LL Cool J

The fourth album from the Queens rap veteran, Mama became his best-selling record ever. Produced by beat maestro Marley Marl (Biz, Kool G Rap, Masta Ase, etc.), it reestablished LL to a skeptical audience that was beginning to doubt his longevity and relevance. Includes the blistering title track, as well as "Boomin' System" and "Around The Way Girl."

Even his die-hard fans know the truth: L.L. Cool J needed to change his rap this time out.
Blithe one-liners like "I'm so bad I can suck my own dick" dragged 1989's musically fierce
Walking With a Panther into self-parody. His fourth album probably won't win any
public-service awards, but L.L. Cool J's rhymes and rhythms have developed by leaps and
bounds. Mama Said Knock You Out deepens the groove, uplifting the general ton... More >

This isn't groundbreaking like Nation of Millions, but it shouldn't be pigeonholed as a terrific rap record. It's an exceptionally consistent and entertaining record, period, on a par with Goo or Freedom or Rock 'n' Roll or maybe even Sign "O" the Times. Hilariously unreconstructed, it takes sh*t from no one and gives sh*t only in the most high-spirited way--the targets it disses hardest are Mike Tyson, whose mama would say knock the mother out if the poor f*cker had a mama, and famed rapper L.L. Cool J, a/k/a Cheesey Rat. It's avowedly street, but star street, voicing sympathy and solidarity rather than bullsh*tting about where he comes from after five years somewhere else. Marley Marl and assorted live human beings jam into the mix. Great music, great vocals, great lyrics, from beginning to end, by a proud pro with something to prove. (Grade - A)