The FORCE

The FORCE
Studio album by
LL Cool J
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2024 (2024-09-06)
Recorded2020–2024[1]
Label
ProducerQ-Tip
LL Cool J chronology
Authentic
(2013) 		The FORCE
(2024)
Singles from The FORCE
  1. "Saturday Night Special"
    Released: June 14, 2024
  2. "Passion"
    Released: July 12, 2024
  3. "Proclivities"
    Released: August 9, 2024

The FORCE (an acronym for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) is the upcoming fourteenth studio album by American rapper and actor LL Cool J, set for release on September 6, 2024, through Def Jam Recordings and the Virgin Music Group. It will be LL Cool J's first official studio album in over eleven years since his 2013 predecessor, Authentic and his first under Def Jam since 2008's Exit 13.[2] It will feature guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Fat Joe, Rick Ross, Sona Jobarteh, Saweetie, Busta Rhymes, Nas, Eminem, Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito.[3]

The album is entirely produced by Q-Tip, and has been in development since late 2020.[4][1]

Background

[edit]

The album was originally set for development in the summer of 2014 under the title, GOAT 2, alluding to it being a sequel to LL Cool J's 2000 number-one album, G.O.A.T.[5] During 2015, he went idle from music to focus on acting (NCIS: Los Angeles)[6] and hosting (Lip Sync Battle).[7]

In March 2016, he announced his intentions to retire from recording music to focus more on his acting career.[8] After negative feedback from fans, LL would later reiterate his announcement and decided to scrap the original album and create a new one.[9] The then-untitled album was left under development hell from 2017 to 2023.[citation needed] In 2019, it was announced that LL Cool J and former labelmate DMX (who would later die in 2021)[10] resigned with Def Jam Recordings for their upcoming albums to be released.[11] No follow-ups were heard of LL's album afterwards until March 2022, when he confirmed on Instagram that producer Q-Tip was assigned to produce a majority of the album.[1]

On February 22, 2023, LL playfully reminded his social media followers that his album was scrapped because "it was too hot", before instating that it was "not yet worthy of a release" that year.[12] That March, he and various artists embarked on a promotional tour leading up to the release of the album.[13][14][15][16] On July 12, 2024, in celebration for the fortieth anniversary of the founding of his label, Def Jam, he announced the newly-titled The FORCE, claiming that he "had to learn how to rap again".[17]

On July 22, the album's track list was revealed.[17]

Singles

[edit]

On June 15, 2024, the first projected single for the album, "Saturday Night Special", was released. It features Fat Joe and Rick Ross.[18] According to LL, it was originally intended for a joint collaborative album he recorded with rapper 50 Cent; it would ultimately be cancelled, because it "didn't fit [his] style".[19][20]

On July 12, 2024, the second single, "Passion", was released at the same time the album was announced.[21]

"Proclivities", featuring Saweetie, was released as the third single on August 9, 2024.[22]

Track listing

[edit]

All tracks are written by James Todd Smith and Kamaal Fareed, except where indicated. All tracks produced by Q-Tip.

The FORCE track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Spirit of Cyrus" (featuring Snoop Dogg)  
2."The Force"  
3."Saturday Night Special" (featuring Fat Joe and Rick Ross)
3:28
4."Black Code Suite" (featuring Sona Jobarteh)  
5."Passion"
2:29
6."Proclivities" (featuring Saweetie)
  • Smith
  • Fareed
  • Gary Webb
3:39
7."Post Modern"  
8."30 Decembers"  
9."Runnit Back"  
10."Huey in the Chair" (featuring Busta Rhymes)  
11."Basquiat Energy"  
12."Praise Him" (featuring Nas)  
13."Murdergram Deux" (featuring Eminem)  
14."The Vow" (featuring Don Pablito, J-S.A.N.D. and Mad Squabiz)  

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c S, Lynn (January 2, 2020). "LL Cool J Reveals He & Q-Tip Are Working On An Album For Def Jam Records". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  2. ^ Strauss, Matthew (July 12, 2024). "LL Cool J Announces First Album in 11 Years, Shares New "Passion" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  3. ^ Kreps, Daniel (July 12, 2024). "LL Cool J Announces First Album in 11 Years, 'The FORCE'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "LL Cool J Reveals Tracklist for 'The FORCE,' Says He Had to Learn 'How to Rap Again' For First Album in 11 Years". Billboard. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ^ "LL Cool J Collaborates With Eminem, T.I. for G.O.A.T. 2". BET. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "LL Cool J just returned to 'NCIS' in a finale cameo. Looks like he's there to stay". Los Angeles Times. May 23, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Quan, Denise (January 17, 2018). "Chrissy Teigen & LL Cool J Talk 'Lip Sync Battle' Season 4: 'It's Fun to See Celebrities Squirm a Little Bit'". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  8. ^ Greenwald, Billboard, Morgan (March 15, 2016). "LL Cool J 'retires,' then announces new album". CNN. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  9. ^ Donaldson, Erich "Sermon" (March 15, 2016). "Unretired Rap Legend LL Cool J Shares New Album Details & Offers 'G.O.A.T. 2' Update". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Drake, David (April 9, 2021). "DMX, Rapper Who Blended Aggressive Menace With Emotional Sincerity, Dead at 50". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  11. ^ "LL Cool J and DMX reportedly return to Def Jam Records". KISS 104.1 FM. September 23, 2019. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  12. ^ "LL Cool J Scraps Comeback Album Before Changing His Mind". Rap-Up. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "Rock The Bells & Live Nation Urban Present The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) Live North American Summer Tour Headlined By LL COOL J". Music Recall Magazine. May 1, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  14. ^ Malcolm X Abram, cleveland com (August 11, 2023). "LL Cool J leads THE F.O.R.C.E. Live, but the lineup offers two decades of hip hop legends on one stage". cleveland. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  15. ^ "Hip-hop legends a 'F.O.R.C.E' to be reckoned with at United Center show". Chicago Sun-Times. August 14, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  16. ^ Galindo, Thomas (April 26, 2023). "LL Cool J Reveals Star-Studded "The F.O.R.C.E. Live" Tour". American Songwriter. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Kaufman, Gil (July 12, 2024). "LL Cool J Reveals Tracklist for 'The FORCE,' Says He Had to Learn 'How to Rap Again' For First Album in 11 Years". Billboard. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  18. ^ Ekpo, Ime. "LL Cool J Teams Up With Rick Ross And Fat Joe For New Q-Tip Produced Single". Forbes. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  19. ^ REVOLT. "LL Cool J talks about nixed joint album with 50 Cent, says it didn't reflect his style". REVOLT. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  20. ^ "LL COOL J Sheds Light On Scrapped Album With 50 Cent: 'It Didn't Work'". HipHopDX. August 9, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Quan, Jay. "Listen To LL COOL J's New Single, 'Passion'". rockthebells.com. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  22. ^ "LL Cool J - Proclivities (feat Saweetie)". Spotify. August 9, 2024. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
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