Songfacts®:

• This launched one of the most famous rivalries in rap history. During the recording of the song, Canibus used the lyric "Yo L, is that mic on your arm? Let me borrow that," referencing the tattoo of a microphone on LL Cool J's arm. This comment offended LL Cool J, who had the line from Canibus removed from the song, but used his verse on the song to launch an angry assault at Canibus, opening with the line "When young sons fantasize of borrowing flows, tell little shorty with the big mouth the bank is closed". Canibus retaliated by recording "Second Round Knock Out." LL Cool J followed that up with his own retaliation on "The Ripper Strikes Back," which also took shots at Canibus' mentor at the time, Wyclef Jean. Wyclef responded with "What's Clef Got To Do With It," to which LL Cool J retaliated with "Rasta Imposta." Of all these songs, only "Second Round Knock Out" by Canibus was commercially released, while the rest made their way through the hip-hop underground.
• LL Cool J made several references to this rivalry on his 2000 album G.O.A.T., which was released nearly three years after the original incident took place. >>

  Suggestion credit:
  Brian - Edmonton, Canada, for above 2
• Featured on this track are: Canibus, DMX, Method Man and Redman.