LL Cool J is set to release his first new album in 11 years, titled “The FORCE,” this September, marking a significant milestone in his 40-year hip-hop career. Despite the long gap between albums, LL Cool J has not been idle. “I’ve always tinkered around in the studio here and there,” he shared in a Zoom interview with The Associated Press. However, it was only in the past two years that inspiration truly struck, prompting him to take music-making more seriously.
Initially, LL Cool J faced a creative roadblock. “I just felt like the tracks that this producer was giving me were better than the songs that I was writing,” he admitted. A turning point came when the late Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest appeared to him in a dream, offering both praise and a subtle nudge. This dream led LL Cool J to reach out to Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest, a move that proved to be pivotal. Q-Tip ended up producing every track and creating all the beats for “The FORCE,” which is set for release on September 6.
Describing the process of making his 14th studio album, LL Cool J said it felt like “going back to the drawing board and learning how to rap again.” He emphasized the importance of being genuinely inspired by his lyrics, which is why the album lacks any “fluff.” Drawing parallels to sports legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant, he noted that they all continually strive to improve. “I wasn’t trying to do trendy, and I wasn’t trying to recapture anything I did before,” he added.
“The FORCE” is an inventive rap record that reflects LL Cool J’s extensive career. It explores various themes, including self-motivation in “Passion,” full-force swagger in “Murdergram Deux” (a long-awaited collaboration with Eminem), and sensuality in “Proclivities” featuring Saweetie. The lead single, “Saturday Night Special,” featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe, offers a cautionary tale.
One of the standout tracks is “Huey in the Chair,” a reference to a famous photo of Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton. LL Cool J describes it as “taking a stand for what you believe in.” This track transitions into “Basquiat Energy,” a celebration of the innovative spirit of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. LL Cool J believes that both Newton and Basquiat share an ability to “express their personal truths,” a quality he aimed to embody in this album.
“The FORCE,” which stands for “frequencies of real creative energy,” became an unofficial mantra for the project. “That’s what we wanted to present to the world,” LL Cool J explained. “It’s about wanting to vibrate at a high level.”
Following the 50th anniversary of hip-hop last year, LL Cool J felt a strong desire to demonstrate that artists with long, storied careers can still make significant contributions to modern hip-hop. “I wanted to show people that artists that have had long storied careers can make modern contributions to hip-hop that have a major impact,” he said. “I hadn’t seen that done before. It was another challenge: Can I create something that sounds new and fresh?”
LL Cool J is not chasing trends with this album. Instead, he aims to deliver authentic rap, steering clear of nostalgia. The album features a star-studded lineup, including Snoop Dogg, Sona Jobareth, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito, in addition to Ross, Fat Joe, Saweetie, and Eminem.
“The one thing I wanted to do is, I wanted to meet people where I’m at now. I wasn’t trying to be preachy,” LL Cool J said. “I’m not trying to tell people necessarily how to live. I did want to express with people where I’m at artistically at this point in my life and give them that. And then they can take that and do whatever they want with it.”
“The FORCE” Track List:
1. “Spirit of Cyrus” (feat. Snoop Dogg)
2. “The FORCE”
3. “Saturday Night Special” (feat. Rick Ross and Fat Joe)
4. “Black Code Suite” (feat. Sona Jobarteh)
5. “Passion”
6. “Proclivities” (feat. Saweetie)
7. “Post Modern”
8. “30 Decembers”
9. “Runnit Back”
10. “Huey In Da Chair” (feat. Busta Rhymes)
11. “Basquiat Energy”
12. “Praise Him” (feat. Nas)
13. “Murdergram Deux” (feat. Eminem)
14. “The Vow” (feat. Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)
Source: The Associated Press
