Download this album for unlimited listening.
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
When LL Cool J dubs his 2013 effort Authentic, the veteran rapper is referring to an album that's authentically LL Cool J circa 2013, and not one that's authentically hip-hop. That's important to remember as the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink effort overflows with guests from every genre, like Public Enemy's Chuck D, blink-182's Travis Barker, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and electro-rocker Z-Trip. That busy jumble of names is not only on the same album, but on the same track, as in "Whaddup," a pop-protest number that's admirable enough, and one that sounds more natural than "Accidental Racist," LL's much-maligned duet with Brad Paisley. Authentic gets its own Paisley team-up with "Live for You," a glossed-up, jukebox country redo of LL's "I Need Love," although when it comes to updates to Cool J's classics, the "Mama Said Knock You Out" return "We're the Greatest" is a better choice, with Eddie Van Halen wailing away as the rapper does a Mike Tyson impression, intentional or not. This variety hour on wax comes alive when characters like Bootsy Collins (making the party number "Bartender Please" sound Deee-Lite-ful), Snoop Dogg (on the club worthy "We Come to Party"), and Charlie Wilson (swaggerfest "New Love" wins just for the line "honk your horn if she's walking by right now") show up, but even so, the album doubles down on some of its best ideas, and Eddie, Snoop, Travis, and Uncle Charlie all return for lesser numbers. LL sounds rusty and a bit under-rehearsed as he belts out his iffy punch lines and motivational anthems, but he pours his heart into the pop numbers and sounds at home during the nostalgic throwbacks. Don't call it a comeback of any sort, but good intentions abound and in a primetime television star manner, the album's title remains true.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Samuel J. Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Samuel Barnes, Producer - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Alexander Mosely, ComposerLyricist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Van Halen, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Fitz and The Tantrums, MainArtist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer - Jaylien, ComposerLyricist - Alycia Bellamy, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer - Samuel J. Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Samuel Barnes, Producer - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Charlie Wilson, FeaturedArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - T. Bowen, ComposerLyricist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer, Co-Producer - Aharon "Ace 21" Grimes, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Fatman Scoop, FeaturedArtist - Snoop Dogg, FeaturedArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer - Jaylien, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - SEAL, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer - Jaylien, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer - Samuel Barnes, Producer - James Todd Smith, Producer, Co-Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Charlie Wilson, MainArtist - Earth, Wind & Fire, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer, Co-Producer - T. "Range" Bowen, ComposerLyricist - Melody Thornton, MainArtist - Russel "The Are" Gonzalez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer - Samuel Barnes, Producer - Bootsy Collins, MainArtist - James Todd Smith, Producer, Co-Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Snoop Dogg, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Travis Barker, MainArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Alexander "Spanador" Mosley, ComposerLyricist - T. "Range" Bowen, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Samuel Barnes, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Tom Morello, FeaturedArtist - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Keith Shocklee, ComposerLyricist - Z-Trip, MainArtist - Chuck D., FeaturedArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Alexander Mosely, ComposerLyricist - Travis Barker, FeaturedArtist - DJ Z-Trip, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
Christopher Stewart, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Kenneth Coby, ComposerLyricist - Soundz, Producer - Mickey Shiloh, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer - Samuel Barnes, Producer - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Monica, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer, Co-Producer - Alexander "Spanador" Mosley, ComposerLyricist - T. "Range" Bowen, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Brad Paisley, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Jaylien Wesley, Producer - Jaylien, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 Savoy Records, a division of Concord Music Group, Inc.
Jean Claude Olivier, Producer, Co-Producer - Samuel Barnes, Producer, Co-Producer - James Todd Smith, Producer, Executive Producer - J.T. Smith, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Van Halen, Producer, MainArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Phillip Taj Jackson, ComposerLyricist - Russel "The Are" Gonzalez, ComposerLyricist
℗ 2013 SLG, LLC
Album review
When LL Cool J dubs his 2013 effort Authentic, the veteran rapper is referring to an album that's authentically LL Cool J circa 2013, and not one that's authentically hip-hop. That's important to remember as the everything-but-the-kitchen-sink effort overflows with guests from every genre, like Public Enemy's Chuck D, blink-182's Travis Barker, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, and electro-rocker Z-Trip. That busy jumble of names is not only on the same album, but on the same track, as in "Whaddup," a pop-protest number that's admirable enough, and one that sounds more natural than "Accidental Racist," LL's much-maligned duet with Brad Paisley. Authentic gets its own Paisley team-up with "Live for You," a glossed-up, jukebox country redo of LL's "I Need Love," although when it comes to updates to Cool J's classics, the "Mama Said Knock You Out" return "We're the Greatest" is a better choice, with Eddie Van Halen wailing away as the rapper does a Mike Tyson impression, intentional or not. This variety hour on wax comes alive when characters like Bootsy Collins (making the party number "Bartender Please" sound Deee-Lite-ful), Snoop Dogg (on the club worthy "We Come to Party"), and Charlie Wilson (swaggerfest "New Love" wins just for the line "honk your horn if she's walking by right now") show up, but even so, the album doubles down on some of its best ideas, and Eddie, Snoop, Travis, and Uncle Charlie all return for lesser numbers. LL sounds rusty and a bit under-rehearsed as he belts out his iffy punch lines and motivational anthems, but he pours his heart into the pop numbers and sounds at home during the nostalgic throwbacks. Don't call it a comeback of any sort, but good intentions abound and in a primetime television star manner, the album's title remains true.
© David Jeffries /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:48:02
- Main artists: LL COOL J
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: 429 Records
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 2015 SLG, LLC ℗ 2015 SLG, LLC
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
Playlists