Rap & Hip Hop: Do you think LL Cool J deserves a spot in your top 20?

Top 20/15 is about right I'd say. A lot of rappers - and artists for that matter - often struggle to sound up to date when they've been around for 10+ years but LL has weathered that storm better than most. The trouble with LL of course is that he forgot how to put balanced albums together after Mr. Smith and barely budged from his comfort zone. Bar G.O.A.T., he hasn't released a truly decent LP for 20 years. Like most greats, however, his weaker albums almost always have some brilliant tracks and he has enough top-tier stuff to give him an edge over top 20 candidates.

If we're looking solely at skills, mic presence etc. then he's almost certainly top 10. However, for all of LL's swagger and versatility, his songwriting style and lyrical repertoire isn't quite as flexible as others - although that's only if we're talking about the real upper echelons.

I've got a lot of time for LL but you have to acknowledge that he does have his limitations. I think his discography, more than anything, keeps him from a top 10 placement. When L is on, there are few other rappers I'd rather listen to.

BQ: Kool Moe Doe's worth a shout for a top 100. Undecided on Kurtis Blow.

BQ2: Have yet to listen to his last album actually. Top 5 would be Like Water for Chocolate, Resurrection, Be, Electric Circus and One Day It'll All Make Sense.

I don't believe he deserves a spot but I've never been a fan of LL at all..I'd say top 50 at best and even that's stretching it imo..I would put older artists like Kool G Rap, Rakim, Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, Kool Moe Dee and Ice Cube just to name a few..all ahead of LL.

BQ1: Kool Moe Dee would probably be top 50-60 at best..I have no idea where I would put Curtis Blow, maybe top 85-100 somewhere.

BQ2: In my personal opinion..

1.) Like Water For Chocolate

2.) One Day It'll All Make Sense

3.) Resurrection

4.) Nobody's Smiling

5.) Be

6.) The Dreamer/The Believer

7.) Finding Forever

8.) Electric Circus

9.)Can I Borrow A Dollar

10.) UVMC

(It says something about Common and how great he is that all of these albums I would consider atleast slightly better than good..He arguably has 4 classics and the rest are plenty good in their own right)

Nahhhh. Although he is one of the best in his time, a lot of rappers surpassed his mic skills. In a battle, maybe LL can still hold it down and slaughter everyone, but I'm not really sure since he was always rather straight forward with his lyrics. He'd probably make my top 50 if I had to guess. I made a top 100 but I'm not looking at it right now so I have no clue where he actually is lol. But on the same topic of LL, have you seen his Rap City Freestyle where he freestyles on the toilet? LMAO, it's funny af.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOHMf_Eh0y8

BQ1: Both would probably be in the upper top 100 and just like what everyone else said, they are far too outdated and a lot of rappers surpassed him.

BQ2:

1.) Be

2.) Like Water for Chocolate

3.) Resurrection

4.) One Day It'll Make Sense

5.) Finding Forever

6.) Electric Circus

7.) No Body's Smiling

8.) The Dreamer/Believer

9.) Universal Mind Control

10.) Can I Borrow a Dollar

lol where do i begin...i only got a few minutes before i leave....

LL has 2 certified classics under his belt (Mama Said Knock you out, Radio) with another one easily on the fence (B.A.D.)

with two or 3 other albums that were high quality (Mr. Smith and Walking With A Panther for example)

its hard to knock a guy that has given people at least 5 great bodies of music with a long string of singles to go with it....That man has produced some of the best cuts in Hip Hop....more than just a few times....he really is a classic MC....

For me....he is #10.....all time.....yes thats ahead of Kool G Rap, Tupac, Biggie, and KRS One....

BQ: Kool Moe Dee is on my bubble list so he might crack that 100 mark......Kurtis blow would be Top 200 or 150....he ain't the MC people make him out to be....

BQ2: Be, Like Water For Chocolate, Resurrection, One Day it will all make sense, FInding Forever, Electric Circus, Nobody's Smiling, The Dreamer/The Believer, Can I Borrow A Dollar, Universal Mind Control....in that order....

Not really. Not a fan of him to be honest but he got one classic album (Mama Said Knock You Out) imo so he is a Top 40. But that's me, I am not his biggest fan...

BQ1: Well you know I find them way too outdated. They are both somewhere in the chaos of 50-100 of my GOAT list (I can guarantee you, I hav enever even gone so far in my list...)

BQ2: Like Water For Chocolate > Be > Resurrection > One Day It'll All Make Sense > Finding Forever > Nobody's Smiling > The Dreamer/The Believer > Electric Circus > Can I Borrow A Dollar > Universal Mind Control