LL Cool J Announces First Album in 11 Years, ‘The FORCE’

Daniel Kreps
·2 min read
LL Cool J - Credit: Cory Grimes
LL Cool J - Credit: Cory Grimes

LL Cool J has announced his first album in 11 years, with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee assembling an impressive guest list for new LP The FORCE.

Eminem, Nas, Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, Fat Joe, Saweetie, and Busta Rhymes are just some of the talents that grace LL’s 14th studio album and first since 2013’s Authentic, with Q-Tip serving as producer on the entire project.

More from Rolling Stone

“We’re talking 14 tracks of straight fire, all crafted by myself and the one and only Q-Tip,” LL said in a statement. “When you listen to this album, you’re not just hearing music, you’re experiencing a whole new vibe, a whole new level of artistic passion.”

Ahead of The FORCE’s September 6 release via Def Jam Recordings / Virgin Music Group, the rapper has shared the album’s second single “Passion”:

For The FORCE — short for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy — LL Cool J likened his years working on the album as “learning how to rap again.” “It’s like a director going back to film school after he’s had blockbusters,” he added in a statement. “Denzel going back to acting class.”

LL Cool J first teased The FORCE back in 2023 when he named his first arena tour in 30 years under that moniker. Like the upcoming album, that trek was an all-star affair with appearances by the Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Common, MC Lyte, Method Man & Redman, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and more across select cities.

The FORCE Track List

  1. Spirit of Cyrus (Featuring Snoop Dogg)

  2. The FORCE

  3. Saturday Night Special (Featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe)

  4. Black Code Suite (Featuring Sona Jobarteh)

  5. Passion

  6. Proclivities (Featuring Saweetie)

  7. Post Modern

  8. 30 Decembers

  9. Runnit Back

  10. Huey In Da Chair (Featuring Busta Rhymes)

  11. Basquiat Energy

  12. Praise Him (Featuring Nas)

  13. Murdergram Deux (Featuring Eminem)

  14. The Vow (Featuring Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)

Best of Rolling Stone

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next