LL Cool J Defends Excluding Jay-Z & DMX From Def Jam Mount Rushmore

LL Cool J caused quite a stir a few weeks ago during an appearance at Shannon Sharpe's Club Shay Shay.

The NFL Hall of Famer asked the Queens rapper-turned-actor who he would choose to be on Def Jam's Mount Rushmore. Of course, LL put himself out there as his debut single “I need a Beat» and the debut album Radio were the legendary rap label's first official releases. He also picked up Public Enemy and the Beastie Boys and had Slick Rick round things out. Shannon Sharpe refused to drop Jay-Z, but had to remind him that the rapper was with the company “a thousand years later.”

His choices caused a bit of controversy online because some felt Jay-Z and DMX should have been on his list, however, the rap legend based his choices on the acts that helped build Def Jam from the ground up. While making an appearance at Joe Budden PodcastLL defended his reasoning.

“I know DMX is extremely talented, he used to kill the scene, he sold a ton of records. I know Jay did a lot of stuff up there… I can name a lot of artists up there that did incredible shit up there. I am very clear on that,” he said. “But I also know that when I walked into Rick Rubin's dorm, it was a good idea, bro, like you were trying to talk to me about men who are popular. I watched the sh-t idea when it was af-king on a Post-It. They are two different conversations.”

Adding, “People talk about the most popular. That's all they care about. Who is the most popular, who is the richest, who sold the most records, who was exciting. I understand it, and I respect it, I love it. But that's not what built the company, that expanded the company to a different point.”

He also reminded critics that his song “4,3,2,1” helped introduce DMX to a larger audience. “I introduced DMX to the world, you think I don't like DMX?” he asked. “I put him on my song to introduce him to the f-king world. I put the guy. Do you know what I'm saying?'