Maps of Music

Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)

Where the lyrics of Mama Said Knock You Out take you, and where it was really made.

LL Cool J's fourth album was a comeback: it followed the poorly received Walking with a Panther and went double platinum in the United States.

Key places

Chung King House of Metal, New York City (1990)

Recording site Chung King Studios — The album was recorded at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. The studio is one of the two sites named for recording alongside Marley Marl's home studio in Chestnut Ridge. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood (1990)

Recording site Ocean Way Recording — Discogs credits Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood as one of the studios where the album was recorded. The album also lists Sorcerer Sound and Chung King. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Sorcerer Sound, New York City (1990)

Recording site Sorcerer Sound — Discogs lists Sorcerer Sound in New York City among the studios where the album was recorded. It is credited alongside Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

House of Hits home studio, Chestnut Ridge (1990)

Recording site House of Hits — The House of Hits home studio in Chestnut Ridge is named as a recording site for the album. The point is placed at the town centre, not the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Mama Said Knock You Out: fourth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J
• Released 14 September 1990 by Def Jam Recordings
• Produced mostly by Marley Marl
• Promoted with five singles, four of which became hits
• Title track reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100
• Certified double platinum in the United States, having shipped two million copies

Background

• Followed the disappointing reception of LL Cool J's 1989 album Walking with a Panther
• Released with commercial and critical success
• Hit singles: "The Boomin' System", "Around the Way Girl", the title track, and "6 Minutes of Pleasure"

Recording

• Recorded at the House of Hits home studio in Chestnut Ridge and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City
• Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood and Sorcerer Sound in New York City are also listed as recording studios
• Credits include Marley Marl as engineer and producer, LL Cool J as producer and vocalist, and David Kennedy as engineer
• Mastering was done at Masterdisk

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• James Todd Smith, known as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor.
• He was among the earliest rappers to achieve crossover commercial success alongside new-school acts like Run-DMC.
• Signed by Def Jam Recordings in 1984; his breakthrough single "I Need a Beat" (1984) was followed by debut album Radio (1985).
• Later albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997) brought continued success.
• Released The FORCE (2024), his fourteenth studio album, after re-signing with Def Jam.
• Acting work includes Toys, Halloween H20, Any Given Sunday, and NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) as Sam Hanna.
• Two-time Grammy winner; in 2017 became the first rapper to receive a Kennedy Center Honor; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 (Musical Excellence).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Yahoo! Music's Frank Meyer wrote that the album seemed to set the world on fire in 1990, helped by its hit title track and LL Cool J's sweaty performance on MTV Unplugged
• The New York Times' Jon Pareles wrote that it reestablished LL Cool J as the most articulate of the homeboys, sounding tougher and funnier
• Q's Mark Cooper wrote that the 22-year-old veteran had lost neither his eye for everyday detail nor his relish for words
• Select's Richard Cook said the samples added icing to a dark, remorseless rhythm built on a lo-fi drum beat
• The Village Voice's Pazz & Jop poll of American critics ranked it the ninth best record of 1990

Reappraisal

• Robert Christgau, creator of the Pazz & Jop poll, later named it among his 10 favorite albums of the 1990s
• Hip Hop Connection's Phat Forty called the title track the single of the year and probably LL's best record since I'm Bad
• The Source listed it among its 100 Best Rap Albums in 1998
• In 2005 comedian Chris Rock named it the sixth greatest hip-hop album ever in a guest article for Rolling Stone
• In 2020 Rolling Stone ranked it No. 246 on its updated 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list

Records

• Certified double platinum in the United States, having shipped two million copies
• Title track reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified gold by the RIAA
• LL Cool J won Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards of 1992
• In France it reached number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number 16 on the Billboard 200
• The French entry also gives RIAA double platinum certification on 3 January 1992

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Run the Jewels took their name from a lyric on the album's sixth track, "Cheesy Rat Blues"
• "The Boomin' System" is censored on all editions, and only the 12-inch single has the uncensored version
• The single version of "Jingling Baby (Remixed but Still Jingling)" was remixed by Marley Marl
• In 2005 Chris Rock named the album the sixth greatest hip-hop album ever in a Rolling Stone guest article
• Rolling Stone placed it at No. 246 on its 2020 500 Greatest Albums list

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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