Released: November 21, 1995

Featuring: Terri Robinson

Songwriter: LL Cool J Tone Poke Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis

Producer: Trackmasters

[Produced by The Trackmasters]

[Intro]
Word up! Ya know what I'm sayin'?
I gotta globe in the world in the mail today
NahI'msayin? Heh, word up!
Uhh, kid told me "Yo, the world is yours kid, put it in ya pocket"
Nahmean?
Make a brother feel good, word up!
Brother feel energized
I wanna dedicate this one to the game that put me on the map
Y'nahI'msayin?

[Verse 1]
I know you love it, the game is so irresistible to touch
You should see me when fiendin' for microphones that I can clutch
Droppin' bombs, combinin' the club attracts
Like the old Sugarhill Gang, King Tim and Fatback
There's no question the suggestion was made
The foundation was laid when the Furious played
Grandmaster Flash slayed competition that was wishin'
They could serve the technician with the number one position
Ugh, the real deal, Fearless Four scored
Bambaataa was hotter, Spoonie was givin' em nata
An' I was all up in my headzone, melody and' all
Cosign and The Movement sayin', "Yes, yes y'all"
It's just the love affair that never ended
I recommended that I take microphones and blow 'em up
Ain't that splendid?
This one goes out to all the hip-hop do-or-diers
A song is dedicated to the music I admire

[Chorus]
Whenever and ever
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)
Whenever and ever
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)

[Verse 2]
Kane's era was terror, he warmed it up
Parrish and Erick, cat lyrics that'll make ya turn it up
And I was in the cut, chillin' in my drop-top Benz with friends, Loungin' with my mens, laughin' 'bout all the ends that I spends
Making snaps, pumping Kool G Rap and Biz
Dapper Dan, Dookie wrotes I'm about to show what time it is
At the rooftop, I was with Doug E.Fresh and Slick Rick
"La Di Da Di, who likes to party?" was the fat shit
I mean, I saw this hip-hop thing on every level
Chuck D, P.E., yes, the rhythm and the rebel
I can reminisce the black fist, Uzi, Terminators
Terrordome techniques that terrorize the lighter shade-a
It's all about the game that we play every day
Eric B & Rakim flow to such a different way
I'm lovin' hip-hop cos it help brothers escape
Let's celebrate our music people before it's too late

[Chorus]
Whenever and ever
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)
Whenever and ever
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)

[Verse 3]
Survival Of The Fittest, Mobb Deep, and Lost Boyz
Lickin' shots got the game hot, they even flipped on 2Pac
Snoop Doggy Dogg put the West Coast in gear
Dr Dre, NWA, Eazy E's in here
I wanna tell the world they just don't understand
My man Nas Escobar, Wu-Tang Clan
Keith Murray to the Redman, down south Da Brat
My people are you with me where you at? Ya peep that?
I'm on a mission to rejuvenate the funk
Bring the game back and give the do-or-diers what they want
When you hear Craig Mack, Notorious B.I.G
Latifah, Heavy D, you should reminisce of me
Some say it's Naughty By Nature, "Hip-hop in all its glory"
A fleet of battleships floatin' in different categories
My love affair with hip-hop'll never fade away
Sincerely yours, LL Cool J
Peace

[Chorus]
Whenever and ever
We want you, I need you (I need hip-hop)
Whenever and ever
We want you, do you feel the same way too? (I need hip-hop)

[Outro]
Yeah, ain't no doubt about it kid, know I'm sayin'?
Hip-hop's the game, helped a lot of brothers escape
Take it to another level, know I'm sayin'?
It's our music, we own this music, know what I'm sayin'?
Word life! I wanna give a couple of shout outs here, know what I'm saying?
First of all, I wanna thank my man Baby Chris, y'nahmean?
Helped me put this Mr. Smith, Mr.Smith album together
Make it hot, know I'm sayin'?
Thank the Trackmasters-Poke & Tone, Steve Stoute
We definitely turning this joint out, y'nahmean
Word bond! Hip-hop for life, kid!
Yeah!

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.