Just in time for Black Music Month, we got up with LL Cool J after his show-stopping performance at the T-Mobile Grammy Celebration Concert Tour in New York. It's been 25 years since the birth of Def Jam, and The G.O.A.T. shares his thoughts with ESSENCE.com on today's hip-hop, why dreams are never deferred, and what's next up his sexy sleeve.

ESSENCE.COM: Def Jam, the label that you helped put on the map, recently celebrated 25 years in the biz. After more than two decades as an artist, how would you grade hip-hop today?
LL COOL J: An A. It's been over 25 years and hip-hop is at the zenith. Obviously the music industry has changed and that has impacted certain things. This genre completely affected pop culture in such a major way. Throughout my career I got to start it and see it mature. Now, when we start talking about current music and all, that's another conversation.

ESSENCE.COM: So are you a fan of any other artists or songs now? Are you "kissing through the phone"?
LL COOL J: (Laughs.) I like [Soulja Boy's] "Kiss Me Through the Phone." I like a lot of music that's out now. I like Drake's "Best I Ever Had." That's hot. He's coming strong.