LL Cool J's Def Jam Mount Rushmore Sparks Debate
The seemingly tame and polite Rap Twitter was awash with debates and discussions after LL Cool J decided to stir the pot and fan the flames during his appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s “Club Shay Shay.” The eventful conversation turned exciting after Sharpe implored the legendary rapper to unveil his personal Mount Rushmore of Def Jam artists – a topic of discourse for the most avid fans of rap music. Initially, the host threw out numerous famous names that could have made the list, such as Jay-Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, DMX Ludacris, and Nas. Sharpe even teased LL Cool J about avoiding the question, but that was not his intention.
The brash rapper is known for his bold and honest opinions, and LL cunningly diverted the discussion to the foundational artists of the label. His Mount Rushmore included himself, Public Enemy, The Beastie Boys, and Slick Rick: ‘‘Because it’s Def Jam’’. The rapper chose the listed artists because they are directly responsible for shaping the identity of the label and their genre. Public Enemy was the voice of a generation, the Beastie Boys created some of the genre’s iconic songs that refuse to conform to standards, and Slick Rick is the original great storyteller.
However, Sharpe was not so easily defeated and asked the respectful question about the absence of Jay-Z from LL’s list. The rapper cleverly referred to Jay-Z’s eventual inclusion in the label ‘‘like a thousand years later,’’ identifying their complex cancelation and rivalry history. What is more important, LL Cool J’s choices and his logic describe the story of Def Jam’s transformation and development. The inclination toward early influencers instead of later giants is the representative theme in his life. Thus, the conversation cannot be limited to trivial squabbles and discussions about favorites. It details the importance of early hip-hop artists and their transformative power. As expected, the comments from LL Cool J will be a hot topic over the incoming weeks and months. Fans and critics on Twitter can relate to the rapper’s outrageous picks and discussion. In the meantime, the discussion highlights the immense engagement and diversity in the hip-hop community and its rich history.
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Angel Diaz
