Artist: LL Cool J
Album: Radio
Release Date: 1985
Label: Def Jam
LL Cool J radio was the first record I owned. I was given it to me by an older friend of mine, Mike Linn when I was in the fourth grade. I didn’t know that much about LL (knew about his label mates Run DMC and the Beastie Boys) but this was his debut album, and I was in the 4th grade. It was hard to find out about New York Hip-Hop in Sacramento in the mid-80’s. Let alone for a 4th grader, but there I was, shiny new wax of “Radio”.
The track listing is amazing. Truly a work of art from producer Rick Rubin. Sometimes this album is overshadowed by Raising Hell and License to Ill. But this album was about one guy, one DJ and a lot of samples.