Top 10 LL Cool J Songs

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Our Top 10 LL Cool J Songs list looks back at the best LL Cool J rap songs from one of the earliest and most successful rap artists of all time. Born in 1968 and raised in the borough of Queens New York City, LL Cool J stands as a pioneer of the rap music genre. Rap and hip hop music sounded very different in the 1980s than it does in the 2020s. LL Cool J stands as one of the reasons why. Throughout his long and very successful career in show business, LL Cool J has released thirteen studio albums and close to sixty singles. LL Cool J has also enjoyed a successful career as an actor appearing in numerous motion pictures and television shows including a starring role in the CBS drama NCIS: Los Angeles. LL Cool J has celebrated a Grammy Award winning career while also being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

# 10 – I Can’t Live Without My Radio

We open up our top 10 LL Cool J songs list with the classic rap tune “I Can’t Live Without My Radio.” If there’s one song that represents classic 80s hip hop rap than it has to be this classic LL Cool J recording. The song was released on the album entitled Radio. It was the first single released from the album. The album was released in 1985. The song broke onto the US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts hitting number fifteen. In the United Kingdom, the song hit number ninety five.

# 9 – Around the Way Girl

Continuing with our top 10 LL Cool J songs list we take a listen to the great song entitled “Around the Way Girl.” This is very cool old style hip hop in the same vein as some of the classic Will Smith tunes. The song was released on the album entitled Mama Said Knock You Out. The album was released in 1990. This was a huge album for LL Cool J as it produced six single releases. “Around the Way Girl.” was the fourth single released from the album. The song was a top 10 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number nine. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number number five. It was most successful on the US Billboard R&B Charts where it became a number one single. “Around the Way Girl,” was the second biggest selling single off the album as it went Gold in sales.

# 8 – Control Myself

The sounds of Jennifer Lopez are featured on this next great LL Cool J song. It’s also the most recent LL Cool J songs to appear on this list. In the number eight spot our top 10 LL Cool J songs list we present the song entitled “Control Myself.” The song was released on the album entitled Todd Smith. The album was released in 2006. The song was a massive hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number four. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number on twenty eight.The song also was a top 10 hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts hitting number nine. In the United Kingdom the song just missed being a number one single as it peaked at number two.

# 7 – 4,3,2,1

A very different sounding LL Cool J appears in the number seven position our top 10 LL Cool J songs list with the song entitled “4,3,2,1” This was a single that featured an all star cast of rappers including Method Man, Redman, Canibus, Master P and DMX. The song was released on the album entitled Phenomenon. The album was released in 1997. It was the second single released from the album. The song did make it onto the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seventy five, On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number twenty for. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts reaching all the way up to number ten.

# 6 – Loungin

Landing in the number six spot our top 10 LL Cool J songs list we present the song The song was released on the album entitled The album was released in 1996. It was the third single released from the album Mr. Smith. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number four. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number three. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts reaching all the way up to number one. In the United Kingdom the song was also a top ten hit peaking at number seven. The song also charted in the countries of Austria, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Germany.

# 5 – I Need Love

At the halfway point on our top 10 LL Cool J songs list is the song “I Need Love.” This is the first of two big hit singles to placed on this list from the great album Bigger and Deffer. The album was released in 1987. It was the second single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number fourteen. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song became another number one hit for LL Cool J. In the United Kingdom the song was a top 10 hit peaking at number eight. LL Cool J’s “I Need Love,” would actually become the rappers biggest international hit of his career as the song was a also a top ten hit in the countries of Switzerland, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Germany.

# 4 – Headsprung

At the number four spot on our top 10 LL Cool J songs list we present the song “Headsprung.” The song was released on the album entitled The DEFinition. The album was released in 2004. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number sixteen. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number seven. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts reaching all the way up to number four. In the United Kingdom the song hit number 25. “Headsprung,” became a Gold selling single for LL Cool J.

# 3 – I’m Bad

Moving along on our top 10 LL Cool J songs list The song was released on the album entitled Bigger and Deffer. The album was released in 1987. It was the first single released from the album. The song made it onto US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number eighty four. The song was a much bigger hit on The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number four. The song was also a hit in the United Kingdom peaking at number seventy one.

# 2 – Hey Lover

As we start to get to a close on our top 10 LL Cool J songs list we celebrate the platinum selling song “Hey Lover.” This was a fantastic song that also featured Boyz II Men. The song was released on the album entitled Mr. Smith. The album was released in 1995. It was the first single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number three. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song hit number one. The song also hit number one on the US Billboard R&B Charts. In the United Kingdom the song hit number seventeen.

# 1 – Mama Said Knock You Out

This is a old style late 80s early 90s rap as you can get. We close out our top 10 LL Cool J songs list with the legendary song “Mama Said Knock You Out.” The song was released on the album entitled Mama Said Knock You Out. The album was released in 1990. It was the fourth single released from the album. The song was a hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number seventeen. The song also was a hit on the US Billboard R&B Charts reaching all the way up to to number twelve. On The US Billboard Dance/Hip Hop Charts the song became a number one hit. In the United Kingdom the song hit forty one. “Mama Said Knock You Out.” was also a platinum selling single for LL Cool J. For most people, this one remains LL Cool J’s most popular song of his career.