RELEASED ON 6.9.2024 ON DEF JAM VIA UNIVERSAL
CATALOGUE NUMBER 4896873
Album Info
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, actor, author, NAACP Image Award
winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder/CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J continues his trailblazing career with upcoming album 'The
FORCE'.
LL’s highly anticipated 14th studio album The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) set for release September 6 th follows over a decade long
hiatus. The record was executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this
album, LL will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings. As LL was the label’s first release, there is no better way to
represent the legacy of Def Jam Recordings on its 40th year
Artist Bio
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy® Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, actor, author, NAACP Image Award
winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J has created one of the most multifaceted careers and brands
in entertainment and continues to display his wide range of talents with every project.
Four decades after he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career. LL COOL J helped elevate the burgeoning rap and
Hip-Hop scene of the 80’s, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is Hip-Hop as we know it today. Of LL’s many
contributions to the culture, he also is credited with the creation of the acronym “G.O.A.T.” - short for “Greatest of All Time.”
First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Recordings’ flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling
albums, including his critically-acclaimed debut album, RADIO, and the international, timeless anthem and album of the same name, MAMA SAID
KNOCK YOU OUT. LL’s hit singles include “Going Back to Cali,” “Doin’ It,” “Around the Way Girl,” “Loungin’”, “Headsprung,” and Hip-Hop’s first rap
ballad “I Need Love.”
Up next, this fall LL is back to make his latest artistic contribution and continue to elevate Hip-Hop culture after over a decade long hiatus with the
release of his highly anticipated new album, The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL will help celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam
Recordings.
In December 2017, LL became the first rapper to earn the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor, which is America’s highest achievement for any
performer. In addition, he received his star on the world-renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 21, 2016.
In March 2018, LL launched his own SiriusXM timeless Hip-Hop channel entitled “LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio,” garnering millions of daily
listeners. The channel features a wide range of innovative and timeless Hip-Hop content, music, interviews, and in-depth retrospectives curated,
programmed, and presented by the award-winning artist himself. Since founding the radio station, Rock The Bells has developed into a global
platform that has become the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop. Rock The Bells focuses on content, commerce and experiences that honor the
CULTURE and the core elements of Hip-Hop – MCs, DJs, Breakers, Graffiti Artists – and more. Rock The Bells hosted its inaugural eponymous music
festival in Queens, New York in August 2022, which sold out back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023, where LL headlined both festivals.
LL COOL J was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 30, 2021, in Cleveland, Ohio for the 36th annual induction ceremony.
Considered by most as the crowning achievement for one’s musical career, the ceremony was a celebration of LL’s lasting impact on Hip-Hop and the
music industry.
In Summer 2023, LL COOL J, Rock The Bells, and Live Nation Urban kicked off his first arena tour in 30 years across North America called The F.O.R.C.E.
Tour, inspired by the name of LL’s forthcoming album. Living up to the acronym for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy, the lineup for this tour was
personally curated by LL COOL J. Building off their amazing performance together on the GRAMMY® Awards earlier that year celebrating the 50th
Anniversary of Hip-Hop, all dates featured collaborative live performances with preeminent Award-winning Hip-Hop band The Roots, the legendary
DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip.
LL hosted the GRAMMY® Awards for an unprecedented five years in a row from 2012-2016, for which he earned rave reviews. In addition, he hosted
and produced the GRAMMY® Nominations Concert Live Special for seven years and has also been a presenter at the Emmy®, Golden Globe® and SAG
Awards. Most recently, at the end of 2023, LL helped produce CBS’ live concert special A GRAMMY Salute To 50 Years Of Hip-Hop, which celebrated
the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award.
LL has always been an avid philanthropist involved in numerous causes, including literacy for kids as well as music and arts programs in schools.
Founded in 2005, LL’s charity “Jump & Ball” – which takes place every August in his hometown of Queens, New York – aims to give back to his local
community by offering an athletic and team building program dedicated to bringing wholesome fun to young people.
Between being a musician, actor, philanthropist and entrepreneur, LL COOL J is the ultimate multi-hyphenate whose career continues to expand and
where he remains one of the most beloved and innovative brands in entertainment. He currently resides in both New York and Los Angeles.
TRACKLIST (CONFIDENTIAL UNTIL 7/12 ALBUM PRE-ORDER ANNOUNCE)
CD
01. Spirit of Cyrus (ft. Snoop Dogg)
02. The FORCE
03. Saturday Night Special (ft. Rick Ross, Fat Joe)
04. Black Code Suite
05. Passion
06. Proclivitie (ft. Saweetie)
07. Post Modern
08. 30 Decembers
09. Runnit Back
10. Huey In The Chair (ft. Busta Rhymes)
11. Basquiat Energy
12. Praise Him (ft. Nas)
13. Murdergram Deux (ft. Eminem)
14. The Vow (ft. Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., Don Pablito)
LP
SIDE A
A1. Spirit of Cyrus (ft. Snoop Dogg)
A2. The FORCE
A3. Saturday Night Special (ft. Rick Ross, Fat Joe)
A4. Black Code Suite
A5. Passion
A6. Proclivitie (ft. Saweetie)
A7. Post Modern
SIDE B
B1. 30 Decembers
B2. Runnit Back
B3. Huey In The Chair (ft. Busta Rhymes)
B4. Basquiat Energy
B5. Praise Him (ft. Nas)
B6. Murdergram Deux (ft. Eminem)
B7. The Vow (ft. Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., Don Pablito)