Just a few months after Q-Tip questioned the validity of an “adult-contemporary hip-hop” category on social media, his latest production project has emerged—a new album by his Queens neighbor, LL Cool J. This marks LL’s 14th album since his debut in 1985, and it arrives in a year where other iconic artists like Rakim and Masta Ace have also released new projects. With Common collaborating with producer Pete Rock for a nostalgic hip-hop album, LL’s new release contributes to this ongoing trend. Q-Tip referred to it as “traditional hip-hop” on Twitter.
The album, titled FORCE, does not incorporate the modern sounds of drill or trap, nor does it showcase vintage boom-bap beats. However, after 39 years of rapping, Q-Tip revitalizes LL’s sound to attract listeners willing to stream new music from the hip-hop legend. The album features boastful tracks like “Murdergram Deux” featuring Eminem, romantic vibes in “Proclivities,” and classic storytelling in “Spirit of Cyrus.”
Collaborating with the iconic rapper known for hits like “Doin’ It,” and a producer from A Tribe Called Quest creates a fitting partnership. Despite being a 56-year-old, long-married grandfather, LL remains captivating as he delivers seductive lyrics over a synth line reminiscent of Gary Numan in “Proclivities,” demonstrating his skill in modern hip-hop while embracing elements of his past.
LL also reflects on his origins in the album. As the artist who helped launch Def Jam Records in 1985, he references co-founders Rick Rubin and Russell Simmons in tracks like “Basquiat Energy” and “Runnit Back.” In “30 Decembers,” he expresses nostalgia for a world that has changed since his peak in 1994. Nas’s guest appearance on the spiritually charged “Praise Him” recalls the golden age of hip-hop with imagery of sheepskin coats and Cazal eyeglasses.
FORCE stands for “frequencies of real creative energy,” and within its tracks, LL arguably showcases his most inventive work on “Black Code Suite.” He interweaves significant aspects of African-American culture (“I’m the sound of Miles Davis, it’s impossible to bury me”) as he pays homage to figures like Huey P. Newton and Jean-Michel Basquiat. In summary, if LL Cool J has aimed to create an expression of his cultural identity within the pop-influenced realm of hip-hop, he has certainly achieved that goal.