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Going Back to CaliLL Cool J

Released: January 27, 1988

Songwriter: Rick Rubin LL Cool J

Producer: Rick Rubin

[Hook]
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... hmm, I don't think so
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... I don't think so

Going back to Cali, stylin, profilin
Growlin, and smilin, while in the sun
The top is down, on the black Corvette
And it's fly, cause it's sittin on Daytons
Nardi steering wheel, plushed out, gold-leaf phantom top
And three girls waiting
VRRRROOM engine's blowin, the chrome, is shining
Passing all the cars on the way
Movement of the wind, back wheels spin
Pop in a cassette and push play

[Hook]
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... hmm, I don't think so
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... I don't think so


I'm going back to Cali, shakin 'em, bakin 'em
Takin 'em to spots they never before hung
?? the place, on Sunset it's a trip
Where the A.C.'s cold, and the girls still strip
The record skip, but this girl kept dancin
Prancin, grindin, grinnin, romancin
I asked her to the barn, so we could hit the hay
I wanna do this, Brutus, but I don't wanna pay

[Hook]
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... hmm, I don't think so
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali


I'm going back to Cali, rising, surprising
Advising realizing, she's sizing me up
Her bikini - small; heels - tall
She said, she liked, the ocean
She showed me a beach, gave me a peach
And pulled out the suntan lotion
Now I thought that was fast, but this girl was faster
She's lookin for a real good time
I said, "Close your eyes, I got a surprise,"
And I ran away with the bottle of wine

[Hook]
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... hmm, I don't think so
I'm going back to Cali, Cali, Cali
I'm going back to Cali... I don't think so


{*saxophone solo*}

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.

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