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LL COOL J isn't embracing his 'forefather of pop-rap' title and expressed his confusion with a tweet.

April 5, 2021 The Grammy Award-winning artist released one of the first Hip Hop love songs in 1987 called I Need Love from his Bigger and Deffer album. The song could quite possibly be considered the first of its kind. Rather than the bravado he flexed in Mama Said Knock You Out and Im Bad, Mr. Ladies Love Cool James revealed a softer, more emotional side, something not exactly embraced in Hip Hop at the time. When Im alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall/And in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call/Telling me I need a girl whos as sweet as a dove/For the first time in my life, I see I need love, he rapped over the sparse beat. There I was giggling about the games/That I had played with many hearts, and Im not saying no names/Then the thought occurred, tear drops made my eyes burn/As I said to myself look what youve done to her. Although LL COOL Jdoesnt agree with the assessment, hes influenced a roster of artists to follow in his footsteps. Drake, who has taken the pop-rap formula and ran with it, is often credited with bringing a more emotive side to rap with his R&B-tinged tracks, which likely couldnt have been done successfully unless LL COOL J did it first. LL COOL J is one of a handful of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominees this year his sixth time being nominated for the honor. Former Def Jam CEO Lyor Cohen made his casefor LLs long overdue induction in an op-ed earlier this month. Check out some of the reactions to LL COOL Js forefather of pop-rap tweet below. Read more