LL Cool J and country star Brad Paisley have already defended their highly criticized track "Accidental Racist" once, calling the song necessary. When LL Cool J visited the Tonight Show with Jay Leno on Thursday night, he spoke on the track once more, admitting that it is imperfect, and attempting to explain and defend some of the more outrageous lyrics.
"The song wasn't perfect. You can't fit 300 or 400 years of history in a three or four-minute song," LL Cool J said of the track.
"Ultimately, I can't defend the song but I can clarify my intentions. There's a lyric in the song where I say, "If you don't judge my du-rag, I won't judge your red flag." I in no way would ever compare the history of the confederate flag, when you think of the rapes, the tortures, the murders, the lynching, all the things associated with the confederate flag, with a du-rag."
LL continued, "However, when you think about a kid like Trayvon Martin and you think about some of the things that happen in society because of clothing, when you put it in it's proper context, it makes sense. I would never, ever, ever, suggest to anyone that we should just forget slavery and act like that didn't happen. I understand the systemic racism that exists, I get that."
"The intention was to put something out there that causes people to have a conversation," LL Cool J said, saying that, that has happened-- people are talking, and he's pleased with that. The two have also collaborated on a track for LL Cool J's upcoming album, Authentic, called "Live For Your Life."
Check out LL Cool J's interview with Leno below.
