Disco de LL Cool J: “Mama Said Knock You Out”

Replete with the 3 R's -- rhyme, rhythm and reason - this album by Mr Cool is distinguished also by its humour. There are lots of very good songs lurking beneath the rap which makes his music palatable even to those not into hiphop. Mr Good Bar contains some hilarious declarations while elsewhere LL proves that rap can be every bit as soulful as, well, soul music. That doesn't mean he's lost his roar - the titl track and Illegal Search are sizzling roots rap pieces bobbing on a funk train. There's also some gospel rap on the last track!

If you're looking for the original recording this is NOT it.

The parts of "The Boomin' System" wherein the lyrics are supposed to be "...pass the Heineken..." and "Roll up a fat one..." are silenced out. The CD is fine other than that; my search continues. <.<

After the luke-warm reaction to his "Walking With A Panther" album LL went back to his old stomping grounds in an attempt to rejuvenate his talents and come back out stronger. It was here while his grandmother (Big Momma)spawned the words of encouragement to her disillusioned grandson "Just Knock'em Out" and so we got this album. LL promptly hooked up with Marley Marl and together they came up with this, the 1st of 2 albums they did together. Marley's production skills were+still are legendary. His beats are bone crunching and the samples that accompany them are always original. They percussion on this album in the form of piano riffs and guitar licks were simply mindblowing as they were used in perfect ration to the rock hard beats and funky basslines. All of this was before LL even ripped a verse!!!!!! Around this time LL was in afew beefs with Kool Moe Dee and Ice-T so alot of his verses were heavy battle type rhymes were he took no prisoners. The title track alone was, is and always will be 1 of the greatest diss records of ALL TIME!! The opening track "The Boomin' System" was about the systems that heads were fitting into their cars and that whole car culture that was peaking in the early 90's. The legendary line "2 mile an hour so everybody sees you" still gets me amped. "Around The Way Girl" was huge back then and still holds its own as a decent rap ballad by an mc that has mastered the genre. "Eat 'Em Up L Chill", "Mr. Good Bar" and "Murdergram" are all tight head nodders that showcase his impressive, more amped, stronger, rejuvinated style to the tee. "Murdergram" is a live performance that will literally blow your mind, what breath control??!! "Cheesy Rat Blues" is a tale about how the tide can turn and you could be left without a pot to p*ss in and what could happen to the people that are supposedly by your side, in times like this. A very personal track. "Farmers Blvd" was a track were LL shouts out his crew and afew of them for some mic time and put it down nicely. Next you hear the immortal words "c'mon man..." and the horns and then all hell breaks loose with "Mama Said Knock You Out" exploding through the speakers. One of my all time favourite hiphop songs EVER. "Milky Cereal" explores the subject of getting laid. Nice beat and funny rhymes. "Jingling Baby" is a superior version than the 1 on the "Walking With A Panther" album, in my opinion. Marley's production is top notch. "To Da Break Of Dawn" is another diss joint where LL rips apart Ice-T and Kool Moe Dee with relative ease to be honest over a smooth hard beat laced with acid tongued rhymes that Im sure would still sting those cats now. "6 Minutes Of Pleasure" and "The Power Of God" were the only tracks that I thought were weaker back then and even more now. The last track that I havent mentioned is "Illegal Search", a humourous tale about the police and their treatment of his race but with a nice funny twist. Still after 16years this is a soundbomb. A timeless classic. He and hiphop certainly dont make joints like this anymore.

The real question is not who loves Mama Said Knock You Out, but who doesn't. The title track alone cements LL in musical history right next to cats like Fats Dominoe & Louie Armstrong. 50 Years from now when rap is only appreciated by the select few just as jazz is today Mama Said Knock You Out will be the record playing over the intercom in the Hip Hop section of your local cities art museums.

Do yourself a favor and pick up this record, its one of the very few hip hop records out there that anyone from 8-80 can enjoy and appreciate.

Of all of LL's releases, this one is near or at the top in my view. This is what first got me to like LL in the first place! Before that, I would hear his singles and all but couldn't really get into him. Then, I heard this CD and I was turned into a fan from that day!

"The Boomin' System", "Mama Said Knock You Out", "Around The Way Girl" and "Jingling Baby (Remix)" were the deal closers for me here! But, even his weak tracks on here were better than a lot of rap that's out there today! Definitely get this for your rap collection!