Friday, 20 September 2024

Hanging on the telephone

LL Cool J - 1-900 L.L Cool J
(From Walking With A Panther album; 1989)



What's an LL album track beloved by you and seemingly only you? I'm a 1-900 L.L Cool J type of guy, meself. Uncle L used the 1-900 number concept before The Convicts or Roc-A-Fella, and hit the same Watermelon Man loop as the Dolly My Baby remix before Super Cat, Biggie et al. And LL did it while sounding effortlessly smug in a flow which probably made MC Shan real mad. In a perfect world 1-900 L.L Cool J woulda been the 4th single from Walking With A Panther instead of the nauseating ballad One Shot At Love.

Shit's got me thinking about what the first Rap song to start with a phone call was. Earliest I can think of is Spoonie Gee's The Big Beat. If not, The Big Beat was definitely the first Rap song to feature a "freak this" breakdown with the sound of squeaking bed springs. Insert your own Puffy joke here ----> _________.

28 comments:

Yohan said...

Love that Blondie tune (that entire album really)

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

One of the best albums ever 4 real. Blondie made that song their own like the Ramones made Do You Wanna Dance? their own.

Ben said...

Nitro was my favorite cut on that album LL with Bomb Squad was perfection.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

That's a good 'un.

Spartan said...

Mr. Goodbar should have been released as a single off Mama Said... instead of 6 Minutes of Pleasure.

Have you watched The Substance yet?

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Negative. Any good?

Haven't managed to watch Miracle Mile yet either. Hopefully tomorrow on that if it turns out to be a wet Sunday.

Spartan said...

Yeah, loved it. Well worth seeing it at the cinema.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

My plan is to go see it at my local indie spot when it comes on there next Friday. Cysed for the body yuck.

hotbox said...

it's wild that on an album filled moet and caviar that he bragged about cooking chicken with shake-n-bake

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

A man of multitudes.

Anonymous said...

My favorite LL album tracks:
"Imagine That"
"The Crossroads"
"Father"
"That's a lie"
"Eat em up L, chill"
"30 Decembers"

"The Substance" is very stylish. Bit too arch for my taste.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Need someone to come through and rep for Hollis To Hollywood.

Hooligan said...

I preferred “Mr Controversy” which I’m guessing was the unreleased original concept for this song.

Yohan said...

Here to rep for The Truth on that Kay Slay tape

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Yohan, The Truth is definitely one of his best non-album tracks.

Hooligan, that was supposed to be the sequel to 1-900 L.L Cool J. Recorded for Mama Said Knock You Out. That's Marley's voice during the intro.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Illegal Search (Pre-Trial Hearing mix) is my pick for G.O.A.T LL remix. Blows the album version outta the water.

Andrew Barber said...

"make it hot" on mr. smith. really enjoyed trackmasters era LL.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Agreed. That particular album is a very good mix of jiggy and street.

Andrew Barber said...

actually this has been bothering me... I actually change that choice and wish to add "Hip-Hop" the song directly after "Make It Hot" on Mr. Smith hahaha

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Good back in the day song. Get The Drop On 'Em is another fave deep cut on that album.

D said...

Mr Smith>>>>16 shots to the dome

I actually don't think I've listened to the later albums, Luv U better + Ill bomb can't be the only good joints.

Walking with a panther is great but i was genuinely surprised by how many shit love songs were on there, I thought it got a bad rap cos of the flossy cover or something lol

D said...

Fav LL performance is Doin It at some award show where hes essentially daggering the fake lashaun on a motorbike at one point, only enhanced by supposedly his wife n kids being in the crowd lol

Fake lashaun barely rasping through her parts added to the filth imo

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

I've been watching a buncha those Salute The Sample videos you recommended. LL,, Greg Nice and Z-Trip are a very entertaining combo.

D said...

Yeh I hope they never stop, they really have a rhythm going now.

There's actually a similar show that's popped up since(or before idk) where they break down songs W stems and stuff that's a bit more dry n academic but z-trip mixing can't be replicated. I think my fav episodes are when LL describes some imaginary movie scene over a loop lol

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

"This shit sounds like one of them movies with 6 English dudes in a car loading shotguns!"

There really shoulda been an LL & Greg Nice song on the new album.

Anonymous said...

"Hollis to Hollywood" sucks. Why didn't Mr Smith bother to look up "metaphor" in a dictionary before penning that doozy? But without that track, there wouldn't be this track:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBwlrPR1zWg

Anonymous said...

A Kool Moe Dee, Hammer, Ice-T and Canibus posse cut is a must for the next LL album.

Kelvin Mack10zie said...

Ad libs from Darlene and the shark from Deep Blue Sea.