Radio 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 the Single" 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 sparse, stripped down beats and gritty sound inspired The Bomb Squad (best known for producing Public Enemy) and many other future hip hop producers. "I Want You" and "I Can Give You More" are sometimes considered the first hip hop ballads.
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 .
Track listing
- I Can't Live Without My Radio - 5:27
- You Can't Dance - 3:37
- Dear Yvette - 4:07
- I Can Give You More - 5:07
- Dangerous - 5:56
- Untitled- 1:18
- Rock the Bells - 4:01
- I Need a Beat - 4:32
- That's a Lie - 4:41
- You'll Rock - 4:41
- I Want You - 4:51
Personnel
- Steven Ett - Engineer
- LL Cool J - Vocals
- Robert Lewis - Photography
- Herb Powers - Mastering
- Nelson George - Liner Notes
- Steve Byram - Design
Charting singles
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
External links