Return to Transcripts main page
American Morning
Interview with LL Cool J
Aired October 14, 2002 - 09:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sounds good. To his fans, rapper LL Cool J has a way with words, even if those words, have not always been pretty. But his latest album 10 has no profanity on it, including the single "Love U Better." And now he's written a children's book -- not kidding. It's called "And the Winner Is." It's about a young basketball player who learned some important life lessons.
LL Cool J is with us now. And you know, back in the day when I partied to the song "Big Old Butt,"...
COSTELLO: Right.
I cannot equate the guy who performed that song with a guy who wrote this children's book. What's up with that?
LL COOL J, RAP ARTIST: Well, I mean, it's the same guy. Wrote the same song and performed it at the concert the other night. It's just that, you know, I have an opportunity now, with all of the influence and the power that I have to touch kids in a positive way, so why not use rap music as a platform to touch them touch them in a positive way. I'm talking 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds, instead of, you know, just...
COSTELLO: You know, when most people think of rap music, though, they don't think of a children's rap song, associated with a children's book.
COOL J: Well, that's good. That's good. And then I guess it's time for that, then. Ding!
COSTELLO: Exactly.
COOL J: You know, I think that, you know, for me, you know, I just wanted to do something positive, but it really is just about using it as a platform. I mean, whether you're a fan of the music or not, your kids probably are.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
COOL J: So you know...
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
COOL J: ... if you're going to buy some rap music or you're going to, like support what your kids like, why not support something positive, like a book?
COSTELLO: Well, the cool thing is you have a CD, so kids can actually rap along with the book...
COOL J: Right.
COSTELLO: ... and we're going to listen to some of that now. So this is from "And The Winner Is."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
Angry and frustrated, no self-respect I never give up, when you aren't sharing, you're misunderstood I never give up, I never give up how hurt you felt when it felt so good, I never give up here's what you do when you get that sensation, I never give up, I never give up close your eyes and say to yourself, find inspiration, I never give up I never, ever give up, I never give up I never give up, I never give up I hold my head up, I hold my head up I never give up.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: When it was playing, you were sitting here laughing. What are you laughing for?
COOL J: Yes, because I think it's just so cute and so fun to just, you know, be able to do a song for 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds and get out in the world and give it to them. I think it's great.
COSTELLO: Yes. Well, the story's about sportsmanship and how to be a good sport. Why did you pick that topic?
COOL J: Well, it's a metaphor. I picked the topic because, you know, I have kids of my own and I've seen them in the little league and, you know, playing ball and soccer and lacrosse and all of -- basketball, and all the different sports. And I just thought it was, you know, a great topic, you know, teaching kids how to win and not become arrogant when you win. How to...
COSTELLO: And we've seen a lot of that. The Little League World Series, we saw kids over celebrating.
COOL J: Yes.
COSTELLO: In fact, the coaches had to tell them to cut it out.
COOL J: Well, you know, I think that, you know, sportsmanship is important, and not getting cocky when you win is important, and not...
COSTELLO: So you're becoming sort of a role model for sportsmanship.
COOL J: ... being insecure when you lose, is important, too. Being a role model for sportsmanship, yes, on some levels, I would think so yeah. Yes, why not?
COSTELLO: Well, there are so many bad role models out there. Let's talk about NFL and Randy Moss. What would you say to him? Does he need to read your book? COOL J: I wouldn't say anything to Randy. I mean, Randy's an adult. This is for 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds. I would never trying to, you know, judge ...
COSTELLO: But still, kids look at actions...
COOL J: ... someone, if I'm not in their shoes and stuff..
COSTELLO: like that.
COOL J: You know.
COSTELLO: Kids look to that kind of behavior and they copy?
COOL J: Do they?
COSTELLO: Sure. , they do. Didn't the little league prove that, the Little League World Series?
COOL J: I'm not sure. I mean, you know, all I can do is my part to do something positive and just really, you know, see, you know, good things come of this book. You know, as far as judging the little league or judging different individuals who have gotten in trouble or had rough times in their lives, I don't want to do that. I wouldn't get on television and bash them.
But what I will say is that, for those parents who really want to see something positive and really want to see their kids feed into something positive, this book is a good thing, and my new album, which is coming out tomorrow, doesn't have any profanity on it, as well, and that's also positive, so I think that's important.
COSTELLO: And a great love song to your wife.
COOL J: And a great love song is very important.
COSTELLO: Well, let's hold up the book again, so people can see.
COOL J: Absolutely. Why don't you hold it up?
COSTELLO: OK.
COOL J: I want the world to see it.
COSTELLO: OK. LL Cool J, thank you. It's so nice to meet you.
COOL J: Yes, very much. Very much. Thank you.
COSTELLO: (inaudible)
COOL J: I like that.
COSTELLO: You're making me laugh.
COOL J: You look good with that book in your hand.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you.
COOL J: I like that.
COSTELLO: I knew you'd love that. And the book is called "And the Winner Is", LL Cool J.
COOL J: Yes. That's what I'm talking about.
COSTELLO: Ahead of the next hour.
COOL J: Peace, America. I love you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 14, 2002 - 09:49 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sounds good. To his fans, rapper LL Cool J has a way with words, even if those words, have not always been pretty. But his latest album 10 has no profanity on it, including the single "Love U Better." And now he's written a children's book -- not kidding. It's called "And the Winner Is." It's about a young basketball player who learned some important life lessons.
LL Cool J is with us now. And you know, back in the day when I partied to the song "Big Old Butt,"...
COSTELLO: Right.
I cannot equate the guy who performed that song with a guy who wrote this children's book. What's up with that?
LL COOL J, RAP ARTIST: Well, I mean, it's the same guy. Wrote the same song and performed it at the concert the other night. It's just that, you know, I have an opportunity now, with all of the influence and the power that I have to touch kids in a positive way, so why not use rap music as a platform to touch them touch them in a positive way. I'm talking 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds, instead of, you know, just...
COSTELLO: You know, when most people think of rap music, though, they don't think of a children's rap song, associated with a children's book.
COOL J: Well, that's good. That's good. And then I guess it's time for that, then. Ding!
COSTELLO: Exactly.
COOL J: You know, I think that, you know, for me, you know, I just wanted to do something positive, but it really is just about using it as a platform. I mean, whether you're a fan of the music or not, your kids probably are.
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
COOL J: So you know...
COSTELLO: Oh, yes.
COOL J: ... if you're going to buy some rap music or you're going to, like support what your kids like, why not support something positive, like a book?
COSTELLO: Well, the cool thing is you have a CD, so kids can actually rap along with the book...
COOL J: Right.
COSTELLO: ... and we're going to listen to some of that now. So this is from "And The Winner Is."
(BEGIN AUDIO CLIP)
Angry and frustrated, no self-respect I never give up, when you aren't sharing, you're misunderstood I never give up, I never give up how hurt you felt when it felt so good, I never give up here's what you do when you get that sensation, I never give up, I never give up close your eyes and say to yourself, find inspiration, I never give up I never, ever give up, I never give up I never give up, I never give up I hold my head up, I hold my head up I never give up.
(END AUDIO CLIP)
COSTELLO: When it was playing, you were sitting here laughing. What are you laughing for?
COOL J: Yes, because I think it's just so cute and so fun to just, you know, be able to do a song for 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds and get out in the world and give it to them. I think it's great.
COSTELLO: Yes. Well, the story's about sportsmanship and how to be a good sport. Why did you pick that topic?
COOL J: Well, it's a metaphor. I picked the topic because, you know, I have kids of my own and I've seen them in the little league and, you know, playing ball and soccer and lacrosse and all of -- basketball, and all the different sports. And I just thought it was, you know, a great topic, you know, teaching kids how to win and not become arrogant when you win. How to...
COSTELLO: And we've seen a lot of that. The Little League World Series, we saw kids over celebrating.
COOL J: Yes.
COSTELLO: In fact, the coaches had to tell them to cut it out.
COOL J: Well, you know, I think that, you know, sportsmanship is important, and not getting cocky when you win is important, and not...
COSTELLO: So you're becoming sort of a role model for sportsmanship.
COOL J: ... being insecure when you lose, is important, too. Being a role model for sportsmanship, yes, on some levels, I would think so yeah. Yes, why not?
COSTELLO: Well, there are so many bad role models out there. Let's talk about NFL and Randy Moss. What would you say to him? Does he need to read your book? COOL J: I wouldn't say anything to Randy. I mean, Randy's an adult. This is for 9-, 10- and 11-year-olds. I would never trying to, you know, judge ...
COSTELLO: But still, kids look at actions...
COOL J: ... someone, if I'm not in their shoes and stuff..
COSTELLO: like that.
COOL J: You know.
COSTELLO: Kids look to that kind of behavior and they copy?
COOL J: Do they?
COSTELLO: Sure. , they do. Didn't the little league prove that, the Little League World Series?
COOL J: I'm not sure. I mean, you know, all I can do is my part to do something positive and just really, you know, see, you know, good things come of this book. You know, as far as judging the little league or judging different individuals who have gotten in trouble or had rough times in their lives, I don't want to do that. I wouldn't get on television and bash them.
But what I will say is that, for those parents who really want to see something positive and really want to see their kids feed into something positive, this book is a good thing, and my new album, which is coming out tomorrow, doesn't have any profanity on it, as well, and that's also positive, so I think that's important.
COSTELLO: And a great love song to your wife.
COOL J: And a great love song is very important.
COSTELLO: Well, let's hold up the book again, so people can see.
COOL J: Absolutely. Why don't you hold it up?
COSTELLO: OK.
COOL J: I want the world to see it.
COSTELLO: OK. LL Cool J, thank you. It's so nice to meet you.
COOL J: Yes, very much. Very much. Thank you.
COSTELLO: (inaudible)
COOL J: I like that.
COSTELLO: You're making me laugh.
COOL J: You look good with that book in your hand.
COSTELLO: Oh, thank you.
COOL J: I like that.
COSTELLO: I knew you'd love that. And the book is called "And the Winner Is", LL Cool J.
COOL J: Yes. That's what I'm talking about.
COSTELLO: Ahead of the next hour.
COOL J: Peace, America. I love you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
