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I Need a BeatLL Cool J

Songwriter: LL Cool J Rick Rubin Ad-Rock

Producer: Jazzy Jay Rick Rubin

[Intro]
I need a beat (I need a beat, I need a beat)
(I need a beat, I need a beat)

[Verse 1]
If it's a malleable beat, subject of discussion
You're motivated with the aid of percussion
There's no category for this story
It will rock in any territory
I syncopate it and design it well
The beat elevates, the scratch excels
All techniques are a combination
Of skills that I have for narration

[Refrain]
I need a beat

[Verse 2]
Lacking a melody, but still complete
Providing musical energy for the street
Lyrics are smooth for maximum effect
Drum track patterns are pre-set
Tom-toms, snare, hats, bass, and cymbal
Like that of a cat on the mic, I'm nimble
Basic patterns, groups and chains
Sequence frequent, seek and gain

[Bridge]
Break
Break two

[Verse 3]
I'm in the center of a musical scorcher
To some citizens, it's a form of torture
They hear me, they fear me, my funky poetry
I'm improvin' the conditions of the rap industry
The beat expands to many foreign lands
Germany, Italy, France and Japan
It'll give you a lift, no need to sniff
No buts, no hows, no whys, or ifs
It's you I defeated, they'll say you retreated
Pick up your favorite magazine and read it
Rap firepower, a musical shower
A picture of me on the Eiffel Tower

[Refrain]
I need a beat

[Verse 4]
During this journey, I'm your escort
You're bein' protected by a musical fort
I'm infiltrating your eardrums
Increasing their rate of vibration
I wanna rock ya, that's all you need to know
"I Need a Beat" is the title of the show
Providing you with pleasure of the musical measures
All arranged to alleviate pressure
I'm your vocalist, your party therapist
Beat programmer and lyricist
Ladies Love Cool J, studio user
A million or more screamin' people abuser
I predict this jam will hit
The highest plateau in the world of music
Paparazzi, wealth and fame
The total propulsion of my name

[Refrain]
I need a beat

[Verse 5]
Computerize, then the engineer's eyes
Have to be very acute, education level high
The product is mine, beat under rhyme
The control board's part of the studio design
Track after track, culminating on wax
The tape has slack, rewind spins back
Expensive but useful, the music is the fuel
A perfect place for MCs to duel (duel, duel, duel)

[Outro]
I need a beat
Farmer's Boulevard
Hot as Queens
Ladies Love Cool J
Cut Creator

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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