With rap newcomers Wale and Meek Mill at the forefront of today’s rap scene and LL Cool J readying new music as he heads into three decades of recording, the three rappers have something in common. They each promised to record together. 

“[LL] started off in the battle game, then you transferred over to the rap game,” Meek Mill said in an interview with Jenny Boom Boom of Hartford’s Hot 93.7. “That’s where I came from, too.”

No matter when you first heard his music, everyone knows LL Cool J. The actor/singer does it all. It’s a lesson younger artists like Meek and Wale have learned from his example.

“That’s a blessing, and I’m grateful,” LL said. “It’s always good to see young brothers succeeding and doing well and making their dreams come true. I’m glad to see they’re not taking it for granted.”

LL stands out as a hip-hop trailblazer, a leader from the previous generation who is still releasing music today. He has outlasted many of his peers in the world of hip-hop. 

“The rock ‘n roll culture, they embrace their legends a little bit more than [we] do,” said Wale. “They embrace the Rolling Stones.”

“I think we have a tendency to not embrace our legends because we see our legends as being in the way,” LL explained. “Not understanding that the people ahead of you are icebreakers, instead of them being in your way, they’re paving the way for you.”

Check out the full interview here 

–Bill Sencio, Hot 93.7/ Hartford