LL Cool J - Mr. Smith

With more than 14 years as a continually viable, visible recording artist, LL Cool J--the once and future James Todd Smith--sets the pace for hip-hop artist longevity. Though with five consecutive platinum albums he's long since qualified for his rap star pension, why stop the old guy when he shows no sign of slowing down? On 1995's Mr. Smith, the 27-year-old LL's "self"-titled sixth album, the rapper keeps running like an aged marathoner: past his prime and no longer winning medals, perhaps, but still in full stride and doing a lot better than you could. At this point in his career, though, LL seems concerned with retaining the credibility of his Queens, New York, past while submerging deeper into a Hollywood future. Conscious of--and not fully resistant to--the fact that he's fast becoming recognized more as sitcom star than as rap pioneer, LL goes out of his way on Mr. Smith to provide his résumé. He recaps successes on "I Shot Ya," remembers those who paved his way on "Hip Hop," and even pumps a little hardcore on "Life As ..." But ultimately LL's just acting tough, not living tough. While he claims one song won't "be getting no airplay" due to its heavy profanity, in reality the vocals are heavily expurgated. LL tries to play both sides, but he can't escape his nice-guy, TV-ready self. He even celebrates his second career on "Hollis to Hollywood," a rap full of movie wordplay ("I'm making Speed like I'm Keanu Reeves / But too many True Lies can make a honey bleed"). And of course, Mr. Smith is best when he's just playing the ladies' man: "Hey Lover" waxes R&B sultry with Boyz II Men on vocals, while "Doin' It" and "Make It Hot" get down-and-out sexy over impeccable tracks. --Roni Sarig Amazon.com

This is not a Clean Version

First off let me say that this is an excellent album that once again shows the immense talent that LL Cool J brings to each and every project. My only complaint is that this is supposed to be the Clean version of his album and it isn't. It's exactly the same as the album that has the "Explicit" warning on it. Obviously the label screwed up but that still doesn't help anyone whose mistakenly bought this as I did thinking it was a Clean version. That's the only reason my review was 2 stars :( February 13, 2008

(4+HALF) MR.SMITH re-establishes his crown!

LL has been around so long that every hiphop fan in the last 10years must have at least one of his albums. His resume speaks for itself, a veteran who has endured crazy ups+downs throughout his career. This album can be summed up in one word for me.....SMOOTH. The production by Trackmasters and Chyskillz (on one) were perfectly crafted for LL to bless. The beats range from very organic live drum sounding beats to straight up headnodding anthems. The subject matter is same as always, rap ballads (which only he usually pulls off), boastful raps about his career+standing in the hiphop game and crushing wack mc's. I suppose why change if youre selling millions everytime you release an album??? The opening joint "Make It hot" starts the vibe perfectly cuz if youre feeling that you'll love the rest of the album. Its smooth, live drum sound compliments the cool(excuse the pun) delivery from LL. Both "Hip Hop" and "Hey Lover" have the same vibe. "Hip Hop" is a story about how he c ame up through the game where he uses titles of other artists songs/albums in the sentences to formulate his story. "Hey Lover" feat.Boyz II Men, which was the 1st single brings his ballad-side out to great effect. Wonderful wordplay mixed with soulful vocals from such an established group as the Boyz and masterful smooth production from the Trackmasterz make this probably his strongest ballad in his career to date. "Doin It" which was the 2nd single is more uptempo and fun in the format of a conversation between 2 lovers flirting sexily. The next 3 joints bring the harder edge to the album with barnstorming, whiplash inducing beats "Life As....", "I Shot Ya" and "Mr. Smith". A ll of which are 3 of the better tracks on show here. "No Airplay" is a very frustrating joint as somedays i like it and others i cant stand it. It has great hardcore lyrics but b'cuz he was taking a stab at the censors he dubs out the curses himself so it becomes irritaing after one verse. As I said, other days I find it hilarious. "Loungin" and "Hollis To Hollywood" are both smooth joints where LL runs shop and shows exactly why he has a rep as the main sex symbol in hiphop. "God Bless" and "Get Da Drop On Em"(my favourite) have harder beats than the previous 2 and will instantly get your head nodding along with soem of LL's better lyrics here, particularlly on "Get Da Drop On Em". After a brief prelude we have the "I Shot Ya (Remix)" where a whole host of guests (Fat Joe, Prodigy, Foxy Brown+Keith Murray) show love and put down good verses over the earlier joints beat with LL dropping a new verse himself. All in all this is definitely better than any of the albums he's dropped since then with exception only to "G.O.A.T." which is on par. Those 2 along with "Mama Said Knock You Out" are his best albums by a long shot. March 7, 2007

Mr. Smith

Back when he took a dive after releasing "14 Shots to the Dome" he came back with a vengeance with Mr. Smith. To me, this is the best album he came out with so far and should have sold more than it did. On this album, even though every one of them has samples of other songs, I can listen to it all the way through. Like I said, classic album but very underrated.

Lloyd's Favorites:
Hey Lover
Doin It
I Shot Ya! (also the remix)
Mr. Smith
No Airplay
Hollis to Hollywood (but is he good?)
God Bless
Loungin (the remix)
August 5, 2006

LL's last great album

This album came out a little over 10 years ago and still worth listening to. On here, LL switches up his style from loverman(Hey Lover) to hardcore rapping (I Shot Ya). After this album, LL officially fell off and now is making crapy music and movies. So if you want great LL albums, get this, MSKYO, Radio and Bigger and Deffer.

1.intro
2.make it hot-skip this. filler
3.hip hop-great song where LL makes a tribute to rappers that inspired him to rap
4.hey lover-a top ten hit. a great song for late night.
5.doin it-another top ten hit. a raunchy sex song. it's not that nasty compared to what you hear in today's raps.
6.life as...-it's an ok song. nothing special.
7.i shot ya-a great song. it's addictive. this is the LL i want to see more often.
8.mr. smith-another hardcore track. great rhyming.
9.no airplay-filler
10.loungin-a little more explicit than the remix.
11.hollis to hollywood-ok track
12.god bless-it's good for the most part.
13.get a drop on them-filler
14.prelude
15.i shot ya remix-another classic from the album. features great rhymes from foxy, fat joe, keith murray and prodigy. June 30, 2006

LL Cool J - Mr. Smith

LL Cool J's (AKA Todd Smith) sixth album "Mr. Smith" (1995) was a fifteen-track release from the Queens native. Trackmasters who helped executive produce this release lace "The Intro" (Skit) with a tight instrumental and LL starts his album off laughing. The next track "Make It Hot" is tight; LL samples the Debarges "I Like It", and rhymes with his trademark flow in what turns out to be a smooth joint. LL shines when paying tribute to "Hip Hop", celebrating and taking his listeners down memory lane. "Hey Lover" is off the hook, one of LL's most memorable love joints, Boyz II Men vocals are used, and LL drops an outstanding track while talking about having love for an attached woman. LL then delivers a getting laid track with "Doin It" feat. Leshaun. The tone of the album starts to change after this point with LL dropping more grimy cuts like "I Shot Ya" and "Mr. Smith". LL cuts into other rappers who overuse metaphors while repping himself on "Hollis to Hollywood". LL keeps guest appearances limited till the closer the "I Shot Ya" (Remix) which features Keith Murray, Fat Joe, Foxy Brown and Prodigy. The best part of this album is the early part in my opinion, where LL excels; later on things get a bit repetitive. The good joints on this are memorable, making "Mr. Smith" a solid album. 3.5. March 18, 2006

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