LL Cool J: I Wish I Knew

About this episode

LL Cool J joins Neal Brennan to talk about what he wishes he knew sooner: knowing his value, learning how to lead, and being a better friend. They get into growing up in Queens, the family lessons that shaped him, getting his start in hip-hop in the late 1970s along with a (too) long list of legends, the writing behind songs like "Mama Said Knock You Out" and "Rock the Bells," and the honest vulnerability behind “I Need Love.” Plus: Rick Rubin, Russell Simmons, Beastie Boys and Def Jam stories, the greatness of Bruce Lee, the business of touring, becoming a sex symbol and then an actor, and the night an intruder broke into his home. -------------------------- CHAPTERS 00:00 LL Cool J joins Neal 01:16 Opening up about his childhood 07:50 Lessons from his family 08:31 First turntables & the trappings of success 13:16 Discovering hip-hop 17:27 Def Jam & owning his music 18:57 Making demos & writing rhymes 23:09 Wanting to be seen 25:33 Representation & giving back 30:21 Sponsor: BetterHelp 32:29 Sponsor: CookUnity 35:10 Creative freedom & songwriting 36:13 I Need Love & vulnerability 40:53 Acting, working out & Bruce Lee 45:16 Building a career without a blueprint