Released: October 15, 1987

Songwriter: LL Cool J

Producer: L.A. Posse

[LL Cool J]
1, 2, 3 'o' clock 4 'o' clock ROCK
5, 6, 7 'o' clock 8 'o' clock ROCK
9, 10, 11 'o' clock 12 'o' clock ROCK
Gonna ROCK (What?) ROCK, ROCK around the clock
Three years ago in St. Albans, Queens
I was rockin at a park called one eighteen
Little kids stood and watched as I rocked the spot
Didn't know years later I'll be standin on top
Live in Farmers Boulevard I was born in Bayshore
Stopped the rich and shaked hands with the poor
And this is a story about a brother I know
Cut Creator on the fader, now watch him go

[Hook]
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go

[LL Cool J]
Way back in the days before I clocked some dough
I used to go to the show and sit in the front row
Hopin' and prayin' one day I'll get on the road
So I'd have Fila in the summer and a mink when it snowed
Not fearin a thought, cockstrong like a horse
No man’s runnin’ my posse, cause each man is a boss
When he’s home, he can’t wait to pull a jam out the crate
One time for your mind
Check out the guitar break

[Hook]
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go

[LL Cool J]
This jam is wild enough for Jimi Hendrix to sing
If you need lessons of the mix he'll take you under his wing
Straight from the heart cause it ain't money that we came here for
Ain't enforcin’ no rules, ain't breakin no laws
We ain’t a rock 'n' roll band, in pinstripe and plaid
Just my posse learned to work with what little we had
It's all about us three: E, Phil & Jay
You heard Cut Creator cut, now check it out we can play

[Hook]
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go

[LL Cool J]
Rock, rock y'all check out the funky cut
It's like travellin' through time to the "Stray Cat Strut"
Cuts are slicker than grease, needles sharper than knives
We'll be do doin' the do for the rest of the lines
Wanna piece of the action, it's time to party, get up
Not a subway bummy singer puttin' change in a cup
Wanna see you boogie, oogie jumpin' up and down
Bite your lip and hold your breath until we come to your town
L-L-C-O-O-L-J-I-S-H-A-R-D-A-S
Cut Creator cut the record for me

(Chorus with LL in the background sayin "Cut it")
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go

L-L-C-O-O-L-J-I-S-H-A-R-D-A-S

("Cut it" in background)
Go, go, go, go, ahh, go

(Chorus with LL in the background sayin "Cut it")
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go, go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go
Go Cut Creator Go

L-L-C-O-O-L-J-I-S-H-A-R-D-A-S-H-E-L-L

LL Cool J

Deriving his name from the statement “Ladies Love Cool James,” LL Cool J became a superstar rapper after his Def Jam debut in 1984. He mixed a hardcore hip-hop style from songs like “I’m Bad” with R&B style on songs like “I Need Love,” which led him to multi-platinum success and several awards. He would later venture into movies and television, write several books, and start different business ventures.

Born January 14, 1968, Queens, New York native James Todd Smith began rapping at the age of nine and started to seriously pursue rapping when he was 16 years old after his grandfather bought him music equipment, which he used to create a demo tape that was sent to numerous labels. He was signed by upstart independent label Def Jam, working with founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin to release his debut single “I Need a Beat” in 1984, which sold over 100,000 copies. This success helped Def Jam secure a distribution deal with Columbia Records.

LL released his debut album Radio in 1985, which achieved platinum status with help from the hit singles “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells.” After working exclusively with Rick Rubin on his debut, LL worked with the West Coast production crew L.A. Posse on his second album Bigger and Deffer, released in 1987. The album featured two of LL’s signature the hard-edged “I’m Bad” and the “rap ballad” “I Need Love,” which was a Top 20 pop hit, helping the album achieve double platinum status.