NEWSTALGIC MUSIC™
← Mikey DThe personal archive · As told by Mikey D

Mikey D &
LL Cool J.

Since the early ’80s.

Two plastic bags full of rhyme books.
The beginning of a friendship that spans more than forty years.

Hear us in 1984The FaceTime story
An early photograph of Mikey D and LL Cool J.
From Mikey D’s personal photo archive · Early days
01 · Where it began

Two bags full of rhymes.

When LL and I first met, we both showed up carrying plastic bags full of rhyme books.

We met through mutual friends. His rhyme partner at the time, Mellow C, and my friend Dave Melecio arranged for us to meet face to face at Roller Castle in Elmont, Long Island.

We hit it off immediately. Coincidentally, we sounded just alike. That was the beginning of a friendship that goes back to the early ’80s.

02 · The name connection

Jay Ski. Cool James.
“Ladies Love.”

When we first connected, his name was Jay Ski. As we started spending more time around each other, he changed his name to Cool James. I was one of the first people he told.

I was Playboy Mikey D, and I was hanging with people like Everloving Kid Ice, Lovable Little B, Romantic Lover Snow, and Loverboy TC. Nicknames were part of our circle, so I thought Cool James should have one too.

We always rapped about girls, and “Ladies Love” came to mind. I suggested it to him. That’s how my connection to the name came about—a conversation between friends in those early days.

Promotional artwork for Playboy Mikey D and Ladies Love Cool J, Freestyle 1984, The K-Cut Remix.
Promotional remix artwork · Tap to enlarge
03 · Hear the history

1984.
A moment preserved.

I still have a recording of us rapping in 1984—Playboy Mikey D and Ladies Love Cool J. Years later, K-Cut from Main Source remixed it, bringing fresh production to a recording from the beginning of our journey.

That’s Newstalgic: new music, classic DNA.

04 · Baltimore · Back2Back

A call that
was all love.

Canibus and I were in Baltimore shooting the video for our collaboration, “Back2Back,” filmed and edited by Doom Da Wiz.

While we were on set, I sent LL a text. I wanted to surprise Canibus. LL said yes—make the call.

So I did. The conversation was all love and peace.

Knowing the history between them makes that photo mean even more to me. I got to share a moment with both of them where the conversation was about love and peace. I’m glad I made that call.

Context: LL Cool J and Canibus

Their late-1990s exchange of battle records became a widely documented Hip Hop rivalry. In December 2014, they performed “4,3,2,1” together at Barclays Center. The FaceTime story here is Mikey D’s account of a separate personal moment.

Read XXL’s coverage of the 2014 reunion ↗
Mikey D and Canibus in Baltimore, with LL Cool J on FaceTime.
The FaceTime moment · Photo shared by Mikey D · Tap to enlarge
The collaboration behind the story

Back2Back.

Mikey D featuring Canibus
From Day Of D’Struction

Buy download ↗
05 · Through the years

The friendship in pictures.

From the early days to the moments we still share. Tap a photo to explore.

An early photograph of Mikey D and LL Cool J.Early days · Mikey D & LL Cool JMikey D and LL Cool J greeting each other outdoors.A friendship through the yearsMikey D and LL Cool J together beneath a canopy.Mikey D & LL Cool JMikey D and LL Cool J smiling together.Still connectedMikey D and Canibus in Baltimore, with LL Cool J on FaceTime.Baltimore · The FaceTime callMikey D and LL Cool J together outdoors, wearing orange and yellow outfits.More than forty years of friendship

It started at Roller Castle with two plastic bags full of rhyme books.
More than forty years later, we’re still connected.— Mikey D