LL Cool J Declares Himself the 'Most Important Rapper That Ever Existed': 'One Day People Are Going to Wake Up'

Mar. 15, 2025

LL Cool J on October 17, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo:Stefanie Keenan/Getty

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

LL Cool Jis giving himself his props.

“I’m [going to] say this humbly, but I really mean this,” he began. “I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL Cool J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that.”

“They’re gonna look and say, ‘Wow, when it comes to the jewelry, this is the guy that introduced all the diamonds, and the ice and the jewelry and the champagne.” LL Cool J continued, “They’re gonna say when it comes to the love songs, they’re gonna say, ‘This is the guy that introduced the love songs and all the love s—.’”

“When it comes to the bad boy vibe, they’re gonna realize that this is the guy who introduced all the rebellious, bad boy vibes before it was done. When it comes to the G.O.A.T terminology, they gon’ say, ‘This is the guy who came up with all theG.O.A.Tstuff,’" the Grammy winner noted. “I could go on and on and on.”

LL Cool J is one of the people credited with originating the popular term G.O.A.T., or “greatest of all time,” with the release of his 2000 album of the same name.

While he may have coined the acronym, he admitted, the phrase is an homage to Muhammad Ali, known as “the greatest” during his boxing career, as well as Harlem basketball player Earl Manigault.

LL Cool J in New York City in August 2023.Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Theo Wargo/Getty Images

“They’re gonna say when it comes to Fubu, ‘Yo, this guy introduced the whole idea of putting clothing lines. Even before that, he did Troop.' When it comes to endorsements, ‘Oh, this is the guy who did Kangol and made the Kangol popular before people even did that,'” he said.

LL Cool J in New Jersey in September 2023.Dia Dipasupil/Getty

Dia Dipasupil/Getty

He’s also written four books, including autobiographyI Make My Own Rules, and founded his own music label, P.O.G., which stands for Power of God.

“I’ve done so much for the culture, it’s almost unfathomable,” the emcee, who signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, told Maïzi.

“Every artist that you can name, the biggest billionaire artists were launched on the label that I launched on,” continued LL Cool J. “I’m saying this with love, I’m not trying to be funny-style, I’m not trying to be arrogant, I really sincerely…when I look at the epicenter of what it really is…it’s almost unfathomable.”

source: people.com