Studio Album · No. 1
Radio Songwriting Credits by LL Cool J
Produced by Rick Rubin, Jazzy Jay · Engineered by Steve Ett, Herb Powers Jr.
Def Jam / Columbia
Hip HopNew School Hip Hop
100%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 11 of 11 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 11 / 11 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 11 tracks with documented writers, by whether LL Cool J carries a lyricist or composer credit.
11 trackswritten by LL Cool J
0 tracksoutside writers
LL Cool J's roles on this album
Share of the 11 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
11
Tracks
2
Lyricists
1
Producers
1985
Released
Data Insight
Rubin is on every one of the eleven tracks alongside him. The debut sets the pattern for the whole career: LL writes the words and the producer takes half the credit.
Radio came out on Def Jam in November 1985, produced by Rick Rubin, and passed a million copies by 1988.
Track Listing & Credits 11 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
I Can't Live Without My Radio
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 2 |
You Can't Dance
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 3 |
Dear Yvette
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 4 |
I Can Give You More
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 5 |
Dangerous
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 6 |
Untitled
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer)El Shabazz (Featured Vocals) |
| 7 |
Rock the Bells
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 8 |
I Need a Beat (Remix)
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 9 |
That's a Lie
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer)Russell Simmons (Featured Vocals) |
| 10 |
You'll Rock
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
| 11 |
I Want You
|
LL Cool JRick Rubin | James Todd SmithFrederick Jay Rubin | Rick Rubin | LL Cool J (Performer) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 6 contributors
More from LL Cool J
1987
100%
Bigger and Deffer
Def Jam / Columbia
12 tracksProd. LL Cool J
1989
100%
Walking with a Panther
Def Jam / Columbia
18 tracksProd. LL Cool J
1990
100%
Mama Said Knock You Out
Def Jam / Columbia
14 tracksProd. Marley Marl
1993
100%
14 Shots to the Dome
Def Jam / Columbia
14 tracksProd. Andrew Zenable
1995
93%
Mr. Smith
Def Jam / PolyGram
15 tracksProd. Rashad Smith
1997
100%
Phenomenon
Def Jam / PolyGram
10 tracks
2000
100%
G.O.A.T.
Def Jam / Universal
15 tracksProd. James "Bimmy" Antney
2002
93%
10
Def Jam / Universal
15 tracksProd. Zukhan Bey
2004
100%
The DEFinition
Def Jam / Universal
11 tracksProd. 7 Aurelius
2006
100%
Todd Smith
Def Jam
12 tracksProd. Bink
2008
100%
Exit 13
Def Jam
19 tracksProd. SRay Burghardt
2013
100%
Authentic
S-BRO / 429
12 tracksProd. LL Cool J
2024
100%
The FORCE
Def Jam / VMG
14 tracksProd. Q-Tip
Frequently Asked Questions Radio
Who wrote Radio?
James Todd Smith and Rick Rubin, credited together on all eleven tracks.
Did any single chart in the Hot 100?
No. "I Can't Live Without My Radio", "Rock the Bells" and "I Can Give You More" all missed the chart.
How did it sell?
Over 500,000 copies in five months and more than a million by 1988.
Who produced it?
Rick Rubin, with Jazzy Jay on "I Need a Beat".
Who engineered it?
Steve Ett, with Herb Powers Jr. mastering.
Why does it matter?
It was Def Jam's first album, and its bare drum-machine sound set the template for the label.
How long is the album?
47:06 across eleven tracks.