L.L. Cool J: Bigger And Deffer (Def Jam)
J.D. Considine, Musician, August 1987
THE INEVITABLE challenge of a great debut: what to do for an encore. For James Todd Smith — a.k.a. Cool James, a.k.a. L.L. Cool J — that dilemma is intensified. Since the release of Radio in late '85, his aggressive, hectoring rap style has been appropriated by a number of rap pretenders, from Eric B to Kool Moe Dee to some clown who actually took Def Jam to court, claiming to be the real L.L. Cool J (the case was thrown out). No wonder Cool J's '.357 Break It On Down' sneers, without naming names, "Imitator of who?/If I imitated someone, it wouldn't be you."
Total word count of piece: 424
