Released: October 29, 1991

Verse 1:

Back in the days I made up my mind
That I would be a king, you know, genuine
Reign supreme at the top of the heap
And like working all day, no time to sleep
Destined to rise, in front of your eyes
So we surmise, it's time for the prize
The time has come, we gotta be number one
The world is full of power and we got to get some
No more beggin and useless teardrops
So I'm trading these teardrops for props
Goin' all the way and with my powerful team
Conquering the world and I'ma rise like cream
All out, putting heads to bed
Cause I'm a grown man and I hate to get spoon-fed
Wisdom, son, I rose in the east
Till we reach the top, won't be no peace, cause it's

Chorus:

Strictly business, strictly business
Ain't no way I'm gonna stop
Strictly business, ain't no time to get more
Gotta make it to the top

Verse 2:

Everything we do, gotta be brand new
The moves we make, gotta make the earth shake
Sitting at my desk, cause I manifest to my team
Big plans that'll make us the best
Cause we can rule this game we all play
Pop champagne and make everyday a holiday
Smooth as a rose but hard like steel
From now on, I'ma make my dreams real
On a mission, gotta get there
If you wanna rule, you gotta be in there
Our masterplan is the best
And ain't a man alive that'll beat us to a conquest
Cause this is the reason we was born
To rock on and on and on and on
Look at my eyes, it's hypnotizing
Word is bond, we gotta keep on rising

Chorus

Strictly business, life is hard to handle
Ain't no way I'm gonna stop
Strictly business, ain't no time to get more
Gotta make it to the top

Verse 3:

I'ma be a legend in all the books and mags
Stuffin' the cash inside garbage bags
Ain't no time to waste, we gotta motivate
Pass anybody that stops to get gas
Forever and a day, my destiny's set
No sweat, I make it rougher than rougher gets
Hold on tight, if not, get blown away
Pick up the pieces 'cause we're known to say
Radical things to get a champion's ring
Give it up, punk, don't make me swing
We planned ahead to get the butter and the bread
Dressed in black and I'm stayin' out the red
So when it comes to like taking charge
Get props for where they do and stop frontin' on tar
Gotta go for what you know to be the cream of the crop
With the power of God, I'ma rise to the top, it's

Chorus

Strictly business, life is hard to handle
Ain't no way I'm gonna stop
Strictly business, ain't no time to get more
Gotta make it to the top

Outro:

Uncle L (uhh!) (repeat 16X)

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.