Search - Ll Cool J :: Todd Smith

Nothing really sticks with this album.................

The Specialist | Parts Unknown | 10/31/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Big disappointment. Some tracks sound dated and some too soft.



The chorus on Red Dress is cool though.



L also played himself at the MTV awards. I really can't see LL taking a back seat to 50 for long."

A good effort for the veteran, original "Prince of Rap"

Hype Currie | Detroit, Michigan United States | 10/01/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"LL Cool J was the top solo rapper for many years before a Jay-Z, Nas, Eminem, or Tupac came into the picture..



TODD SMITH, his 12th studio LP, continues thematically in the vein of 1995's "MR. SMITH", wherein the bulk of tracks could arguably be considered in the vein of R&B/crossover, with a handful of nods to the hardcore braggadocio of his earliest LPs.



It's nice to say that LL holds his own on this album with the myriad of guest stars. It's fair to say that this is his first LP that has had a majority of the tracks be some type of duet.



Longtime associates the Trackmasters produce the most cuts here, and they seem to be the most sympathetic to LL's contemporary muse. Surprisingly, Scott Storch and the Neptunes only get one cut apiece ("Ooh Wee" and "Best Dressed", respectively). It is on "Dressed" that LL reunites with Jamie Foxx, with whom he shared the screen (and a scuffle) in the film "Any Given Sunday".



"Favorite Flavor" seems to end abruptly; it could have been a good second single (but who knows if Mary J Blige's label would have given permission..); Apparently, Fergie was supposed to be on "Control Myself", but Jennifer Lopez does a decent job; "Preserve the Sexy" is okay, where LL plays a lothario who keeps getting turned down by a woman he just met; but once you consider that duet partner Teiarra Mari is 18, and LL is in his late 30's.. well-- never mind..



LL's spiritual leanings are laid forth in the Gospel-driven "We're Gonna Make It" (and if one checks the liner notes, one can find a Biblical scripture about tithing.. okay, LL we get it! Don't download for free!)

There is no posse cut here, in the vein of "I Shot Ya/4-3-2-1", which is unfortunate; the album could really have used the boost of an all-celebrity jam. Still, for fans of latter-day LL, this isn't a bad LP to cop, but it's not his defining work."

Ll sit down

Sherance Brothers | Jasper Ala | 08/21/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"why is ll fool j still rapping from bad to crack cocaine to steroids yes we seen it all even ll's abs are gettinmg old and howe many timwes can you say you like giving girls oral sex and recruiting j lo for backing vocals is a minus remember she hated blacjk music screw her and this whjole ll project stick to acting."