LL Cool J Album: “G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time [Clean]”

LL Cool J was without a doubt an early hip-hop pioneer, but G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) status I have to debate.

There are some classic tracks on this album that show signs of flamboyance, but for the most part the rest of the tracks are below average.

Intro: ++++ (best into I've heard in awhile)

I would give this album 3.25 stars maybe... 3.5 but nothing more. If you are a big fan of LL then you wouldnt feel this is his best album and it isn't, but I would have to say it is worth the money you pay for it for the classic tracks I listed above.

LL is the Maximus (Gladiator) of Hip-Hop. He's lasted forever, and has had the rather uncommon challenge of reintroducing himself to new audiences every five years. To the millions of teenagers raised on Britney Spears and NSYNC, LL is brand new. To those of us who remember the red suit and the kangol back in 1987, LL gets our respect for outlasting just about everybody.

Here is the breakdown:

1) Intro - Tight - you heard this on the Nutty Professor II CD.

2) Imagine That - Great song, lyrically redundant but the beat is tight...

3) Back Where I Belong - with Ja Rule on the chorus, LL completely destroys Canibus, the rapper who successfully dissed LL back in 98.

4) LL Cool J - Tight. This will be a classic. Gotta love the self-love on this one.

5) Take It Off - Blatant rip-off of Q-Tip's 'Vivrant Thing', but it doesn't matter. This song is a hit.

6) Skit

7) Fuhgidabowdit - Posse cut with fellow Def Jam icons Method Man, Redman, and DMX. For the underground and true hip-hop headz.

8) Farmers - THIS IS A VINTAGE CUT. Classic LL...think 1987's 'Bigger And Deffer' album.

9) This is Us - Tight. With Carl Thomas, LL comes off brutal to the ladies...payback time for all the "No Scrubs" and "Bills Bills Bills" that fellas have had to endure lately.

10) Can't Think - great song. About being frusturated and hopeless.

11) Hello - Will be a club hit. For the ladies only.

12) You and Me - New Jack Sound...remember '6 Minutes Of Pleasure' from 1990's 'Mama Said Knock You Out' album?

13) Homicide - One of my favorites. Lyrically, one of his most political, right-on songs ever. A must listen, especially for the powers that be in the media.

14) U Can't [Mess] With Me - Hard. Snoop, Jayo Felony and Xzhibit help LL slay the competition. Poor Jamie Foxx...

15) Queens Is - This will be a classic. Nice. Features Prodigy of Mobb Deep.

16) The G.O.A.T - A risk, but the beat is so innovative, it just might work. Kinda reminds me of 'Mama Said Knock You Out' in that it has that furious feel to it.

17) Ill Bomb - Hands down, one of LL's best. Lyrically top notch. Hypnotic. East Coast to the fullest.

18) Hi - New Jack sound to it, al la 'Jingling Baby'. Pure fun, zero substance.

So in case I wasn't clear...this CD is definetly worth your hard-earned money. It's his best since 1990's 'Mama Said Knock You Out', which was his first comeback album.

Knyte (Trust Me)

Before this album, LL publicly admitted that a couple of his albums were subpar and that he promised to make a better release with this album. He deliveres...somewhat. There are some songs that should have never made it to disc. Imagine That is a joke. LL Cool J feat Kandice Love is laughable and Take It Off sounds like a cheap knockoff of Vivrant Thing. This Is Us feat Carl Thomas falls on its face and Hello feat Amil, M.I.S.S.I feat Case and The G.O.A.T. are all wack. Other than that this album has some great songs. Back Where I Belong feat Ja Rule is a harsh diss record against Canibus that makes The Ripper Strikes Back look pale in comparison. Fuhgidabowdit feat DMX, Redman and Method Man is tight and hilarious. Cant Think and Homicide are honest attempts at songs of substance that work. U Cant F*** With Me feat Snoop Dogg. Jayo Felony(who should have been left off) and Xzibit is dope. Ill Bomb is classic LL Cool J in fine form. Plus the album intro is tight also. You And Me feat Kelly Price is pretty good too. Bottom Line: G.O.A.T is the last solid release from LL Cool J. Even though it has its missteps, it is still better than the albums that come after it. Standout Tracks: INTRO, BACK WHERE I BELONG, FARMERS, CANT THINK, YOU AND ME, HOMICIDE, U CANT F*** WITH ME and ILL BOMB.

First thing first, no matter what you're opinion of the master that is LL COOL J you simply cant deny this guy is the man. Ive been into hip-hop for around 15years now and he's been an ever-present. Bottom line you cant be in this business, of all business', for as long as he's been without having skills. Everthing he's dropped since "RADIO" has sold crazy numbers, and not just cuz the brother's a so called "sex symbol". Apart from "phenomenon" (which i still look at in disbelief that its his album), the majority of his albums are tight, balanced perfectly between stories of the world today, smooth love ballads (which to be fair, only he ever seems to pull off) and straight up hard edged skilled flows. This one is done with the same formula. Stand out cuts are "intro", "back where i belong",

"homicide" the unbelieveble "ill bomb", "shut 'em down", "queens is...", "this is us", "ll cool j" and im feeling the rockwilder produced "imagine that", which i admit is very much done for radio and MTV, but its done tight. All in all a damn good album and worth every penny.

Man, I have to say, this CD contains nothing but rips, same ol' recycled material, and alot of guests. If his guests hadn't of helped out, this album would be sunk.METHOD MAN...YEAH! LL is not a bad actor, but this CD is far from being the best.... G.O.A.T? I don't think so..