ARTIST: LL Cool J
ALBUM: Authentic
LABEL: S-BRO Music Group
RELEASE DATE: April 30, 2013
Keepin’ it Real
Written by Jeremy Weeden
Grizzled hip-hop veteran LL Cool J has been around for almost 30 years since his first album, Radio, was released in 1985. There are few, if any, rap artists who have as many true classic jams as LL Cool J. From “I Need Love” to “Around the Way Girl” and “Hey Lover” to “I Can Love You Better,” LL has continually delivered hits for the radio. Now an international superstar with movies, TV shows and hosting the Grammy Awards under his belt, LL returns to the music scene with his 13th studio album, Authentic. With Authentic, LL Cool J attempts to capture some of his original flavor while introducing a new generation to the legend of James Todd Smith.
The album opens with the Trackmaster’s produced “Bath Salts” where LL raps over a fast paced synth beat and quickly reminds the listener he has been around for years with the line “I skywalk where the force is/Back in the 80s I was playing in Porsches/Money ain’t a problem I absorb my losses.”
The next track, “Not Leaving You Tonight” finds LL alongside soul pop band Fitz and The Tantrums. This smooth flowing melodic track features a catchy heartfelt chorus from Fitz and The Tantrums, as LL pours his heart out to a girl promising to never leave her. This song is very radio friendly and one could easily see it as a future single. “New Love” is an upbeat, funky song about the joys of a new love and R&B legend Charlie Wilson’s voice lays perfectly over the old school flavored beat.
LL Cool J has not forgotten his original style as he shows on the songs “We Came to Party” and “Whaddup.” “We Came to Party” features fellow veterans Snoop Dogg and Fatman Scoop over a hard-hitting, bass-heavy old school beat that is reminiscent of a Rick Rubin track. “Whaddup” features Travis Barker and Chuck D over a drum-heavy old school beat. LL’s flow on these tracks are reminiscent of 1980s LL as he delivers hard-hitting staccato raps.
Other songs on Authentic include “Give Me Love”, a soft, easy going song in the vein of “I Need Love” featuring Seal. “Bartender” has Snoop Dogg popping up again and also features funk veteran Bootsy Collins. “Closer” samples “I Like” from Guy and features songstress Monica.
One of the standout tracks on the album is “Waiting On You” featuring Babyface and Noelle Scaggs. This song is a smooth R&B rap hybrid that is sure to be a hit with fans of 90s R&B. “Take It” featuring Joe is in this same vein and features Joe singing a catchy radio ready chorus.
On “Live For You” LL Cool J and Brad Paisley pair up again and the result is much better than the failed song “Accidental Racist.” This pop flavored song has LL rapping about love and Brad Paisley singing a light hearted pop chorus and the two thankfully avoid discussing race relations.
On Authentic, LL Cool J does not break any new ground or stray too far into the new rap scene, which is a good thing. While many will say the album is the same old same old from LL, it is better than making music that is unnatural just to sell records. LL Cool J delivers more of what he has for the past decade: radio friendly love songs with a sprinkling of old school hip hop. LL Cool J is a living hip-hop legend and Authentic will not be the last we hear from him.