The prelude call on the Notorious BIG version, which goes over a minute, is unnecessary if not a bit annoying, but the beat bangs. I love the snares. The LL Cool J beat, produced and enhanced with scratches by Rick Rubin, is notable/unique in its own right. It’s one of hip-hop’s Coolest songs in the chic sense of the term and has a better chorus section.
my vote : LL Cool J
2024
2024
2024
If the cover art reminds you of a Tribe Called Quest album, there’s a reason for that. Every song here, rather its music, is produced by frontman Q-Tip. That makes this the most sonically cohesive and thoroughly hip-hop LL Cool album since Marley’s Marl’s Mama Said Knock You Out. The rapper is still a Force to be reckoned with. Best songs include Saturday Night Special and Black Code Suite.
my rating : 3 of 5
2024
2024
1993
2024
My only gripe with this song is that it isn’t Six Minutes long. Still it’s one of LL Cool J’s best thanks not only to Marley Marl who provides a sweet groove but The Flex singing on the hook. Their vocals alone turn what would’ve been a mediocre “love” song into a Pleasurable one. It; inviting singers to backdrop your plain hook; is an artistic technique more rappers should utilize.
my rating : 4 of 5
These are songs by, at least in the case of LL Cool J, rich men portraying the role of bums. LL plays himself gone broke; he has the Cheesy Rat Blues; while Masta Ace simply goes by the name of Joe; a student slash panhandler from The Other Side Of Town. Both songs were released in 1990. Both are produced by Marley Marl. That means he made the music.
The beats are damn funky, but Town’s, with its splendid bassline and organ breaks, sounds a little better to my ears. Masta Ace’s raps are also more poignant and better composed technically, but LL Cool J is funnier and thus more entertaining, especially during the second half. His “back of the bus”, “who this” and “know how to get busy” lines are classic.
my vote : ?
2014
1990