Original Review This is probably LL's most pop rap influenced album. There are a couple of genuine harder tracks here like, 'It's LL and Santana' and 'What You Want', and 'Control Myself' and 'We're Gonna Make It' are kind of in between pop rap and being harder tunes, but as you can probably infer by looking at the list of featuring artists, the rest is quite poppy. Some of it works though. 112 kill the chorus of 'Down the Aisle' making it a good song, 'Preserve the Sexy' has a weak chorus, but I like the verses, 'I've Changed' has a bangin' beat, and again the chorus is good from an artist who I've never of before, and then a remix of Ne-Yo's hit 'So Sick' is attached to the end of this album. The second half is definitely stronger than the beginning, and if you like some R&B/pop rap this isn't quite as poor as the consensus suggests in my opinion. *Written in 2013 Best Tracks: What You Want, I've Changed, Down the Aisle, So Sick Remix ----- 2022 Revisit Review The opener goes for a hard hip hop feel, but it falls pretty flat. This hasn't grown on me at all. They should've kicked the album off with 'Control Myself'. I can't believe I didn't have it listed amongst the best tracks previously. Jermaine Dupri creates a contagious danceable track with LL and the writers making a catchy hook and bars. 'Favorite Flavor' is a decent pop rap song. I've written that sentence a lot the past week as I've been revisiting all of LL's albums. 'Freeze' was surprisingly the third single. It's quite slow and for me a skip. 'Best Dress' is a little better but again, nothing to keep for later. 'Preserve the Sexy' is a step up. It's got some more bounce, the chorus stands out from the verses and the trading bars that LL does with Teairra Mari, and did on a number of his songs, and that doesn't happen enough in hip hop, works well. LL also rhymes with some great bars. Speaking of trading bars, 'What You Want', also does this with Freeway and LL rapping over the hardest and best pure hip hop song here. I still love 'I've Changed' for the reason in the original review. Scott Storch, one of the legends of the '00s, provides the production for 'Ooh Wee'. It's not his best and this is more like the weaker pop rap songs at the start of the album than the better ones. I remember liking '#1 Fan' and 'Down the Aisle' more. I agree with what I wrote above about 112 doing a good job on the chorus, but I don't think I'd list it with the best tracks. 'We're Gonna Make It' has that epic final track to an album vibe. The production reminds me of a Saigon song from 'The Greatest Story Never Told'. Overall, I remembered this fairly well. There wasn't anything that surprised me upon revisiting it. My original 2.5/5 is probably fair for this. I get an urge to hit skip a few times, but there isn't anything I truly dislike, and there are a handful of good songs that I've been happy to go back to. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Control Myself, Preserve the Sexy, What You Want, I've Changed, So Sick Remix

Original review: From a purely vocal point of view, LL is one of my favourites. He just has a good voice to listen to over a beat. Generally though, recently LL beats are disappointing either because he goes for overly poppy stuff too often, or they are just fairly generic. This album, largely produced by Timbaland though, has some reasonable stuff. I have always loved the opener, 'Headsprung', which is a good banger. 'Rub My Back' is also enjoyable and may remind you a bit of some of Timberlake's Timbaland produced beats. 'I'm About to Get Her' is one of the worst tracks on the album, it's more poppy and fairly boring, likewise with 'Every Sip' a few tracks later. Then 'Move Somethin'' takes it back to the opening two tracks mood with some more quick drums and could almost fit into the banger category. It isn't as good as the first two songs though. 'Hush' is one I enjoy, I heard it long before I got this album and have enjoyed it since then. LL has a good flow on this beat and it's a good pop rap track. From there, 'Shake It Baby' is okay, 'Can't Explain It' is average with a more slow seductive beat created by Timbaland, and 'Feel the Beat' again ain't too bad, but I don't think it'll have people coming back for repeated listens as the beat is a little monotonous. In the remaining two tracks it heats up a bit again after a few average tracks. 'Apple Cobbler' is one of the better tracks but still nothing outstanding, and '1 in the Morning' is likewise. On the whole, there ain't a lot to get excited about on LL's eleventh album. It falls down in the middle way too much and with only eleven tracks it should be much more consistent. Some nice stuff as mentioned that elevates the overall rating, but there's nothing sensational. I'm torn between a 2.5 and 3 for this but given I wouldn't play half of it again and the best stuff ain't great a 2.5/5 is fair. Best Tracks: Headsprung, Rub My Back, Move Somethin', Hush, Apple Cobbler, 1 in the Morning --------------------------------------------------- 2022 Revisiting review: From memory, this was the first collection of songs I heard from LL Cool J. As I revisit this album, I think I was a little harsh on it when I listened years ago. The first thing I noticed is that the album starts off how a hip hop album should. The opener for '10' was poor, but here we have the much better banging 'Headsprung'. Timbaland produces more than half of these tracks and begins it in a great way. I don't like 'Headsprung' as much as I used to, but it's still a pretty great tune. Like '10' though, (Diddy aside), this also doesn't have any rap features. Considering he was on a major label and just as it's rare in general, it is odd. LL can hold an album down though. Plus, this is a short one at only 44 minutes. Aside from the opener, 'Hush' is the other standout here. I remember first hearing it and loving it. I also listened to the version with Xavier Aeon and loving that too. The production and hook, both by 7 Aurelius, works fantastically well. I agree with my original review that there isn't amazing material here, but it's a consistent collection of 11 songs. I don't dislike 'I'm About to Get Her' as much as my previous review makes it sound and I enjoy songs like '1 in the Morning' more too. The album is mostly pop rap, but like I said on 'G.O.A.T.' when comparing it to 'Phenomenon', the balance is better between between the poppy production but still maintaining a hip hop feel to the production on most songs. This has better hooks than some of his previous albums too. I'll up this to a 3/5. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆

Firstly, the title of this is misleading. One of his projects included in the 10 was a compilation... It's really his 9th album. As I revisit this to review it, I only gave it a 2/5 back when I first listened a long time ago, so let's see what I think now. 'Born to Love You' is a poor way to start the album. Either start the album off with some proper spitting like you did on the last one, L, or one of the better pop rap songs this has. Instead we have maybe the most boring song here. The Neptunes do a great job with the following 'Luv U Better'. The chorus could have been sung more... Gets Kells or someone on it. Good, but could've been better. Next up, Trackmasters/Poke & Tone redeem themselves from the opener with a much better pop rap song, featuring the delicious Amerie. 'Luv U Better' has more interesting production, but this is the best pop rap song on the album. 'Fa Ha' is the first non-pop rap track. The chorus barely differentiates itself from the verses. Then we have 'Niggy Nuts'. This is the chorus: "Get off my niggy niggy nuts! (ha ha, ha ha-hah ha) / (ha-hah, ha-hah-ha, ha ha-hah) Get off my niggy niggy nuts! / (ha ha, ha ha-hah ha) / (ha-hah, ha-hah-ha, ha ha-hah) Get off my niggy niggy nuts!" I like LL's angrier and harder delivery, but this is another skip. Then we are back to pop rap with 'Amazin''. The production change up about two minutes in saves it to be worth a second listen. 'Paradise' is much better though. The chorus of 'Clockin G's' reminds me of the Outkast song 'Myintrotoletuknow'. It's so similar that it surely can't just be a coincidence. The Neptunes should be proud of this one too. I think this is my pick from the disc. I think 'Lollipop' is the worst thing here and 'After School' is a skip too. 'Throw Ya L's Up' is a decent pump-up song thanks to its hook. 'U Should' is another decently produced pop rap song by The Neptunes. '10 Million Stars' is hard. This and 'Clockin G's' are the best 'real' hip hop songs here. 'Mirror Mirror' isn't a great song but it has interesting lyrics with LL mentioning lots of his previous songs within them. There was a song with the same title on his previous album, but they are completely different. 'Big Mama (Unconditional Love)' is a tribute to his grandmother. The 'Sadie' by The Spinners sample makes it hard to dislike it and then we have the collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, 'All I Have' to finish '10'. The UK version also has the James Yarde Mix of 'Paradise'. It offers a more relaxed vibe. I don't think this is better than the original but it's worth checking out. There is lots of pop rap that isn't as great. The pop rap was better on the last album, as were the couple of songs closer to hardcore hip hop. As I've been giving this repeated listens, and it could be because I've listened to nothing but LL Cool J for five days, but this feels like it's been the most forced. Interestingly, one thing this album lacks, that his last couple of albums have, is some legends as rap features. All we have here is Diddy. LL is less interesting on here too. I think there are more moments on his other projects where his delivery or lyrics are more noteworthy. My original 2/5 will remain but it's a decent 2/5. Up until this point in his career, mid-80s production aside with Radio, I think this is his worst album. Beats: ★★★ Rapping/Bars: ★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Luv U Better, Paradise, Clockin G's, 10 Million Stars

While Common mentioned it back in '97 on 'Real Nigga Quotes', you could probably blame LL Cool J for popularising the acronym that everyone is tired of hearing in 2022! I wouldn't rank him as highly as the G.O.A.T., but given what he was doing around the genesis of hip hop breaking into the mainstream, he deserves to have a special place in the history books. Anyway, after the poor previous pop rap album, 'Phenomenon', I remembered enjoying this a lot more. Hopefully, I still do as I revisit it many years later. The intro is a good sign with LL just spitting for two minutes about his legacy and why he deserves respect in the game. 'Imagine That' should be considered pop rap, but it toes the line nicely and is entertaining enough with its unique production that definitely sounds like a Rockwilder beat with the signature electronic sounds. On the next, 'Back Where I Belong', LL takes shots at Canibus and does his thing on the verses. The beat is decent at best though and I don't like Ja on the hook at all. It has an exciting, building first 40 seconds, but then it's an anti-climax. With a good chorus this would probably be one of my favourites from the album based on LL's verses. Like 'Imagine That', 'LL Cool J' and 'Take It Off' are pop rap but not to the bubblegum-pop degree as many of the songs on 'Phenomenon' making them better crossover tracks. I think Naughty by Nature were the kings at this. They made catchy, chorus focused tunes, but the songs still fitted in with a hip hop audience. 'Phenomenon' didn't do that, they were too pop. This album gets the balance closer to where it needs to be. On 'LL Cool J' the 'I Put a Spell on You' by Screamin' Jay Hawkins sample works well with Kandice Love's sultry vocals. The best song so far. 'Fuhgidabowdit' is a big letdown based on the features. The verses are okay, but the hook is just "fogetaboutit" repeated in a possibly offensive Italian accent. It's a lazy hook. The production is far from award winning either. 'Can't Think', produced by Ty Fyffe, with its short catchy keys, has fairly basic production, but LL's performance is fire. This is one of, if not the best songs here. It's just hard from the first 10 seconds. I wish there was more of this on the album. It seems like "hell" is censored here... With all of the vulgarity on the album, let's not offend the religious folk by saying hell? Amazin'! 'Can't Think' and others have moments of consciousness, but 'Homicide' sees LL getting conscious for a whole song for pretty much the only time on the album. "I don't mean this in a disrespectful way / But Columbine happens in the ghetto every day / When the shit goes down y'all ain't got nothing to say." The acted police communication in the song make it seem like they care more about rescuing a cat from a tree than black murder. 'U Can't Fuck with Me' is pretty dope. While nothing is groundbreaking, DJ Scratch handles a lot of tracks here and offers lots of variety. From this banger to the poppy 'You and Me'. The Prodigy assisted, 'Queens Is', has some menacing high keys, and the next two, 'The G.O.A.T.' and 'Ill Bomb', first on Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap's album, 'The Tunnel', are decent hip hop songs before the album finishes with more pop rap. Case brings a catchy hook to 'M.I.S.S. I'. This is the hook that will get stuck in your head. Some versions also have 'Shut 'Em Down' from the 'Any Given Sunday Soundtrack'. LL spits like he is trying to beat Twista's world record and the beat has a darker feel to it than anything on the album. This is one of the better songs on here. I tell ya, there are many artists who have hidden gems on soundtracks. I'm still discovering them. Other versions also have bonus tracks: 'Fo Sho' - Decent east coast hip hop song. 'Mirror Mirror' - Pretty weak beat here. 'Queens Is (Remix feat. DABO) - Adds Japanese lyrics from the featured artist from the Japanese release of this album. Circling back to my introduction, I don't enjoy this as much as I remembered and as I've been revisiting LL's discography this has taken the most thought about what to rate it. I don't think there is a top 20 LL song here. Kind of like with Mr. Smith, the production is good a lot of the time, but it just doesn't excel. The pop rap songs are his best for a while though. Songs like 'You and Me', 'LL Cool J', 'Hello', 'Take It Off', 'This Is Us' (that Carl Thomas kills) are all well put together. A consistently good album, but the high points aren't here, and the straight up hip hop songs aren't great enough. I'm leaving this at my original rating of 3.5/5 because I can find something to enjoy in every track, but it's a light 3.5. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: LL Cool J, Can't Think, You and Me, U Can't Fuck with Me, Shut 'Em Down

As with 'BAD', this begins with fire. 'Droppin' Em' will definitely get your head bangin'. Again though, as with BAD, from the opener, the production drops off, feeling more like something from closer to the mid '80s for the next couple of songs. 'Nitro' get back to the feeling of the feeling of the first track, with a harder, high tempo beat and spitting. 'You're My Heart' seems to be going for that 'I Need Love' feel, and is a quick skip from me. 'I'm That Type of Guy' is fantastic. The dark beat and way its rapped makes it unique plus the additional production changes make it stand out. However, it would be even better without the “O-Ee-Yah! Eoh-Ah!” vocals during the chorus. The following 'Why Do You Think They Call It Dope?' is dope. 8 songs in, this is already his best album from his first three. 'One Shot At Love' is another love song and doesn't too well either. Why do all of L's early love songs sound like lullabies? The socially-conscious call to arms rap-rock closer 'Change Your Ways' is a disappointing way to end the album. I don't have a lot of '80s hip hop albums rated very highly, as the production often leaves me uninspired, but enough of this is great. LL is a fantastic rapper and demonstrates it on numerous occasions. There are some missteps, largely with the soft love songs, and one or two songs like 'Jealous' that don't do enough musically, but this album deserves to have a better reputation. I've increased my rating of it after revisiting it many years after my first listen. It's ridiculous that I read that this received a poor reception from fans when it dropped because of a couple of soft songs when there are over 10 dope boom bap/hardcore hip hop songs. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★★☆ Hooks: ★★★☆ Best Tracks: Droppin' Em, Nitro, I'm That Type of Guy, Why Do You Think They Call It Dope?, It Gets No Rougher, Jingling Baby, Def Jam in the Motherland