Mama Said Knock You Out
LL Cool J Lyrics
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I've been here for years
I'm rocking my peers
Puttin' suckers in fear
Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon
Listen to the bass go boom
Explosions, overpowerin'
Over the competition I'm towerin'
Wrecking shop when I write these lyrics
That'll make you call the cops
Don't you dare stare, you better move
Don't ever compare
Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced
Competition's payin' the price
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
Don't you call this a regular jam
I'm gonna rock this land
I'm gonna take this itty-bitty world by storm
And I'm just gettin' warm
Just like Muhammed Ali
They called him Cassius
Watch me bash this beat like a skull
That you know I've beef with
Why do you riff with me
The maniac psycho
And when I pull out my jammy get ready
Cause I might go Blaw!
How you like me now?
The ripper will not allow
You to get with Mr. Swift or Rift,
Listen to my gears shift
I'm blasting, I'm blasting
Kinda like shaft, so you can say I'm shafting
Oh, English filled my mind, and I came up with a funky rhyme
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
Shadow boxing when I heard you on the radio, UH
I just don't know
What made you forget that I was raw
But now I gotta new tour
I'm going insane
Startin' the hurricane
Releasin' pain
Lettin' you know
You can't gain or maintain
Unless you say my name
Rippin'
Killin'
Diggin' and drillin' a hole
Pass the Old Gold
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
Shotgun blasts are heard
When I rip and kill at will
The man of the hour, tower of power
I'll devour
I'm gonna tie you up and let you understand
That I'm not your average man
When I gotta jammy in my hand
Damn!
Oh!
Listen to the way I slay
Your crew
Damage
Damage
Destruction, terror, and mayhem
Pass me a sissy so sucker I'll slay him
Farmers (what)
Farmers (what)
I'm ready (we're ready)
I think I'm gonna bomb a town
Get down
Don't you never, ever
Pull my lever
Cause I explode
And my nine is easy to load
I gotta thank God
'Cause he gave me the strength to rock Hard
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
I'm gonna knock you out
Mama said knock you out
The opening line of LL Cool J's song Mama Said Knock You Out, "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years," has become one of the most iconic phrases in hip-hop history. The song was written and released at a time when LL Cool J's career was struggling, and he was determined to come back with a vengeance. The lyrics are a statement of intent, letting the world know that he was still a force to be reckoned with.
Throughout the song, LL Cool J speaks of his power, skill, and confidence. He boasts about his ability to "rock his peers" and "put suckers in fear." He talks about the tears he makes his opponents cry, the explosions he creates, and the way he towers "over the competition." He challenges his rivals to face him in battle, warning them that they'll be "sliced and diced" if they try to compete with him.
At the core of "Mama Said Knock You Out" is LL Cool J's belief in himself. He sees himself as a champion, a warrior who can overcome any obstacle. His lyrics are a call to arms for anyone who has ever felt powerless or underestimated. He encourages his listeners to believe in themselves and never give up, no matter how tough the fight may be.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't call it a comeback
I've been doing this for a long time, and I never left
I've been here for years
I've been in the game for a while now
I'm rocking my peers
I'm impressing my contemporaries
Puttin' suckers in fear
I'm making my competition scared
Makin' the tears rain down like a monsoon
I'm so good at what I do that people cry with emotion like a monsoon of tears
Listen to the bass go boom
Pay attention to the bass and how it makes you feel
Explosions, overpowerin'
My talent and energy are explosive and overwhelming
Over the competition I'm towerin'
I'm way better than my competition, I'm towering over them
Wrecking shop when I write these lyrics
I'm destroying the game when I write lyrics
That'll make you call the cops
My words are so powerful they might get me in trouble
Don't you dare stare, you better move
Don't just stand there, get out of my way
Don't ever compare
Don't even think about comparing me to anyone else
Me to the rest that'll all get sliced and diced
Anyone who tries to compete with me will be destroyed
Competition's payin' the price
My competition will regret ever trying to compete with me
I'm gonna knock you out
I'm going to take you down
Mama said knock you out
My mother inspired and encouraged me to fight back and win
Don't you call this a regular jam
What I'm doing is more than just a regular song or performance
I'm gonna rock this land
I'm going to conquer and dominate the music industry
I'm gonna take this itty-bitty world by storm
I'm going to take over the world with my artistry
And I'm just gettin' warm
I'm just getting started and I'm not even at my best yet
Just like Muhammed Ali
I'm like Muhammad Ali because I'm the greatest in my craft
They called him Cassius
Muhammad Ali's original name was Cassius Clay
Watch me bash this beat like a skull
See how I destroy this beat with my talent
That you know I've beef with
This beat and I have a history and I'm going to show it who's boss
Why do you riff with me
Why are you bothering me?
The maniac psycho
I'm a crazy person when it comes to my craft
And when I pull out my jammy get ready
And when I take out my gun, be prepared for the impact
Cause I might go Blaw!
Because I might just explode
How you like me now?
Now do you see how great I am?
The ripper will not allow
I won't allow anyone to take my spot at the top
You to get with Mr. Swift or Rift,
Don't even try to compete with me
Listen to my gears shift
Pay attention to how I elevate my craft and evolve
I'm blasting, I'm blasting
I'm killing it, I'm at the top of my game
Kinda like shaft, so you can say I'm shafting
I'm cool and smooth like the character Shaft, so you could say I'm Shafting
Oh, English filled my mind, and I came up with a funky rhyme
I'm so talented that English just comes naturally to me, and I can create great lyrics without even trying
Shadow boxing when I heard you on the radio, UH
I was mentally and physically preparing for a competition when I heard you on the radio
I just don't know
I don't understand why you are trying to compete with me
What made you forget that I was raw
How could you forget that I'm talented and great at what I do?
But now I gotta new tour
But now I have a new opportunity and a platform to showcase my talent
I'm going insane
I'm pushing myself to the limit and taking risks in my craft
Startin' the hurricane
I'm creating a storm and a massive impact in the industry
Releasin' pain
My talent is so powerful that it can cause emotional reactions in people
Lettin' you know
I'm informing you
You can't gain or maintain
You can't compete with me, let alone be in the same league as me
Unless you say my name
Unless you acknowledge me and give me credit
Rippin'
I'm killing it
Killin'
I'm destroying the game
Diggin' and drillin' a hole
I'm pushing my talent to uncover new levels of achievement
Pass the Old Gold
Let's have a cigarette break now
Shotgun blasts are heard
My talent is so powerful and impactful that it sounds like a shotgun blast
When I rip and kill at will
When I showcase my talent and destroy everyone else
The man of the hour, tower of power
I'm the best at what I do
I'll devour
I'll defeat and conquer anyone who tries to compete with me
I'm gonna tie you up and let you understand
I'm going to make you see and understand my talent and greatness
That I'm not your average man
That I'm extraordinary and special
When I gotta jammy in my hand
When I hold a gun, it's a symbol of my power
Damn!
I'm great!
Oh!
Wow!
Listen to the way I slay
Listen to how I destroy the competition
Your crew
Everyone you have at your disposal to help you compete with me
Damage
Harm and destruction
Damage
Harm and destruction
Destruction, terror, and mayhem
My talent is so powerful that it evokes emotions of destruction, terror and chaos
Pass me a sissy so sucker I'll slay him
Give me a weak opponent so I can easily defeat him
Farmers (what)
Who can compete with me?
Farmers (what)
Who can compete with me?
I'm ready (we're ready)
I'm ready to take on all competition
I think I'm gonna bomb a town
I have the power and ability to make a huge impact in the industry
Get down
Get ready for my greatness
Don't you never, ever
Don't even think about trying to compete with me
Pull my lever
Don't mess with me
Cause I explode
I have so much greatness and talent that it's explosive
And my nine is easy to load
My gun represents my power, and I'm ready to use it
I gotta thank God
I'm grateful for my talent and success
'Cause he gave me the strength to rock Hard
God gave me the ability to be the best at what I do
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bobby F Ervin, George Clinton Jr., Gregory Jacobs, James Mccants, James Todd Smith, Leroy Mccants, Marlon Williams, Sylvester Stewart, Walter Morrison, William Bootsy Collins, George S. Clinton, William Collins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mattbogus
Just watched an LL COOL J documentary.
After he wrote the song "I need love" he was heavily scrutinized and criticised in the industry from 87-90 with that track.
He went to his grandmother for guidance and council.
She told him
"Todd, go to the basement and write a song, and knock 'em out"
This was the response he took from those words from her about his treatment in the industry at the time.
@liamf2300
Who’s here because they actually just wanted to listen to this song
@thatonenigeriansformula
Me too let's leave these cod chumps and listen to other ll music
@slicknick6435
Not me
@johnjones9165
Me
@enn.x
Yes
@goGothitaLOL
Me
@QuantumSolace
This is my “kicking cancer to the curb” song. I listened to it at every single chemo session.
@christopherrodriguez1541
Knock that shit out, you got this 💪💪 prayers from some random person
@TheNicheHunter
You got this!!
@sos5764
You got this