In March 1984, when NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label, … See more

With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became one of the first hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with See more

• Album era
• New school hip hop See more

• Brian Coleman (2007). Check The Technique. 2nd ed. Villard/Random House, New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-8129-7775-2.
• Nelson George See more

The album's production, handled entirely by Rick Rubin with a remix by DJ Jazzy Jay, has been noted by critics and music writers for Rubin's minimalist style and stripped-down aggressiveness. Steve Huey of AllMusic described the production for Radio as "bare … See more

Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States, Radio earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. It sold over 500,000 copies in its first five months, eventually selling over 1 million copies by … See more

Musicians
• James Todd Smith – Vocals (Credited as L.L. Cool J)
• Jay Philpot – DJ (Credited as DJ Cut Creator)
• Russell Rush – Guest vocals track 9 See more