Years in the making, LL COOL J sits down with Questlove Supreme for a careerspanning comprehensive interview. The discuss LL's earliest rapping days, his first three albums, and the life and times behind one of HipHop's first superstars. From farreaching questions about lyrics, acting roles, and chapstick, this is one of the best QLS conversations ever. LL COOL J holds court with charisma, passion, and incredible stories about his past, present, and future.

Original Air Date: November 22, 2023

0:00 Questlove Supreme with LL COOL J rollcall and catchup
5:30 Questlove introduces LL COOL J and why he waited years for the conversation — even after The F.O.R.C.E. Tour
9:30 What was LL COOL J’s life like a year before fame, in 1983?
11:00 LL COOL J talks about his time in North Babylon, Long Island when he was dividing his time between there and Queens
12:30 LL COOL J started writing raps as a child, especially by 11 or 12
14:40 LL COOL J on battling somebody who inspired him, in Kool Moe Dee
15:25 LL COOL J’s grandfather bought him his first equipment; he can DJ. He is also heavily influenced by Jazz due to his musical family
19:40 LL COOL J nearly quit rapping after he could not get signed — Sugar Hill Records was among the labels that passed on him
21:00 LL COOL J’s “I Need A Beat’ was on his demo; he describes making it as an adolescent
22:30 LL COOL J’s demo contained something that the Beastie Boys used later during Licensed To Ill
23:00 LL COOL J named the legendary Chung King Studios; he recalls making initial Def Jam demos with Rick Rubin and those early days
29:00 LL COOL J trusts his producers as a collaborator
31:30 Rick Rubin did not like “I Need Love” and LL COOL J explains why — and why he asserted for that song. LL also reveals that “I Want You” was initially made to an Isley Brothers classic that Biggie Smalls later used
35:50 Def Jam Records executives were unsure about “Around The Way Girl” and “Doin’ In”
37:40 Questlove asks about the beat history involving with Bob James’ “Take Me To The Mardi Gras,” LL COOL J’s “Rock The Bells,” and RunDMC’s “Peter Piper”
40:00 What does Rap stardom look like in 1985?
43:40 How did LL COOL J avoid the Bridge Wars between the Juice Crew and Boogie Down Productions? And why he never responded to MC Shan’s “Beat Biter”
46:30 Some more context about the disses at Kool Moe Dee and IceT back in the day, and the difference between competition and beef
51:00 LL COOL J plays his album cuts on tour. Blame Questlove and DJ ZTrip
52:00 LL COOL J expanding his sound and collaborators with Bigger And Deffer
54:00 What was an album recording budget for LL COOL J like in the 1980s?
55:30 LL COOL J still owns his grandmother’s house. He describes why he writes songs there
58:30 Walking With A Panther Questlove’s favorite LL COOL J album. LL remembers working with the Stop The Violence Movement by writing for MC Lyte and working with EPMD
1:01:30 LL COOL J’s father used to manage him
1:03:00 LL COOL J pivoted the acting, and he took it very seriously
1:04:20 The role LL COOL J turned down in New Jack City
1:06:20 LL COOL J remembers the Latin Quarter, a place he was in OFTEN
1:09:40 LL COOL J on connecting with Marley Marl and the comeback aspect of Mama Said Knock You Out
1:11:00 The public criticism of Walking With A Panther was deeper than music
1:13:30 LL COOL J talks about performing his catalog without Pro Tools
1:17:00 Some lip balm comic relief
1:18:30 What is LL COOL J’s fountain of youth?
1:20:10 A funny story involving Questlove and LL COOL J and a landmark chicken restaurant, and another bonus story
1:23:35 LL COOL J reflects the Mr. Smith album, revealing that he scrapped an earlier version after getting with Chris Lighty, Trackmasters, and Chris Lighty
1:27:00 LL COOL J talks about his upcoming album produced by QTip
1:27:45 Why Rock The Bells as a radio station and a company is so important; why Hip Hop is treated very differently than Rock & Roll
1:34:10 Some Canibus 4,3,2,1 reflections
1:36:30 Remembering the Phenomenon album and Authentic
1:38:30 LL COOL J explains what he was trying to do with Brad Paisley collaboration Accident Racist
1:40:50 LL COOL J revisits some classic songs from over the years
1:43:35 What is in the LL COOL J vault? He reveals a Dr. Dre beat that was originally his
1:46:30 Some unforgettable rapid fire questions involving Michael Jackson, The Bomb Squad, the upcoming F.O.R.C.E. album, and some relationship advice
2:02:30 Flowers and gratitude for LL COOL J