Released: June 9, 1989

Songwriter: LL Cool J

Producer: LL Cool J Dwayne Simon

[Intro]
Yeah..
Yeah I like that guitar man, yeah
Yo E-Love I like the way you flipped that guitar, man
Knahmsayin? It was a good idea man, knahmsayin? Yeah
It's kinda like freakin me, yaknahmsayin?
I wanna get hype man, I wanna do this, yaknahmsayin?
Just gon' chill, check it out

[Verse]
Slick as Vasoline, smell good as cologne
I'm like a muscle man in jail -- they leave me alone
I rhyme like Superman, you rap like Jimmy Olson
I'll break you like a bottle of green Golden Molson
You ain't a real rhymer, you look like a actress
How you gon' sleep on me, holmes? Do I look like a mattress?
Am I that old? Do I walk like Grady?
I'm 150 proof, Smirnoff is only 80
Don't you EVER try to rock my house
I'm a real cool cat, know what I'm sayin Mickey Mouse?
The poetry specialist, so take a dose of this
Now think about it -- can you really come close to this?
You soft as powder, weak as a cabin cooler
Ugly as work shoes, messin with the Ruler:
The ultimate writer, reciter and def entertainer
I work myself harder than a boxer's trainer

[Chorus]
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
I said, clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse]
You'll end up underneath my sneaker
You're dog doo-doo, I'm watchin you get weaker
You can't believe, the skill and dexterity
LL Cool J, and the J is for Jeremy
So buff me, James Todd the earthquaker
That's right my brother, you're goin out like Sega
Screwed and chewed, so whassup dude?
One of my ballads'll get your girlies in the mood
Sucker MC's really make me sick
I'm so bad, I can suck my own dick
If you go to your girl's house and I'm there already
Don't go Crazy cause my name ain't Eddie
Rhymes so rough, it's like a course in trigonometry
When Einstein was talkin, he was talkin about me
The Prince of the Earth, and I'ma give birth
To a rhyme so hard you'll look soft as a Smurf
Gigglin and wigglin, so how we goin out?
LOVELY, and that's without a doubt!

[Chorus]
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse]
Rappers are my servants, they serve me like an emperor
When I'm through, you'll need a nurse to take your temperature
And cool you down, cause you're cold as leftovers
Not the ones on the table, I'm talkin about RUFF rovers
You can't get over, what's my name, Goofy?
You smoke I'm no joke, so my brother break out the looseys
And take a pull, cause the buck stops here
I get swift as a magician, wreck shit and dissapear
Don't cross me, or lose your loyalty
To the Prince of the Rap Court, I'm royalty
And it ain't no puzzle, it's a shame how rappers guzzle
Paragraphs I put together so I carry a muzzle
To shut em up and cut em up and make em be quiet
I'm a one man RIOT, so don't even TRY IT
The Prince of special tactics, plus I'm athletic
Before you play your hand you better do some calisthenics
Jumpin jacks, squats, push-ups, the whole nine
Speak your piece, then I'mma go for mine
And I guarantee you, I'm gonna strike again
I recommend my friend you drop the pen and give in
Cop out to one rhyme cause you're facin ten
I ain't Sidney Poitier but we can "Do This Again"
I'm nice wit mines, and I gotta admit it
You don't really wanna battle, why don'tcha just forget it!

[Chorus]
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Verse]
But if you're hard-headed and you still don't understand
Here's a little sample - ahem, my man

*BRRRRRRRING* "Hello?"
{*cut n scratch "Cool J"*}
".. takes everything you've got"
{*cut n scratch "pushin a broom"*}
".. sure would help a lot"

Check my stats, how we livin, I thought so
I'm fresh, oh yes. But can they flow? Hell no
My rhymes are up to date, excellent, on point
I'm tellin you, they're the serious joint
I eat my steak fast, I drink my brew slow
My voice is milky with a nice clear flow
I eat like a fat man, and walk like a gigolo
I'm not a ballplayer, so now Y'KNOW!

[Chorus]
Clap your hands everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)
Cuz I'm in the house, everybody (aiyyo)
And everybody just clap your hands (aiyyo)

[Outtro]
KnowhatI'msayin?
And I'mma be straight til the year 3000
That's word to 'muvva', yaknahmsayin?
And I say 'muvva' with a V cuz the V is for Victory, yaknahmsayin?
Cuz I'm the victor in this game, word up, knahmsayin?
That's what time it is
Peace

{*crew applause and chatter*}

[Member of crew]
That man, he sure is FUNKY FUNKY FUNKY FUNKY! Funky, he sho' is! You best believe he's FUNKY! You didn't KNOW??? FUNKY!

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.