Mama Said Knock You Out

Performer: LL Cool J
Producer: LL Cool J; Marley Marl
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: LL Cool J., Bomb, Big Money, Grip, Hic (rap vocals); Darren Lightly (keyboards, background vocals); Cliff Lightly, Eric Williams (background vocals). Engineers include: Marley Marl, David Kennedy, "Doc" Rodriguez. Recorded at Marley Marl's House Of Hits, Chestnut Ridge, New York and Chung King House Of Metal, New York. Personnel: LL Cool J (vocals, rap vocals); James Baynard (trumpet); Darren Lighty (keyboards, programming, background vocals); Eric Williams, Flex (background vocals). Recording information: Chung King House Of MEtal, New York, NY; Green Street; Marley Marls House Of Hits, Chestnut Ridge, NY; ocean way. "Don't call it a comeback, I been here for years/Rockin' the mic, puttin' suckers in fear." Despite that disclaimer, MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT was indeed a resurgence--both commercial and personal--for LL, coming as it did after a long battle with substance abuse. Although the title track saw a return to the raw b-boy machismo of "Rock The Bells" after a few years of party jams and rap ballads, L was not about to abandon the tropes of sex symbol and party-emcee. Accordingly, the testosterone level of "Boomin' System," and "Farmers Blvd." (a posse cut dedicated to the street-corner sessions which molded his style) is balanced with more seductive monologues ("Around The Way Girl," "6 Minutes Of Pleasure," "Mr. Goodbar") and straight comedy ("Cheesy Rat," "Milky Cereal"). More than adherence to any particular style, it's LL's original and articulate delivery that carries the album, which is also blessed with the production skills of Marley Marl. Marley definitely pulled out the stops for this one, dusting off a few classic beats to set next to those he'd obviously been saving specifically for a record of this scope.

Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.70) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Rolling Stone (10/18/90) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...Deepens the grooves, uplifting the general tone of the proceedings without losing the humorous arrogance..." Spin (9/99, p.142) - Ranked #47 in Spin Magazine's "90 Greatest Albums of the '90s." Q (9/95, p.134) - 3 Stars - Good - "...They were calling him old-school when MAMA SAID came out in 1990 but `The Boomin' System' showed he was still master of the jeep jam, while `Around The Way Girl' remains the prettiest thing he's ever done..." Q (p.136) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A] comeback of Rocky Balboa proportions. Cool J's physical charms and neat way with a pop hook made killer hits..." Q (p.136) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A] comeback of Rocky Balboa proportions. Cool J's physical charms and neat way with a pop hook made killer hits..." Q (p.136) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[A] comeback of Rocky Balboa proportions. Cool J's physical charms and neat way with a pop hook made killer hits..." Melody Maker (5/23/00, p.57) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...Light on tenderness, heavy on the Jeep beats, Cool James never sounded better than on 'Tha Boomin' System'." New York Times (Publisher) (11/18/90) - "...As L.L. Cool J. peeks behind the crass materialism his persona once took for granted, he sounds tougher and funnier..."

Since releasing his recording debut while still a teenager, LL Cool J has enjoyed one of the most successful and sustained careers in rap history. His aggressive, self-aggrandizing style was one of the form's touchstones in its early incarnation. After earning Grammy Awards and platinum sales and achieving massive crossover success (with 1990's MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT), the man formerly known as James Todd Smith has moved well beyond musical superstardom to become an actor in movies and TV, as well as a product pitchman and philanthropist.

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