'4, 3, 2, 1' | ||||
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Single by LL Cool J featuring Method Man, Redman, Canibus,and DMX | ||||
from the album Phenomenon | ||||
B-side | '4, 3, 2, 1' | |||
Released | December 9, 1997 | |||
Format | ||||
Recorded | 1997 | |||
Genre | East coast hip hop | |||
Length | 4:16 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
LL Cool J singles chronology | ||||
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Method Man singles chronology | ||||
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Redman singles chronology | ||||
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Canibus singles chronology | ||||
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DMX singles chronology | ||||
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'4, 3, 2, 1' is a song by LL Cool J featuring Method Man & Redman, Canibus and DMX from LL Cool J's seventh album Phenomenon as the second single. It was released on December 9, 1997, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by LL Cool J and Erick Sermon. A remix was made with an additional verse from American southern hip hop artist, Master P. Both the original song (minus Canibus) and the remix (with Canibus and Master P) had accompanying music videos. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 10 on the Hot Rap Singles and number 24 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
- 3Track listing
- 4Charts
LL Cool J vs. Canibus[edit]
Welcome to my first guide. I will be describing how to edit the HUD in Dirty Bomb. While it can take a bit to find the correct values, it's not hard once you know how to.
The song is notable for starting the LL Cool J vs. Canibus feud, LL took offense to the lines, 'L, is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that', which referenced his tattoo of a microphone on his arm – and which Canibus claimed was his own way of showing the rap veteran respect – and wrote an indirect diss to Canibus:
'The symbol on my arm is off limits to challengers / You hold the rusty sword, I swing the Excalibur'
And also:
'Now let's get back to this mic on my arm / If it ever left my side, it'd transform into a time bomb / You don't wanna borrow that, you wanna idolize / And you don't wanna make me mad, n***a, you wanna socialize.'
Before the song was released, LL Cool J asked Canibus to change his lines. Canibus claims that LL vowed to modify his own lines as well, but the latter denied this and pointed out that nobody would know who he was talking about if only Canibus's line was changed. The original version eventually leaked, and fans started to piece the lines together. Canibus would respond to the diss with Second Round K.O., LL would then respond to that diss with the 'Ripper Strikes Back'. On his 2000 G.O.A.T. album, LL thanked Canibus for inspiration. In addition, despite appearing on the song, Canibus was omitted from the original music video for the song due to the feud, but was later included in the music video for the remix version.
Samples[edit]
This song features a vocal sample from LL Cool J's Rock the Bells off of the album 'Radio'. Another prominent sample featured in 4, 3, 2, 1 is from the Beastie Boys song '(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)'. And Superrappin’ by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious 5.
Track listing[edit]
A-side[edit]
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (Radio Edit)
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (Regular Version)
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (Instrumental)
B-side[edit]
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (Radio Edit)
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (Regular Version)
- '4, 3, 2, 1' (A Cappella)
Charts[edit]
Weekly charts[edit]
Chart (1998) | Peak position |
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Billboard Hot 100 | 75 |
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 24 |
Billboard Hot Rap Singles | 10 |
Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales | 5 |
Year-end charts[edit]
Chart (1998) | Position |
---|---|
Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks[1] | 96 |
References[edit]
- ^'Billboard Year-End Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks - 1998'. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
External links[edit]
- Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=4,_3,_2,_1_(LL_Cool_J_song)&oldid=933481561'
Featuring Young Thug, Future, 2 Chainz, Waka Flocka and more.
True to the Freebandz work ethic, Atlanta rapper Young Scooter dropped his second mixtape of the year this weekend. The 2 Chainz-featuring 'Life Support', leaked a couple weeks ago, is an apt lead single for the project: with his beat selection Scooter plays it straight and slow, as his lyrics and features overflow with passionate tributes to the streets. The tape starts with Scooter pointing out repeatedly that he was born the same year as Drake, drawling about how he started 'from the bottom', before rolling into a track called 'Chiraq' that nods to another 2014 hit of the same name. Scooter places himself inside these superstar parallels only to roughen them up and bring them back down to the streets, with the help of 14-year-old drill rapper Lil Mouse. Where Nicki and Drake make allusions, 80's Baby lives and breathes that life.