Legacy Recordings

The story of a boy and his radio begins in the 9-year-old hands of James Todd Smith. Weaned in New York City on video games, remote controls and an E-Mu mixer, he turned programmed loops and percussion into a right of passage. At 13, Ladies Love Cool James sent a homemade demo to junior moguls Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons. The tribute to his boom box is the essence of early rap: pared-down drum beats, scratching, blasts of electronic horns and punching vocals. L.L. was pure, in-your-face braggadocio. Sensual, athletic, stylish, innovative, he was rap’s first poster boy and superstar.

(J. Smith/R. Rubin); Reduced by Rick Rubin; L.L. Cool J, lead vocal ; Rec. New York, 1985. From Radio, Def Jam/Columbia 40239; P 1985 Courtesy of Universal Music Special Markets
I Can’t Live Without My Radio by LL Cool J