Veteran rapper LL Cool J proclaims to be the “most important” rapper in history – though he won’t take on the G.O.A.T. title.

The New York artist appeared on Apple Music‘s “Le Code” and spoke about his place in the music industry.

“I’ma say this humbly but I really mean this,” he began. “I think one day people are going to wake up and realize that LL COOL J is the most important rapper that ever existed. I truly believe one day people are going to say that. They’re gonna look and they’re gonna say, ‘Wow, when it comes to the jewelry – this is the guy who introduced all the diamonds and the ice and the champagne.’ They’re gonna say, ‘When it comes to the love songs, this is the guy who introduced us to love songs and all the love shit.’”

LL continued, “When it comes to the bad boy vibe, they’re gonna realize, ‘Oh this is the guy who introduced all the rebellious bad boy vibes before it was done.’ When it comes to the G.O.A.T. terminology, they’re gonna say, ‘This is the guy who came up with the G.O.A.T. stuff.’ They’re gonna say when it comes to Def Jam, ‘Wow, this is the first artist that was on Def Jam.’ When it comes to solo [rap] artists, they’re gonna say, ‘Wow, this is the first solo artist to take it all the way around the world.’ I could go on and on and on.”

Adding, “They’re gonna say when it comes to Fubu, ‘Yo, this guy introduced the whole idea of putting clothing lines. Even before that, he did Troop.’ When it comes to endorsements, ‘Oh this is the guy who did Kangol and made the Kangol popular before people even did that.’ When they talk about television, they gon’ say, ‘Oh this is the guy who did incredible stuff on TV and at the same time was still making incredible records.’ It wasn’t just doing TV and using rap as a launch pad. When it comes to business… I could go on and on and on and on.”

The conversation about this matter begins around the 49:36 mark below.