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Mr. Smith was the third comeback for LL Cool J, the third time he returned to commercial and creative strengths after being written off by many critics and fans. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that its follow-up, Phenomenon, finds LL coasting -- after all, after his two previous comeback albums, he allowed himself to slacken the pace a little bit and ride on his credentials. Fortunately, Phenomenon isn't nearly as weak as 14 Shots to the Dome or Bigger and Deffer, but it simply doesn't have the power of masterpieces like Radio and Mama Said Knock You Out. Essentially, it's a retread of Mr. Smith, offering the same laid-back soul jams and rolling party beats. There's a couple of killer singles, a few dogs, and a lot of filler -- more so than on Mr. Smith, in fact. Still, Phenomenon sounds good when it's playing, and even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression, it's a solid, professional effort that illustrates why LL is still in the game, 12 years after his first record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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James Todd Smith, ComposerLyricist - Ron Lawrence, Producer - Bill Withers, ComposerLyricist - P. Diddy, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Patterson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - LL Cool J, MainArtist - Ronald Anthony "Amen-ra" Lawrence, ComposerLyricist - Stanley Wayne Mckenny, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Ralph Tresvant, FeaturedArtist - Maurice Starr, ComposerLyricist - Michael Jonzun, ComposerLyricist - TERRY LEWIS, ComposerLyricist - JAMES HARRIS, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Bell, FeaturedArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Poke & Tone, Producer
℗ 1997 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Leshan Lewis, ComposerLyricist - Trevor Smith, ComposerLyricist - Peter Brown, ComposerLyricist - Busta Rhymes, FeaturedArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Robert S. Rans, ComposerLyricist - L.E.S., Producer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Dr. John, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Fransicso Pimental, ComposerLyricist - Trackmasters, Producer - Curt Gowdy, Producer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Keith Sweat, FeaturedArtist - Charles Carter, ComposerLyricist - STEVE ARRINGTON, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - LeShaun, FeaturedArtist - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, ComposerLyricist - Trackmasters, Producer
℗ 1997 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Steven Stanley, ComposerLyricist - Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Producer, ComposerLyricist - P. Diddy, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Michael Patterson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chris Frantz, ComposerLyricist - Tina Weymouth, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Ronald Anthony "Amen-ra" Lawrence, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 The Island Def Jam Music Group
R. Noble, ComposerLyricist - G. Williams, ComposerLyricist - Rick Rubin, ComposerLyricist - Adam Nathaniel Yauch, ComposerLyricist - Method Man, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Redman, FeaturedArtist - Erick Sermon, Producer, ComposerLyricist - DMX, FeaturedArtist, ComposerLyricist - Adam Keefe Horovitz, ComposerLyricist - Cannibus, FeaturedArtist
℗ 1998 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Larry Smith, ComposerLyricist - Lost Boyz, FeaturedArtist - M. Reid, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Russell Simmons, ComposerLyricist - Daven Paul Vanderpool, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
GEORGE MICHAEL, ComposerLyricist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Rich Travali, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Samuel J. "Tone" Barnes, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Jean-Claude "Poke" Olivier, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - G. Overbig, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Michael Henderson, ComposerLyricist - TAMIA, FeaturedArtist - LL Cool J, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Steve A. Jordan, Producer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Album review
Mr. Smith was the third comeback for LL Cool J, the third time he returned to commercial and creative strengths after being written off by many critics and fans. So it shouldn't come as a surprise that its follow-up, Phenomenon, finds LL coasting -- after all, after his two previous comeback albums, he allowed himself to slacken the pace a little bit and ride on his credentials. Fortunately, Phenomenon isn't nearly as weak as 14 Shots to the Dome or Bigger and Deffer, but it simply doesn't have the power of masterpieces like Radio and Mama Said Knock You Out. Essentially, it's a retread of Mr. Smith, offering the same laid-back soul jams and rolling party beats. There's a couple of killer singles, a few dogs, and a lot of filler -- more so than on Mr. Smith, in fact. Still, Phenomenon sounds good when it's playing, and even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression, it's a solid, professional effort that illustrates why LL is still in the game, 12 years after his first record.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 00:42:31
- Main artists: LL COOL J
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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