Born in Bay Shore, New York, and raised between St. Albans, New York and Hollis, New York in the borough of Queens. The only child of Ondrea (née Griffith) and James Smith, Jr. Smith is of both African American and Native American descent. He spent his youth singing in the church choir, participating in the Boy Scouts and delivering newspapers.
Def Jam released his first record, the 12" single "I Need a Beat" in 1983. The single sold over 100,000 copies. The success of "I Need a Beat" helped lead to a distribution deal with Def Jam and Columbia Records in 1985. Soon after, he dropped out of Andrew Jackson High School to record his debut album.
He is known for romantic ballads such as I Need Love and Hey Lover as well as pioneering hip-hop such as I Can't Live Without My Radio, I'm Bad, The Boomin' System, Mama Said Knock You Out, and 4, 3, 2, 1. L has also appeared in several films. LL Cool J is one of a few hip-hop stars of his era to sustain a successful recording career for more than two decades. He has released 12 albums and a greatest hits compilation so far, with his next album, Exit 13, set to be released in September, 2008. The album will be the last for LL's record deal with Def Jam Recordings, a deal which has lasted for over twenty two years, making it the longest single hip hop deal to date. He now resides in Manhasset, NY with his wife and four children.
Get da Drop on 'Em
LL Cool J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I break a nigga down ugly like Coke, up on the scale
Next step throw a stack up on the third rail
The undisputed, I'm never ever diluted or polluted
You could fuse it, if ya choose it 'cause it's deep rooted
I make ya maggot ass crawl out the gutter
For underestimating as I'm creating the butter
Cliques get clipped like heavy bricks when I'm dropping
Wicked with this shout, bodies are fished out
I'm wrecking niggas one-by-one but then I miscount
Mispronounced, how do LL bounce
And get ya shit bust? I turn ya fagots into mush
Ya slipping, I'm gripping microphones real tight
Then I crack up the speakers in ya Ac all night
Deliver messages, the prophecy's in me
His Royal Highness, you minus what you claim to be
(Say what?)
[Chorus: x3]
Uh, I get da drop on you niggas
I blow it, I make it hot for my niggas
I blow em, kaboom, but fuck sound effects
Niggas was sleeping like I was off on a Star Trek
Select my dialect, inspect all my checks
He claim he getting money but L cast the cheque
You sell blunt weed, Glock block, horizons
Niggas in the projects find ya hypnotizing
You clowns know when I bring forth the heat
Hardcore niggas be wearing panties, looking sweet
I'm on a journey through the land of fronting niggas
Nervous motherfuckers with the hands on dirty triggers
I lay back, niggas beef or let my nuts live
I take my blade, insert it until ya guts give
Execution, the destroyer of ya suspect bunch
What? Drama! You can't believe how I deliver bomb shit
Ya brains split, the pain hits ya little dick
[Chorus]
You falling backwards, leaning like a dope addict
Rope niggas claim me, packing automatics
Found his ol' Earth's burner underneath the mattress
Go outside, the bitch up just like a actress
I take ya motherfuckers one-by-one and show ya how it's done
And dick ya down in front of everyone
Bitch niggas ain't got no type of reason
To say a bullshit rhyme in LL season
I'm freezing, ya bleeding heavily up out'cha rectum
Black and blue, trying ta hide up in the spectrum
I got ya raw ass busting straight flat
Head up on the place mat, ready to waste that
Operating incorporates stimulating designs
Lay that motherfucker's shit down, nigga resign
Don't lose ya mind, concentrating on how I shine
You never hear a nigga like me, never in time
I blaze it quick, amaze cliques when I flip
I can't believe you niggas forgot who rip shit
It's '96 and niggas like to hold they dicks
I'm breaking shit aside ya doctor's can't fix
[Chorus]
Fuck the tricks and all them smooth singing grooves
I'm bringing crews, in my ring you swing and lose
With the blues light my fuse, allow me
To show ya crab ass fake niggas how it be
My technique's superb when I'm pissing on these herbs
Crystal clear so you can hear every word
Fuck the goodie-goodie or your moms might hear it
I gotta keep my title locked down so niggas fear it
Uh, I get da drop on you niggas
I blow it, I make it hot for my niggas
[Repeat: x2]
Uh, I get da drop on you niggas
I blow it, I make it hot!
In LL Cool J's song Get da Drop on 'Em, the lyrics depict LL Cool J's skill as a rapper and his ability to deconstruct his opponents. The song's overall message is that he is the undisputed king of rap, and whoever doubts his abilities will be punished severely. The lyrics use violent imagery to demonstrate how he breaks people down "ugly like Coke," and how he takes their money and makes a profit. He also alludes to becoming a prophet, with the "prophecy" inside him.
LL Cool J also calls out other rappers who are fake or fronting, and who don't have any real reason to be in the rap game. He uses derogatory language to demonstrate his contempt for these rappers and their lack of skill. He also warns that he'll "take my blade, insert it until ya guts give," and that he's "the destroyer of ya suspect bunch."
Overall, "Get da Drop on 'Em" is a hardcore rap song that showcases LL Cool J's skill as a rapper and his ability to dominate his opponents. The song is a warning to anyone who doubts his abilities or tries to compete with him.
Line by Line Meaning
Check it out
Listen up, pay attention
I break a nigga down ugly like Coke, up on the scale
I beat someone so badly that they are like crushed up Coca Cola on a scale
Next step throw a stack up on the third rail
I am so wealthy that I can throw a wad of money on an electrified train rail
The undisputed, I'm never ever diluted or polluted
I am always authentic, never fake or corrupted
You could fuse it, if ya choose it 'cause it's deep rooted
My talent and authenticity are so deep that they cannot be replicated or imitated
I make ya maggot ass crawl out the gutter
I humiliate and bring someone back to reality after they underestimated me
For underestimating as I'm creating the butter
I am proving my skill and talent as I excel and succeed
Cliques get clipped like heavy bricks when I'm dropping
I take down groups of people as easily as bricks falling over when I am performing
I'm wrecking nigga whole shit plus I make a profit
I destroy everything someone has worked for, while also earning money
Wicked with this shout, bodies are fished out
I am so powerful with my music that I can make people's corpses float up out of the water
I'm wrecking niggas one-by-one but then I miscount
I am taking down people one at a time, but I accidentally lose count from how many I've beaten
Mispronounced, how do LL bounce
My name is sometimes said and spelled incorrectly, but I still continue to succeed
And get ya shit bust? I turn ya fagots into mush
I will completely destroy anyone who gets in my way, I am that powerful
Ya slipping, I'm gripping microphones real tight
While others may fail, I hold onto my talent and power very tightly
Then I crack up the speakers in ya Ac all night
I am so loud and unstoppable that I can even break speakers in someone's sound system
Deliver messages, the prophecy's in me
My music carries important messages and I am the chosen one to spread them
His Royal Highness, you minus what you claim to be
I am like royalty, and people who try to be like me will always fall short
(Say what?)
What did you say?
[Chorus: x3]
Repeating chorus
I blow em, kaboom, but fuck sound effects
I destroy people so powerfully that even sound effects cannot capture the true impact
Niggas was sleeping like I was off on a Star Trek
People were not prepared for my level of success, but I was always confident it would happen
Select my dialect, inspect all my checks
I am very careful with the way I speak and the money I earn
He claim he getting money but L cast the cheque
People may say they are successful, but I am the one truly bringing in the money
You sell blunt weed, Glock block, horizons
You are only selling mediocre drugs and guns, when there are much more lucrative opportunities
Niggas in the projects find ya hypnotizing
People who are not as successful see you as mesmerizing, but I see through your act
You clowns know when I bring forth the heat
People know that when I start performing, I bring my full talent to the stage
Hardcore niggas be wearing panties, looking sweet
People who claim to be tough and hardcore are actually weak and effeminate
I'm on a journey through the land of fronting niggas
I am exploring the world of people who exaggerate their success and accomplishments
Nervous motherfuckers with the hands on dirty triggers
These people are desperate and dangerous, always ready to use weapons
I lay back, niggas beef or let my nuts live
I am calm and collected, and allow others to try and start a conflict with me
I take my blade, insert it until ya guts give
If someone tries to physically attack me, I will quickly and efficiently take them down
Execution, the destroyer of ya suspect bunch
I will completely annihilate anyone who I see as a threat or as trying to copy me
What? Drama! You can't believe how I deliver bomb shit
I am constantly delivering explosive, powerful music that no one can believe
Ya brains split, the pain hits ya little dick
I am causing serious damage to someone's pride and confidence by beating them so badly
Fuck the tricks and all them smooth singing grooves
I ignore any music that is not raw and authentic to me
I'm bringing crews, in my ring you swing and lose
If you try to come against me, you will lose, even if you have others on your side
With the blues light my fuse, allow me
I am using the sadness and anger within me to fuel my music
To show ya crab ass fake niggas how it be
I am exposing people who are not authentic and trying to be like me
My technique's superb when I'm pissing on these herbs
My talent and skill are unmatched, even when I am doing something as unimportant as urinating
Crystal clear so you can hear every word
My lyrics are so well-delivered that every word is audible and clear
Fuck the goodie-goodie or your moms might hear it
I don't care about cleaning up my music to appeal to a larger audience
I gotta keep my title locked down so niggas fear it
I am so powerful and successful that I need to keep others from trying to take my place
(Repeat: x2)
Repeating chorus
Uh, I get da drop on you niggas
I have complete control over anyone who tries to come against me
I blow it, I make it hot!
I am completely destroying anyone who thinks they can compete with me
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: JEAN-CLAUDE OLIVIER, SAMUEL BARNES, TODD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind