LL Cool J has shared the tracklist and release date for his new album The FORCE — and it’s a star-studded affair.
The self-proclaimed G.O.A.T. took to Instagram on Thursday (July 11) to reveal that his upcoming project will feature appearances from Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes and Saweetie, among others.
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Rick Ross and Fat Joe also lend their talents to the 14-track LP courtesy of the recent single “Saturday Night Special.”
The album, which is set to arrive on September 6, also boasts some legendary firepower behind the boards, with Q-Tip producing the entire project.
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As if the heavyweight tracklist wasn’t enough, LL Cool J has also warmed fans up for The FORCE by releasing a new single called “Passion” — the video for which can be viewed below.
The track features a shuffling, dance-inspired groove and plenty of slick bars from the legendary MC: “It’s in my DNA to let ’em play in the enclave/ Twerkulate while songs play, Andre the Giant, 3000 ways to make ’em obey,” he spits.
LL Cool J — The FORCE:
1. Spirit of Cyrus (feat. Snoop Dogg)
2. The FORCE
3. Saturday Night Special (feat. Rick Ross & Fat Joe)
4. Black Code Suite (feat. Sona Jobarteh)
5. Passion
6. Proclivities (feat. Saweetie)
7. Post Modern
8. 30 Decembers
9. Runnit Back
10. Huey In Da Chair (feat. Busta Rhymes)
11. Basquiat Energy
12. Praise Him (feat. Nas)
13. Murdergram Deux (feat. Eminem)
14. The Vow (feat. Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)
LL Cool J spoke about Q-Tip producing The FORCE in a red carpet interview at the 2023 Grammy Awards.
“I know all the tricks. I got this covered,” he told E! News. “Look, it was executive produced by Q-Tip. The album I think is really, really special. I think it’s something it’s modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it.
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“I think honestly and sincerely that Q-Tip as a producer is unbelievable and what he did on this record for me, I think is amazing. So the world will decide.”
Another legendary beatmaker was initially slated to handle production on the project.
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Speaking with Angela Yee last year, LL revealed that Dr. Dre was originally supposed to helm the album and they even recorded dozens of songs together.
“So the real story is that I did about 30 to 40 songs with Dr. Dre, and in doing those songs, I felt like — the music was amazing, what Dre was bringing to the table was super dope — but I felt like the writing, what I was bringing to these songs didn’t feel strong enough to me,” he explained.
“I didn’t feel like I was expressing — I was getting out of me what I was feeling. In my mind, I didn’t feel like it was written properly.”
LL went on to say that the late Phife Dawg visited him in a dream and sparked the idea for him to call on his A Tribe Called Quest groupmate Q-Tip to produce his album.
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“So, I took a pause. Me and Dre just kinda paused for a minute,” he continued. “And I ended up having a dream, and in this dream, Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest came to me.
“When he came in my dream he was like, ‘Yo, that album you gonna do with Dre is gonna be dope.’ And I’m looking at him and he’s smirking a little bit. He had a funny look on his face.
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“And then when I woke up, I just felt like Q-Tip was on my spirit. So I just called him. He picked up and I told him that I wanted to do an album. We went and did the record and the rest is history.”
The FORCE will serve as LL Cool J’s 14th studio album and first in over a decade following 2013’s Authentic.
