"Hip-hop's always reached out to kids. If you look at the last 10 big albums it might seem ironic. But when I look at the history of this music it's always had a lot of positivity"

In this quote, LL Cool J is highlighting the favorable effect that hip-hop has had on young people. He acknowledges that some may find it ironic that the last 10 big albums in the genre might not appear positive, however he argues that when taking a look at the history of hip-hop, it has constantly had a strong message of positivity. This might refer to the styles of resilience, empowerment, and social commentary typically found in hip-hop music. LL Cool J is emphasizing that despite any unfavorable understandings, hip-hop has always given inspiration and motivation for youths.