Radio (LL Cool J album)

Uncommon card · No. 145239

Radio is the debut studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, released on November 18, 1985, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. It was also Def Jam's first LP record release. It was recorded at Chung King Studios in New York City with producer Rick Rubin, who provided a sparse, minimal production style. Radio also features a sound punctuated by DJ scratching, often brief samples, a near lack of any melody, and emphasis of the downbeat. LL's aggressive b-boy lyrics explored themes of inner city culture, teenage promiscuity, and braggadocio raps. A significant commercial success for a hip-hop record at the time, Radio became a Billboard chart hit and sold over 500,000 copies within its first five months of release. By 1989, it had been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales surpassing one million copies in the United States. Initial reception of Radio was generally positive, with praise given to LL's lyricism and Rubin's production. It...

Read on Wikipedia