LL Cool J: Todd Smith : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

They say money can buy you friends, and it's bought thirty-eight-year-old LL Cool J age-defying hit collabos before. But, damn, this is just too much: Eight of thirteen tracks on Todd Smith qualify as slow-jam duets (the cavalcade of candy-ass co-stars including Ne-Yo, 112, Ginuwine and Jamie Foxx), and none of them has a sweat droplet of the appeal of 1987's LL-as-Lothario classic "I Need Love." "My flavor's unreal/Smooth but hard/Like wood grain on the wheel," he fibs rather fecklessly on "Favorite Flavor," while Mary J. Blige oohs ornamentally over what sounds like a fistful of wet-naps fed into a juicer. The motivation behind team-ups like "It's LL and Santana" -- that's Juelz, not Carlos -- feels equally transparent, leaving one wondering whatever happened to the immortal MC who could carry an album by himself without needing a breath.

PETER RELIC

(Posted: Apr 18, 2006)

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Track List

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It's LL and Santana (track not available in Rhapsody)
Control Myself (track not available in Rhapsody)
Favorite Flavor
Freeze
Best Dress
Preserve The Sexy (track not available in Rhapsody)
What You Want (track not available in Rhapsody)
I've Changed
Ooh Wee
#1 Fan
Down The Aisle (track not available in Rhapsody)
We're Gonna Make It (track not available in Rhapsody)
So Sick (Remix) (track not available in Rhapsody)

Your Turn

Give us your review of Todd Smith

Review 1 of 2

5of 5 Stars

I liked the album. People try to make him do what they want him to do. Stop hatin, the man just wanna make music. All I see is peeps like busta, snoop, and a few others in 2006 use alot of collabs and nothing is said so what in the hell is wrong with this man doin it?? Yall trippin. He is the most versatile, persistent and consistent rapper eva!!! THE GOAT fo sho!! NOW when he bring out his next one with a parental guidance CD dont trip.

Nov 21, 2006 19:08:44

Review 2 of 2

5of 5 Stars

I have to DISAGREE with the RS review!
I LOVE all of the new LL hits on "Todd Smith."
Does he have several duets with other artists, yes!
That's what happens to make all the songs on this album a hit.
Obviously LL was ready to try something new in featuring other well respected artists throughout his album.
If you are a true LL Cool J fan, You will take in and accept what you hear on this album and you will enjoy it.
I am also fond of every other artists on the album that he chose to work with.
Therefore, I have and will continue to enjoy the sound of this album as well as the many more to come.

May 16, 2006 13:43:46

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