And when I reflect on his legacy, the first thing I think about his incredible range. LL Cool J gave us 13 studio albums over three decades. And then I took that shit to the club and watched the club go crazy. I started off practicing mixing and scratching “Rock the Bells” in my garage. Now whenever I hear the first album Radio, it immediately transports me back to when I was just getting started as a DJ behind the turntables. Now I’m a producer and I’m not sure how many of you know how difficult that is to get across and how difficult that is to make happen. That first song “I Need a Beat.” Yeah, I remember that. LL was 17 years old when his debut album came, and it not only put Def Jam on the map, but it launched a fucking superstar. The folks at Def Jam probably could have done better with their parting gift, but they knew exactly what they were doing when they signed you as their very first act. What is that? But now I guess you know what time it is, right? Do you remember what you told me you got? A cheap watch. Then fast forward to this: your deal is up and you told me you were really expecting a really dope parting gift. Do you remember a story you told me about leaving Def Jam? You were the first artist on Def Jam you recorded all of this music and delivered all of these albums. “LL Cool J is hard as.” So what does LL really stand for? Ladies Love? Lickin’ Lips? Well, I’m here because I’m personally making space for “Living Legend.” OK, I’ma take you back for a minute. 26 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in early 1998.This is fantastic. It was released as a triple A-side single (alongside “Sky’s The Limit” and “Kick In The Door”) in late 1997. The song appeared on Biggie’s second album Life After Death.
![going back to cali going back to cali](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CjrTyBaUkAEMtLP.jpg)
He attempts to defuse the coastal tension by professing his love for California’s “weather, women, and the weed,” making it clear that his only beef is with the specific people that “violate” him.īiggie’s tragic murder-which happened on his 1997 trip “back to Cali"-casts a dark shadow over the song’s positive celebratory message. The lyrics on “Going Back To Cali” contain important insight into Biggie’s perspective on the East Coast/West Coast rivalry. Although LL’s track isn’t sampled, the two songs share a title and a theme of a prominent New York rapper visiting California and experiencing the West Coast lifestyle.
![going back to cali going back to cali](https://www.gocurrycracker.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/going-back-to-Cali.jpg)
LL Cool J’s 1988 hit “Going Back To Cali” also served as inspiration. Zapp frontman Roger Troutman was famously featured on 2Pac’s “California Love” the previous year. The song was produced by frequent Biggie collaborator Easy Mo Bee using a chopped up sample from Zapp’s “More Bounce To The Ounce,” giving the song an ’80s electro-funk sound that was commonly associated with West Coast hip-hop at the time. “Going Back To Cali” is Biggie’s love letter to California, recorded at the peak of the controversial East Coast/West Coast rivalry of the mid-’90s. What's your plan, is it to rock the Tri-State?įuck hoes exquisite, Cali, great place to visit Lick it, say it's yummy, then fuck your man Said she suck it 'til I ain't got no more, only in L.Aīust on bitches be-lly, rub it in they tummy Only got five blunts left to light, I'm set tonight I be whipping on the freeway, the NYC way Scream Biggie Biggie gimme One More Chance Sippin Crist-o, with some freaks from Frisco If I wanna squirt her, take her to Fatburger Smoke some nice sess in the West, y'all niggas is a messĪll I got is beef with those that violate meĬase closed, suitcase filled with clothes If I got to choose a coast, I got to choose the Eastīut that don't mean a nigga can't rest in the West
![going back to cali going back to cali](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91sON1tKP+L._SL1500_.jpg)
I'm going going, back back, to Cali Cali (going back to Cali) I'ma spell my name one more time, check it Going back to Cali, strictly for the weatherĪnd my balls licked, forfeit, the game is mine See it's all about the cheddar, nobody do it better Nigga with the game tight, fifth that flame right Head so hard, that your hat can't fit youįormat bent 'cha, back through that maze I sent ya Uhh, when the la-la hits ya lyrics just splits ya No doubt baby, you know we gotta get this paperĪlright 7:30 I'ma meet you at the airport
![going back to cali going back to cali](https://static.mixtapes.com/img/800/CLOTM06088_1_550_1.jpg)
Tell your girl then to remember it or somethin'. Yeah I hear you dog, I hear you, alright, 7:30 I'm up Diddy, what the fuck, man? What's up?Ĭ'mon now it's a quarter to six we got the 7:30 flight