LL Cool J on The Late Show with Arsenio Hall 1988

Arsenio Hall interviews LL Cool J after his performance on The Late Show.

[@kinamai1965]

He shouts out his girlfriend back then Simone and now she's his current wife. It's a good thing he stayed true to his relationship with her all these years!

[@heaventchelle7795]

Kina Mai that's actually weird bc I heard he dated kidada Jones in the 90s for two to three years before marrying his wife..is it the same Simone lol

[@fdation]

Kina Mai I was just ready to google that because I knew he was with the same women a long time.

[@rodedwards8108]

yup

[@MsNotzi]

@@heaventchelle7795 That's true. He dated Kidada while he and Simone were on a hiatus.

[@LOYAL4YA]

This interview actually took place in October of 1987. I was in fifth grade at this point in my life and LL was one of my idols.

[@onmyceiling]

I love how this was a time when the mainstream didn’t know basic slang like “chillin”

[@Ricobaca]

Or illin. White kids in 1986 would say you be ailing. 😅

[@ednoroirika]

This is tight! He's still with her.

[@lwrncjms]

Still

[@bpru9948]

And he's still with Simone...best rapper alive

[@nlee4566]

We had no idea he would transcend thru 3 decades of music. Having 3 decades of hit songs.

[@tatertots0046]

4 decades. His album from 2013 "Authentic" is super slept on.

[@roderickgrayson8254]

This interview let me know just how sharp a lot of these young men from urban life were...Too Short made me proud as well after seeing him interview on Yo MTV Raps

[@tonyreid3188]

MY MFN MAN 36 YEARS AND STILL GOING STRONG HIP HOPS LIVING LEGEND!!!!!

[@deekydan]

Aww, and they're still together all these years later :) Hope I can have something that good.

[@oaklandsoldier8520]

Lol. Keep dreaming

[@deekydan]

@@oaklandsoldier8520 fuck off, clown.

[@user-ks8kn4hx8q]

​​@@oaklandsoldier8520Hater. Do you have something good?

[@hazelkb]

Love LL, even back then, he is my dude!

[@gregorygriffin6341]

FACT: E-love-the guy LL mentions when introducing his crew-is the inspiration for the PUBLIC ENEMY LOGO, according to CHUCK D., who designed it.

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

gregory griffin Nice history!

[@blackturkdog]

really, I thought that silhouette was from Run DMC . with the target in front. good stuff to know.

[@martissahouston4338]

blackturkdog

[@Kwaku211]

Me too...I thought ''DMC' was the inspiration for the PE Logo...

[@kennethmapp1385]

Also E-Love was shot several times and thats why u never seen L.L. with E-Love again after the BAD album.

[@eulissbenoit5968]

L.L. is the greatest hip hop writer of all time.hes a hip hop eienstin

[@bigsnec3420]

EULISS BENOIT U lost your damn mind I like LL he is great but Cube is the GOAT he’s been writing since early 80 WITH OUT him no N.W.A. no Easy E RIP NOT TO MENTION HOW CAREERS HE HAS ENDED WITH JUST A FEW BARS NO ONE IN HIS LEAGUE NO ONE

[@tatertots0046]

@@bigsnec3420 what are you smoking? LL was already on his 3rd album when NWA first dropped. ▪ *LL is more influential than Cube* ▪ *LL raps better than Cube* ▪ *LL is a better actor than Cube*

[@gregorygriffin6341]

This was filmed on the late night show in '87-'88, huh? ARSENIO WAS DESTINED FOR LATE NITE GLORY!!!!!

[@cdshawn]

he hosted the show for somebody because they were sick or I don't remember the reason but he did such a good job they end up giving him his own show I used to watch a lot of late-night TV back then,by the time he got his own show think I was working a weird shift so I never really got to see it too many times.

[@frankwhite7109]

Sounds like Alpo son...

[@richiebee1984]

@@cdshawn NO THE SHOW STARTED OUT AS THE JOAN RIVERS SHOW IN 1986 AND THE SHOW DID SO BAD SHE WAS DUMPED AFTER ABOUT A YEAR AND THEY WERE LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT HOST OR MAYBE CANCELING THE SHOW BUT ARSENIO WAS GETTING A LOT OF BUZZ AS A UP AND COMING ACTOR AND COMEDIAN SO FOX DECIDED TO GIVE HIM A 13 WEEK TRYOUT AND HE OBVIOUSLY HIT IT OUT THE PARK THAT THEY DECIDED TO JUST GIVE HIM THE SHOW. RATINGS CONTINUED TO SKYROCKET SO IN SEPTEMBER 1989 THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW WAS BORN AND THE REST IS HISTORY👍👍

[@Neosoulgroovydude]

a very young ll cool j. the rare confessions of a rapper. real name:james todd smith, and saying his girlfriend name on national tv:simone who is his wife. he kept his family life under his kangol for years.

[@Detroitblue]

wow we were so young.

[@sheldoncrawford4363]

L always been my dude...St. Albans Queens stand up

[@tatertots0046]

*Hollis stand up*

[@RoninAli1]

Talk about growth...but that’s 30 years ago!

[@rong805]

Dope. I saw LL in Ventura, CA, either the night before or after this show. He performed at a Community College basketball gym, and it was an awesome show. He also did a live radio show with local DJ HT(RIP) at Salzers record store. They challenged anyone to rap a verse of one of his songs and I volunteered. I think I did a verse from I Can't Live Without My Radio. It was such a fun day.

[@MontrealMan1970]

i miss the Arseni-Show. Angry young LL now that's FRESH.

[@EugenejrJefferies]

Cool J & his posse Hype man - E Love ❤️ DJ - Cut Creator 2nd dj - Bob Cat 🐈. That's the crew ( group).

[@montaviousgreen7739]

ll rock well yall non this

[@pfunzomulaudzi4754]

He's the origin of Hip Hop

[@sarahsimpkins2021]

I had miss this one

[@ShaneStanley109]

Who's watching this in 2017 ?

[@Deikoka]

My goodness LL. Never lust over a married man but got dam u making it hard homie. Lol. Kidding. Love how u shouted out Simone. She 1 lucky woman ✌️🏿💝

[@lisatelly2418]

Look at this little cutie ...in his kangol... I have had the biggest crush on him since he came out with I can't live without my radio.

[@calixa]

LL is dope. then and now. yheard?

[@dennisscott9730]

"COOL/KOOL IS THE WORD!!!!"🎤📻🎧🆒️😎🔥🤑💵💰💯👍✌

[@user-dt3nm3vh8j]

LL cool

[@brandonhayes8364]

Arsenio's Grill... Look like Master Splinter LMAO

[@jasondawson92]

It’s Just bad quality

[@Spainnyboi]

Great interview Love that sweater! Shoulder pads and all ha

[@kingsports1113]

Just getting on his feet still broke

[@AQUAPHREESH193]

St. Albans Queens!! hahaha yeaaaa

[@Francojacko]

3:09 LL Call his Girl Named.. SYMONE.......that was in 1988.... Here in 2011 Shes HIS WIFE..... thats LOYALTY....... Now Where are these kinds of Women Today??.... Ok Then!!

[@kinamai1965]

Loose Noose her name is spelled Simone! And yes it's a blessing of how long they've been together. He didn't have to mention her at all but he did. Back then LL had the ladies going crazy including my mom, aunts, and women around our neighborhood so him having a girlfriend could've easily soured or ended his career back then it was ladies that kept his career going! So he was very brave for shouting out Simone name like that lol you could tell he was very nervous. Yes she's his wife today and the mother of his four children! I love black love. And the fact LL kept his family all these years. He could've had any woman he wanted and cheated on her like the rest of the industry men and husbands did. But he knew he had something special with Simone.

[@frankwhite7109]

He cheated on her for years from 89-96.

[@timmyreg]

😂😂😂😂

[@courtneyross7879]

Where in the hell is the performance of “I’m Bad” from this appearance, godmmit??!!

[@D.Nice..]

LL reminds me of Mike Tyson on this. LOL

[@curtssallee9807]

LL at 18yrs old

[@evole73]

I'm like young LL, cuz I'm hard as hell!

[@DJBroNeal]

Thanks for the post. Do you have the performance of I'm Bad that he performed on this episode?

[@vdeferens]

How do you remember all your lyrics? Yo, memorise 'em.

[@Hi.Shadow]

Wow I didn't know LL Cool J had a gap in his teeth.

[@averyt6521]

Lil gap

[@lisatelly2418]

Baby gap...lol..cute

[@kingsports1113]

Got hit in it

[@averyt6521]

Small

[@LibraLee88]

Damn 80s Uncle L was Cool as fuck LOL this dude Oozing Charisma

[@Mrdallasbrown]

I got played out for you, 😂 nice

[@kennysmith3670]

0:05

[@deekydan]

@Mehrunissah93 You're right. Ive heard that . They were really young and he was ready for that then. It's good to see he's matured now.

[@Rhythm973]

Good lawd

[@Francojacko]

Folks Stll Hate On LL in 2011... of course its ONLY Dudes... That DONT hit the Gym!!!!! HATAS!!!!

[@Wondertroy1TV]

E Love is the public enemy logo

[@mauricesantinomf]

Did he just say inshallah

[@ccb.8603]

He's cute😅

[@Mehrunissah93]

@deekydan Well, according to LL himself, it wasn't always good. He was cheating on her and they had two kids before they married. He says he regrets it, but he was so used to groupies and afraid of responsibility and settling down.

[@kinamai1965]

Mehrunissah93 yes I heard that too. I thought they had a perfect relationship being they've been together since 87 when they were teenagers. I'm not sure why he cheated but I'm glad he made things right with her. I also heard through canibus beef diss to LL that Simone was a high school slut and she was very promiscuous before she met LL this diss is on " jack the ripper" diss by canibus. Simone was not the celebrity wife she is today so back then I guess the guys that went to school with her knew about her. I'm just saying yes LL cheated but who knows what she was doing behind his back too? If your girlfriend has a reputation in school or around the neighborhood like that then I guess LL has the right to cheat too. We'll they're still together after all these years so that's all that matters. Nice classic throw back tho!

[@urbanflavorz]

Canibus didn't know it was just a diss song. Canibus was 10 years old when they were in high school. And LL broke up with her and was dating Kidada Jones, Quincy jones daughter. who then went on to date Tupac.

[@diggerdougross]

Team Vanilla Ice....

[@deekydan]

@Mehrunissah93 I mean he WASNT ready for that. lol

[@cross7387]

Didnt aresenio start January 89?

[@Transcendent-Economics-101]

Yes, you are correct. However, this interview is from "The Late Show" in 1987, after Arsenio took over as its permanent host, subsequent to the firing of Frank Zappa. (☉౪ ⊙)

[@markplotkin1166]

I brake for kangaroos

[@markgeorge1980]

Plays tears for fears after interviewing the most popular rapper in the world... couldn't play a 5 second snip of rock the bells wtf

[@KingNez89]

Ll had a bunch of haters around him.....

[@deeward5572]

Why do you say that

[@stephensandin451]

Best writer in order Ice Cube Tupac The Notorious B.I.G Dr Dre Eminem Jay Z Snoop Dog LL Cool

[@averyt6521]

LL #1

[@boske1399]

tryin to dress but you still wear namebrand kool moe dee

[@rodney1b]

+BOSKE 139 stop ya blood clot hattin!

[@VinnySuccessJesusfam]

love ll. going back to cali......but I notice he bad mouths every white rapper he can...that beastie boy comment wasn't necessary..they a Los became one of the biggest sensations of all time..cool show but he was and maybe still a little racist...call it like I see it.

[@deeward5572]

Nope

[@sexobscura]

*It was better that Chuck D did a cameo on 'Kool Thing' instead of this guy*