"You could call it a comeback, I laid back, analyzed the rhymes, and realized I own that crown for lyrical combat," James Todd Smith tells us on the opening of "10 Million Stars." While modesty has never figured into the persona of Ladies Love Cool James, it is apparent honesty hasn't, either. Although he's one of the best, the only crowns he's wearing are on his teeth.
LL already claimed to be the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) on his last album, and while he is not the best lyrically, his statistics can be rivaled by no one in the rap game: 17 years in the game, 10 albums, nine consecutive platinum albums and six Gold singles.
When "X" hit the shelves, it meant that LL Cool J had finished his 10-album contract with Def Jam. Going back and listening to earlier joints by LL, it's amazing to see how much he has changed, but also how much he's stayed the same. Back when he shook the game up with his first album "Radio" in 1985, he had confidence like he'd been in the game for years, and his self-esteem hasn't suffered at all in the past 17 years.
On the other hand, Uncle L no longer is rapping about how he can't live without his radio, and he's been in more beef than a Wisconsin farmer has. First there was Kool Moe Dee, whom he killed on "Jack the Ripper," and then there was Canibus. Not only did LL Cool J beat Canibus lyrically, but he also almost single-handedly destroyed the man's career. Although he's lying a bit lower these days, LL hasn't forgotten how to sell records.
The Queens, N.Y. rapper is getting old, 34 years to be exact. Although he hasn't gone completely soft, he's definitely settling down and making more laid-back tracks. On "X," LL goes Big Willie style by not swearing on the album, but thankfully he doesn't brag about it a la the Fresh Prince.
Note to all aspiring rappers: If you want to get mad radio play and go platinum, show your soft side to the ladies and your tough side to the fellas. "Luv U Better" is a perfect song for the ladies, but only for them. LL opens up for them on this track, the lead single, reminiscent of his first romantic classic "I Need Love," in terms of putting his soul under the microscope. On this Neptunes
produced single, LL talks to his girl about how he's been treating her wrong but wants to change his ways to build for the future. Although this is not a joint I would put on repeat, many of the ladies loving cool James will.
"10 Million Stars" is a classic LL joint with the confident lyrics and hot beat made by Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence. Lawrence also produced "Throw Ya L's Up," which is about as hardcore as Uncle L gets nowadays. If he wanted to, he could still go Michael Jordan on the young cocky rappers that have infiltrated the game lately.
"Fa Ha" is a good track to play loud, but like most of the raps on the album, it's really not saying much. Along with "After School," featuring Puff Daddy (its hard enough to refer to another man as "Puff Daddy," but to call him "P. Diddy" is something I simply cannot do), is really all there is of hip hop on the album.
For the rest of "X," LL is on the R&B tip. Amerie comes through on "Paradise," which is a nice track, just not something you would have thought you'd see on an LL album. Dru Hill is featured on "Big Mama (Unconditional Love)." It's all about his love for grandma, and the interlude tips this off -- LL talks to his grandma on the phone, cuts off their conversation because he's in the studio and then says "Family's important" as he goes into the song. I'm not sure if this is contradictory, but it seems like he could have talked to her for longer than 30 seconds.
Anyway, this song is nice until LL goes 730. It's a great tribute before he starts rapping about how she punished him in junior high for "pulling my privates out in class." Maybe he was desperate for a rhyming word, but it seems like a real G.O.A.T. could have said something a little more appropriate.
LL is doing a lot right now, including movies and also writing a children's book, which is about, believe it or not, humility! That's like the Grateful Dead writing a book about being drug-free.
Speaking of free, "Free" of BET's "106 and Park" fame is on the interludes throughout the album, one of which hears her asking LL why he looks so good. This seems to be the main theme of "X," because in just about every picture in the album art LL looks as though he's just finished pumping iron. If he spent as much time working on his raps as his biceps, maybe "X" would be more than just another comeback LP destined for the bargain bin.
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