Reviews (page 6 of 8)
I really wanted to enjoy this, but by the time I got to “Milky Cereal” I started to wonder what it’s even doing on this list. What IS it doing on this list??!
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
2.5/5. Meh, not bad, but nothing that will bring be back. It's a bit long for what it is.
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.
Growing up I had a friend who used to listen to Walking with a Panther a lot - I remember thinking that LL Cool J just sounded like a colossal knob…….can’t say my opinion has changed
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.
Some old skool rap just doesn't age well ...... 2.5 for the vintage ....
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
This is okay. I feel like Artists in this genre at this time need to have something special for me to appreciate or enjoy it, and this doesn't have it for me. Fav songs: - Mama said knock you out
Ja, bei diesem Album handelt es sich Musik.Ja es werden Probleme besungen und sich einen Rap reinziehen war auch 1990 besser als andere Drogen. Leider finde ich nichts interessantes auf dem Doppelalbum. Es hört sich gleich nervig an. Lieber App Programmierer .. Danke für die Skip-Taste
Could not get through the first song Sorry
Tried. Couldn’t get into it.
LL was a real pioneer, but the production on this record is ass
Good fun. Made my morning walk much more enjoyable.
Absolute classic from the GOAT. Ladies love cool James for a reason.
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.
Classic hip hop from when hip hop was great
like most hip hop albums, it isnt really for me. it sounds quite dated, and loses my interest by a third song, even if i start with bopping my head NNN
3.25
Classic 90s rnb vibes
Couple of solid tracks, but overall this feels extremely lackluster compared to some of its contemporaries
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.
I find this era of hip hop tough going.
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%
Music has moved on, and it wasn't even that good when it was new.
Ahhh the soundtrack of my middle/high school dances. I'm kind of surprised they let us listen to this. 😳
Love this. It makes me want to take hip hop dance classes.
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.
Oof
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
Um, no. That did not age well at all. Geeze. Do you think he looks back at this with any level of self-aware embarrassment? I sure as hell hope so. Title track aside, this is a hard pass.
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
So it turns out I’m an LL Cool J fan. Great music to commute to, if I was someone who listened to albums rather than just songs (off my own steam) I would definitely listen again. Smooth rapping, great beats
4/5. Heavy and direct rapping, feel like LL Cool J is talking to me, and that is not the position I want to be in. The beats are so good, simple yet loud. His flows are smooth and fast. I feel the passion through all the songs and it also hypes me up as well. It's also pretty sexy at some points as well, a little too much at some times, but otherwise great overall.
I get that rap has come a long way since this was released, but the irony of the line "Your rhymes are so cheesy, you found them in a mouse trap" being on THIS album is thicker than, well, Mr. Goodbar's "python." Keep on "rockin' the party like jumper cables" Mr. Cool J. This is the lamest rap album I've ever heard.
a remarkably consistent but fairly dated foray into early 90s rap. beats are somewhat basic, the lyrics vary from kinda neat to extremely corny, and the runtime is enough to feel like a slog to get through. 2.5/5
Not my kinda music
I can see the appeal of this album. Some of the songs start to sound the same.
Solid piece of work
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.
Don't call it come back! I like me some LL
Won’t be listening to any of these again
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.
Solid album for what it is. The first couple tracks are the best for me. Then it's pretty uneven. The title track is a classic.
I found this quite boring struggled to make it to the end
Meh. Didn’t hold up
There were some funny lines on this, but as a whole it didn't do much for me. I may be one of the few that enjoys LL's movies more than his music; I couldn't stop thinking about Deep Blue Sea and Mindhunters listening to this.
This one was boring. Dunno. Sorry Mr Cool J. 2/5
The only LL Cool J album I really know, but it’s a good time. The title track is as good as it gets, but this is a breezy hour. B
Wow, that was really something. And I don’t mean that in a complimentary way. It was really something embarrassing that I want to move on from and forget as soon as possible. Does LL ever listen to his old music and cringe at how stupid most of the lyrics are? He's out here talking about hip hop raccoons and jiggling hoops, gnawing hedges, sick of leftover curry... like, what??? This album is just chock full of bizarrely stupid rhymes. I guess when you're built as big and tough as LL, you can say whatever you want in an intimidating voice and nobody will question it. He is sexy though, successful careers were built on less than that.
MAMA The worse of his more famous albums. His first two are the best. They need to be on here.
Here is a list of attractive political commentators that if given the opportunity, I would gp ppp. 1. Natasha Bertrand 2. Alexi McCammond 3. Elise Jordan 4. Jackie Alemany 5. Melanie Zanona
Disliking this for retroactive crimes of sexism on a 90s rap album: Cringe Virgin Status Disliking this for being yet another boring 90s rap album: Alfa Chad Hung Kang Status
Another rap album, not usually my thing but it’s not too bad. Think I prefer older rap. This album got a bit weird, might have been satirical but if not then not my vibe.
Ik moet eerlijk zeggen dat ik hem aanzet en al meteen enorm uitkijk naar de title track op plek 8. Mocht ik ooit nog dikker worden en besluiten dat darten de ideale sport is dan is er een kans dat dat m'n opkomstmuziek wordt. Iconisch nummer. Maar zo ver is het nog niet. De weg naar het hoogtepunt is erg 90's. Net iets te eenvoudige boombap beats met oubollige raps, een stevige echo op de microfoon van ome LL, veel stoer doen op een manier die alleen in de 90's serieus genomen werd (vertellen dat je de microfoon gaat verwoesten en anderen suckas noemen) en her en der wat verplichte R&B stukjes om de verkoop wat te helpen. Eigenlijk zijn alle nummers net wat te lang voor wat ze te bieden hebben. Het is en blijft hiphop dus ik kan er goed naar luisteren, maar de weg naar Mama Said Knock You Out is een lange. Ome J probeert af en toe als een Slick Rick verhalen te vertellen, maar het werkt niet helemaal voor mij. Mama Said Knock You Out, het nummer, is een duidelijke 5. Je hoeft niet veel fantasie te hebben om je even voor te stellen dat je tussen een wild geworden publiek richting de ring loopt. Eén iconische track van 5 minuten is echter niet genoeg om een meh album van een uur te redden.
Really cool 90s rap. A little too long, but still solid
As batidas dos anos 90 eram quase legais, mas não para escutar um disco inteiro.
no thanks
Tuna melt? Pastrami? Thats a hungry hard hitting man right there.
Man the musical styling here is excellent but I just am not a fan of a lot of the lyrical content. Very hit or miss tracks for me
Yes!!
This album was surprisingly enjoyable! A fun stepping stone from 80s hip hop to 90s rap with classically self-inflated and hypersexualized lyrics (compensating much?) with a judicious use of sampling. Overall a fun album, if not one I’m likely to return to.
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".
Sounds good, just a little too studio gangsta for me.
Mama Said Knock You Out is such a good song, I was surprised how poor the rest of the album. Some of the songs sounded super commercial, when he started going on about Jesus I had to turn it off.
Great album that highlights how 90s era rap really puts most of the modern era rap to shame. LL Cool J has the flow that makes this album smooth but bumpable.
Good old fashioned "yes, yes y'all" rap. Most of the beats are super boring The rhyme schemes aren't clever or interesting. Mama Said Knock You Out is a pretty good one. Lots of energy. I also liked the Farmer one. If a song with a boring beat like that is going to be 5 minutes long, it needs a catchy hook.
This is a pretty good album. Takes me back to high school so my rating may be influenced by nostalgia. Mama Said Knock you out is a great song. A classic as good as any classic in American popular music. J’s performance in the Unplugged series is an all time great. Murdergram has the same feel as well. Milky Cereal was fun. Good stuff.
A few good songs but I got really tired of it by the end. The good songs were pretty good though, and I don’t like hip-hop.
Cheesy early rap music
Bouncy and quite fun. Mr Good bar was disturbing though. Moby sucks!
This was pretty corny, but I can see how it helped set the blueprint for rap in the 90s. And thankfully it wasn't bloated with interludes and skits, it was that good all-natural bloated with like three too many songs!
Around the way girl OK, but not my scene
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
Dated for 1990, an occasional verse or beat will actually peak my interest but not enough to add it to my liked songs For the most part these verses sound juvenille, with almost no substance. Beats do fall flat, containing an obscure mix of live instrument and synthesized. Hooks are also insufferable. Glad LL pivotted to acting, because his 1990's releases were bottom tier. Nevertheless as a 1990's rap fan I gave it my best listen but it is not a keynote album. Mudergram and the title track being the most 90's forward rap songs.
Quizás el mejor disco del icono del rap LL Cool J, cumple con todos los requisitos de un álbum de rap. Destacan "The Boomin' System"; la balada rapera "Around the Way Girl"; y la contundente canción que da título al disco.
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.
Hmm. I appreciate the cheekiness but I got fed up of him talking about his willy.
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.
Very fun album
A blueprint.
kan egentlig godt lide de der Marley Marl beats og titelnummeret er og bliver en banger. Interessant tidslomme fordi man kan godt høre at det ikke er 80'er hiphop længere mere, men 90'er lyden er ikke helt klar endnu. Når det er sagt så er ll cool j en ret kikset rapper imho og teksterne er fuckin dårlige
Beatsene var en blandet landhandel hva. For lang
Var lidt bange for den her plade for coveret ligner virkelig noget jeg ikke kan lide. Det voksede ret hurtigt på mig, men hold nu op det er en lang plade.....
Oh really? More rap *sigh*? I hate it. This is a particularly vile example.
Not bad. Nothing special
I bought this on release (vinyl) and listened to it a lot. Sad to say it fell out of my rotation and I probably last listened to the complete album 20 years ago. What a fool I've been. An absolute masterpiece, not one bad track.
Cool one
Very much old-school rap v2.0. Not as far back as the original stuff, but definitely in the zone of when rap was becoming mainstream and very popular just before Hip Hop. It still has that early feel from DJs spinning records, but I’m going to assume most are actually samples at this point. So it does straddle eras. Overall it doesn’t wear great, the title track is of course a classic and a standout, but for me the rest of the album doesn’t ever reach that level again.
Cool
loved, great songs
Surprisingly good. Didn't expect to like it, but LL Cool J got that 90s, but like, cool 90s flow.
I should have listened to this at a younger age
LL Cool J. 1990 Early Hip Hop Excellent Standouts: Mama Said Knock You Out, Around the Way Girl, Jingling Baby, Eat 'em Up L. Chill, To Da Break of Dawn,
Not for me ever. Sounds tired.
Cheesy but was good back in the day
Never really liked rap. Probably because I'm a racist dick.
This didn’t stand the test of time. There were better and more influential hip hop albums that came out at the same time/before this. I’m not saying LL wasn’t influential. I’m just saying for a list of albums you must hear this one doesn’t pass the bar. The beats are dope though.
It's on the crossroads of 80's and 90's rap and kinda misses the boat on both. I like my rap, but LL Cool J just never sparked any interest
Prime 90s hip hop.
This project has really opened my ears to different musical styles. I enjoyed the humor in the lyrics and the drums
Some great songs
2,5 * kein Fan, aber man kann es anhören
I'd rather have mama knock me out than listen to this shitload of crap again.
A bit same same
It's a vibe
Not my jam
# 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.
Very cool James. I like it a lot but don’t quite love it. Nice old school production from Marly Marl. Clean simple and funky. Smooth tone with good gusto. Fun, braggadocios lyrics. Interesting flow for 90. Just a little bit silly and jiggy for a full 5 stars.
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.
This was a fun one! I didn’t know much from this but the title track, and my LL Cool J association is more as a romcom and procedural actor than an MC. He’s pretty great, I have to say. I will knock it down a star for the usual 90s rap misogyny.
Ooooooof, LL. How do you feel about some of these lyrics looking back? This wasn’t great. Even the inoffensive lines were …bad. This seemed pretty generic
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
Decent album, though Mama Said Knock You Out was definitely the highlight
Another golden age of hip hop album. He actually was a great MC
meh, title track prob only reason this album is in the list - I didn't even think it was very good as a hip-hop album
Contains some the least sexy sex songs I’ve ever heard Best Song: Momma said 🥊 you out Worst song: 6️⃣ minutes of 🅿️
Took a nosedive from Milky Cereal even though the bar wasn't set high from the get-go.
Solidly good all around but really only highly impressed by the album's title track. 3.5
Not for me. Some songs are kind of catchy I guess, but that doesn't make up for all the cringe "I am the greatest and everyone wants me" songs.
I’d like to say it’s just dated, but Tribe Called Quest was producing much better hip hop at exactly the same time. This just doesn’t pass the test of modern flow and beats. Respect LL Cool J for his role in growing hip hop, but the music isn’t that good
This album is far too long for what it is trying to be. 2.5/5
LL Cool J sold me at “uh, I’m in the mood for a tuna melt.” Love his cheesy lyrics 8/10
Good. It was good.
God I do love early LL Cool J, this album put him on top of the world then he played a dude on NCIS. Just flows really well and I love his lyrics on the album. If more of these songs were regular listens to me it would be perfect. 8/10
I don’t know what I thought LL Cool J sounded like but it was not this. Pleasantly surprised by the banger beats and his flow. “Around The Way Girl”s’ chorus was so smooth and weaved perfectly into the song at the right times. His lyrics are witty and full of finesse. This is possibly one of the biggest surprises so far with just how much I enjoyed this. “Milky Cereal” is probably my favorite song on the album. It was basically banger after banger. I found myself nodding along to every song and will probably relisten to this album a couple more times. 10/10
ok
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
For anyone who changes their name to Ladies Love Cool James my immediate reaction is FU - no we don’t. The music was not as horrendous as it could’ve been. Some bits were quite fun and melodious, even captivating. But I just don’t care enough. It’s a 2.5 but losing the 0.5 because of that ridiculous moniker.
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.
This was dated even back in 1990. After listening to this, I popped on Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions—an album that came out two years before this—just to compare the two ... and, yeah, it's no contest. PE still sounds fresh. LLCJ's flow and beats are so basic and repetitive it's painful. There are so many more interesting hip-hop albums out there that I don't see this as a necessary listen.
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.
not down for most old school rap
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.
Feels repetitive. Mama Gonna Knock you Out is enjoyable. The rest not so much, Milky Cereal got on my nerves especially.
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.
A decent late old-school hip hop record. The backing tracks slap and the lyricism is great. Some of it is quite cheesy but there were some funny moments - Milky Cereal was quite funny and impressively done in my opinion. It's probably not among my favourites, some of the songs were a bit forgettable, but it's nice to hear a 90s hip hop album that isn't all gangsta rap. Favourite: Around The Way Girl
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.
Classic hip hop
Oh shit. This is the jam
Like Fresh Prince but with sex.
Meh
I thought it would be wack and it was. Abundantly wack in almost every regard 😬
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.
Assured and aggressive but still approachable and amusing.
Lyrics: Pros: LL Cool J's lyrical prowess is on full display, with sharp rhymes and a confident delivery that reflects his maturity in the game. The title track, "Mama Said Knock You Out," is a lyrical powerhouse, brimming with self-assuredness and clever wordplay. Cons: Some may argue that certain tracks lack the depth seen in LL Cool J's earlier work, with a focus on bravado over storytelling. Music: Pros: Marley Marl's production provides a dynamic backdrop, combining gritty beats with innovative sampling. The album maintains a balance between the hardcore sound of LL Cool J's earlier releases and a more accessible, mainstream-friendly approach. Cons: Some may find the production a departure from LL Cool J's earlier, more raw sound, catering to a broader audience. Production: Pros: Marley Marl's influence is evident, providing a sonic continuity reminiscent of LL Cool J's earlier collaborations with Rick Rubin. The album's production seamlessly blends traditional hip-hop elements with contemporary flair. Cons: Some may argue that the production lacks the groundbreaking innovation seen in LL Cool J's earlier works. Themes: Pros: The album explores themes of resilience, self-confidence, and overcoming challenges. LL Cool J addresses criticism and doubters, solidifying his place in the rap game. The title track, in particular, stands out as an anthem of empowerment. Cons: Some may find the thematic content repetitive, focusing heavily on asserting dominance without delving into more nuanced topics. Influence: Pros: "Mama Said Knock You Out" had a profound impact on LL Cool J's career, solidifying his status as a hip-hop legend. The album's success influenced subsequent generations of artists, showcasing the longevity achievable in the genre. Cons: Some critics argue that the album's influence is more reflective of LL Cool J's personal resurgence than a groundbreaking shift in the hip-hop landscape
He said don’t call it a comeback but It certainly was. Some songs aged better than others, but enough solid songs to make it a classic album.
3.2
I can't help but like this album.. Not a big hip hop fan but this album is a lot fun.
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.
Förvånansvärt bra old school rap.
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.
Noooooooo!
He is hilariously smooth, but it's still mostly cool.
Great Hip Hop
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.
Very much average, which i guess puts it below the peak of the bell curve. Good fun
Didn’t like this one
Deep Blue Sea! He’s real! Rapping about milk and cereal my fave
Cheesy
It was ok back then, but it did not age well. It also feels longer than it has to be
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,
Not my gig.
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.
I don't like rap, and this is rap 2 stars
It's weird that this felt like easy listening at some points, but most of the songs are catchy and he's a good rapper. Some didn't hold up and that's to be expected. Rating 3.5 rounded up to 4.
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.
Nice funky rap album
Wall to wall bangers up front. Yep, lots of lyrics that belong in the last century, but wow, what a jam. Some tracks are not good - Mr Good Bar, Milky Cereal but even those have great beats. I think the longer it goes on the more I understand the negative reviews, it's too long (probably drop 3 songs after the title track), but still fun.
Great old school hip hop Some tracks feel very dated, others hold up extremely well
un gros non. endormant. 4/10
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.
The cheesy 80's rap beats with sexism and braggadocio don't age well.
Un album de you-know-i'm-saying-rap légèrement moins atroce que les autres du genre.
Absolument rincé, sans grande surprise. Je suis en ravanche heureux de vous apprendre que je suis de nouveau à jour sur le générateur depuis aujourd'hui, grâce a un effort mental surhumain pour revenir dans la partie.
Oh boy hahaha got a couple songs from this album saved... best track: Milky Cereal 🤣
Some good stuff in here. Album does flow the best and same background track is used a lot. More I listen to it the more I like some songs.
1.5 - Ehh... Not really for me. Some of the lyrics are laughable, creepy, or annoying because they get repeated over and over. This album is generally pretty repetitive when it could definitely be trimmed down. No wonder it's over an hour long. I thought I liked the hit, but I guess I don't, so there wasn't even anything to combat the fatigue from the other boring tracks. Whatever.
Not the best LL album, but the title track is arguably his best, and "Around the Way Girl" is among his best. I'll round up from 3.5 stars.
Some of the lyrics are too much, but I've always enjoyed LL Cool J's style of rap & his voice. 3.5 stars
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
rapzao massa, bom instrumental
Meh.
meh.
Not really my cup of tea but I am sure very good if you are into this kind of thing
De irritatiefactor is niet hoog genoeg om er een 1 aan te geven, maar er staat ook weinig op om enthousiast over te worden. En door naar de volgende.
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.
Glij-rap. Het moet een beetje gangsta klinken, maar hij is nogal op de dames gericht. Er zit ook veel RnB in. Het komt eigenlijk op een verkeerd moment, want we hebben net een week lang veel dezelfde soort muziek gehad. Na een maand met 60s hippie bijvoorbeeld, zou dit veel lekkerder zijn. Dus de timing maakt zeker wat uit. De title track zorgt voor een bonuspuntje.
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.
Late golden age hip hop - around the time beefs, gangsta rap and sampling license issues made everything start getting worse. A couple of classics, particularly the title track, but patchy and inconsistently paced. Very good, but falls just short of his contemporaries
It’s fine, not the best, not the worst old school rap album.
No
Not that good minus 'Mama said knock you out'
Douchey
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.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Mama said knock you out, Milky cereal, 6 minutes of pleasure, Illegal search
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.
The production on most of this album is fantastic, although I could do without that fucking synthesised trumpet on 6 Minutes of Pleasure. Musically, Mama Said Knock You Out is fantastic. I was nodding my head and tapping my feet for the whole hour. If I wasn’t on a cramped train, I might have got up and danced. LL Cool J as a rapper is an intriguing character. I can see why he was acclaimed and influential. I really like his flow, he’s smooth and graceful in the way Jay-Z perfected half a decade after this album. But, and this is a big ole butt, Cool James is not the most delicate lyricist. While I can sort of appreciate something like Milky Cereal for it’s commitment to the bit, it can’t be denied that it is a monumentally stupid bit. Which I think neatly sums up the appeal of Mama Said Knock You Out as an album. It’s big dumb fun. It’s the sort of album you could throw on at a party and not skip any of the tracks. Except for that fucking trumpet though. Fuck that trumpet 4stars
Not sure what all the macho energy is about but there's some cool 90s beats on this, kinda surprised but it.
- Not really my thing but I can respect it - Beats are fine but not as good as most of the other hiphop albums we've heard here - The outros for most of these songs go on for wayyyy too long
- I get that’s it’s quality I just don’t prefer old school rap - the title track is iconic
Mama said is a 5⭐️ song A lot of the rest is nothing but odes to his cock
An album that, while I personally don't listen to as much as others, was incredibly influential and important in the genres history. Well made and on the cutting edge of shaping Hip Hop into an entirely new style and advancement.
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.
Absolutely garbage
LP
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?
This album strongly reminds me of the late 00s, possibly the early 10s as I used to have this album in rotation for my drives to work. I'd often drop off my housemate at his work while on the way to the office while this album was playing, and his office was best accessed via a lay-by clearly signed as being "No buses". We would always shout "fuck you, no buses!" as we pulled into the layby, because clearly we weren't even in a single bus, let alone multiple buses. Anyway, this album is just fun. It makes you glad that you're listening to it.
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.
Reminded me of some of the other albums we have had, was less gross than the pharcyde album but still had the playfulness and fun beats. Also had a pretty up front and clear vocals which I’ve found a lot of the other older rap albums lack. Touch too long but otherwise solid
Just the epitome of that era of hip hop. The lyricism is clever, the production is simple yet great, and LL Cool J is obviously one of the best to ever do it. What I didn't expect was the range of song themes and tones. I expected the entire album to be somewhat similar to the titular track but there was a broad range of different themes and emotions that really added a lot of depth to the album. Truly one of the greats.
Favourite tracks: booming system; around the way girl; mama said knock you out; milky cereal; jiggling; illegal search
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!
Album 142 of 1001 LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out Rating : 2 / 5 Better than some, not as bad as others. Just not my thing. I did listen.
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.
I am unabashedly nostalgic for this album and the era of hip hop it came from. This came out just when I was just beginning to develop my own musical consciousness apart from what my parents put on. I know every one of these songs despite never having owned a copy of the album myself. I had friends who had the cassette, and we were too young to have much money, so we'd all buy different albums and share. Plus the videos for the singles were all over Yo! MTV Raps and the video jukebox channel. LL Cool J is severely underrated. He, and this album in particular, was a fucking juggernaut when it came out. I feel like around 93/94 any rap that wasn't overtly gangster became viewed as somewhat passe, even in retrospect, which is a shame. Dude was a pioneer and he played a big part in popularizing hip hop with a mass audience. His delivery is iconic, particularly on the ferocious title track.
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.
Seems out of character for LL
Had its day. Nothing special now.
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.
Mot my area of expertise, but really enjoyed listening to this. Smooth.
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.
Meh...
This album is an interesting slice of history from the golden age of hip hop, but it ultimately suffers from its length and just how dated it is. The rhymes are often chosen for convenience without any real thought as to how they move the songs forward. Furthermore, the songs themselves are really cheesy and have some really overdone innuendos.
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.
As far as hiphop goes it wasn't terrible. Nothing particularly good about it though. 2.5*
decent
Too much old school rap for my tastes
If you forced me to listen to rap but let me choose the artist, I would choose LL Cool J. But still, I'd rather you didn't force me to listen to rap, it just doesn't do much for me. This is a bit more "musical" than most rap and hip hop I've heard, so I appreciate that, but not something I would listen to again (unless you force me to). 2 stars.
Day 97 I am glad I got this album. I don't know many hip hop albums. I mean, I like the genre but I really never knew where to start besides Run DMC and Public Enemy, and whenever I tried some other hip-hop acts they often come up as boring and unoriginal to my ears. Not the case with LL COOL J and that is great news; on Mama Said Knock You Out, he seems to bear that old school sound and grit that makes it interesting to me. I am reading on the book that, before recording this album, he had lost popularity upon going against all hip-hop trends by recording a ballad and participating in an anti-drugs campaign, which makes him all the more likeable. Rate: as many funky beats as you can get.
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
"your rhynes are cheesy - you found em in a mousetrap" I love the lack of irony with which Cool James raps this line. I love that it isn't even from the song "Cheesy Rat Blues" Things I don't love : this album. And that weird rape line. That's not cool, James.
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
About the title track: How can I take it seriously if he's like "BOOM EXPLOSIONS!" and only wants to knock me out because his mama said so? Btw, that's the best track.
I thought it was good wouldnt really call it rap more like MC
Some really good stuff here. Also some weird tracks. Hits well, and is a lot of fun.
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.
Un dels pares del hip hop, que cinc anys després d'aparèixer ja s'havia d'estar reivindicant. Escombrat al començament pel gangsta rap i el rap més dur d'artistes com Public Enemy, 'Mama Said Knock You Out' és el seu manifest d'autodefensa, que comença des de la mateixa portada. Res de nou en el génere, i els temes també pequen del mateix, same old shit, que dirien ells
On Mama Said Knock You Out LL Cool J is witty as hell and his lyrics keep me entertained for the full hour runtime. 'Mr. Good Bar' is a banger, and it's cool to hear the origin story of Run The Jewels on 'Cheesy Rat Blues'. 'Farmers Blvd. (Our Anthem)' is also top notch with a way too funky beat, and we also get the legendary opening line to the title track - "Don't call it a comeback!'.
Ladies Love Cool James? Nah. Men Love Cool James.
Seguramente en su momento fue un disco muy importante pero hoy suena como cuando rapeaban en el fantasma escritor
No soportó el paso del tiempo.
So fucking good. 5 stars.