He is one of the most respected artists in Hip Hop history, and considered one of the forefathers of the game. He has made all kinds of songs from tracks bragging about his skills to his insights on love, which earned him the two Ls in his name for Ladies Love. Not only has he made the hits but also has earned his stripes in the underground for his talent in the Hip Hop art of battling other MCs. For all these reasons LL Cool J has earned the right to discuss anything he wants and has achieved a longevity that could make anyone jealous. Now, with his 11th release, The DEFinition, LL has created an album mostly made up of club joints bound to make the party live.
The first single, “Headsprung,” has already proven to be a hit on the radio as well as the clubs. The Timberland produced track is a song that was created for the sole purpose of satisfying the true club heads. A hyped up, bass heavy production seems to have the energy needed to get people on the dance floor, and calls out both the ladies and the fellas, to get everyone in the right frame of mind to enjoy the song to the fullest.
Quite possibly the best track on the album, however, is “Hush,” a heartfelt song with the topic for which LL has become famous for; women and love. The lyrics go with the production beautifully to create a romantic feel to the record, and you can almost picture the song making a woman melt. The talents of 7 Aurelius are featured on the production as well as the hook, which provides the final necessary ingredient to create a great chemistry with LL’s vocals.
The DEFinition is only the latest album from the legend that is LL Cool J, who has given us such classic albums as Radio and Mama Said Knock You Out. This latest effort is a good overall album, but not exceptional, something you would expect from an icon like LL. The overall subject matter seems to lack the diversity that his previous albums have displayed, as he tends to focus a little too much on creating the “club bangers.” The only track that shows a little change of pace to the overall vibe of the album is “Feel The Beat” which discusses his skills and status in the history of Hip Hop. This isn’t enough to round out an album and make it a classic, like LL is capable of, but it still is obviously better than just an average release.
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