LL Cool J is another in what promises to be a long line of rappers inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I already touched on that trend in my post about Jay-Z’s induction, so I won’t revisit it here.
LL Cool J was nominated five times for the Hall before making it on his sixth attempt. He was inducted in the Musical Excellence category, which differs from the Performers category in ways I have yet to understand. From what I can tell, the difference is that Performers have “changed the face of rock & roll” while those in Musical Excellence have “had a dramatic impact on music.” OK.
I don’t know enough about LL Cool J’s career to say he’s done either of those things. I see that he has released 13 studio albums, 10 of which have gone Gold, Platinum or multi-Platinum. He’s won two Grammys and been nominated for seven more. He also has a prolific film and television career, including hosting stints for Lip Sync Battle and the Grammys (five times).
That’s a decent resume, and given that he was one of the first breakthrough hip-hop stars, I suppose it all adds up to make him deserving of this recognition.
Don’t call it a comeback, I been here for years
I’m rocking my peers, putting suckas in fear
Making the tears rain down like a monsoon
Listen to the bass go boom
Explosions, overpowering
Over the competition, I’m towering
Wrecking shop when I drop
These lyrics that’ll make you call the cops
Don’t you dare stare, you better move
Don’t ever compare
Me to the rest that’ll all get sliced and diced
Competition’s paying the price
[Chorus]
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
[Verse 2]
Don’t you call this a regular jam
I’m gonna rock this land
I’m gonna take this itty-bitty world by storm
And I’m just getting warm
Just like Muhammad Ali, they called him Cassius
Watch me bash this beat like a skull
That you know I had beef with
Why do you riff with me? The maniac psycho
And when I pull out my jammy get ready ’cause it might go blaow
How ya like me now?
The Ripper will not allow
You to get with, Mr. Smith, don’t riff
Listen to my gear shift
I’m blasting, outlasting
Kinda like Shaft, so you could say I’m shafting
Olde English filled my mind
And I came up with a funky rhyme
[Chorus]
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh), breakdown
[Post-Chorus]
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie (Yeah)
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie (Yeah)
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie (Uh)
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie (Huh)
[Verse 3]
Shadow boxing when I heard you on the radio
Uh, I just don’t know
What made you forget that I was raw?
But now I got a new tour
I’m going insane
Starting the hurricane, releasing pain
Letting you know that you can’t gain
I maintain unless ya say my name
Ripping, killing, digging and drilling a hole
Pass the ol’ gold
[Chorus]
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
[Verse 4]
Shotgun blasts are heard
When I rip and kill at will
The man of the hour, tower of power
I’ll devour
I’m gonna tie you up and let you
Understand that I’m not your average man
When I got a jammy in my hand
Damn
Ooh, listen to the way I slay
Your crew
Damage, uh, damage, uh
Damage, uh, damage
Destruction, terror, and mayhem
Pass me a sissy-soft sucka, I’ll slay him
Farmers (What?) Farmers (What?)
I’m ready (We ready)
I think I’m gonna bomb a town (Get down)
Don’t you never, ever, pull my lever
‘Cause I explode
And my nine is easy to load
I gotta thank God
‘Cause he gave me the strength to rock hard
[Chorus]
Knock you out
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
I’m gonna knock you out (Huh)
Mama said knock you out (Huh)
[Post-Chorus]
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie (Damn)
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
Gangster boogie, gangster boogie
[Outro]
They all fell
They all—
The— They all fell
They all fell
I excel— They all fell
I excel— They all fell
I excel— They all fell
I excel
Meet Me In Montauk 
Lol! How about a Superior Jam category for “those who rock harder?”
Not for me. Sorry