He is in the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame, has won two Grammy awards and was the first rapper to receive the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor. He is an artist, actor, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Those are all words to describe LL COOL J, but hiphop legend is probably the most appropriate. Today, the 56-year-old American self-proclaimed G.O.A.T. announces his fourteenth studio album, ‘The FORCE, Frequencies of Real Creative Energy’, out on Friday, Sept. 6 via Def Jam Recordings/Virgin Music Group.
‘The FORCE’ was produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. LL COOL J worked intensively on it for years; he himself compares it to “learning to rap again.” “It’s like a director going back to film school after he’s had blockbusters, or Denzel going back to acting class,” LL says. The album sounds thoroughly modern but is rooted in a rich tradition and founded on forty years of experience as an artist. Fun fact: with this album, LL also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Def Jam Recordings. LL COOL J’s debut single ‘I Need A Beat’ was one of the first releases from Rick Rubin’s iconic record label in 1984.
‘The FORCE’ has themes like racism, abuse of power, isolation and insights through the pandemic. The album contains serious topics but is energetic and lighthearted at the same time. It includes features from Nas, Eminem, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Saweetie, Snoop Dogg, Don Pablito, J-S.A.N.D., Mad Squablz and Sona Jobarteh.
Today LL COOL J also shares Passion (music video included), the second single from ‘The FORCE’.