WilsonBlock1000 Radio

“The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy)” Marks a Return to Form for LL Cool J [Album Review]

Posted by on

Queens, New York emcee, songwriter, actor, pioneer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer LL Cool J or Ladies Love Cool James returning to Def Jam Recordings a decade after the independently released Authentic to have Q-Tip from one of my all-time favorite groups A Tribe Called Quest produce his 14th full-length studio album. Signing to Def Jam since Rick Rubin & Russell Simmons started it, his hardcore mid-school debut Radio fully produced by Rick & the sophomore effort B.A.D. (Bigger And Deffer) both established him as being a flagship artist for the label. Walking with a Panther was a good follow-up too since “Jingling Baby”’s one of my favorite songs of LL’s & Mama Said Knock You Out produced by Juice Crew co-founder Marley Marl is the best in his discography. 14 Shots to the Dome, Mr. Smith, Phenomenon, G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All-Time) which helped coin the titular acronym, 10 & The DEFinition primarily produced by Timbaland all had their individual highlights except I didn’t enjoy them as much as the first 2 albums & Mama Said Knock You Out combined. Said standouts include “Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings”, “Loungin’”, “4, 3, 2, 1″ which because of the line “L is that a mic on your arm? Let me borrow that” ignited his beef with Canibus that lasted the last 3 years of the 20th century, “Zoom”, “Imagine That”, “Luv U Better” & “Headsprung”. Todd Smith was a step-down from The DEFinition & even fulfilled his Def Jam contract by releasing Exit 13 to mixed responses. Some consider Authentic as his weakest & I on the contrary always found myself enjoying the half that the Trackmasters produced & “Remember Me”. He alongside the late DMX both returned to Def Jam in 2019 & got with Dr. Dre who produced “Zoom” for what eventually became a journey through The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) in an exclusive joint deal between Def Jam & Virgin Music.

“Spirit of Cyrus” featuring Snoop Dogg is a synth-driven opener talking about stitching fuckers up & leaving the murder seamless whereas the title track works in a blaring boom bap instrumental flexing that he’s part of the realest crew chillin’ on a yacht listening to Pop Smoke & they got all the plugs. The lead single “Saturday Night Special” featuring Fat Joe & Rick Ross samples “Bobbing Wide” by Caravan talking about always keeping your word & paying back while “Black Code Suite” serves as this slick pro-black anthem.

The way Tip flips “Sun Touch” by Herbie Hancock on the 2nd single “Passion” was highly enjoyable talking about these muhfuckas needing a new team & “Proclivities” featuring Saweetie is actually the only love song on the entire LP hooking the synths back up asking their partners what they gonna do with it. “Post Modern” soulfully expresses LL’s desire to raise the bar, but then “30 Decembers” hops over a morbid beat to tell us his experiences of living in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Runnit Back” brings a funkier flare to the table talking about having to make moves out here if you really want it just before “Huey in the Chair” featuring Busta Rhymes continues the themes of Afrocentrism likening themselves to the iconic picture of Black Panthers founder Huey P. Newton posted up. “Basquiat Energy” pulls inspiration from funk music once again talking about keeping the aura of Jean-Michel Basquiat in the air leading into the groovy “Praise Him” featuring Nas finding the 2 giving thanks to the higher power.

Eminem who actually became God like James Todd joins Uncle L for the 4th & final single “Murdergram 2”, which is a sequel to a highlight off Mama Said Knock You Out that lives up to the hype of it’s predecessor boasting about their raw unapologetic style & credibility in the rap game whether it be LL’s nostalgic bravado or Eminem’s signature speedy flow & subtle wordplay. “The Vow” featuring Don Pablito, J-S.A.N.D. & Mad Squablz finishes our exploration of The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) by showcasing 3 up-&-coming artists paying it forward to them. 

I can’t call it a comeback because he’s been here for years but as I expected based on the singles, The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) serves as a testament of Def Jam’s dominance in the musical landscape for 4 decades & lands a spot in my personal top 3 LL albums with Radio & Mama Said Knock You Out. He relearns how to rap again not doing anything trendy or trying to recapture anything he did in the past & works out beautifully addressing themes racial injustice, law enforcement abuses, isolation mixed with observations brought on by the pandemic, his overall legacy & musings on his place in the canon. I can’t forget to mention that Q-Tip’s production here is equivalent to Pete Rock’s on Common’s newest album The Auditorium & that much like The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies Of Real Creative Energy) further proves that hip hop culture’s veterans are still thriving as the music industry evolves with time adapting to further establish their legacies & longevities.

Score: 9/10

Submit news tips to thawilsonMAG@gmail.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Local Music Scenes

Music Scenes

Adelaide Music Scene African Music Scene Akron Music Scene Alabama Music Scene Alaska Music Scene Albany Music Scene Anchorage Music Scene Arizona Music Scene Arkansas Music Scene Atlanta Music Scene
Australian Music Scene Bakersfield Music Scene Baltimore Music Scene Beverly Hills Music Scene Boston Music Scene Brampton Music Scene Bronx Music Scene Brooklyn Music Scene Buffalo Music Scene California Music Scene Canadian Music Scene Charlotte Music Scene Chicago Music Scene Chicago drill music scene Cincinnati Music Scene Cleveland Music Scene Cologne Music Scene Colombian Music Scene Colorado Music Scene Compton Music Scene Connecticut Music Scene Dallas Music Scene Daytona Beach Music Scene Denver Music Scene Detroit Music Scene Durham Music Scene Finland Music Scene Finnish Music Scene Florida Music Scene Georgia Music Scene Germany Music Scene Ghana Music Scene Greece Music Scene Greensboro Music Scene Hawaii Music Scene Hiram Music Scene Honolulu Music Scene Houston Music Scene Illinois Music Scene Inglewood Music Scene Iowa Music Scene Ireland Music Scene Jackson Music Scene Johannesburg Music Scene Kansas City Music Scene Kansas Music Scene Kentucky Music Scene La Habra Music Scene Las Vegas Music Scene Lexington Music Scene London Music Scene Long Beach Music Scene Long Island Music Scene Los Angeles Music Scene Louisiana Music Scene Louisville Music Scene Maine Music Scene Marion Music Scene Maryland Music Scene Massachusetts Music Scene Melbourne Music Scene Miami Music Scene Michigan Music Scene Milwaukee Music Scene Minneapolis Music Scene Mississippi Music Scene Missouri Music Scene Munich Music Scene Nashville Music Scene Nevada Music Scene New Jersey Music Scene New Mexico Music Scene New Orleans Music Scene New York State Music Scene Nigeria Music Scene NorCal Music Scene North Carolina Music Scene Oakland Music Scene Ohio Music Scene Oklahoma Music Scene Ontario Music Scene Oregon Music Scene Oxnard Music Scene Pennsylvania Music Scene Philadelphia Music Scene Phoenix Music Scene Portland Music Scene Rhode Island Music Scene Rochester Music Scene Sacramento Music Scene Salt Lake City Music Scene San Antonio Music Scene San Bernardino Music Scene San Diego Music Scene San Francisco Music Scene Seattle Music Scene South Africa Music Scene South Carolina Music Scene St. Louis Music Scene Tennessee Music Scene Texas Music Scene Tokyo Music Scene Tulsa Music Scene Utah Music Scene Vallejo Music Scene Vancouver Music Scene Virginia Music Scene Waco Music Scene Wisconsin Music Scene Wyoming Music Scene altadena music scene american music scene local music scene music scene new york music scene northwest music scene pasadena music scene seattle music scene toronto music scene
Show more