Mama Said Knock You Out (song)

{{Infobox song

| name = Mama Said Knock You Out

| cover = Mama Said Knock U Outt.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = LL Cool J

| album = Mama Said Knock You Out

| released = {{start date|1991|2|26}}

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = Golden age hip hop

| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=50}} (album version)

| label = {{hlist|Def Jam|Columbia}}

| writer =

| producer = Marley Marl

| prev_title = Around the Way Girl

| prev_year = 1990

| next_title = Rampage

| next_year = 1991

| misc =

{{external music video|{{YouTube|vimZj8HW0Kg|"Mama Said Knock You Out"}}}}

}}

"Mama Said Knock You Out" is a song by American rapper and actor LL Cool J, released in February 1991 by Def Jam and Columbia as the fourth single from his fourth studio album of the same name (1990). The song famously begins with the line, "Don't call it a comeback/I been here for years." Before "Mama Said Knock You Out" was released, many people felt that LL Cool J's career was waning; his grandmother, who still believed in his talent, told him to "knock out" all his critics.{{cite magazine |last1=LaGrave |first1=Katherine |title=Why LL Cool J's Most Famous Album Almost Never Happened |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2015/08/ll-cool-j-mama-said-knock-you-out-marley-marl-interview |magazine=Vanity Fair |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=23 July 2018 |date=August 21, 2015}} The song takes various shots at Kool Moe Dee. It was produced by Marley Marl{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/18/arts/home-entertainment-recordings-recent-releases.html?pagewanted=4&src=pm |title=Home Entertainment/Recordings: Recent Releases |last=Pareles |first=Jon |date=November 18, 1990 |work=The New York Times |access-date=February 23, 2012 |author-link= Jon Pareles}} with help from DJ Bobcat along with LL.

"Mama Said Knock You Out" reached the top twenty on the US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 17.{{cite magazine |title=Mama Said Knock You Out - LL Cool J Song Information |url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=ll cool j|chart=all}} |access-date=July 16, 2012 |magazine=Billboard}} The single was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. In October 2023, Billboard ranked "Mama Said Knock You Out" among the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-pop-songs-all-time-hits/ll-cool-j-mama-said-knock-you-out-2/|title=The 500 Best Pop Songs: Staff List|magazine=Billboard|date=October 19, 2023|access-date=October 20, 2023}}

Background

The song uses samples from James Brown's "Funky Drummer", the Chicago Gangsters' "Gangster Boogie", Sly & The Family Stone's "Trip to Your Heart", the drum break from Sly & the Family Stone's "Sing a Simple Song", and LL Cool J's own "Rock the Bells" (from his debut album Radio). The music video features LL Cool J in a boxing ring, rapping into the announcer's microphone. Intercut with this are clips of boxing matches and LL Cool J exercising.

LL Cool J said in his autobiography that the idea for the song came from a discussion with his grandmother. He had said to his grandmother that he felt that he couldn't survive as a rapper now that gangsta rap was popular and he was being dissed by several up-and-coming rappers. LL's grandmother responded, "Oh baby, just knock them out!"{{cite book |last=LL Cool J |title=I Make My Own Rules |year=1998 |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |isbn=9780312967314 |pages=134–135}} She is featured in the closing scene of the music video, saying "Todd! Todd! Get upstairs and take out that garbage."

Critical reception

Jon Wilde from Melody Maker said in his review of the single, "It is rather gratifying to see this arrogant, obnoxious young feller struggling hopelessly to resurrect his career. The Roy Kinnear of the rap scene returns with more of the same bilious rubbish. Nice hat though."{{cite magazine|first=Jon|last=Wilde|magazine=Melody Maker|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52246099210/|date=November 24, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023}} Another Melody Maker editor, Robin Bresnark, remarked, "Possibly the first mainstream rap track which, for me, had the vicious beats to fully match its rhetoric."{{cite magazine|first=Robin|last=Bresnark|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53748143611/|title=Cool, James|magazine=Melody Maker|date=November 23, 1996|page=45|access-date=May 28, 2024}} David Quantick from NME wrote, "'Mama Said Knock You Out' demands that we {{'}}don't call it a comeback{{'}}. I don't think we need go as far as that."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Quantick|magazine=NME|title=Singles|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52248582276/|date=November 24, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023|author-link=David Quantick}} NME editor Paolo Hewitt felt the track is "a vicious and exhilarating display of the man's talents."{{cite magazine|first=Paolo|last=Hewitt|magazine=NME|title=Long Play|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52202976656/|date=September 22, 1990|access-date=February 24, 2023|author-link=Paolo Hewitt}} David Fricke from Rolling Stone remarked that the rapper "obliges big time with producer Marley Marl's steely, stripped-back beats and his own verbal fisticuffs" on "the super-slammin'" track.Fricke, David (December 12, 1991-December 26, 1991). "The year in records". Rolling Stone. Issue 619/620.

Legacy

Rolling Stone ranked the song 29th in a 2012 list of the "50 Greatest Hip Hop Songs of All Time".{{Cite magazine|date=2012-12-05|title=50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-50-greatest-hip-hop-songs-of-all-time-150547/|access-date=2021-04-22|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} In October 2023, Billboard magazine ranked "Mama Said Knock You Out" number 406 in their list of the "500 Best Pop Songs of All Time".

Bob Dylan played it in the final slot of the "Mothers" episode of Season 1 of Theme Time Radio Hour in 2006. Dylan noted the song was "in the same tradition as the Dozens" and recited the first verse before playing it.{{Cite web|title=Episode 2: Mothers|url=http://www.themetimeradio.com/episode-2-mothers/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=Theme Time Radio Hour Archive|language=en-US}}

LL Cool J re-recorded a new version along with the Roots by mashing up with Here I Come to promote the NBA in-season tournament.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bet.com/article/dprk8u/ll-cool-j-mama-said-knock-you-out-the-roots-nba-in-season-tournament|title=Exclusive: LL Cool J talks reimagining 'Mama Said Knock You Out' for the NBA In-Season Tournament soundtrack|author=Rashad Grove|website=BET|date=2023-11-03|access-date=2023-11-03}}

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"| Chart (1990)

!scope="col"| Peak
position

scope="row"{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|41|artist=LL Cool J|song=Mama Said Knock You Out|artistid=14918|access-date=September 30, 2012}}

scope="col"\| Chart (1991) !scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="row"{{singlechart\|Australia\|37\|artist=LL Cool J\|song=Mama Said Knock You Out\|access-date=September 30, 2012}}
scope="row"{{singlechart\|New Zealand\|47\|artist=LL Cool J\|song=Mama Said Knock You Out\|access-date=September 30, 2012}}
scope="row"{{singlechart\|Billboardhot100\|17\|artist=LL Cool J\|song=Mama Said Knock You Out\|artistid={{BillboardID\|LL Cool J}}\|access-date=September 30, 2012}}
scope="row"{{singlechart\|Billboarddanceclubplay\|7\|artist=LL Cool J\|song=Mama Said Knock You Out\|artistid={{BillboardID\|LL Cool J}}\|access-date=September 30, 2012}}
scope="row"{{singlechart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|12\|artist=LL Cool J\|song=Mama Said Knock You Out\|artistid={{BillboardID\|LL Cool J}}\|access-date=September 30, 2012}}
scope="row"\|US Rap Singles (Billboard){{cite web \| url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ll-cool-j-mn0000094752/awards \| title=LL Cool J > Awards \| publisher=Rovi Corporation \| work=AllMusic \| access-date=September 30, 2012}} \| 1

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|title=Mama Said Knock You Out|artist=LL Cool J|type=single|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=19076-3555-1|access-date=June 26, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=Mama Said Knock You Out|artist=L.L. Cool J|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1991|certyear=2021|access-date=March 30, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

In other media

The song has been featured in films such as The Hard Way, Bebe's Kids, Kangaroo Jack: G'Day U.S.A.!, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.
The song was featured in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY.
The song was used in Pfizer's 2025 Super Bowl advert.

Five Finger Death Punch version

{{Infobox song

| name = Mama Said Knock You Out

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Five Finger Death Punch featuring Tech N9ne

| album = The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1

| released = {{start date|2014|03|25}}

| recorded = {{start date|2012}}–{{end date|13}}

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Rap metal|groove metal}}

| length = {{Duration|m=2|s=48}} (album version)

| label = Prospect Park

| writer = {{hlist|James Todd Smith|Marlon Williams|George Clinton|Gregory Jacobs|James Louis Mccants|Leroy Mccants|Sylvester Stewart|Walter Morrison|William Collins}}

| producer =

| chronology = Five Finger Death Punch

| prev_title = House of the Rising Sun

| prev_year = 2014

| next_title = Wrong Side of Heaven

| next_year = 2014

}}

American heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch covered the song for their fourth studio album, The Wrong Side of Heaven and the Righteous Side of Hell, Volume 1. The cover features rapper Tech N9ne.{{cite web |url=http://www.metalcovenant.com/pages/interviews/interview_ffdp.htm |title=Interview with Five Finger Death Punch's Zoltán Báthory |author=Tobbe |date=May 30, 2013 |website=Metal Covenant |access-date=June 3, 2013 |quote=We had an idea to cover Mama Said Knock You Out. [...] Then we made the song heavy and when Tech N9ne came it, we thought 'Oh yeah, this is happening. Fuck it, Let's put it on the record.'}} The single was released on March 25, 2014 by Prospect Park Records.