Customer Reviews

The DEFinition [Vinyl]

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(24)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Now, I'm not saying that LL Cool J's eleventh album The DEFinition is bad because L is too old. There are some rappers in their mid `30s that can still bring the heat (Raekwon, Jay-Z, Guru). The problem I have with the album is that its further proof that his glory days are long behind him. In fact, he's been in a downward spiral since Mr. Smith, and after he released 10, which only appealed to the ladies, I wondered if he would be able to resurrect his career.

With this album, the answer is no. Basically, editorial reviewer Dalton Higgins really hit the nail on the head with this one. This is one of those albums where the only good songs are the singles: "Hush" and the essential club-banger, "Headsprung". The latter was produced by Timbaland, and Tim also shows up elsewhere on the album, but sometimes his beats can't even save the songs, like the filler track "Every Sip" and the terrible "Rub My Back". And the beat to "Apple Cobbler" isn't even that great, not to mention that the song makes no kind of sense.

Another filler track is when R. Kelly shows up for "I'm About to Get Her". You can tell Kells produced it because it sounds like the same music he used for Twista's "So Sexy". By the way, that song is where L starts his lyrical faux pas ("that's why I'm still a teen idol like Hanson"). And then it's on to the bizarre "Shake It Baby" (which isn't even what you'd think it would be about). At the end of the third verse he says to a foe: "You burnin' me? Two words: impossible." That's one word, L.

"Feel the Beat" is fine but then it suffers from a chorus that sounds like it came from 1986: "Yes yes y'all/Feel the beat y'all/Break break y'all/You don't stop". You can even tell he's going to say that by listening to the beat. And "Can't Explain It" is the only other song for the ladies that comes close to working, but when you listen to the song you can't help but say, "It's okay, but it's no `Hey Lover.'"

It's not that LL can't rap any more, but the things he's saying on here makes the album, well, embarrassing. In fact, it's so embarrassing that I'd almost rather listen to 14 Shots to the Dome. It's good that he's had a nice, long career, but it'd be better if most of the albums in it were above-average. As you probably suspected by now, The DEFinition is only good for completing your LL Cool J collection.

Anthony Rupert

Ok, "Headsprung" is no doubt a good song. Although the lyrics are really silly and don't make a lot of sense at times, but it's still a good song. "Hush" is a song that I expect a lot of people not to like. I was kind of suprised to hear it. I think it's really good, but people who are hardcore Hip-Hop fans probably will think it's too soft. LL has always been known to put love songs out there. As evident by his "I need love" song about 15 or 17 years ago. He was heavily criticized until he came back with "Mama said knock you out". Anyway, this CD is overall decent. With a two standouts in my opinion, but it lacks the whole package.

While his self-given title of the "greatest of all time" is debatable, one thing that can't be disputed is that LL Cool J is a definite legend in hip-hop's legacy. Having spearheaded the dominance of Def Jam Records, cranked out radio hit after hit, and garnered respect as a big-screen actor, LL has entered the studio once again to craft his eleventh album, The Definition. Geared heavily towards club dance floors and radio play lists, The Definition finds him in full party mode, delivering rhymes with a new energy. The final product, however, teeters on mediocrity due to generic production and cheesy subject matter, but scattered jewels help lift it to ultimate enjoyment.

In an inspired allegiance, LL employs Timbaland to produce six of the disc's eleven tracks. While "Apple Cobbler" spoils quickly with LL's faux Missy Elliot delivery and Tim's by-the-numbers backdrop, the duo forms a tight chemistry on their other efforts. Timbaland provides slinky bass on the melodic "Rub My Back," and "Headsprung" pummels speakers with a ferocious blend of percussion and synthesizers. Neither of these cuts finds LL at his lyrical best, but on "Feel The Beat," he shines with justified ego massaging over Timbaland's throwback break beat, spitting, "I'm a multi-millionaire, homey that's a fact, but it's not the ice that makes your wife react." The strongest union between LL and Tim comes in the form of "Every Sip," though, a syrupy ode to females and seductive intoxication.

Unfortunately, when other producers check in, The Definition is rather hit-or-miss. 7 Aurelius gives LL an effervescent arrangement of airy vocals and hip-pop to kick vintage game on "Hush," while Dame Grease brings the old, battle-ready MC out of Uncle L on the menacing "1 In The Morning." "I'm About To Get Her," on the other hand, drips with wack juice, plodding along with sub-par verses and an instrumental that sounds way too similar to guest R. Kelly's hit "Fiesta." "Move Somethin'" also does little to aid The Definition, suffering from boring horns and a lazy performance from LL.

Clearly, LL Cool J made this album for both car systems and the crates of party DJ's, and in that respect, The Definition serves its purpose. With a career as prolific as the one he's had, some down time is allowed, and catering to his commercial fan base is expected. LL doesn't seem to be hanging up his microphone anytime soon, so until that day comes, females should feel free to continue drooling, while the fellas can continue yearning for a return to the "I Shot Ya" and "4, 3, 2, 1" days. The "G.O.A.T." who cast a dark cloud over Canibus' career is nowhere to be found on The Definition.

The CD wasnt LL's best work. I mean first of all it didnt have a lot of track. secondly lyrically it was a bad album. The beats were hot and just put this in a party and thats it. if u ll fan go get it but if you are lookin for a great album don get it.

This album has some nice beats, however its the same old L.L..... he needs to release a creative and deep album that could blast him right back into the hip-hop scene... he needs to quit using album fillers and create an album that will turn some heads..... there are a few good songs on this album, but nothing really spectacular, he needs a huge hit to re-launch his career, even though he is getting old now

In a Rap scene where artists regularly come and go, L.L. Cool J (aka James Todd Smith) is a rare exception, almost twenty years ago LL released his first album "Radio" (1985), now in late 2004 his latest offering and eleventh album is "Definition". The lead single and first track is the Timbaland produced "Headsprung", a pounding upbeat party track which will be a club hit. LL hooks up with Timbaland again and talks to the ladies with "Rub My Back". R Kelly and LL then collabrate on a semi decent track called "I'm About to Get Her" which is followed up by the fastpaced "Move Something". I am feeling "Hush" feat. 7 Aurelius, LL puts aside the braggy lyrics, gets introspective and in doing so delivers a memorable love track. The next standout cut for me is "Can't Explain It", a track which is laced with a nice beat and some soulful female vocals. LL then takes credit for his long career and success on "Feel the Beat". The next track is more or less skip material for me then LL closes off his eleventh album on the eleventh track "1 in the Morning" once again repping his accomplishments. On this release LL has delivered a lot of upbeat fastpaced party tracks and two love ballads. Truth be told this is what the majority of his commercial audience is looking for, especially the ladies. The problem is a lot of these tracks are repetitive in production and lyrical content. Noteably missing to me are any real relevant rap tracks, on past albums LL has always saved some room for them. I like these tracks because I appreciate LL's storytelling ability and his rhymes about real life. "Definition" gets a passing grade, and is an album I would only recommend to die hard LL fans.

This is supposed to be a club-friendly album, but it feels like LL is trying to sound commerical to sell copies of DEFinition. This is something I don't expect to hear a lot of tracks that aren't singles in a club. Although many of the beats are likeable, most of the songs sound similar to "Headsprung," largely in part to Timbaland's production. There are two songs, "I'm About to Get Her," produced by R. Kelly, and "Feel the Beat," which, along with "Headsprung," are the real highlights of this album (despite Kelly's occasionally weak singing). Lyrically, the flows on this album have to be among the weakest LL's ever created. He's simply appeasing the masses who buy commercial rap to get the albums on the Billboard and SoundScan charts. Case in point: "Apple Cobbler," when LL sounds like he's borrowing the flow, of all people, Missy Elliott. Anyone who's expecting LL to sound like he's still back in his Radio period or when he was dissing Canibus will be sorely disapointed. DEFinition is not for hardcore rap fans or fans of the classic LL Cool J sound.

As a huge LL fan it saddened me to hear alot of the joints on this although I was feeling some of them. The production by Timbaland is straight up funky so I aint gonna hate on it regardless of whether or not its a little softer than I used to listening to. Once again my man Norfeest's review is very accurate, the main problem I found with this album was the lack of depth and the alarming weakness of LL's rhymes on certain songs. This album verges on the diabolical albums "Phenomenon" and "Todd Smith" for r+b feel but is saved by around 3 songs. Im so disgusted with those 2 albums I wont even write a review about them. They were rapidly given to my girl cuz she digs R+B. Having got the pleasure of seeing LL recently live I realised how many class tracks he has in his vast repetoire but very few have been done since the "Mr.Smith" album. I wait in bated breath for him to release an album with that hard edge again in the vein of "Mama Said Knock..." or even "14 Shots..." then retire from the mic. As far as this album I personally hated "Hush", "Can't Explain It" and "1 In The Morning". I thought "Rub My Back", "I'm Gonna Get Her", "Every Sip" and "Apple Cobbler" were bareable b'cuz of decent production. I liked "Headsprung", "Move Somethin'", "Shake It Baby" and "Feel The Beat". This album really needed some harder heavier hiphop joints rather than being yet another R+B album from a HIPHOP pioneer!!!

This was the worst thing he could have done. Man, he hasn't put out anything good since Mr. Smith. I think the sucess that album had with the love songs on that album got to his head, because he seems to get softer and softer everytime. Now, A Kid's review would mistake that for meaning he needs to rap about guns, drugs, yada yada. Now, I do like some thug type hip hop, Like Boot Camp Click, NWA to name some, but hey, look at my reviews on the Roots, Mos Def, Talib, Tribe. They aren't thugs. What I mean about him droping hard rhymes, are the nice battle rhymes. Hey, I don't think he beat Canibus, but hey, he held his own. Against Kool Moe Dee, he demolished. What happened to that LL. Love songs are good too, but he still had an edge to them. Now theyre pethetic. Hush was probably the worst song I've ever heard LL do. Man, one of the badest mc's of all time has lost it. He needs to retire. If you want good LL albums, get My Radio, get Mama Said Knock you Out, Bigger and Deffer, Walking With a Panther, and 14 Shots to the Dome, yes I said that, it was tight, don't know how anybody could front on it. Those are sick albums that prove LL is bad as hell. Oh, yeah, don't forget the album Mr. Smith. That was the last good album he put out. Don't waste on anything after that, including this.

there is only 4 songs I like out of this album the rest
are just boring, plus there are only 11 songs.So its not really worth $13.98.