Real Staying Power…. Legendary Todd Smith
Although I’m an LL Cool J fan, I was honestly all ready
to just rip this album apart. “This album,” being
his twelfth album entitled, Todd Smith (his government). I
felt like there’s no way Big L could still keep it hot
with today’s young rappers, and maybe he thought the same
thing.
With songs featuring Juelz Santana, Mary J. Blige, Tearra Mari
and even his one-time, one-minute rival, Jamie Foxx just to name
a few, is it safe to say that Todd Smith didn’t think he
could carry album #12 solo? A-n-d at 40? Or does LL
Cool J just know how to give ‘em what they want?? |
With record companies dropping some artists as
quickly as they sign them, it’s amazing how LL Cool J has
remained in the game for so long and has been so successful with
the younger audiences. Ultimately, music has no age, but you
can’t help but to realize that there’s something
for every rap/R&B demographic on this album.
Ay! “It’s LL and Santana,” featuring no other
than Juelz Santana of course, talks about flossing, diamonds,
girls and baby mamas- you dig? His flow is a bit slower on this
track although it’s an up tempo song, there’s a rock
beat that slightly drags, but doesn’t negatively affect
the song. “I be in the beamer bouncing with your
honey have you singing have you seen her?” LL is a ladies
man so no matter how gangster his lyrics are, there will almost
always be one or two lines about his honey or him taking someone
else’s honey- and effortlessly I might add. |
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Songs like “Favorite Flavor” featuring
Mary J. Blige reminds you of that 1990’s music. The period
when Mary J and Faith Evans both decent radio rotation and it
seemed as if R&B and rap were joined hand in hand
in matrimony. There were so many rap/R&B collaborations at
that time, it was almost criminal minded to lay down a rap track
without a R&B hook, right Puffy?? (Diddy was Puffy at that
time).
“Ooh Wee,” featuring the vocals of Ginuwine brings
out the classic freaky LL that all the ladies love! With Ginuwine
ripping the vocals and Todd Smith whispering things like “I’m
seeing it and it’s so obscene and I still got sneakers
and my chain on leaning,” could make a woman just envision
him doing his famous trademark move in slow motion.. licking
his lips! And the fact that he wants to keep his sneakers and
his chain just maintains that rugged edge that…. Is it
getting hot in this room? MOVING ON!
For all of you skeptics (and I was one of them), LL is still
doing it. And not for nothing, LL is not trying to be something
he’s not as he refers to himself as an “OG” several
times through out the CD. Pulling in 100 different artists
(Jamie Foxx, Mary J., Lyfe Jennings, Ginuwine, Toby Ryan, Mary
Mary, 112, Tearra Mari, Jennifer Lopez, Freeway, Juelz Santana)
was probably a strategic move, and he hit the bull’s eye
on that one.
Todd Smith is what the people want, whether you know
it now or not. In time you will.
“I’ll show you how to do this son!” |
