James Todd Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American hip hop recording artist, record producer, actor, author and entrepreneur from Hollis, Queens. With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became one of the first hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C..
"Say You'll Be There" is a song by English girl group the Spice Girls from their debut studio album, Spice (1996). It was co-written by the Spice Girls with Jonathan Buck and Eliot Kennedy. Production duo Absolute incorporated a mix of pop and R&B into the song, which includes a harmonica solo, played by Judd Lander. The lyrics—which describe the things the group went through together and how they were always there for each other—received mixed reviews from critics, who described them as "confusing" and felt that the R&B-infused production was a "bid for street cred".
"What's My Age Again?" is a song by American rock band Blink-182. It was released in April 1999 as the lead single from the group's third studio album, Enema of the State (1999). The song, written primarily by bassist and vocalist Mark Hoppus, lyrically revolves around the onset of age and maturity, and the failure to implement changes in behavior. A mid-tempo pop punk song, it was written by Hoppus based on personal experience. It was originally titled "Peter Pan Complex", an allusion to the pop-psychology concept, but MCA Records forced the band to retitle the song, as the label found it too obscure a reference. It was the first Blink-182 single to feature drummer Travis Barker.
Next is an American contemporary R&B musical trio, popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are best known for their #1 hit single "Too Close" as well as "Wifey", and "I Still Love You" which all still receive frequent airplay on Adult Contemporary radio stations both in the US and internationally.
"All I Have" is a song recorded by American singer Jennifer Lopez, featuring American rapper LL Cool J. Written by Lopez, Makeba Riddick, Curtis Richardson, and Ron G and produced by Cory Rooney, Ron G, and Dave McPherson, it was released on December 14, 2002 as the second single from Lopez's third studio album, This Is Me... Then (2002).
Allure is an American New York-based R&B girl group that formed in the early 1990s as a quartet, now a trio, best known for their hit single "All Cried Out" with 112 which reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. Original members were Alia Gray, Hem-Lee, Lalisha Sanders and Akissa Mendez.
"You'll Be in My Heart" is a song by Phil Collins, from the 1999 Disney animated feature Tarzan. It appeared on Tarzan: An Original Walt Disney Records Soundtrack as well as various other Disney compilations. A version of the single performed by Glenn Close also appears on the soundtrack.
Buffalo Tom is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1986. Its principal members are guitarist Bill Janovitz, bassist Chris Colbourn, and drummer Tom Maginnis. The band's name is derived from the band Buffalo Springfield and the first name of the drummer.
"Smooth" is a collaboration between Latin rock band Santana and Matchbox Twenty vocalist Rob Thomas. The song was written by Itaal Shur and Thomas, produced by Matt Serletic and sung by Thomas. It won three Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. Not only was it the final number-one Hot 100 hit of the 1990s, it was also the number-two Hot 100 hit of the 20th century. "Smooth" is the only song to appear on two decade-end Billboard charts. As of 2018, "Smooth" is ranked the second most successful song of all time by Billboard.
"Control Myself" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J from his twelfth album, Todd Smith (2006). It was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features fellow American singer Jennifer Lopez. The track contains a sample of Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force's 1983 song "Looking for the Perfect Beat", while the vocals interpolate Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel's 1983 song "White Lines " and Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force's 1982 song "Planet Rock".
"I Can't Live Without My Radio" is the lead single from LL Cool J's debut album, Radio. It was released in 1985 for Def Jam Recordings and was both written and produced by LL Cool J and Rick Rubin. It is a love song to the boombox. The song found modest success, making it to #15 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. "I Can't Live Without My Radio" was released with the follow-up single "I Can Give You More".
"I'm Bad" is the first single from LL Cool J's second album, Bigger and Deffer. It was released in 1987 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the production group, The L.A. Posse and LL Cool J himself, with Russell Simmons executive producing the single. I'm Bad made it onto several Billboard charts. It was LL's Hot 100 debut, reaching #84. It also hit #4 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, #2 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, #34 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play and #8 on the UK Singles Chart. This single was followed by "I Need Love" and "Go Cut Creator Go".
"Doin It" is the second single from LL Cool J's sixth album, Mr. Smith, and was released on February 20, 1996 for Def Jam Recordings. Based on a sample of Grace Jones' "My Jamaican Guy", it also featured LeShaun, production from Rashad "Ringo" Smith and LL Cool J. In several interviews, both the artist and producer stated that the instrumental was originally meant for the Notorious B.I.G., to be used for a song and single on his Life After Death album, which was posthumously released.
"4, 3, 2, 1" is a song by LL Cool J featuring Method Man & Redman, Canibus and DMX from LL Cool J's seventh album Phenomenon as the second single. It was released on December 9, 1997, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by LL Cool J and Erick Sermon. A remix was made with an additional verse from American southern hip hop artist, Master P. Both the original song and the remix had accompanying music videos. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 10 on the Hot Rap Singles and number 24 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"Headsprung" is a song by American hip hop artist LL Cool J. It was released in June 2004 as the lead single from his eleventh album, The DEFinition. The song was a success on the charts, it peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 4 on the Hot Rap Songs and number 7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"Mama Said Knock You Out" is a hit single by LL Cool J from his album of the same name. The song famously begins with the line "Don't call it a comeback/I've been here for years." Before "Mama Said Knock You Out" was released, many people felt that LL Cool J's career was waning; his grandmother, who still believed in his talent, told him to "knock out" all his critics. The song was produced by Marley Marl with help from DJ Bobcat along with LL. The single reached number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, was certified Gold by the RIAA, and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. The song takes various shots at Kool Moe Dee.
"Loungin" is a song performed by American rapper LL Cool J and released as a single in June 1996. The song serves as the third and final single from his sixth studio album Mr. Smith (1995). It was released by Def Jam Recordings on June 25, 1996. The LP version was written by LL Cool J and Al B. Sure! and produced by Rashad "Ringo" Smith. A popular remix featuring vocals by Total and production from the Trackmasters was also released, which samples the 1985 top ten R&B hit "Who Do You Love" by American singer-songwriter Bernard Wright.
"Baby" is the second single from rapper LL Cool J's 13th album Exit 13. It features The-Dream, who co-wrote the song with 50 Cent, while Tricky Stewart produced it.
Deep Blue Sea is the soundtrack to the 1999 science fiction thriller film Deep Blue Sea. It was released on June 27, 1999 through Warner Bros. Records and consisted of hip hop and R&B music. The soundtrack didn't find much success, only making it to #55 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The lone single was LL Cool J's "Deepest Bluest", but it was unsuccessful to make it to any Billboard charts. LL was quoted as saying "This was my finest shark-related song ever. I can't believe it didn't chart."
The Trackmasters are an American hip hop production duo composed of music producers Poke and Tone, best known for their commercial hit records in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Frank "Nitty" Pimentel joined forces with the duo to complete the success of "Trackmasters". Throughout their career, they have worked with various hip-hop and R&B artists including Will Smith, R. Kelly, Nas, Jay-Z, Cam'ron, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, The Notorious B.I.G. and 50 Cent.
