LL COOL J has announced The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), his first new album in 11 years. It’s out in full on September 6th via Def Jam Recordings/Virgin Music Group, but you can hear the second single “Passion” below.
The 14-track project was entirely produced by A Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip and is packed with all-star features from Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Busta Rhymes, Saweetie, and more. In a recent interview with the Associated Press, LL COOL J described the process of recording the album as relearning his craft.
“[I was] going back to the drawing board and learning how to rap again,” he said. “The LeBrons, the Stephs, the Jordans and the Kobes, they all go back to the drawing board, they always try to make themselves better. I wasn’t trying to do trendy, and I wasn’t trying to recapture anything I did before.”
On “Passion,” Q-Tip’s laidback production leaves ample room for LL COOL J’s relaxed delivery. “Hella paper tigers, all toothless/ Tony Montana blueprint is useless,” he spits. “Some people ignore facts/ I love Scarface but that n*gga with the chainsaw fell on the mat/ We just act like we don’t see that.”
“Passion” follows lead single “Saturday Night Special” featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. LL COOL J’s last studio album, Authentic, was released in 2013. Pre-orders for The FORCE are ongoing.
The FORCE Artwork:
The FORCE Tracklist:
01. Spirit of Cyrus (feat. Snoop Dogg)
02. The FORCE
03. Saturday Night Special (feat. Rick Ross and Fat Joe)
04. Black Code Suite (feat. Sona Jobarteh)
05. Passion
06. Proclivities (feat. Saweetie)
07. Post Modern
08. 30 Decembers
09. Runnit Back
10. Huey in Da Chair (feat. Busta Rhymes)
11. Basquiat Energy
12. Praise Him (feat. Nas)
13. Murdergram Deux (feat. Eminem)
14. The Vow (feat. Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)