LL Cool J - The Force ALBUM REVIEW

Summary

In this review, Anthony Fantano discusses LL Cool J's album 'The Force,' the rapper's first full-length release in 11 years. He explores LL's impact on hip-hop, noting his early commercial success and enduring influence. The album is seen as a blend of nostalgia and modernity, with production by Q-Tip giving it an old-school feel. Fantano praises LL's lyrical exploration of themes like police brutality and Black culture, though some tracks feel weaker. Collaborations with artists like Eminem and Nas are highlighted, and the album is considered a solid late-career effort.

Takeaways

• 🎤 LL Cool J returns with *The Force*, his first full-length album in 11 years, marking his 14th overall release.
• 🏆 LL Cool J's impact on hip-hop is massive, and while his recent career leaned into acting, he remains a significant figure in the music industry.
• 🕶️ The album's vibe feels nostalgic and celebrates LL's artistic roots, but it doesn't strictly sound like a throwback to his earlier work.
• 🎧 Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest produced much of the album, giving it a jazzy boom-bap flavor, a sound LL Cool J wasn’t associated with in his earlier career.
• 🎵 Tracks like 'Spirit of Cyrus' explore heavier themes such as police brutality, showcasing LL's ability to delve into social commentary.
• 🖤 'Black Code' celebrates African American culture through LL's perspective, paying homage to Black experiences, music, and everyday life.
• 💥 Some tracks fall flat, like 'Passion' with its weak chorus and 'Proclivities,' which features awkward, flirty lyrics.
• 👐 Notable collaborations include tracks with Busta Rhymes, Nas, and Eminem, where LL keeps up with these lyrical heavyweights, particularly on 'Murdergram Duh' with Eminem.
• ⚡ The album's closer, 'The Vow,' humorously exaggerates LL's origin story, adding a quirky touch to the end of the project.
• 👍 While not groundbreaking, *The Force* exceeds expectations for a late-career album, showcasing LL’s freedom from commercial pressures and his unique blend of old and new styles.

Q & A

Who is the artist being reviewed in the transcript?

The artist being reviewed is LL Cool J.

What is the title of LL Cool J's new album mentioned in the review?

The title of LL Cool J's new album is 'The Force.'

How long has it been since LL Cool J released a full-length album?

It has been 11 years since LL Cool J released a full-length album.

Who contributed to producing the majority of the beats on 'The Force'?

Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest contributed to producing the majority of the beats on 'The Force.'

What are some of the themes LL Cool J explores in 'The Force'?

Some of the themes explored include police brutality, lawlessness, Black culture, and reflections on LL Cool J's career and personal growth.

How does the reviewer describe LL Cool J's role in the entertainment industry beyond music?

The reviewer describes LL Cool J as having transitioned into a 'Music Industry veteran' status, with roles in acting that have often overshadowed his current music output.

What sound does the album 'The Force' predominantly feature?

'The Force' predominantly features a mix of old-school boom bap, jazz rap, and soul chops, with experimental synths and beats provided by Q-Tip.

Which track on 'The Force' features Eminem, and how is it described?

The track featuring Eminem is 'Murdergram,' which is described as having relentless energy and lyrical fireworks, with both artists pushing each other to perform at their best.

What are some of the album's high points according to the reviewer?

High points include the tracks 'Spirit of Cyrus,' 'Run It Back,' 'Huey In The Chair' with Busta Rhymes, and 'Praise Him' featuring Nas.

What critique does the reviewer offer regarding certain parts of the album?

The reviewer mentions that the album's midpoint is a mixed bag, with weak filler choruses and forgettable tracks like 'Passion' and 'Seductive Proclivities.'

Outlines

00:00

🎤 LL Cool J's Return After 11 Years

In this opening, the speaker (Tano, also known as the 'internet's busiest music nerd') introduces LL Cool J's latest album, *The Force*, his first full-length release in 11 years. Tano acknowledges LL's legendary status in hip-hop but notes that LL has not been reviewed on the channel before. LL Cool J's influence on the genre is discussed, comparing him to figures like Ice-T, whose entertainment career has somewhat overshadowed his musical past. Despite LL's shifts in focus, including his acting career, Tano emphasizes that his impact on hip-hop is still significant. LL Cool J was one of the genre's earliest commercial successes, contributing greatly to hip-hop's growth without compromising its cultural roots.

05:01

🔥 LL Cool J's Evolution and Return to His Roots

This section details LL Cool J's career, highlighting his massive early success with albums like *Radio* and *Bad*, and his lasting influence on hip-hop's development. Tano touches on LL's 1990s revival with *Mama Said Knock You Out* and some of his career missteps in the years that followed, including a controversial beef with rapper Canibus and a brief flirtation with R&B. The review then transitions to discuss *The Force*, which is framed as a celebration of LL's past and an attempt to reconnect with what made him great artistically. While the album has nostalgic elements, Tano notes that it doesn't entirely feel like a throwback, especially due to the production handled by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, which brings a fresh, jazzy, soul-infused sound.

10:02

🎶 Fresh Beats and New Directions in *The Force*

Here, Tano explores how *The Force* blends old-school hip-hop vibes with a modern twist, particularly through Q-Tip's unique production style. He describes how LL Cool J, despite his iconic past, doesn't simply rely on retro sounds or beats, creating something that feels new for his discography. Tano highlights tracks like 'Spirit of Cyrus,' which features eerie synths and explores themes like police brutality and lawlessness. The title track brings classic Bad Boy energy with sharp vocals, layered synths, and fast-paced hi-hats. LL's collaboration with Rick Ross on 'Saturday Night Special' builds a compelling character portrait of a dangerous hustler, adding rich storytelling to the mix.

💡 Cultural Reflection and The Midpoint's Struggles

This section delves into the middle part of the album, where LL Cool J celebrates Black culture on 'Black Code,' reflecting on his experiences and identity. However, Tano notes that the album's momentum slows with weaker tracks, including 'Passion' where Q-Tip delivers forgettable choruses, and LL's lyrics show some clunky moments. 'Sedi that Would Be Proclivities' is described as an awkward attempt at a flirty, slick jam, while '30 December' sees LL reminiscing about his past but without offering profound insights, similar to Nas's recent work.

⚡ The Album’s Revival with Strong Collaborations

Tano discusses how the latter half of *The Force* picks up in quality thanks to strong lyrical collaborations. He highlights 'Run It Back' where Q-Tip takes on a larger vocal role, and LL reflects on his career successes. LL teams up with Busta Rhymes on 'Huey in the Chair,' providing revolutionary, militant bars in homage to Black Panther leader Huey P. Newton. The track 'Praise Him' features Nas, and both rappers explore religious themes, particularly around Islam. The most notable collaboration is 'Murdergram,' with Eminem delivering impressive bars over a relentless bassy groove from Q-Tip, making it a standout moment on the record.

💥 Final Thoughts: A Strong Late-Career Album

In the closing summary, Tano reflects on the album's conclusion, noting the amusingly exaggerated origin story LL tells in 'The Vow,' which has a dramatic, almost fantastical flair. Despite some less memorable tracks towards the end, the album finishes on a solid note. Tano appreciates that while *The Force* may not be a groundbreaking album, it exceeds expectations for an artist of LL Cool J’s tenure. It serves as a testament to what a veteran artist can accomplish when free from commercial pressures, blending elements of the old and new into something unique. Ultimately, Tano rates the album positively, praising LL for crafting a solid late-career project.

Keywords

💡LL Cool J

LL Cool J, a legendary rapper from Queens, is the central figure of this review. Known for his massive impact on the hip-hop genre, LL's career spans decades, and he’s regarded as a pioneer in rap. In the video, the reviewer highlights LL’s journey from early hits like 'Radio' and 'Mama Said Knock You Out' to his recent album, 'The Force', showing how LL Cool J continues to evolve artistically.

💡The Force

'The Force' is LL Cool J's 14th studio album and his first in 11 years. It serves as the primary subject of the video, with the reviewer diving into its production, themes, and LL’s creative choices. The album is noted for blending nostalgic elements with new ideas, featuring beats crafted by Q-Tip and collaborations with artists like Eminem and Busta Rhymes.

💡Q-Tip

Q-Tip, a member of A Tribe Called Quest, is the primary producer for 'The Force'. His involvement brings a distinctive old-school, jazz-rap flavor to the album, yet introduces experimental and modern touches. The reviewer emphasizes how Q-Tip’s influence shapes much of the album's sound, providing LL Cool J with a fresh yet familiar backdrop.

💡Boom Bap

Boom bap refers to a style of hip-hop production characterized by hard-hitting beats and raw, sampled loops. In the video, the reviewer mentions how Q-Tip’s production on 'The Force' leans into boom bap, with jazz and soul-infused rhythms, contributing to the album's nostalgic yet modern sound. This genre is important in connecting LL Cool J’s legacy with newer listeners.

💡Mama Said Knock You Out

'Mama Said Knock You Out' is one of LL Cool J's most iconic albums, released in 1990. The reviewer uses this album as a reference point, comparing the aggressive energy of tracks like 'Mama Said Knock You Out' to the more restrained vibe of 'The Force'. It's highlighted as a pivotal moment in LL's career where he reinvented his sound and reasserted his relevance.

💡Nostalgia

Nostalgia is a key theme of 'The Force'. The reviewer points out how LL Cool J draws on his past success, particularly through his aesthetic choices (like wearing a Kangol hat on the album cover) and lyrical references. However, the album isn’t just a throwback, as LL combines these nostalgic elements with fresh production to avoid feeling dated.

💡Eminem

Eminem, one of the guest artists on 'The Force', appears on the track 'Murdergram'. The reviewer praises this collaboration as one of the album’s standout moments, with both artists delivering intense, technically skilled verses. Eminem’s contribution adds to the album’s lyrical depth and competitive energy, pushing LL to perform at a high level.

💡Police Brutality

Police brutality is a theme LL Cool J addresses on 'The Force'. The opening track 'Spirit of Cyrus' sets the tone for social commentary, with LL reflecting on lawlessness and systemic violence. The reviewer highlights this as a more serious and personal dimension to LL’s lyrics, marking a departure from his typical style of boasting or love-themed tracks.

💡Huey P. Newton

Huey P. Newton, a revolutionary figure and co-founder of the Black Panther Party, is referenced in the track 'Huey in the Chair', which features Busta Rhymes. The reviewer notes how both rappers channel the spirit of activism and rebellion through their bars, using Newton’s legacy as a framework for the song’s fierce, revolutionary energy.

💡Late-stage career

The reviewer emphasizes LL Cool J’s 'late-stage career', noting how 'The Force' exemplifies what a great album can look like from a veteran artist. LL’s freedom from commercial pressures allows him to explore creative territory without compromising artistic integrity. This stage of his career sees him drawing on his past while embracing new influences, making 'The Force' a strong comeback.

Highlights

LL Cool J's 14th album, 'The Force', is a significant return after 11 years.

The album is released under LL Cool J's own label and Def Jam Records.

LL Cool J's impact on hip-hop is massive and still felt today.

LL was one of hip-hop's earliest big commercial successes.

The album cover features LL Cool J wearing Kangol, a nod to his early style.

LL's early records like 'Radio' and 'Bad' are essential to hip-hop's early blueprint.

LL's career had many twists and turns after his early success.

LL Cool J flirted with new school hardcore hip-hop sounds in the early 90s.

LL Cool J ventured into acting and had a controversial beef with Battle Rapper, Canibus.

The album 'The Force' aims to celebrate the past and reconnect with LL's artistic roots.

The album's production is largely crafted by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest.

The album features a mix of old school boom bap, jazz rap, and soul.

LL explores themes of police brutality and lawlessness in his lyrics.

The title track features a sick groove with buzzing synth layers and galloping high hats.

LL gives a lyrical celebration of Blackness and African American culture on 'Black Cowboys'.

The album's midpoint becomes a mixed bag with weak choruses and forgettable tracks.

LL collaborates with Eminem on 'Murder Gram' for a standout lyrical performance.

The album finishes with 'The Vow', a humorous origin story of LL Cool J.

Despite not being a mind-blowing record, 'The Force' is a solid late-stage album from LL Cool J.

The album serves as a reminder of how good a late-stage album can be from an artist of LL's profile.

Transcripts

hey hi everyone

um

uh neany love Tano here the internet's

busiest music nerd and it's time for a

review of this new LL Cool J album The

Force here we have the first fulllength

album in 11 whole years from legendary

Queens rapper songwriter and actor Mr LL

Cool J it's his 14th album and I guess

has been uh released under his own name

like on his own label in tandem with de

Jam records and uh LL Cool J is somebody

who I I have not reviewed his music yet

on this channel so I mean I guess we we

should really talk about why that is

despite the fact that he is such a

significant figure in the history of

hip-hop music but yeah for a time I feel

like LL could easily be categorized as

one of these artists who on some level

is still around and active but more or

less he has kind of retired into some

version of Music Industry veteran status

and uh the roles and parts that he plays

in the entertainment industry more

broadly have kind of overshadowed U his

current day musical output you know much

in the same way that like a lot of

people know IC tea these days not for

being a formative West Coast hip-hop

figure but you know like uh one of the

key detectives on lawn Order SVU he's

still tearing it apart in body count

though so shout out to him however in

regards to LL though make no mistake no

matter how far in the past his Heyday is

his impact on hip-hop as a whole is

massive cannot be overstated and to some

degree is still felt today I mean he was

one of the genre's earliest big

commercial successes which he achieved

through his massive voice and energy his

endless Charisma and sty to eagle-eyed

fans will notice that on the cover of

this record he's wearing the Kangle and

while maybe some of his earliest

releases have not held the same kind of

long-term critical Acclaim that uh

records from Eric B and rockim or the

Beasty Boys or EPMD have records like

radio and bad are still hyper hyper

essential inclusions to uh Hip Hop's

early blueprint and brought countless

new eyes and ears to the genre which LL

achieved without compromising the

genre's Artistic integrity or very black

and very New York Roots now truth be

told though ll's career past this point

artistically and commercially took a lot

of twists and turns don't call it a

comeback there was the second win that

he got off of the album he dropped uh

just at the start of the 1990s Mama Said

Knock You Out where he was flirting with

a lot of kind of new school hardcore

hip-hop sounds at the time uh the track

murder gram duh off of this new record

actually calls back to a track on that

album Past the early 90s though LL made

numerous attempts at continuing his

commercial uh success that were not

quite as uh fruitful he went into acting

too had a uh very weird and

controversial beef with Battle Rapper

cannabis flirted with R&B a little bit

as well uh you know there's a reason you

could say he's been kind of musically

Mia for the past decade however all of

that seems kind of Irrelevant in the

face of this new LP here the force where

the whole point seems to be to celebrate

the past and for LL to get back in touch

with what made him great artistically to

begin with however I will say while the

Force's Vibes and Aesthetics do read as

nostalgic and kind of old school at the

same time I don't really feel like this

album is that much of a throwback cuz

there's not really an LL Cool J album in

his past catalog that sounds like this

like much of the time the energy on this

LP is not as hardcore or over-the-top

aggressive as Mama Said Knock You Out

and LL is also not really bringing back

that rudimentary bombastic and sometimes

Rock Centric production uh that guys

like Rick Rubin were known for back in

the 80s as the vast majority of the

Beats on this album are uh crafted on

some level by uh the one and only Q-tip

of A Tribe Called Quest Fame which gives

a lot of cuts on the force a kind of uh

old old school boom bap Jazz wrap a soul

chop kind of flavor to it which for LL

still reads is kind of new because this

was never really a sound uh in the early

stages of his career that he was

associated with the super Afrocentric

native tongues hip-hop movement that

Q-tip was uh known to be a pretty big

figurehead in also on top of that I feel

like qtip uh being an artist artist

throws in a lot of weird and

experimental ideas when it comes to the

B side of this thing cool synth work

very weird effect pets so case in point

this album is not just simply LL

wrapping over a bunch of like throwback

Jazz rap beats or a group of

instrumentals that sound like something

off of low-end theory like with the

Eerie synths and Rhythm sequences all

over the opening track Spirit of Cyrus

which has a bit of a Snoop Dog refrain

on it that works really well and all of

this kind of sets the stage for LL to

lyrically explore themes of police

brutality and lawlessness and he does a

great job of painting a personal picture

of all this despite the fact that like

he's not typically known specifically

for his social commentary in a lot of

his music from here through the first

leg of the record he continues to carry

the torch for rap's original Spirit like

with the big vocals and Bad Boy energy

on the title track of the album where

Q-tips buzzing and Slick synth layers as

well as Galloping high hats make for a

sick Groove there's also Saturday Night

Special where LL uh lyrically goes above

and beyond to to kind of paint this

character portrait of a hustler who you

don't want to cross somebody who's going

to enact revenge on you at a moment of

insecurity and Rick Ross comes through

lyrically to sort of play into this role

a little bit and uh further add details

to this image next on the album LL gives

us what is essentially a lyrical

celebration of Blackness of African

American culture through his own

perspectives on it on black code site

where he kind of employs a lot of nods

and mentions to things like music uh

everyday life and experiences and food

after this though I think the midpoint

of the record becomes kind of a mixed

bag qtip starts dishing out these very

weak forgettable filler choruses namely

on the song Passion LL also drops some

opening bars on this track that kind of

reminds you of why exactly he wasn't

taken as seriously out of the gate back

in the day as uh artist like Chuck D or

krs1 y'all need a new team like a girl

with a BBL needs new jeans it's in my

DNA

to let him play with The Enclave

percolate while songs play then after

this we get what I think is the roughest

track here with sedi that would be

proclivities which is this slick and

flirty Jam where LL is just uh talking a

lot of game making a lot of passes but

uh it mostly to my ears anyway just

reads as awkward then 30 December kind

of reminds me of like tracks we've heard

repeatedly as of late from the likes of

Nas on his latest records with hit booy

where he's like really diving into his

past and reframing and recontextualizing

a lot of things and again LL just like

that attempts to go over the past

several decades of his life and his

career and Ponder how he's changed how

the world he originally came from has

changed how he feels almost out of place

in it to a degree you know home is no

longer home for him anymore in a way but

with that being said he really only has

like a a lot of spare observation

to throw out there not really any kind

of big profound conclusions thankfully

from here though the album does pick up

thanks to a lot of great lyrical team

ups there's run it back where Q-tip

takes on a bit of a bigger role vocally

and LL lyrically is kind of bragging on

a lot of his past successes which I feel

like serves as a much needed reminder

for those who may have forgotten about

them or just not even notice them at

this point we also get that black

panther ferocity on Huey in the chair

with Buster Ry where we know Busta is

going to smash it and flow wise he

certainly does LL very much keeps up

with him and the both of them together

are providing essentially like this uh

revolutionary Huey P Newton angle to a

lot of their bars meanwhile Praise Him

featuring Nas is also a great moment

flow wise where uh him and another great

go toe-to-toe there are a lot of

religious angles specifically in

relation to Islam that are explored on

this one and then murder Graham de with

Eminem is probably the biggest instance

of lyrical fireworks on the entire

record where Q-tip provides this just

persistent almost like Relentless

driving Bassy Groove very unlikely

instrumental

honestly like this beat just does not

stop and flow wise Eminem and LL do not

stop either in fact I would say like

this is maybe the best collaboration of

the bunch because I think they kind of

bring the best out of each other on this

one like there's obviously pressure for

LL to uh keep up with a guy who is as

technically skilled as Eminem and Eminem

isn't throwing out quite as many awful

bars as he has in the past I mean it's

still an Eminem feature if you find like

his whole vibe and energy especially at

this point in his career to be just

unforgivably cringe you are most likely

not going to get a lot out of this

feature but as somebody who has to

listen to pretty much everything he does

these days it does sound like on some

level because it's LL Cool J uh he is

kind of on his best behavior and isn't

being as weird or as obnoxious or as

indulgent as he might be in just like a

solo context to finish things off uh we

have The Vow where LL kind of delivers

like this hilariously exaggerated origin

story of himself you know he's born and

there's lightning and there's a

microphone it's absolutely unhinged and

insane uh really could have ended right

there but actually past this point we

get a handful of pretty forgettable

features that just don't really add that

much to the song the theme of the song

The Record overall still I will say it's

a decent closer for an album that

overall while it may not be mind-blowing

it may not be uh one of the best hip-hop

records I've heard this year it's still

pretty good and definitely more than I

expected in terms of quality from

somebody who uh is perceived to be as

over the hill as LL Cool J is and I feel

like this record also just like kind of

serves as a reminder for how good a late

stage album can be uh from an artist of

ll's profile when he's in a position and

he's in a context where he's basically

allowed to do whatever the hell it is he

wants because yeah as of right now

that's like literally where LL Cool J is

at there are no commercial pressures for

him to make songs that sound a certain

way or read a certain way he's also a

total Legend and can pretty much work

with just about anybody that he feels

like most likely have anybody producing

that he wants obviously and yeah when

left up totally to his own creative

devices uh he can put out some pretty

cool that feels like it has a foot

in the old a foot in the new and is also

something completely weird and unique a

little bit too which is why I'm feeling

a uh light s on this album TR position

have you given this record a listen did

you love it did you hate it what would

you rate it you're the best you're the

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Anthony fantano Ella Cool J of forever