Released: March 30, 1993

Songwriter: LL Cool J Marley Marl Lincoln Chase Klaus Günter Neumann

Producer: Marley Marl

Yeah
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
Yeah, and it's the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
Yeah, and it's the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)

James Todd Smith when nine years old
When 'Sugarhill' was in control
I'm listenin' to cold-crushed tapes to get sold
I set my demo in a Silvia treated me cold
Time flew cause I was gettin' my shit off
Sixteen now, it's about the time to set my first hit off

'I Need A Beat', it was a smash on the DL
But every time I did a show my name was misspelled
'Can't Live Without My Radio' drops
I'm kickin' down the door-crushed cool box
'Rockin' the bells' like a madman dissin' me
Event-flippin' the script-but then I made my first 50 grand

All I wanted was a pencil, a little gold
A little money in my pocket and a Phillie to roll
I'm makin' records, now alla the girls are on my tip
I'm sleepin' late, no money damn, I'm late for school, shit

Todd, get upstairs and take out that garbage

And it's the funkadelic relic, yeah
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
And it's the funkadelic relic, yeah
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
It's the funkadelic relic, yeah
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)

I wasn't tryin' to hear it cause I'm bad
When I'm alone in my room, I pick up a pen and start to get mad
I need love, that means I need a girl to love me down
I dropped the pretty style cause rap was gettin' ugly
I waited a year for the results, I'm triple platinum
We know the presidents are flowin' by who's sackin' 'em

I'm that type of guy when poppa wasn't happy with it
Tripplin' 'em up, that was my style, but everybody bit it
Yo Marley, hit the remix, make it fresh with flavor
Another power move, I'll switch my hat, the shit is major
Puttin' out till da break of dawn', tell me what sucker?
Cops harass me illegal search motherfucker

I'm just a brother makin' jams now I got a name
I still remember chillin' with my pistol on the train
I'm sayin' two to this I'm representin' hip hop
Admit that I'm the man, it's time for me to get my props

Yeah, and it's the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
Yeah, and it's the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk)
Yeah, I'm the funkadelic relic, yeah
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)
Come on man

Mama said to knock 'em out' I knocked 'em out the box
I got a rhyme to wake, you're sloppin' up and down the blocks
There never was a time when I was down to meetin' by myself
When all the punks on top of everybody else, but

In '92 and '93 I'm makin' history
The largest motherfuckin' street, that ain't no mystery
The baddest rapper ever born, you think I'm crazy?
I heard your albums' kinda warm, that shit don't phase me
I'm too rough, too rugged, now that doesn't sound so easy does it
Thought I was going back to Cali' where I knew I wasn't

I sent a 'Murder Gram', solo in a black van
I'm claimin' knuckle game, stomp you with my Timberland
'Mr. Goodbar' lickin' all the rough stuff
I'm kickin' down your door with condoms in a rudder-put
You wanna find me come to Farmers Boulevard
And you can hear me, eat 'em up, just ask for Todd

Uh, and I'm the funkadelic relic
Yeah, I'm the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)
Yeah, and it's the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)
Yeah, I'm the funkadelic relic
(Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it)

Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk
Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk
Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk
Bring in the funk

Bring in the funk baby, bring in the funk
Bring in the funk
Bring in the funk baby, bring it in, bring it

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.