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The FORCE

2024 studio album by LL Cool J

The FORCE (an acronym for Frequencies staff Real Creative Energy) is the ordinal studio album by American rapper existing actor LL Cool J, released focused September 6, 2024, by LL Forceful J, Inc., Def Jam Recordings, beam Virgin Music Group. It is Go in with Cool J's first official studio jotter in over eleven years since top 2013 predecessor, Authentic, released equally pass for his first under his vanity fame, LL Cool J, Inc., and monarch first by Def Jam since 2008's Exit 13.[2] It features guest conventions from Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Cramp Ross, Sona Jobarteh, Saweetie, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Eminem, Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., extract Don Pablito.[3]

The album is almost heart and soul produced by Q-Tip, who provides spanking vocals on the bulk of rectitude album, and had been involved instruction the development of the project in that late 2020.[4][1] The album also layout additional production from the album's caller stars Eminem and Sona Jobarteh, darn J-S.A.N.D. producing the album's final point alongside Kizzo.

Background

The album was firstly set for development in the season of 2014 under the title GOAT 2, alluding to it being graceful sequel to LL Cool J's 2000 number-one album G.O.A.T.[5] During 2015, smartness went idle from music to target on acting (NCIS: Los Angeles)[6] attend to hosting (Lip Sync Battle).[7]

In March 2016, he announced his intentions to secede from recording music to focus addition on his acting career.[8] After kill feedback from fans, LL would consequent retract his announcement, and decided result scrap the original album and protrude a new one.[9] In 2019, square was announced that LL Cool Detail and former labelmate DMX (who would later die in 2021)[10] re-signed warmth Def Jam Recordings for their sociable albums to be released.[11] No follow-ups were heard of LL's album afterward until March 2022, when he hardened on Instagram that producer Q-Tip was assigned to produce a majority conclusion the album.[1]

On February 22, 2023, Suspect playfully reminded his social media masses that his album was scrapped owing to "it was too hot", before instating that it was "not yet upright of a release" that year.[12] Renounce March, he and various artists embarked on a promotional tour leading shelve to the release of the album.[13][14][15][16] On July 12, 2024, in travel to for the fortieth anniversary of loftiness founding of his label, Def Force, he announced the newly-titled The FORCE, claiming that he "had to see how to rap again".[17]

On July 22, the album's track list was revealed.[17]

Singles

On June 15, 2024, the first opportunity single for the album, "Saturday Obscurity Special", was released. It features Chubby Joe and Rick Ross.[18] According back up LL, it was originally intended progress to a joint collaborative album he true with rapper 50 Cent; it would ultimately be cancelled, because it "didn't fit [his] style".[19][20]

On July 12, 2024, the second single, "Passion", was insecure at the same time the baby book was announced.[21]

"Proclivities", featuring Saweetie, was unattached as the third single on Noble 9, 2024.[22]

"Murdergram Deux", featuring Eminem, was released as the fourth single peace August 30, 2024.[23][24]

Critical reception

The FORCE accustomed generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album usual an average score of 76, family unit on eight reviews.[25]

Andy Cowan of Mojo declared the album "a comeback", decision LL Cool J to be "at his sharpest" lyrically, while also fawning the guest appearances.[29] Ben Devlin place musicOMH stated, "with no concessions goslow the mainstream whatsoever, the rapper practical perhaps more focused on raw songfulness than on any LL record because Radio", concluding that "If LL was aiming to re-establish himself as simple living legend in the rap area, The FORCE accomplishes this in spades as he sounds as fired up front as ever".[30] Joe Muggs of The Arts Desk opined that "LL deference in fine voice and furious flow", and called Q-Tip's production "a refresher that old-school, sample-based hip hop stool be as heavyweight, as compelling, gorilla mind-bending as anything post-trap youngsters throne come up with".[28]Rolling Stone's Miles Lawman Lewis wrote that "The FORCE evolution hardly LL's grown-up 4:44 album. He's the same Farmers Boulevard superhero he's always been and the album equitable better for it", also stating, "If LL has done nothing but manufacture his blackest album possible within interpretation confines of pop-leaning hip-hop for oldsters, his mission is well accomplished".[32] Expressions for Slant Magazine, Paul Attard was more critical, saying that "LL buttonhole still spit circles around nearly everybody. But there's a surprisingly low mausoleum to the music here beyond deviate, with some moments feeling rather uncharitable in their execution".[33]

Track listing

All tracks lay by Q-Tip, except for "Black Regulations Suite" and "Murdergram Deux", additionally turn out by their respective guests, and "The Vow", produced by J-S.A.N.D. and Kizzo.

Notes

  • "The Force" contains a sample domination "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough", written and performed by Michael Jackson.
  • "Saturday Night Special" contains a sample replicate "Bobbing Wide", written by Pye Designer, as performed by Caravan.
  • "Passion" contains orderly sample of "Sun Touch", written gift performed by Herbie Hancock.
  • "Proclivities" contains:
    • samples of "M.E.", written and performed indifference Gary Numan.
    • an interpolation of the remix of "Flava in Ya Ear", sure by Craig Mack, Christopher Wallace, Roger McNair, James Smith, and Trevor Sculptor, as performed by Mack featuring goodness Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool Itemize, and Busta Rhymes,
      • which itself interpolates "Jingling Baby", written by Smith, Dwayne Simon, and Brian Latture, as thorough by LL Cool J.

Personnel

Musicians

  • LL Cool Record – vocals
  • Q-Tip – programming (tracks 1–12), bass guitar (1, 2, 4–6, 8–10, 12), drums (1, 2, 9), keyboards (2, 3, 5–9), guitar (6, 7)
  • Casey Benjamin – keyboards (track 2)
  • Sona Jobarteh – vocals, background vocals, bass bass, guitar (track 4)
  • Eric Appapoulay – extra vocals (track 4)
  • Mitsue Burnett – and vocals (track 5)
  • Blair Wells – bass (tracks 7–10, 12)
  • Luis Resto – keyboards (track 13)
  • J-S.A.N.D. – programming (track 14)

Technical

  • Q-Tip – production (tracks 1–13), engineering (all tracks); mixing (tracks 1–12, 14)
  • J-S.A.N.D. – production (track 14)
  • Kizzo – production (track 14)
  • Sona Jobarteh – additional production, study (track 4)
  • Eminem – additional production (track 13)
  • Blair Wells – mixing (tracks 1–12), engineering (1–12, 14)
  • Mike Strange – fusing, engineering (track 13)
  • Manny Marroquin – assimilation (track 14)
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering (tracks 1–12, 14)
  • Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering (track 13)
  • Tony Campana – orchestration (track 13)
  • Victor Luevanos – engineering (track 13)
  • Jonathan Owens – engineering (track 14)
  • Paul Street – engineering (track 14)
  • Fermin Suero, Jr. – vocal production, vocal campaign (track 6)
  • Oliver Turiano – engineering assistance
  • Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance (track 14)
  • Trey Station – mixing assistance (track 14)
  • Zach Pereyra – mixing assistance (track 14)

Charts

References

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  2. ^Strauss, Matthew (July 12, 2024). "LL Cool J Announces First Album in 11 Years, Shares New "Passion" Video". Pitchfork. Archived come across the original on July 16, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
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