inte an hos mig. Absolut vissa låtar men ett helt album. Det går sällan ner. Titelspåret är ju bra och jag känner mig jättecool när jag lyssnade på musiken på jobbet. Jag att jag fick lyssna för albumet känns som en viktig del av musikhistorien.
Mer 80-tal än 90-tal över denna, med mycket avskalade trumdrivna produktioner och rätt simpelt flow. Tycker dock ändå att LL levererar bättre rap, intensitet och känsla än de flesta på den här tiden och till och från så kommer lite sköna samplingar och mer ”sofistikerade” grejer som andas mer 90-tal. Around the way girl och Mama said knock you out är bra exempel på det. På det stora hela är den lite för lång och lite för mycket 80-tal för att nå högre än en trea dock.
Nostalgic. Some hits. Fun if you ignore the sexism (which was surely partly a product of its time, though still not cool). Great 90s sound right at the turn of the decade. I have a soft spot for LL Cool J
Fun throwback. I knew the two popular tracks and those are the ones I still like: Around the Way Girl, Mama Said Knock You Out. The rest of the album was OK but nothing stood out.
It's mainly about the 3 singles I already new. The rest felt very of It's time. Which isn't bad, but didn't pack the same punch.
The driver from the first song - The Boomin' System - drives around my neighborhood every night. Sadly, he does not listen to The Boomin' System, which is vastly preferable to the songs that do get played. I'm enjoying this a lot. Great beats and rhythms. I'm seeing a lot of complaints in the reviews about insipid lyrics, etc, but that's true for a lot of the albums on this list. So how is this album different? hmm.
some fun tracks but definitely sounds like it's time and to my 2024 ears not all that innovative
Less shitty than expected.
Pretty solid beats, and a historically significant album. Just not really my jam.
I’m sure this was what the cool kids at school were listening to in 1990 to prove just how cool they were. I wasn’t a college kid so I didn’t listen to it at school. Perhaps I should have so I could have been cool as well.
Okay. As others have noted, the title track is still a banger. The rest is typical of rap/hip hop from that era: it hasn't aged well, and it all tends to sound the same. Giving a three instead of a two, soly based on the strength of the title track.
Couple of bangers. Who knew milk and cereal could be so sexy.
Mmmm rap de los 90 que no había escuchado!!! Entretenido, pero no me ha impactado. Solo me he guardado Mr Good Bar.
This was fine.
Really like the beats on Mr Good Bar and Milky Cereal
fresh, revival of second life for LL. made him a 'hardcore' rapper, at the time.
LL Cool J's Mama Said Knock You Out is a fantastic title and has some damn catchy hooks. This album is definitely of its time in regards to the male gaze and the objectification of women, but that isn't anything unusual from other hip hop albums around 1990. "Milky Cereal" was pretty cringe, as the kids say. LL Cool J did, however, create "Illegal Search," possibly the most powerful song on this album as he describes scenes common to lots of young Black men. Immediately after that song is "The Power of God" to close the album. This song and its placement speaks volumes about LL Cool J as a person and a musician.
- Laid back aber ganz am Ende des Albums hatte ich das Gefühl, den selben Song mehrfach gehört zu haben. - ist etwas zeitloser und charakteristischer als der andere HipHop - guter flow und schöne Stimme 3/5
- nice flow, coole beats und stimmige .. Stimme
As a melody-first music listener, lemme say up top that the beats are pretty fresh. Fly, funky, phat... Whatever word you wanna use. On that front, it gets a pretty good rating from me. As late-80's beats, anyway. You compare this to where the rest of the 90's went, and, woo, no competition here. But considering this is a late-80's record, really, yeah, it does good. Now, speaking about LL as a rhymer and a flower... Mm. Honestly, to me he's got a voice where, like... I don't feel like I hafta take him too seriously? Besides the title track, it often sounds to me like a typical "party jam rapper" voice. Y'know what I mean? I'unno, I hear him and I think of Young MC. Like, I'm not saying it's unenjoyable, or that some of the rhymes can't be good (even putting aside some of the ones that've, well, "not aged well"), it's just... I kinda feel like I'm missing something. 'Cuz it's not bad; it's a 3 at minimum. I just don't know if I'd say it's one of the 50 best rap albums of all time. In short: I can't say he knocked me out.
Was not expecting LL Cool J on here! I've heard Mama Said Knock You Out but somehow didn't connect that to him. I also really enjoyed Around the Way Girl and Mr. Good Bar. Not too many memorable moments beyond that, but overall the album was a great listen while outside biking.
Ladies Love Cool James. He's a sort of classic hip hop icon that doesn't exactly hold up in conversations, maybe because it's more of that radio-ready rap style of the early '90s, but this is a pretty good album. Really loved hearing the James Brown sample on "Boomin System," and the title track is a classic too. It's a good old school hip hop entry, of course there are better but this is a nice one. Favorite tracks: Mama Said Knock You Out, Boomin System, Cheesy Rat Blues. Album art: Very sweaty shot of James' chest (I think it's funny to call him James). He looks tough, certainly cool. 3.5/5
Did not dislike this half as much as I expected. Some of the beats on this record are really reminiscent of Public Enemy (obviously contemporaries but the latter perfected it in my opinion), and Mr. J sounds like a man possessed on some of these tracks. It’s the kind of aggressive, urgent hip-hop I like but it’s undercut by a few really cheesy number and the usual bone-headed sexism neither of which has aged well at all. On the whole, it didn’t knock me out, but it did jolt my attention for most of its hour-long run time.
I accidentally deleted all my thoughts on this album so it basically boils down to a couple of good to great songs surrounded by relatively weak album tracks. There is no denying the greatness of the title track though.
Classic hip-hop
mostly much more memorable and intricate than anticipated but then it's an hour long and has Milky Cereal 6/10
Can I forgive the back half of this album based on the merits of the front half? It was long, an hour long, but the hour felt like an hour and a half. It starts at a 4 but those last two tracks drag it down to 3.
Another Great Rap/Hip-Hop album from this site! I really liked the samples on this one!
Good album and did not age that badly, but still aged
Easy listen. Maybe not one I would run back too. Nothing stood out but the beats were good.
Fine legible rap from the 90s (before the mumble) with a lo-fi beat and laidback delivery that has LL Cool J confessing "I'm totally relaxed" even while singing about racist police corruption. 3 internal rhymes.
It was cool, but I didn't feel especially knocked out
Mér finnst fyrri hlutinn, til og með Mamma sagði, bara helvíti fínn og skemmtilegur en eftir það dalar platan nokkuð. Stefndi í fjarka, endar í þristi.
ziemlich old school, und leider etwas aus der zeit gefallen. irgendwie dann auch trotz toller samples eintönig .. daher auch Farmers Blvd. als bester Track.
Tired and dated.
3.5
I don't know much about LL Cool J, seems he's sort of a link between the Run DMCs and the gangster rap era. He's a bit more boastful but it hasn't reached full gangster rap status. It was all okay without any of it being particularly good. Title track stuck out the most but that might be because I recognised the words. Probably worth listening to as part of understanding rap's progression but I wouldn't go back. 2.5.
Enjoyed his flow, lyrics, and the samples and beats. Scrapes a 3 for being pretty entertaining, but I'm in no rush to re-listen. Perhaps a better rapper than actor - only time will tell.
For being released in 1990 this is quite a way from the gangsta rap that came in the subsequent years. This is much more hip hop, which I keep banging on about being superior. I think the beats and his flow are pretty good, but the way he rhymes feels simple and there's something missing. It strays into feeling pretty cheesy at times and he comes across badly. Mama said knock you out is the best track by far, but even this is fairly cheesy. Unsure how to rate this, so I'm going to sit on the fence and give a 3.... Not sure I'll be rushing back, but to by honest he sounded better than I was expecting, for someone I know more from acting
sometimes great, sometimes average
It was fine - I have no burning desire to re-listen, but I liked the instrumental side of things, and can see why it would be seen as someone's favourite :)
I like his flow. This was one of the better entries amongst the over-represented genre of rap/hip-hop on this list. I don't really like rap but I could listen to this.
3 out of 5. The beats are solid and make me feel weirdly nostalgic for the 90's, but it's unfortunately an album I can't see myself returning to. Favorite song: 6 Minutes of Pleasure
Great title track but the rest of this hasn't exactly aged well.
Big beats a little dated at times. Sex pest vibes but done bangers 6.5/10
Fast schon Retro-Hiphop für 1990?
Trey
the title track is sweet. some cool R&B influenced jams on it. Only complaint is that it's way too long.
had some great songs but others weren't as good and were quite repetitive
Ok...just not a fan of the genre. Did enjoy the lyrics to "Milky Cereal"... So we went to be alone But we had to be quiet, 'cause her corn pops was home Kissed her neck, kissed her back, kissed her arms I said "Forget it, let me see your lucky charms."
Never listened to this album. Not what I expected...the album has a wide range of styles. A couple of songs come off sounding like the bubblegum rap of Will Smith. But there are a lot of solid songs throughout. Strong 3 stars "They're jingling, baby"
Da gusto escuchar este disco, tiene un gran inicio, además que creo que destaca por no ser un disco demasiado apegado a su genero. Hay sonidos que parecen mezclarse con otras corrientes o generos. LL Cool J rapea con mucha seguridad y flow, además tiene una linda entonación. Pero, por otro lado, siento que lleva la marca del sonido de una época, es decir, es fácil darse cuenta de que es de los 90s. En ese sentido es un disco que ha quedado un poco atrás en el tiempo. No es atemporal. Y, a excepción de un par de canciones no me ha gustado mucho.
Sounds alright, but not my thing for much beyond background music. Questionable lyrics, probably didn’t age well.
+ A few classics + Mostly solid beats throughout + Nostalgia - Way too long of an album - Can get repetitive - Hasn't aged well in content and style
I had Eminem the previous day, so this was a breath of fresh air! I really like the sound of 90s/2000s rap, and this had some great lyrics on it. But I did find that some of the songs had grating or repetitive elements in them that wore on me after a while.
definitely better than eminem from yesterday! some of these songs had a fun hook or lyrics and really stood out to me, and the rest were just kinda samey. mama said knock you out was the only one i had heard going into this. pretty decent album overall though. favorites: the boomin' system, around the way girl, eat em up l chill, farmers blvd, mama said knock you out
The title track is a head-bobbing banger, but otherwise all the other tracks feel like the same thing just less impressive. A bit repetitive.
More than three decades as a smiling actor has warped my sense of LL Cool J. My earliest awareness of him may have even been as Captain Patrick Zevo in the Robin Williams movie “Toys.” Beyond the acting, my general recollection of his music career painted him as safe and bland late 80s hip hop. But in fact, “Mama Said Knock You Out” shows that he served as an important bridge between 80s hip hop and harder-edged 90s rap. The cheesiness of 80s rap lyrics pop up on occasion (it didn’t stand out to me until “Cheesy Rat Blues”), but overall LL Cool J finds a nice balance - sometimes hard and aggressive, sometimes chill and having fun. The song “Mama Said Knock You Out” is remembered more whimsically than it actually is - there are veiled threats to shoot people there, not just punching someone because mama said so. But then he follows that up with a song about cereal, so… (well, I guess it’s just as much about sex as it is about cereal). He may wind up being mostly remembered as the guy who fought mutant sharks in “Deep Blue Sea” or “NCIS’” Special Agent Sam Hanna, but this album proves he was a rapper of actual talent working with some of hip hop’s best.
It's not really anything special, but having listened to Run DMC and Notorious BIG in the last few days, I am hearing this differently as the evolutionary step between the two.
The beats are primitive and LL’s vocals aren’t anything to write home about. A great stroll down Nostalgia Lane.
Classic 90s hip hop before the west coast sound blew up.
The title track absolutely steals the show here, with Ladies Love Cool James (yes that’s actually what his name stands for) sounding full of energy and fire. The production is generally pretty great throughout and far more hard hitting than his 80s work like Radio, though granted he was a literal child when that album came out (he’s only 22 here and this was viewed as his comeback record - wild). Unfortunately the flow and lyrics are pretty dated more often than not, and there is a lot of filler in it’s 61 minute run time (the title track being followed by Milky Cereal is a clear demonstration of just how all over the place this album can be in tone and quality)
I was kind of bored by this one. Musically it has its moments, but the lyrics frequently feel a bit try-hard. Title track is solid though. Fave Songs: Mama Said Knock You Out, Farmers Blvd.
Some of the singles were good. I don’t think this was an essential listen though.
It's really good. You forget what a good rapper he is.
One of my faves from that period.
Honestly the most surprising part of this was that it came out in 1990. Other than that it was just fine; never been a huge fan of LL Cool J, but mama said knock you out went hard and the rest wasn't unlistenable.
Really love the composition and style of this album. Real statements made and just enjoyable songs for me
L L L ASSASS de guy vo navy CIS LA cha rappe? erste song sehr coole beat zweite song cuute er will en herzige vrau. eat em up L chill isch no funny aber nervig mit de ziit. scho en rieeese unterschied zwüsched dem und snoop dogg 3 johr spöter. murdergram isch sehr viel aggressiver, eig nice. aber de mix isch chli weird? cheesy rat blues nervt mi au irgendwie, aso s isch nöd schlecht aber de beat und de flow passed irgendwie nöd gaaanz zeme. farmers boulevard geeeile beat. s sample kenni glaub? die andere rapper sind easy whack haha. aber sin flow goht mer mit de ziit au ufd nerve. oke de titletrack isch wieder HÄSSIG und FÜRE vieeeel geiler so. goht jo. beat isch geil cool J isch hässig so hanis gern. "i came up with a funky rhyme" isch uuultra whack aber sust geile song. milky cereal easy funny. sin flow ischmer afoch zu oldschool to the break of dawn gfalltmer mega happy song 6minutes of pleasure hani au recht geil gfunde schöni vocals.
ohh es het alles glöscht uppsi ja d beats findi sehr cool, au wenns schnell emal chli repetitiv wird, sini stimm findi chliii najaa alles in allem nöd schkecht aber au chli inoffensive versuon vo rap
👍
There's some really listenable, musical stuff on here - great in doses, say as a soundtrack for a scene in a film - but as the genre demands, a bit repetitive.
Nothing will ever top, "My hat is like a shark's fin."
3.5
One of the OG hip-hop superstars, LL Cool J has such a great flow and some amazing samples in this album.
I feel like sound is outdated, and it didn't turn old like wine, so to say. I would not know why, but my impression is that most of the songs would not make the cut in a contemporary project. If I could explain why, I would not be doing this challenge and would just be a producer instead. Extra point for "Mama said knock you out". Amazing track.
I'm embarrassed at how much I enjoyed this album. It's more creative than most hip hop albums I've listened to. He's not trying to act super hard, just clowning around and trying to get laid. Pretty fun overall.
2.5
The ladies LOVE COOL J lol. Never heard any of his stuff beyond the singles so let's see how this goes.... Interesting mix of hip hop and r an B across the album. Some of the rhymes are a bit basic. Enjoyable enough listen though
Good
I'm not interested in LL's approach to sexy times, but otherwise his lyrics are fine and the flow is decent for an mc of his vintage.
As far as Rap goes (for me), I could do a lot worse than LL Cool J. His smoothness and the decent beats makes this listenable, but far from something I'll spin on a whim. Both likeable and cringy, this is what I would consider mainstream stereotypical rap and though I'm not fond of the genre, I must admit I enjoyed it.
Decent. upbeat but the lyrics are unrelatable hetero bs. Easy listen though.
A typical entry to the 1001. It’s good. I enjoyed it. But I can’t see myself ever listening to it again.
icb this is the first time im listening to this lmao okay . cewl. nice 3.5
The kind of hip hop that makes it impossible to keep up with when one track ends and the next starts. Not sure. Bit boring. Bit samey 2.5
Good fun. Made my morning walk much more enjoyable.
meh it was aight
Hip-hop. Ni fu ni fa.
Mixed bag. Some good grooves, some solid stuff, some dated, some cringey. Enjoyed the listen though.
3.25
Classic 90s rnb vibes
This was interesting, kind of old school beats but with a more 90’s rap feel to it at the same time, not what I was expecting.
Some of this is really, really good....and then some of it isn't.
Decent. A few songs I remember enjoying but I should have reviewed this one earlier. Will I listen to again: 25%
as much of the rap music from this era, the music sounds dated and the beats tend to be redundant. but as is, kind of average… not great, but not awful.
I remember some of these songs from back in the day. It’s like PG-13 rap.
More unique than I was expecting. Interesting rhymes and themes for songs. Milky cereal was a unique one (what’s a spoon 👀) not bad
LL Cool J goes harder than I expected, but I think a lot of the credit for that should go to Marley Marl. The beats are good but the album is a bit long. Lyrically this isn’t aged the best 7.4/20
in the 90s it was illegal for a hip-hop album to run under sixty minutes
Clocking in a jus an hour - not usually typical for a Hip Hop album, Momma Said Knock You Out by LL Cool J is a straight up decent hip hop album. Not necessarily his best, but in terms of mainstreaming Rap to be more listenable to the pop audience, the two singles from this album brought it to the mainstream. The rest of the album keeps the pace set by the two prior for an all around decent listen. 3.5/5
Boring, not my thing and nothing to make me want to listen at all
Ah yes, the bucket hat-wearing, hip-hop golden age rapper who I've always revered and respected, but never went out of my way to check out. Can't say I found this album to be standout in any way though. LL Cool J is certainly a talented lyricist, and at the turn of the decade, he managed to capture both the simplistic, clunk of the 80s flows and the complexity of the up-and-coming 90s styles. The instrumentals are good here generally with most of it being produced by legend Marly Marl. I love the punchier nature of a song like "Eat Em Up L Chill" and this particular song showcases some of L's best rhyme patterns. Can't say I'm too big a fan of this hook though. I honestly really liked "Murdergram" which had an almost throwback sound. It's one of the songs with one of those obvious "80s" flows and the ambient audience noises in the background help nail that raw "in the moment" feel. I like the short transitional moments on "Farmers Blvd". Can't say I was a huge fan of the title track here though, I just found the instrumental far too clunky and L's flow even clunkier. His yelpier style doesn't work for me. There are some interesting lyrical moments, here like "Cheesy Rat Blues" where L tackles the double-faced nature of his associates in a hypothetical situation where he lost everything. "Milky Cereal" was sorta funny too. Overall though, yeah this album is too long, and can't say it's entirely interesting front to back. That's not to say it's bad, honestly aside from a few outright irritating moments (I'm looking at you "Jingling Baby" hook), I enjoyed this thing front to end. I just don't think it's doing anything special or distinct, it's just solid early 90s hip-hop.
I wish I could say this knocked me out. Some of it felt pretty forced (is Milky Cereal really a thing or was he trying to make that happen?). The title song is great but I wish the rest of the album lived up to it.
The passage of time has probably dulled the sting of its impact, but this is a very decent hip hop record. If it sounds a little creaky today, the animating spirit cannot be faulted, and LL Cool J's flow is great - big and technicolour. In the car, windows down on a warm evening, this would be perfect. Unfortunately, it's a cold damp morning in southern England. A high three, could've been a four.
MAMA The worse of his more famous albums. His first two are the best. They need to be on here.
Flashy and smooth collection of rhymes from LL Cool J, backed by classic yet heavy-hitting production by Marley Marl. This album is very much a transition from the hip hop of the 80's, exemplified by simple echoing drums and lighthearted, basic rhyming, to the rap of the 90's, with sampled drum loops, complex lyrical flows, and R&B hooks. LL Cool J is a charismatic lyricist, mixing humor with seriousness, to communicate life lessons and poetic gymnastics. Stand out tracks include "Around The Way Girl", "Mr. Goodbar", Farmers Blvd. (Our Anthem)", "Mama Said Knock You Out", "Milky Cereal", and "6 Minutes Of Pleasure".
There’s some good stuff on here - the title track is a masterpiece - but overall, it’s too long and a bit one note. 3/5
Not a fan of Hip-hop, but this really surprised me. It actually very listenable - lyrics still relevant, good rhythms, not what I was expecting. It might make it into the collecton!!
This album (song) busted LL into pop culture. He had a reasonably prolific silver screen presence after that. My love for LL is in his earlier hip hop career though. You're my heart.
I enjoyed this album way more than I thought I would. There were some stupid lyrics, but enjoyed the beat. Would listen to it again.
Surprisingly good. Didn't expect to like it, but LL Cool J got that 90s, but like, cool 90s flow.
This project has really opened my ears to different musical styles. I enjoyed the humor in the lyrics and the drums
It's a vibe
# Playlist track - Mr Good Bar # Notes - It's kind of angry, kind of cool. - Drags itself too long. - I like some of interesting verses and instrumentals, like the guitar in "Mr Good Bar". One extra star.
Honestly some very cool production on this. Would probably be more likely to bump the instrumentals than with LL, no offense big dog.
Decent. Peaks and valleys. Mama Said Knock You Out is a 5 star song. That song was popular with my friends and I in junior high when it was released.
Old school beats, funky lyricist. Didn’t feel like this album was too special
The full album isn’t on Spotify, but looked decently promising with some good samples and melodies. 3.5
Solidly good all around but really only highly impressed by the album's title track. 3.5
This album is far too long for what it is trying to be. 2.5/5
Good. It was good.
He oscillates between being a total cornball to having some really clever bars. Pretty good for 1990! A hard-working 3/5 for me
Boop
I listened and enjoyed, but closely enough to comment.
The beats are dope but the lyrics are whack. This is probably more like a 2.5 but ladies love cool James! So I rounded up.
I didn't love this — wondering if my new "understanding" of rap renders this a bit quaint. Had this been something I was into back when it was released, I'm sure I'd have a different take. And, for sure, I appreciated the fact that there was song structure and not a whole lotta bitchin' and hoing'. I mean, the flexing was prevalent, and tiresome, but you could hear that everyone was enjoying themselves. Mama Said and Around The Way Girl were highlights — I would have liked more of that stuff on the album. So, didn't love it, but I did like it, though it's not going to make it into steady rotation in my life. Good add to the list.
Yes the ladies love Cool James and I am one of them. Y'all know rap ain't my scene but this 90s hip-hop vibe is something I can get down to. I remember the summer Mama Said Knock You Out came out and man I couldn't stop singing that song. I don't know how to speak about rap or whatever this hip-hop flavor is but I prefer this sound over post-modern rap b/c it's got a beat I can bop to. It doesn't sound as nasty either.
It was alright.
I'm a fan of the early hip hop, I thought it was a good album, not great. The best song was Milky Cereal, always fun to rediscover a nice track.
Another one that shows I seemingly prefer the East Coast sound to the West Coast. Some gems in here alongside some standard filler, Murdergram sounds great, and yeah some of this doesn't age well 30 years later but not quite as bad as some others from the same era.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would - it's aged better than a lot of its contemporaries. The production isn't quite as in your face as a lot of the stuff that was around at the time, and whilst some of the lyrics don't fit the 2020s, it's definitely less jarring than a lot of the stuff we've had from then and later. 3/5.
the ladies love him
Title track is an all time banger! Beats are solid. Rhymes flow. But the lyrics on some songs are just ick especially on Mr. Good Bar. Yeah sensibilities were different in 1990 but still. Giving it a passing grade just because the title track slams hard.
This was more fun than expected. LL always felt like a sell out, but he sure had a hit on this one. The rest of the record has a fun swagger, and you can hear the early influences and the flavors of boom bap. Not my favorite hip hop of the era, but fun to hear more than the title track.
One likes the lean, gritty beats – clear and strong – and that he calls out his forebears (Kool Herk, Afrika Bambaata, Melle Mel, etc.) Who knew a tuna melt can be an aphrodisiac. Broad, likable, easily accessible beats, with about average level of embarrassing rhymes (eg, cereal song, "Mr. Goodbar," phallic rhyme of "salami" with "get hot like pastrami"). LL Cool J is easy to root for, if not exactly moving the needle on the leading edge. Legit skills but maybe the rapper most likely to be brought home to meet the parents. The more gangsta claims ("my 9 is easy to load") are difficult to credit. He really does look the part – and lived it, too, which somehow makes it seem not as powerful or artistic or as impactful.
3.2
Other than Mama Said (which I like for some reason even I don’t understand)… it’s a pretty standard rap record.
I liked the title track and the singles were ok. This was a lot of LL and it definitely showed its age.
This album is long, a little too long. But it's fine. The popular tracks are good, some of it is fairly forgettable.
I do like his flow. And his video in the boxing ring.
A little corny at times, but I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expected. Older hip hop is usually too misogynist for me but other than a few gross lyrics I just got the impression he really, really loves fucking women.
JJ likes LL.
This one’s got some nice funky samples but these lyrics… that one line, you know the one. I definitely enjoyed the beats on this more than the rapping, you can feel this teetering on the line between eras. It’s an ok listen but way too long. Title track is still banging though.
Not my thing.
He is hilariously smooth, but it's still mostly cool.
The first half of the album got me real good. The flow is there, the wit is there, even the seducing is there. But then it gets a bit monotone.
Best Song: Mama Said Knock You Out. "Don't call it a comeback" is a killer line to come flying in with. Worst Song: Milky Cereal. You know, the cereal metaphor did not land as hard as he hoped it would. Overall: Inoffensive, slightly goofy, very 90s rap. Nothing to hate here, but similarly nothing to get all that excited about.
This is peak gfunk Era hip hop. Title track is iconic. Milky cereal is corny as hell but not a skip. Very solid 3 Repeats: the booming system, mama said knock you out, Skips: eat em up L,
The title track and "Around the Way Girl" were great hits back in the day, in the "golden age of hip-hop". The other singles are good as well.
The beats and music are great. Most of the lyrics are narcissistic. Essentially it's my favorite part of 80s hip hop meeting my least favorite part of 90s rap. 4 stars for beats, 2 for lyrics, averaging to a 3.
The beats have an infectious energy and the production has some great depth. Some of the lyrics are cringe (how many times can someone use sugary foods as a euphemism for genitals?), occasionally misogynistic and homophobic. But overall, the album holds up pretty well, particularly the title track.
It was alright, not a huge fan of it.
Funky but the misogyny kind of ruins it for me. It’s not that special that I can turn a blind eye to it.
Great old school hip hop Some tracks feel very dated, others hold up extremely well
Guess what album this is? Yep, the 4th studio album by this artist. Chill was absolutely not good. The majority of it is... so unenergetic. The beats and rhymes are old school and not in a good way.
Un album de you-know-i'm-saying-rap légèrement moins atroce que les autres du genre.
Oh boy hahaha got a couple songs from this album saved... best track: Milky Cereal 🤣
Don't worry he won't rape you, he just wants a tuna melt. That's a new euphemism on me. Actual lol at whole song seemingly relating lady bits somehow to cereal 🥣 Hopscotch reference lol. 6 Minutes of Pleasure - so the ladies love cool James but James loves them a bit too much if 6 minutes is it. People only like him for his money. What a pout 👄
Good
probably better in context. 2.9
Meh.
Of LL nu een beetje boos is, of een beetje gevoelig. Hij kan het normaal wel overbrengen. Maar juist dat ontbreekt op dit album. Natuurlijk met uitzondering van de hit. (Boos is bij hem toch het leukst). Maar daar staan 6 minuten braakmuziek tegenover. Kom ik op een doorsnee 3 uit.
While the title track is undeniably a banger, it is all rather forgettable and lacking in oomph, particularly the beats and the flow in each and every song.
No
Just a couple steps removed from the "My name is LL Cool J and I'm here to say" era, the production on this album is lean and clean - minimalistic beats driven by boom boom tish drums, funky looped basslines, and sparse synth/sample accentuation that put the vocals front and center. There are just 1-2 beats/parts per song so the sound is fairly repetitive. There are long verses and short infrequent choruses. It's an old-school sound, though rap is pushing into new areas, speeding up a bit with a twisting clever and boastful style that would dominate the early 90s.The delivery on this album is precise and focused - putting an emphasis on the playful wordy verses' stories of love and lust, rivalries and friendships, parties and fights, crafting LL Cool J's smooth bravado persona.
It was interesting at first but got quite boring after a while. Too long.
Solid. Tight. Smooth. Consistent to the point that it may have been nice to have more variety. Truly a rapper's delight.
Not sure what all the macho energy is about but there's some cool 90s beats on this, kinda surprised but it.
This wasn't nearly as cheesy as I thought it would be. Still not my style but LL can spit.
Alright and easy to listen to but not many songs caught my attention. Nothing seems that groundbreaking here. Rating: 2.8
Really really good bass line lyrics drums
Didn't really know much going in. Reading about how his career and dropping out of high school through this being a response album he put out after "selling out" for pop, to everything after was all very interesting. An excellent showing of old school hiphop that certainly is one of the defining albums of rap music
Title track is an all-timer for sure. He's a divisive rapper but I err on the side of liking him, I think some of the corny stuff is supposed to be funny. But, this is just way too long and loses steam fast after that perfect title track anchored right in the middle of the record.
That's a pretty pleasant album and quite a surprise for me. By the cover I just immediately assumed its going to be a full on gangsta rap, but instead it was an interesting rnb slash rap that was quite good. Nice rapping style, just an above average album compared to other hip hop records on the list.
Because of the classic title track (the killer version is the one LL performed on MTV Unplugged). Everything else is filler. Somewhat related: Why are all rap albums overly long?
LL’s career is really cool and showcases evolution of rap from 80s to 2000s. This album bridges 80s to 90s. Mama said knock you out is the best track, and is a microcosm of the transition - 80s sound with 90s lyrics. Half the album is a miss for me and either doesn’t age particularly well, or is honestly a little cringy. I will go by Mr. Good Bar from now on, Krackle doesn’t feel right.
Don't call it a comeback...oh ok what do I call it then? Mr. Lover Man is back and this time he brought his around the way girl! I still revisit Booming System off this record but the other singles, not so much! Looking forward to seeing if there are any hidden gems or if this was a record of 2 singles and some filler!
The title track is worth the price of admission but the album is too long and it sounds weak compared to what Public Enemy and NWA were doing at the same time.
It does feel a bit pedestrian in comparison to other stuff coming out around the time, which likely appeals to a lot of folks but... meh.
Good album but it starts dragging towards the end.
Hasn’t aged as well as some other 90s rap albums in my opinion but the beats/instrumentals on this are amazing Favourite tracks: The Boomin’ System, Eat ‘Em Up L Chill, Murdergram, Mama Said Knock You Out
This was a good 90s rap album. The title track is pretty well known for making ll cool j a huge hit. Much of the rest of the album is a combination of decent lyricism and situational stories. Overall it was good but the early 90s rap style is a bit dated lyrically with the hard enunciation of raps. Milky cereal is an example of a good song yet pretty corny. I’d listen to some of it again but some is a bit old. 6.6/10
This album was obviously a megahit in the early golden age of hip hop. I need to give LL Cool J more credit than I do because this is a great album. He's an articulate rapper and this album, though a tad too long, is a great listen and solid all around.
Ok. Surprisingly better than I expected, but not something I'd often revisit.
Second half of this old school rap album is better than the first. Good songs: Farmers Blvd (outro "You don't stop" used in Beastie Boys' Sabotage) Mama Said Knock You Out Jingling Baby To Da Break of Dawn The Power of God
Obviously a big album when released. Was excited when I saw it come up but parts seem a bit dated today. Maybe didn’t age as well as I’d hoped.
Better rapper than normal but didn't listen to it all
Standouts: Mama Said Knock You Out, Jingling Baby, Around the Way Girl Others: The Boomin' System, Eat 'em Up L Chill, To Da Break of Dawn 3.5/5
Alveg ágætis plata.
Accessibility is the record's greatest strength, and also its greatest weakness. Lots of solid beats and unimpeachable samples, but also some borderline embarrassing flows (see the cereal song and "Mr. Goodbar"). One guesses that even Cool James would be a little ashamed of those now.
Ok.
Most of the hip-hop albums I've gotten on this list have been fine but left me a little cold. This is no exception I'm afraid. It is perfectly fine. It does go on for too long and is a little monotonous. I doubt I'd listen again.
decent
The cereal song comes and it goes, and it raises questions about the rest of the combination choices on board. They sound more uniform and more compelling, and even without Milky Cereal rise into fun plenty. Minimalist production retains the aged funk sound but has aged well.
Album opens with pretty boring The Boomin' System. Quintessential old School hip-hop beat with a flow reminiscent of The Sugarhill Gang. Around The Way Girl flips into a sunny upbeat bump with a matching flow. This song bumps. Eat Em Up L Chill makes for a good song to bob your head to. The chorus is kind of meh, but not bad. The confidence it takes to refer to oneself as "Mr. Good Bar..." Aside from having pretty cringy lyrics, the backing instrumental is moody and driving. Somewhere in the intervening songs I heard a reference to the Run The Jewels that RTJ uses to exit a song as well. I've heard of Mama Said Knock You Out, but can't say I've ever actually heard the song itself. Sounds very Ice Cube esque in delivery and anger. Milky Cereal is an odd one, but I'm actually about it. The layering of the sample kind of reminds me of a song off of Kanye's Yeezus. Hard 3 / 5
A good old school hiphop album, not to the heights of Wu-tang or NWA but passable, saved a few tracks to playlists.
I thought this was pretty good but it was at the end of the era where this was considered pretty good. I don't think I'd be as impressed if it wasn't for nostalgia. 3.5 stars
stone cold killer
The bars are corny but not bad lol, like the backing beats and mama said knock you out is an iconic song on its own
Semmosta ihan perus hyvää hibhöbbiä, mutta ei kuitenkaan mitään ihan omaa suosikkia
A Vanilla Ice le gusta este disco. Es muy rap para no alterar blancos. Aunque hay cosas que me hacen acordar al Kanye de Graduation, a los Beastie, y 6 minutes of pleasure me gustó mucho. En general muy repetitivo (los temas deberían durar menos de 3 minutos para que no moleste), Milky cereal es un tema muy WTF, pero buenas bases y coritos. Igual que Gabi, le daría 2 y media, pero no se puede, asi que redondeo para arriba :)
around the way girl, temon. Murdergram muy arriba, like it. Las letras muy de la época, somos malos si las analizamos desde hoy, pero machirulo al mil. Me encantan como suenan las cajas de ritmos de esa época, aunque parezcan de juguete. Buenos kicks al pecho. El delivery al rapear, como macho furioso haciendo puchero, no me gusta. Se escucha que es un disco fundacional, pero no envejeció muy bien. Demasiado largo para la poca variedad que tiene. El sonido vieja escuela noventosa, me llega al corazón. Algunos samples muy interesantes como el de Farmers Blvd. Le suma un puntito que tenga uno de los temas de hip hop mas conocidos de la historia, y que te hace mover el culito (gran influencia de los beastie se ve acá), Mama said knock you out. Illegal Search me gustó mucho también. Def Jam como sello, que cosa hermosa. La pregunta que me surge cuando revisiono esta música y época, es si nos hizo mas bien que mal o al revés. Impuso cierta tendencia lírica y actitud que es muy chota, asi que me guío por lo segundo. Estéticamente lo banco, pero es solo una fachada. Es un 2, 5 pero la app no me deja asi que redondeo para arriba.
Rhymes a bit basic eh?
There is no way to be more old-school than this album. This is not necessarily good or bad, and the album per see is nice, but it is one of the best candidates to be excluded in future editions of the 1001 list. There are a lot of albums that can be included in place of this one.
I've always had a soft spot for James, Bigger and Deffer being my all time favourite, but this is a good record. It's a time capsule, you can hear that first wave of rapping flowing through the braggadocio, but unlike so much of what came later he can laugh at himself, there's a really good sense of irony to so much of this. At the same time, by 1990 his thing was was on the wane, sadly, but that is ok. 6 Minutes, Boomin, all great stuff, this is worth a listen.
I enjoyed several tracks on this album, others less so.
I’ve always liked him & some of my favourite hip-hop is stuff he’s done. But I’d never heard most of this album before. It was an easy listen. The title track is a real winner. I also really loved Eat ‘Em Up L Chill, & The Power Of God. The musical setting for his words rarely get boring. A big plus in this genre.
Cool beats. The lyrics, not so much.
3/5