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.
Take It Off
LL Cool J Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm ready the bounce outta queens and come to your hood
I'm ready the change your life baby, spend some cash
Because you got me chinky eyed like blunts mixed with hash
When your in my Ferrari, look at the seats carve your ass
L drive drunk baby, pass the glass
As we run up in the club politician with thugs
When your bra straps showin' baby girl it's love
Token and sippin' honey poof
Cause you are the loose
Sweet as cranberry, peach snaps and apple-loops
Runnin' with Queens finest all the way to the top
Pass cars, hard dick and plenty money to shop
Take it off,
Come on and dance with me baby
Take it off,
There ain't nobody who can fade me
Take it off,
I'm on a hot-streak lately
Take it off,
You know that ass look crazy
Take it off,
You saw me up in that Mercedes
Take it off,
I know my crew look shady
Take it off,
You see me spendin' dubs baby
Take it off,
Watch me dance for you baby
Wo day drive is live, Monte Carlo was ill
Convertible limousines, def jam got the bill
Remember R. Kelly had the house on the hill
Well when the partys over we can go there and chill
In London it's Big Ben style breakfast in bed
In Paris you were on an Eifel Tower givin' me head
Go to Switzerland, private jets over the house
Come home, ghetto style, bend you over the couch
Real niggas, nothin' but the platinum shit
Keep that ass soakin wet, plus I'm spendin' his chips
Who's fuckin' wit that, put your middle finger in the air
Has a jet passion X-man playin' wit your hair
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
To my man Black Jus baby RIP
Accessory to the crime is the prime dogg three
When we get the money baby, spreadin' the cream
To tell your brother Joe to hold it down for Queens
And to my cousin Will, hold ya head nigga chill
J.t. Damon in the car let's get the squeals
My nigga Big Bonny Puff, glad your home
Rock the bells Melly Mell, Jimmy Love and Tone
Baby we live cats, lookin' at where in we rides at
Drug walls, hip-hop beats, how 'bout that
The rest fell so far, they can't climb back
Let's take it to the video-tape, rewind that
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Dance for me baby
Take it off, greatest of all times
In LL Cool J's song "Take It Off," the rapper expresses his admiration for a young lady who catches his eye. He is impressed by her beauty, and as a result, he is willing to leave his hometown of Queens and go to her hood. He's ready to change her life by spending money on her, as she has him intrigued and entranced. He compares the effect she has on him to being "chinky eyed like blunts mixed with hash," a reference to the way marijuana makes a person feel. LL Cool J further compliments her by stating how her body looks in his Ferrari and how it mesmerizes him. He even confesses to drunk driving while she is in the car with him.
The chorus "Take It Off" is a call for her to dance for him as he watches. He talks about being on a hot streak lately, and no one can fade him. He mentions his crew might look shady, but they are worth it, as he spends money on her, making her feel special. Throughout the song, he references his luxurious lifestyle, from living the high life in London's Big Ben style to owning a house on a hill similar to R. Kelly's.
In conclusion, LL Cool J's "Take It Off" is a highly sexualized song where the rapper objectifies a girl he's interested in, praising her beauty and offering to change her life with his financial riches.
Line by Line Meaning
I didn't even know a young lady could look that good
I am amazed by how good you look, and I didn't even know someone could look that incredible.
I'm ready the bounce outta queens and come to your hood
I am ready to leave my area and come to where you are, just to be with you.
I'm ready the change your life baby, spend some cash
I am prepared to change your life and spend money on you to show you how much you mean to me.
Because you got me chinky eyed like blunts mixed with hash
You have me so infatuated with you that my eyes are squinted and I am completely captivated by you.
When your in my Ferrari, look at the seats carve your ass
While you are in my expensive sports car, you should notice how well the seats fit your body shape.
L drive drunk baby, pass the glass
I am an irresponsible driver who drinks and drives, so here, have some alcohol too.
As we run up in the club politician with thugs
When we enter the nightclub, we are both seen as powerful and influential people who are surrounded by dangerous individuals.
When your bra straps showin' baby girl it's love
When I see your bra straps showing, it's a sign that I love you and find you incredibly attractive.
Cause you are the loose
Because you are uninhibited and free-spirited.
Token and sippin' honey poof
You're smoking marijuana and drinking sweet alcohol.
Cause you are the loose
Because you are uninhibited and free-spirited.
Sweet as cranberry, peach snaps and apple-loops
You are sweet and refreshing like cranberry, peach, and apple drinks.
Runnin' with Queens finest all the way to the top
Together, we are running with the best people from Queens and we are going to be extremely successful.
Pass cars, hard dick and plenty money to shop
We pass other cars on the road with our luxurious lifestyle and have both sexual potency and an abundance of money to spend on shopping.
Take it off,
Strip for me,
Come on and dance with me baby
Let's dance together and enjoy ourselves.
There ain't nobody who can fade me
Nobody can outdo me or make me look bad.
I'm on a hot-streak lately
I have been doing well recently and I am in a good mood.
You know that ass look crazy
I can't help but notice your incredible butt and it's driving me wild.
You saw me up in that Mercedes
You saw me looking cool and driving around in my fancy Mercedes.
I know my crew look shady
I am aware that my friends look untrustworthy and disreputable.
You see me spendin' dubs baby
You see me spending large amounts of money and enjoying myself.
Watch me dance for you baby
Now it's my turn to dance for you.
Wo day drive is live, Monte Carlo was ill
My everyday car is luxurious and impressive, and my Monte Carlo was an amazing vehicle too.
Convertible limousines, def jam got the bill
I travelled in specially modified limousines that had convertible tops, and my music label paid for it all.
Remember R. Kelly had the house on the hill
I remember when R. Kelly had his famous mansion on the hill.
Well when the partys over we can go there and chill
Once the party is over, we can hang out in R. Kelly's incredible mansion together.
In London it's Big Ben style breakfast in bed
When we're in London, we'll eat breakfast in bed, and it will be fit for royalty.
In Paris you were on an Eifel Tower givin' me head
When we were in Paris, you performed oral sex on me while we were both on the Eifel Tower.
Go to Switzerland, private jets over the house
If we go to Switzerland, our private jet will fly right over the house that we'll be staying in.
Come home, ghetto style, bend you over the couch
When we come back home, we get down and dirty in our more humble abode, and I'll bend you over the couch.
Real niggas, nothin' but the platinum shit
We are the real deal, and we're only interested in the best of the best.
Keep that ass soakin wet, plus I'm spendin' his chips
I'm making sure your butt stays wet, and I'm spending the money from the man who can't please you like I can.
Who's fuckin' wit that, put your middle finger in the air
Who can compare to us? Show your defiance by putting your middle finger in the air.
Has a jet passion X-man playin' wit your hair
As we fly in our private jet, I'll passionately run my hands through your hair like the character from X-Men.
To my man Black Jus baby RIP
I'm dedicating this song to my friend Black Jus who passed away. Rest in peace.
Accessory to the crime is the prime dogg three
I am the main one causing trouble, and my two friends are along for the ride.
When we get the money baby, spreadin' the cream
When we have more money, we can please ourselves and share it with others.
To tell your brother Joe to hold it down for Queens
Ask your brother Joe to keep things stable in Queens while we are having fun elsewhere.
And to my cousin Will, hold ya head nigga chill
To my cousin Will, take it easy and don't worry too much.
J.t. Damon in the car let's get the squeals
Let's drive around with J.t. Damon and make some noise.
My nigga Big Bonny Puff, glad your home
I'm happy that my friend Big Bonny Puff is back home and safe.
Rock the bells Melly Mell, Jimmy Love and Tone
Shoutout to my friends Melly Mell, Jimmy Love, and Tone. Let's party together.
Baby we live cats, lookin' at where in we rides at
We're high-status people and we command attention wherever we go.
Drug walls, hip-hop beats, how 'bout that
We're surrounded by drugs and listen to hip-hop music. How cool is that?
The rest fell so far, they can't climb back
Other people have fallen so far behind us that they can't catch up.
Let's take it to the video-tape, rewind that
Our lives are so amazing that we should record everything and watch it again and again.
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Dance for me baby
Strip for me,
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADAM TONY FENTON, PETE SMITH, JAMES TODD SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind