LL Cool J is out and about promoting his new album. Outside of his own music, one of the rapper’s most consistent talking points is Drake’s battle with Kendrick Lamar. LL has expressed dissatisfaction with his fair share of rappers in the past. His perspective is useful and often insightful. He spoke again about the Drake vs. Lamar battle in a recent interview with Charlamagne. This time, though, he specifically addressed Drake.
LL and Charlamagne talked about the rap beef more broadly, before the former narrowed the focus to Drake and Kendrick Lamar. “Drake,” he said. “That ‘not like us’ shit, that shit is torture for a motherfucker. Ah shit, little kids sing along to it. You know that shit is bananas.” LL Cool J on the success of Kendrick Lamar’s song Laughing, but he also had sympathy for Drake. “You’re going to be fine, brother,” he assured Liushen. “Don’t even trip.” “You just don’t take it personally…you can’t be overly sensitive.” LL Cool J admitted that he’d been in a similar situation, where he was forced to endure a song called “I Got It” “Yeah,” he told Charlamagne, “I’ve been there, I know. It can be disturbing… but you have to control it.”
LL Cool J advises Drake not to take diss personally
LL Cool J named Kendrick Lamar the winner of the fight in a recent interview with Hot 97. He even suggested that Derek taking Compton’s job was a bad idea. That being said, LL had high praise for Drake’s performance in the fight. “They’re both very talented and they’re both doing a great job,” he told the host. “It’s not like Drake was completely and completely himself…” LL also presented flowers to both rappers, noting what the fight would bring to their legacies. “Both of their names will be etched in history for this,” he asserted.
However, LL Cool J is on the other side of his career. He told Charlamagne that he was trying to treat his colleagues in a positive manner. “I didn’t even want to go there,” he explained. “I want to keep things positive. No problem, no fake tough guy bullshit.” LL backed up his statement by clearing up longstanding rumors that he was feuding with JAY-Z. He admitted the pair had swapped bars back in 1996, but claimed he began to move on lyrically after finishing an album. LL also denied throwing a subwoofer at JAY during his song “Loungin”.
About the author
Elias is the music writer for HotNewHipHop. He joined the site in 2024 and covers a wide range of topics including pop culture, movies, sports, and, of course, hip-hop. You can find him publishing for HNHH from Monday to Friday, especially coverage of new albums and singles. His favorite artists are Andre 3000, MF Doom, pre-808 Kanye West and Tyler, The Creator. He likes L.A. hip-hop, but not L.A. sports teams. The first album he bought was Will Smith’s “Big Willie Style,” which he thinks still sounds great.
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