Bigger and Deffer explained

Bigger and Deffer
Type:studio
Artist:LL Cool J
Cover:LL Cool J - Bigger and Deffer.jpg
Released:May 29, 1987[1]
Recorded:1986–1987
Studio:Chung King House of Metal (New York City, New York)
Genre:Hip hop
Label:
Producer:
Prev Title:Radio
Prev Year:1985
Next Title:Walking with a Panther
Next Year:1989

Bigger and Deffer (abbreviated as BAD on the album cover) is the second studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, released on May 29, 1987, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. With over two million copies sold in the United States,[1] it stands as one of LL Cool J's biggest career records. Bigger and Deffer dominated the summer of 1987, spending 11 weeks at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart while also reaching number 3 on the Billboard 200. The album also became the fourth rap album to become a platinum album.[2]

Bigger and Deffer features the hit single "I'm Bad", and the first commercially successful rap ballad, "I Need Love". It also contains the track "Go Cut Creator Go", which paid homage to his DJ. Other tracks like "Kanday", "The Do Wop", "My Rhyme Ain't Done", "The Breakthrough", and "The Bristol Hotel" were also popular with fans, and helped make the album a hip-hop classic. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Sources 100 Best Rap Albums. The cover photo was taken in front of Andrew Jackson High School in Queens (from which he dropped out), while standing on the hood of his Audi 5000,[3] [4] and the back cover was shot in his grandmother's basement (his residence at the time). Both images were shot by Glen E. Friedman.

Critical reception

Robert Christgau stated: "Like the pop-metal egotists he resembles every which way but white, J proves that there's something worse than a middle-class adolescent who's gotta be a big shot this instant--the same adolescent the instant he becomes a big shot. Overrated though it was, the debut had guts, spritz, musical integrity, and Rick Rubin. Breakthrough though it may be, the follow-up has a swelled head, a swollen dick, received beats, and quotes from Berry, Brown, and the Moonglows that confuse me. Could it be that the planet existed before he brought it to fruition?"[5]

Track listing

All tracks written and produced by LL Cool J and L.A. Posse, except where noted.

Personnel

Charts

Singles

Title! scope="col"
Single information
"I'm Bad"
"I Need Love"
  • Released: July 2, 1987 (entered Billboards Hot 100 chart week ending August 1)
  • B-side: "My Rhyme Ain't Done"
  • Billboard Hot 100 No. 14
  • Hot Black Singles No. 1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gold and Platinum Searchable Database. RIAA.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20140830055854/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database . August 30, 2014 .
  2. Book: SPIN . December 1999 . SPIN Media LLC . en.
  3. News: Best of Queens 2004 . Queens Tribune. 2004 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120207151914/http://www.queenstribune.com/guides/BestofQueens2004/Pages/BestofQueensMusicians.htm . February 7, 2012 .
  4. Web site: LL Cool J Restores Original 1987 BAD Audi 5000, His First Car, and Donates It . AutoEvolution.com . August 29, 2022.
  5. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=LL+Cool+J Robert Christgau: CG: LL Cool J
  6. LL Cool J Chart History: Hot 100. Billboard. April 10, 2023.
  7. LL Cool J Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Billboard. April 10, 2023.
  8. LL Cool J Chart History: Dance Singles Sales. Billboard. April 10, 2023.
  9. LL Cool J Chart History: Dance Club Songs. Billboard. April 10, 2023.