What LL Cool J has said about Hip-hop

LL Cool J observes that while the world has become more public, music listening has become more private.

“In a weird way, even though the world is more public, music has become more private”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2561 - LL Cool J (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 3:37

LL Cool J says hip-hop was the first time he heard kids like himself sound empowered, at a time when Black youth on TV appeared mainly in handcuffs.

“Hip-hop was the first time that I heard young kids like me sound empowered”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2561 - LL Cool J (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 27:57

LL Cool J argues that gold chains in early hip-hop signaled toughness and survival in the neighborhood rather than displays of wealth.

“See, jewelry back then was a message. You know, any neighborhood. It was, I can wear this in this neighborhood”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2561 - LL Cool J (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 30:08

LL Cool J says the Public Enemy logo is a silhouette of his friend E-Love taken from a photo of them on stage.

“Chuck D. from Public Enemy took a picture of my man standing next to me on stage and put him in silhouette”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2561 - LL Cool J (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 38:47

LL Cool J says he prioritized how lyrics feel over technical complexity, likening his approach to James Brown's.

“I was more in the James Brown zone of, how does it feel?”

The Joe Rogan Experience: #2561 - LL Cool J (Oct 6, 2026) · Listen from 1:14:04