Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)

Last updated
Phenomenon
Phenomenon - LL Cool J.jpg
Studio album by
LL Cool J
ReleasedOctober 14, 1997
Recorded1996–1997
Genre Hip hop
Length43:58
Label
Producer
LL Cool J chronology
All World: Greatest Hits
(1996)		Phenomenon
(1997)		 G.O.A.T.
(2000)
Singles from Phenomenon
  1. "Phenomenon"
    Released: September 23, 1997
  2. "4, 3, 2, 1"
    Released: December 9, 1997
  3. "Father"
    Released: January 13, 1998
  4. "Hot, Hot, Hot"
    Released: March 27, 1998
  5. "Candy"
    Released: July 3, 1998

Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J, released on October 14, 1997, through Def Jam Recordings. After the success of his previous release Mr. Smith , the same basic principles are followed here, with several R&B-influenced tracks, and a couple of more hardcore rap tracks. The album is executively produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and therefore features production from his in-house roster of producers the Hitmen, alongside the Trackmasters, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool, L.E.S. and Erick Sermon. The album received mixed reviews from critics. Phenomenon debuted and peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum, unlike Mr. Smith, which was certified 2× Platinum. It spawned five singles: the title track, "4, 3, 2, 1", "Father", "Hot, Hot, Hot" and "Candy".

Contents

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [2]
Entertainment Weekly B+ [3]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Cheo Hodari Coker, writing for the Los Angeles Times , called it "LL's best record" since Mama Said Knock You Out , praising "Father" for showing him on "rap's cutting edge" and being more personal. [4] Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly wrote that: "Musically, the album takes far fewer risks than his innovative early work. With its happy beats, easy funk bass, and eager R&B melodies, Phenomenon best recalls the early rap LL grew up on. Think Sugar Hill for the '90s, but with a wholly new kind of role for LL: the rapper who never had a real father here aims to father us all." [3] Natasha Stovall of Rolling Stone praised LL for delivering quality loverman ballads and battle rap tracks while also being an insightful storyteller on "Father", but critiqued that the album's "competent grooves" don't match with his words. [5] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "a retread of Mr. Smith ," highlighting "a couple of killer singles, a few dogs, and a lot of filler", concluding that: "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." [1]

Track listing

Phenomenon track listing
#TitleLengthFeatured ArtistsProducer(s)Sample(s)
1"Phenomenon"4:04 Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen, Ron "AMEN-RA" Lawrence
2"Candy"4:32 Ricky Bell & Ralph Tresvant Trackmasters
3"Starsky & Hutch"4:03 Busta Rhymes L.E.S.
4"Another Dollar"3:48 Curt Gowdy, Trackmasters
5"Nobody Can Freak You"3:20LeShaun & Keith Sweat Trackmasters
6"Hot, Hot, Hot"4:22 Sean "Puffy" Combs, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie & Ron Lawrence for The Hitmen
7"4, 3, 2, 1"4:16 Canibus, DMX, Master P & Method Man & Redman Erick Sermon
8"Wanna Get Paid"4:11 The Lost Boyz Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool
  • "Action" by Orange Krush
9"Father"4:44 Trackmasters
10"Don't Be Late, Don't Come Too Soon"6:38 Tamia Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen

Charts

Chart performance for Phenomenon
Chart (1997)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [7] 88
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [8] 7
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [9] 48
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [10] 24
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [11] 39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [12] 57
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] 48
UK Albums (OCC) [14] 37
UK R&B Albums (OCC) [15] 6
US Billboard 200 [16] 7
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [17] 4

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [18] Platinum100,000^
United States (RIAA) [19] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Phenomenon - LL Cool J". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
  2. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2011). "LL Cool J". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  3. 1 2 Farber, Jim (October 17, 1997). "Cool's story of youth". Entertainment Weekly . No. 401. New York. p. 73. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  4. 1 2 Hodari Coker, Cheo (November 2, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Stovall, Natasha (October 30, 1997). "Bigger and deffer". Rolling Stone . No. 772. pp. 65–66. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
  6. ↑ Wilson, Elliott (December 1997). "Record Report: LL Cool J – Phenomenon". The Source . No. 99. New York. p. 179. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 169.
  8. ↑ "LL Cool J Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Charts.nz – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
  16. ↑ "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  17. ↑ "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Music Canada.
  19. ↑ "American album certifications – L.L. Cool J – Phenomenon". Recording Industry Association of America.
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