Editing LL Cool J (section)

===1985–1987: ''Radio''===
''[[Radio (LL Cool J album)|Radio]]'' was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/02/magazine/02rubin.t.html|first=Lynn|last=Hirschberg|title=The Music Man |work= [[New York Times Magazine]]|date=September 2, 2007}}</ref>
Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.headsprung.net/discography.php |title=LL Cool J career discography at HeadSprung.net |website=Headsprung.net |access-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724083420/http://www.headsprung.net/discography.php |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }}</ref> ''Radio'' earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. Shortly after its release, the album sold over 500,000 copies in its first five months, eventually selling over 1 million copies by 1988, according to the [[Recording Industry Association of America]].<ref name=george>George (2000), pp. 1–4.</ref><ref name=RIAA>{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Radio&artist=L.L.%20Cool%20J&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |title=RIAA searchable database |publisher=Recording Industry Association of America |access-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154740/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Radio&artist=L.L.%20Cool%20J&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2008&sort=Artist&perPage=25 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> ''Radio'' peaked at number 6 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart and at number 46 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] albums chart.<ref name=charts/> It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,<ref name=charts/> remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks.<ref name=charts>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?exp=y&Ntt=LL+Cool+J+Radio&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&nor=10&an=bbcom&N=36&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE|title=Billboard Music Charts – Search Results – LL Cool J Radio.|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=August 4, 2008}}{{dead link|date=July 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> By 1989, the album had earned [[RIAA certification|platinum]] status from the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA), with sales exceeding one million copies; it had previously earned a gold certification in the United States on April 14, 1986.<ref name=RIAA/>
"[[I Can't Live Without My Radio]]" and "[[Rock the Bells (song)|Rock the Bells]]" were singles that helped the album go platinum.  It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528980/ll-cool-j-cant-knock-out-billboard-champs.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209101045/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1528980/ll-cool-j-cant-knock-out-billboard-champs.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 9, 2012|title=LL Cool J Can't Knock Out Billboard Champs|author =Chris Harris |publisher=  MTV|date=April 19, 2006 }}</ref>

With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the ''Radio'' LP, LL Cool J became one of the early hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with [[Kurtis Blow]] and [[Run-D.M.C.]] Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986–'87 ''Raising Hell'' tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. and the [[Beastie Boys]].<ref name="askmen1">{{cite web|url=http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_100/100_ll_cool_j.html |title=Biography and other information at Askmen.com |publisher=IGN Entertainment, Inc. |access-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720051144/http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_100/100_ll_cool_j.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref> Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on ''[[American Bandstand]]'' as the first hip hop act on the show,<ref name="mcgillismusic1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcgillismusic.com/ll_cool_j.htm|title=Career overview at McgillisMusic|publisher=World Wide Entertainment USA, Inc.|access-date=June 24, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080412075151/http://www.mcgillismusic.com/ll_cool_j.htm |archive-date = April 12, 2008}}</ref> as well as an appearance on [[Diana Ross]]' 1987 television special, ''[[Red Hot Rhythm & Blues]]''.

The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer. ''Radio'', along with ''[[Raising Hell (album)|Raising Hell]]'' (1986) and ''[[Licensed to Ill]]'' (1986), would form a trilogy of New York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop.<ref name="CDuniverse.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1084925/a/Radio.htm |title=''Radio'' cd product notes |publisher=Muze Inc. |access-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828222712/http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/1084925/a/Radio.htm |archive-date=August 28, 2008 }}</ref><ref name="rhino1">{{cite web|url=http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin.html |title=Kurtis Blow Presents: The History Of Rap, Vol. 1: The Genesis |publisher=Rhino Entertainment |access-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916062142/http://www.rhino.com/Features/liners/72851lin.html |archive-date=September 16, 2011 }}</ref> Rubin's production credit on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to his [[Minimalism|minimalist production]] style, which gave the album its stripped-down and gritty sound. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions.<ref name=about>{{cite web|url=http://top40.about.com/od/popmusicproducers/p/rickrubin.htm|title=About.com ... Rick Rubin's Style and Approach|access-date=June 24, 2008|archive-date=January 23, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123084256/http://top40.about.com/od/popmusicproducers/p/rickrubin.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.<ref name=about/>