LL Cool J, iconic rapper and actor, has shared insights into his most difficult rap battle.
- His toughest opponent was Canibus, a challenge that left LL feeling ‘disconnected.’
- Their feud began in the late ’90s with a line from Canibus on ‘4,3,2,1.’
- LL initially took it as a diss and responded with a fierce verse.
- Despite the intensity of their battle, LL now wishes Canibus the best.
LL Cool J recently opened up about his toughest rap battle during an interview with Ray Daniels. He revealed that Canibus was his most challenging opponent, describing him as ‘a pain in the ass.’ LL admitted that he felt ‘disconnected,’ making the battle even more difficult.
The feud started in the late ’90s when Canibus seemingly dissed LL on the track ‘4,3,2,1.’ Canibus’s original verse included the line, ‘Yo L, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that,’ referencing LL’s bicep tattoo. LL interpreted this as disrespectful and responded with a biting verse, ensuring he had the last word on the track.
In his response, LL rapped, ‘When young sons fantasize of borrowing flows / Tell little shorty with the big mouth the bank is closed.’ This marked the beginning of a heated exchange between the two artists. Canibus fired back with ‘Second Round K.O.,’ a track that became one of HipHopDX’s 100 Greatest Diss Songs.
The beef didn’t stop there. LL released tracks like ‘The Ripper Strikes Back,’ ‘Back Where I Belong,’ and ‘Rip the Jacker.’ Each song added fuel to the fire, keeping the rivalry alive and intense for years.
Despite the fierce back-and-forth, LL has since acknowledged his part in escalating the feud. Reflecting on the situation, he admitted that he could have handled it differently. LL recognized that Canibus’s initial comment might have been a compliment rather than a diss.
LL and Canibus eventually reconciled nearly 20 years later. They appeared on stage together at a 2014 Christmas concert at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, putting their differences aside.
LL Cool J’s account of his toughest rap battle with Canibus highlights the intensity and passion within the hip-hop world.
