Record Label: Def Jam
Featured Artists: 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly
Article by: emm
Mainly produced by Virginia beatmaker Timbaland, the album has one clear target: the dancefloor. Not that it’s nothing but that, but songs like “Headsprung” and “Rub my Back” mos def hit the asses all over the country. The lyrics keep up with that: The ladies seem to be on LL’s mind every now and then, and there’s hardly anything than his own lyrical realness and his life and his persona that was able to make it to this album. Press “Play”, and you’re in the middle of the first monster track, so tells you the sticker on the CD. And they’re right, you better use a good stereo for that one, ‘cause it will make you turn that volume button! Timbaland with the formula for the hit, and “Rub My Back” is no worse, a little slower, but nonetheless bouncy. Then LL teams up with R’n’B crooner R. Kelly on “I’m About To Get Her”, where LL cleverly links self-praise with the ladies admiration – they simply love him ‘cause he’s the greatest of all times, period! Besides, that’s a Teddy Riley joint, and it sounds like that. “Hush” featuring 7 Aurelius goes the smooch direction, and LL keeps holdin’ it down till “Feel the Beat” comes on, another Timbaland production that kicks ass on one hand, but gives LL the opportunity to show lyrical skills as far as representing and battling are concerned on the other. One of the nicest tracks on the record if not the best! “Apple Cobbler” is another Timbaland joint and “1 In The Morning”, produced by Dame Grease, contains a little of that oldschool flavor and LL persuades lyrically. A nice record. No more, no less. And nice being probably the best word to describe it.
Yup, it’s done: J. T. Smith aka LL Cool J is back in this b, and he’s got his next album in his pocket: Number 11 in his career!!! Since the Mid-Eighties, LL has kept on and never stopped providing us with his music and has managed to stay a successful artist in this music industry. That alone should encourage us to give him the most credits. But also, “The DEFinition” is a nice record, even though it stays way off anything that might be deep and really thoughtful.