LL COOL J - Big Ole Butt

What this video is

Released in the summer of 1989 on Def Jam Recordings, 'Big Ole Butt' arrived during a pivotal crossover moment in hip-hop history when artists like LL Cool J were actively navigating the tension between street authenticity and mainstream pop appeal. The track's light, comedic tone — a multi-vignette story of romantic entanglements — reflected a strand of late-80s rap that prioritized humor and accessibility,…

Why it matters

A key artifact of the late-80s rap-comedy video subgenre, 'Big Ole Butt' exemplifies the multi-vignette narrative structure that Paris Barclay and LL Cool J pioneered across their eight-video collaboration. Its accessible, humor-forward approach to hip-hop storytelling helped establish LL Cool J…

The director

Paris Barclay (b. 1956, Chicago Heights, IL) studied English at Harvard University and worked in advertising before co-founding music video production company Black & White Television. He directed eight videos for LL Cool J, including the MTV and Billboard…