G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time [Explicit Lyrics]

L.L. Cool J | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 12, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Def Jam
• ASIN: B00004XROY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #137,438 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Almost from the start of his career, LL Cool J has simultaneously been kicking rough rhymes to get respect from the hardrocks, and when they're looking the other way trying to sweet-talk their honeys. He's still doin' it. Whether he's doin' it well depends on whether you like mainstream rap: LL is a man of these times, and he ain't trying to challenge today's vocabulary-challenged, materialistic climate. On the ambitiously named The Greatest of All Time, LL asserts his allegiance to the streets on rumbling tracks like "Back Where I Belong" and "Queens Is." Yes, even after years as a sitcom star and Hollywood player, he's still "hard as hell." The cut "Homicide" almost single-handedly resurrects LL's credibility. Beginning with the line "Columbine happens in the ghetto every day," LL spins cautionary tales about junkies and murderers ("looking so clean and living so filthy") and proceeds to analyze the way that the media ignores ghetto violence. LL fails on the ladies' loverman side, however; where he once needed love, nowadays he just needs to freak. He explains his lustful thoughts in crass, clichéd detail, dwelling on brand names like Lil' Kim and on body parts like a plastic surgeon (on "Imagine That" and the phone fantasy "Hello"). And on "This Is Us," he tilts a little too far on the ignorance-o-meter: according to LL, if wifey doesn't have the fried chicken piping hot when he gets home, it's her fault if her man creeps. Yes, he's still relevant 15 years after he first rocked the bells. But it's definitely time to hang up the bearskin rug. -Lizz Mendez Berry

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cool J's latest offering is bad., September 14, 2000

By 

Scott Winter (Middlesboro, KY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time (Audio CD)

Bad as in back in the day BAD! Being 21 years old and a music lover, not just Hip-Hop mind you, I have been a little dissapointed with a few of the last LL offerings, but this has renewed my interest in Mr. Smith. Not since "Mama said knock you out" has he exuded this much energy and showmanship into a recording. With the inclusion of Method Man, Redman, DMX, and Ja Rule just to name a few of the guest appearences on this album, LL Cool J has assured not only the commercial success of this album, but did not rest on a few guest appearences alone to make this album a keeper. The design of the album and most importantly the music included herein is some truly worth while listening. As far as being The Greatest Of All Time, I would have to say he probably isn't. But that really doesn't matter, it's just part of the image that he portrays like the microphone battles from the '80s. LL Cool J was hip-hop, turned not hip-hop, and now with this record, I would dare to say has dropped the Rap/Hip-Hop album of the year. As far as the track "Farmers", I have to say that I actually liked it! It just had a classic LL feel to it. The only thing that I would say really disappointed me about this album was the Redman, DMX, and Method Man track "Fuhgidabowdit". It seems as if DMX's verse was thrown in almost as an afterthought, but otherwise, the track is witty and biting and sounds like a track from Blackout! Which is not an insult because Blackout! was an insanely good record. All in all, if you like LL Cool J, buy this album. If you don't, why are you even here?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Mixed feelings......., June 4, 2002

By 

Amplification (Winston Salem NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time (Audio CD)

LL Cool J was without a doubt an early hip-hop pioneer, but G.O.A.T (greatest of all time) status I have to debate.

There are some classic tracks on this album that show signs of flamboyance, but for the most part the rest of the tracks are below average.
The title of this album can be misleading because there is no way LL Cool J can be considered the greatest of all time, and for him to claim to be is just straight bogus.

Intro: ++++ (best into I've heard in awhile)
Imagine That: ++ (MTV material)
Back Where I Belong: +++++ (LL's best track in awhile)
LL Cool J: +++ (not bad, not good, average)
Take It Off: ++ (just garbage)
Fuhgidabowdit: +++ (dont feel the guest)
Farmers: ++ (terrible beat)
This Is Us: +++ (nice meaning)
Can't Think: +++ (nice beat, but overdone)
Hello: ++ (part II to Imagine That)
You and Me: ++++ (should have been a video)
Homicide: +++++ (CLASSIC)
You Cant ... with Me: + (worse than garbage)
Queens Is: +++++ (not sure if L wrote this one or not)
The G.O.A.T: ++ (terrible beat)
III Bomb: +++ (used to be a very hott track)
M.I.S.S.I: ++ (not my flavor)

I would give this album 3.25 stars maybe... 3.5 but nothing more. If you are a big fan of LL then you wouldnt feel this is his best album and it isn't, but I would have to say it is worth the money you pay for it for the classic tracks I listed above.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Actions speak louder than words, September 12, 2000

By 

Nicole (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time (Audio CD)

The title of this new adventure of LL is fitting in a sense. He projects throughout the entire LP that he considers himself the GREATEST hip-hop artist of all time, however, his own lyrics don't even back that up. Such as the track FARMERS, where each letter stands for some ridiculous phrase... F; for his flavor, or R; for his "ill-rims," etc, etc. Even with DJ Scratch producing six out of 17 tracks, there's just no saving this self-proclamation of greatness. I love LL as an entertainer, I just feel like it's getting really old listening to folks brag about how wonderful they are & it's even sadder to see LL put himself in a group with other notorious self-obsessed rappers (ex. Puffy, any particular LOX member, any random Big Tymers/Hot Boys member). I did think #5 "Take it Off" was nice, even though it sounded exactly like Q-Tip's "Vivrant Thing" but it didn't claim to be sampled and also #7 "Fuhgidabowit" featuring Method Man, Redman, and DMX, which was handled by Trackmasters. Amil does a spot on #11's "Hello" which is basically about how sexy phone sex is all of a sudden, but the constant ringing of phones in the background is highly annoying, especially while trying to drive at the same time. With the majority of songs devoted to LL stating literally that he is the greatest artist and no one even can compare to his superiority, it's hard to really get into his lyrics, unless of course you have a shrine already devoted to Mr. Smith, then you'll have alot of material to relate to. Oh, and did I miss some kind of beef between LL and Jamie Foxx? He devotes at least an entire verse simply dogging Foxx's HBO specials, In Living Color, Any Given Sunday, not to mention his TV show and then goes so far to say Chris Rock is funnier than Foxx will ever be... Wish I knew what was up with that...