LL Cool J Sets The Record Straight About Battling JAY-Z At NYC Club

LL Cool J has confirmed a longstanding rumor that he once battled Jay-Z during the early ’90s, but set the record straight regarding what actually transpired during that encounter.

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During an interview with Charlamagne The God, the rap legend was asked about his lyrical duel with JAY-Z, which he remembers was more of a showcase of their respective skills than a heated battle. According to LL, the encounter occurred at a venue in New York City, but didn’t include him rhyming a verse from his 14 Shots to the Dome cut “Funkadelic Relic,” released in 1993.

“Okay let’s talk about what it really is. First of all, I didn’t rap a verse from ‘Funkadelic Relic.’ Okay? That’s the first f**king thing. It’s bullsh*t. It’s not true,” the Queens native began. “What did happen, though, is I see the guy, he’s in the club trying to flash money to get my attention and I’m looking like, okay. And then his man Sauce [Money] came up to me and was rappin.'”

LL, who was an established star with at least four studio albums under his belt at the time, decided to respond with some rhymes of his own, but admits he was unprepared and had a lack of fresh material to use. “So, I had a couple of rhymes… remember, I’m albums in now,” he added.

“You know, these are guys that ain’t had that deal. So, when I ain’t had a deal, I had a suitcase of rhymes. Now I’m albums in. Sauce said some rhymes. I said a couple of rhymes. Then I said a little bit of a song, ‘ Ain’t No Stopping This .’ A little bit. Then Jay came up rapping. I was out of rhymes, b. In no scenario was I fully loaded and ready to rhyme. If I was, I’m not exactly the first rapper that you wanna get into that sh*t with.”

The 56-year-old also admits to being heckled by JAY-Z’s entourage for not being able to match Hov and Sauce Money’s lyrical output during the cipher, but maintains his belief that he’s not one to challenge to a battle when prepared.

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“So yes, did I run out of rhymes? Was I finished rapping? Abso-f**king-lutely. Was it their peanut gallery? Absolutely. But do you really wanna get into some of that sh*t with LL? You really want that? You dudes want those problems or it’s just a nice story to have?”

LL Cool J and JAY-Z’s subtle rivalry is well-documented, as both emcees have traded jabs with one another over their respective careers, most notably during Hov’s term as President of Def Jam Records, the label LL helped bring to prominence as a teenager.

The veteran is currently gearing up for the release of his 14th solo album The FORCE , which is scheduled to arrive on Sept. 6.

Watch LL Cool J’s interview with Charlamgange The God below.

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