LL Cool J Quotations

When adversity strikes, that's when you have to be the most calm. Take a step back, stay strong, stay grounded and press on.

Stay focused, go after your dreams and keep moving toward your goals.

I'm not trying to be new school and I'm not old school - I'm classic. There's a lot of new cars and there's a lot of old cars, but I'm just classic in doing what I do.

You don't need to be the good guy to get a good message out.

You have to always continue to strive no matter how hard things get, no matter how troubled you feel. No matter how tough things get, no matter how many times you lose, you keep trying to win.

Dreams don't have deadlines. I'm thinking of doing bigger and better things and having more fun with it.

Sometimes you've just got to grab an apple - or grapes, or strawberries. Something that's healthy but maybe a little bit more adventurous, if you can see fruit as adventurous.

I think fitness is important. I think a healthy lifestyle is important. I think putting positive energy out there is important and just staying connected with the people.

Do what you love; you'll be better at it. It sounds pretty simple, but you'd be surprised how many people don't get this one right away.

I am what I am, I'm doing very well in my life, and I'm thankful to God for that.

I am a real person that cares about his art and cares about what he's doing - I have a heart and a soul and want to touch people and give.

I'm not giving up my history and what I've done in my music because I love it and I'm very proud of it. I just want to open it up for more people.

If you do cardio one day and the next day you can do weights, do it that way. If you need to do it at night or in the morning, do it that way. Whatever you need to get it done, just get it done.

Our world is at the crossroads. We have a choice, right and wrong.

God blesses us all with different views and perspectives and levels of influence and power.

I don't look back. I don't live my life in the rear-view mirror because, if you do, you're bound to end up wrapped around a pole somewhere.

Once you achieve one goal, you should be looking forward to trying to build onto the next thing, and not just getting comfortable with what you're doing.

The person that made me want to make movies, and the reason I do films, is Bruce Lee. He was an incredible actor, and he had a lot of charisma. Handsome, action, you know, everything was there. I loved Bruce Lee.

You've got to stay focused without being boring - because all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Skinny, but dull.

Stand up and face your fears, or they will defeat you.

I'm good at what I do, but I wouldn't be so bold and arrogant as to say something disrespectful about, say, Eminem. He's talented and he's good at what he does

I don't wanna abandon my identity as LL Cool J, but at the same time, I had to figure out how to let people know that I'm really serious about making these movies.

You can't let your past hold your future hostage.

I feel like my peers now are artists like Madonna and the Stones, Michael Jackson and Prince. These are people who were able to take their careers beyond the normal here-today-gone-tomorrow life span.

I was listening to Jimi Hendrix; I just admire his artistry and creativity as an artist.

Nobody is perfect, but life is about choices.

There's a lot of single black women who did the best that they could and that's a beautiful thing, but they don't know how necessary a father is in a kid's life and how much guys miss that deep down inside.

I think when you move past your fear and you go after your dreams wholeheartedly, you become free.

I've got to see my movie to see how I'm acting, see what little things I can learn about my craft.

I don't think you should go around talking trash about people because I think that's how you get your hat handed to you.

I try to do the right thing with money. Save a dollar here and there, clip some coupons. Buy ten gold chains instead of 20. Four summer homes instead of eight.

What I say on a record and what I say off a record is two different things. And that's always been the case. There's a difference between confidence on a record and arrogance.

I don't have an image that I'm trying to, like, portray. I'm just being me.

Hip-hop's always reached out to kids. If you look at the last 10 big albums it might seem ironic. But when I look at the history of this music it's always had a lot of positivity.

Once the referee throws the ball in the air, it's either your ball or their ball and you have to just take your shot.

What I don't do is try to like become whoever I'm rapping with. The people who go get an LL album want to hear LL.

We're going to raise a lot of money for cancer awareness, give some to the American Cancer Society and hopefully make a big difference.

I just look at the high and bright side of things

I only do what comes from the heart

To me, my peers are Bruce Springsteen and Mick Jagger. I'm not talking age-wise, but in terms of careers. Madonna. Those are my peers. And I'm okay with that.

I think the guy who has had the better films is Will Smith. I don't know if he's a better actor than me. I don't think so. I am a rapper first. Man, I just love what I do. I am just the greatest and I can't help it. I'm sorry man.

I do about 90 percent of my own stunts, and the things I can't do for insurance reasons, like swinging out of a flying helicopter, I wouldn't want to do anyway.

Hip-hop can be limiting and I refuse to accept limits.

I'm a real person that cares about his art and cares about what he's doing. I have a heart and a soul and I want to touch people and give.

I'm not trying to keep up or adapt. I'm allowing myself to grow, evolve and create new music.

As a black man, my hope is that I can touch more and more people all over the world of different races and different colours.

Sometimes altering your position is the right thing. Sometimes it's not.

To know the rules of the game, you have to be educated.

At fourteen, I started sending out demo tapes.

I think I'm the best, of course. How could I not?

I'm not just a rapper. I'm an entertainer. That's the difference.

What you do in your art - TV, music, film stuff - touches people. And they want to touch you. So that's a blessing. I'm okay with it.

I think that politics could be a positive thing. My beef is that people focus on the personal aspect of a politician too much. They should focus on the results.

Art is about imagination. When you look at a picture from Salvador Dali, that's about imagination. When you look at Picasso, that's about imagination. Doing stuff from your heart.

I think the key to working out is for people to think of water - just allow the workouts to fill out the cracks in your lives and seep into wherever you can fit it in.

I think the stuff that plays on the radio, the majority of it is for teenagers, which is okay. That's what pop radio is about. And some of it is great, and some of it is not.

We need to make sure that there's art in the school. Why? Why should art be in the school? Because if art isn't in a school, then a guy like Steve Jobs doesn't get a chance to really express himself because in order for art to meet technology, you need art.

That's one of the good things about music. You get to do it live, where you can touch the people and interact with them.

I love my fans, I love my music - I have no reason to retire.

I think in order to keep America great, we have to keep America creative.

Let me tell you something - compared to a TV-drama production schedule, touring is not strenuous.

I've never been one to have to manipulate women. I always want it to be like a mutual thing, like everybody loves everybody.

What I like to do is just make good music, good movies, hopefully perform a good show full of energy and just have some fun.

I am artistic so I reserve the right to change my mind at any point. I just like to do different things. What is more important than the name is that people know that I really like acting, I enjoy it and I want people to know that I am serious.

I just like to do different things. What is more important than the name is that people know that I really like acting, I enjoy it and I want people to know that I am serious.

The secret to it all is just to enjoy what you're doing. This is not working at the coal face, this is not sweeping behind a restaurant. It's work, but it's not work. It gives me a different type of energy. I'm grateful for that.

What is more important than the name is that people know that I really like acting, I enjoy it and I want people to know that I am serious. The name thing: I will always be L.L. Cool J.

I've been training as an actor for six years. Nobody goes to acting school for six years. I mean, the college course is only four years! I absolutely trained.

The people who go get an LL album want to hear LL. They don't want to hear LL trying to sound like DMX or whoever else is out there. That's not what they want to hear from me, because if they want to hear that they can go get the real thing.

It's hard being the king, but somebody's got to do it.

Something smells fishy and they say it's you, all I know is that you made it with the whole damn crew.

Handsome brother with a smooth goatee, makes me wonder why he act so ugly.

As a young boy you gave me whoopings to save my life.

People will feel the way they feel.

When I die, bury me on my stomach and let the world kiss my ass.

Me and Frosted went to get a drink. But she ordered somethin' bugged, and I ain't know what to think. She ordered potassium, calcium, Carbohydrate, scotch with sodium. She took me to her crib, threw me on the couch... I woke up the next morning with a spoon in my mouth.

Do something that gets you closer to your dream today!

Her bikini - small; heels - tall She said she liked the ocean.

I want a girl with extensions in her hair, Bamboo earrings, at least two pair, A Fendi bag and a bad attitude, That's all I need to get me in a good mood. She can walk with a switch and talk with street slang, I love it when a woman ain't scared to do her thing.

My radio's loud like a fire alarm: The floor vibrates, the walls cave in, The bass makes my eardrums seem thin. Def sounds in my ride, yes the front and back... You would think it was a party, not a Cadillac!

MC's they retreat cause they know I can beat 'em, And eat 'em in a battle and the ref won't cheat 'em. I'm the best takin' out all rookies, So forget Oreos...eat Cool J cookies.

I'm cold gettin' paid cause Rick said so.

Don’t call it a comeback, I’ve been here for years.

What I'm sowing today, I be reaping tomorrow So here's some joyful bars, to replace your sorrow.

A man can make money but, money can't make a man.

Standing at the bus stop sucking on a lollipop Once she gets pumping its hard to make the hottie stop

Timing has a lot to with art.

You know when you do 25 or 30 movies and people are still asking you how does it feel making the transition? you know youre not communicating correctly.

Friendship, trust, honor, respect, admiration, this whole experience has been such a revelation.

You beefed cause you heard that I was cursing in my raps, 86, still you wanna run and get the straps.

Harmless and innocent until they're taught to be violent and militant.

Conquering the world with words, leading the children like herds.

I'm kind of horny, conventional methods of making love kind of bore me.

Having day dreams, tonguing you down with, uh, vanilla ice cream. Kissing on your thigh in the moon light, searching your body with my tongue girl all night.

He's only mediocre, jealousy can't get with me.

Lil Wayne is talented. He seems to be the dominant figure in this particular era of hip-hop. So you know, he's doing his thing.

If you don’t judge my gold chains, I’ll forget the iron chains,

My feelings about Michael Jackson are simple I think that um he's a human being like everyone else and I'm a huge fan of Michael and um nobody is perfect.

I know a fat girl, she wears an orange skirt. You give her twenty dollars and you can do your work.

Uplift, your mind is a gift.