'' is an
East Coast Rap album by
Hip Hop artist
LL Cool J , released in
1985 (see
1985 In Music ). LL Cool J had dropped out of high school to record the album (after the 12" "I Need A Beat" became a moderate success the year before), and he was seventeen years old when it was released. Widely considered one of the first hip-hop LPs that are a cohesive whole, the album was surprisingly popular for a hip-hop album in the mid-1980s.
Rick Rubin 's sparse
Production was also influential; its stripped-down beats and gritty sound inspired
The Bomb Squad (best known for producing
Public Enemy ) and several other future hip-hop producers. "I Want You" and "I Can Give You More" are often considered the first hip hop
Ballad s.
''Radio'' peaked at #6 and #46 on
Billboard 's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and Billboard 200 albums charts. It ranks at #69 on
Rolling Stone Magazine 's "100 Best LPs of the 80s".
The song "I Can't Live Without My Radio" appeared on the
Soundtrack to ''
Krush Groove ''.
# I Can't Live Without My Radio
# You Can't Dance
# Dear Yvette
# I Can Give You More
# Dangerous
# Rock The Bells
# I Need A Beat
# That's A Lie
# You'll Rock
# I Want You
# (Bonus Track)
- Steven Ett - Engineer
- LL Cool J - Vocals
- Robert Lewis - Photography
- Herb Powers - Mastering
- Nelson George - Liner Notes
- Steve Byram - Design
Billboard Music Charts (North America)
1986 You'll Rock Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks No. 59
1986 Rock The Bells Hot Dance Music/Club Play No. 35
1986 I Can Give You More Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 21
1986 Rock The Bells Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales No. 24
