Source: SXSW / Getty LL Cool J is not too old to knock people out if they erroneously keep associating his legacy with being a Pop star. The legendary rapper felt it necessary to defend his lifeâs work on social media after discovering fans were crowing him a âpop rapâ pioneer, whatever that means. âMe being called the forefather of pop rap is very confusing. What the f*ck are you talking about?? LOL,â he wrote on Twitter. In the early 1980s, the Queens native first broke into the scene as a pretty-faced teenage street rapper named LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James) signed under Def Jam Recordings as their flagship artist. Heâs since released ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums that have catapulted hit singles âI Need Love,â âRock The Bells,â âIâm Bad,â âHey Lover,â âDoin It,â âAround the Way Girl,â and âMama Said Knock You Outâ to the top of the charts.Â