TODD SMITH - LL COOL J
The first artist released on Def Jam, LL Cool J has minted his share of musical memories since 1985 and has become a hip-hop icon. On his 12th album, the artist hooks up with a diverse array of collaborators and such big-name producers as the Neptunes, Scott Storch, the Trackmasters and Jermaine Dupri. The better tracks, like “Favorite Flavor” featuring Mary J. Blige and “Freeze” featuring Lyfe, draw on LL’s penchant for melodic foundations. Also noteworthy are the Latin-infused “#1 Fan” — the only song here without a guest cameo — and bonus track “So Sick Remix” featuring labelmate Ne-Yo. Overall, though, the album doesn’t really push the creative envelope and relies too heavily on guests at the expense of the principal artist. It leaves you wondering what else LL might have up his musical sleeve without the added props. –Billboard
