star pension, why stop the old guy when he shows no sign of slowing down? On 1995's Mr. Smith , the 27-year-old LL's "self"-titled sixth album, the rapper keeps running like an aged marathoner: past his prime and no longer winning medals, perhaps, but still in full stride and doing a lot better than you could. At this point in his career, though, LL seems concerned with retaining the credibility of his Queens, New York, past while submerging deeper into a Hollywood future. Conscious of--and not fully resistant to--the fact that he's fast becoming recognized more as sitcom star than as rap pioneer, LL goes out of his way on Mr. Smith to provide his résumé. He recaps successes on "I Shot Ya," remembers those who paved his way on "Hip H...  (less)

Awards and platinum sales with massive crossover success. This album has several songs featuring special guests like It's Ya Girl Nicoletter, Jiz, Lyrikal, Richie Sambora, Ryan Leslie, Funkmaster Flex, Wyclef Jean, Fat Joe, Sheek Louch, Elan of The DEY, Grandmaster Caz, Ticky and The Dream. 19 tracks.  (less)

a welcome arrival for faithful fans. By now, fans don't expect cutting-edge music from LL. His production team, which includes the Neptunes, DJ S&S, and Amen Ra, layers catchy melodies with laid-back drum patterns and familiar samples. "Paradise," featuring LL's warm, women-friendly lyrics, a guest appearance by brainy R&B beauty du jour Amerie, and the thoroughly recognizable sample of "Rising to the Top," best exemplifies the artist's patented style. Interview segments with upstart hip-hopper Free are interspersed through the disc, offering an up-close-and-personal look at the legend and his legacy. --Rebecca Levine  (less)

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...  (less)

and New York features several tracks from Timabaland, Pharell, Scott Storch and Trackmasters. LL Cool J’s 12th album features 12 stars; including; Mary J. Blige, Mary Mary, Teairra Mari, Freeway and Juelz Santana.  (less)

name" ("4,3,2,1"), you can't help but feel like he's just selling you something. LL has built himself up considerably from the skinny punk rocking the bells in '85 to a true celebrity phenomenon, but somewhere on that journey he lost his soul. Strangely, the best tracks on the album employ guest vocalists like Busta Rhymes (on "Starsky & Hutch"), Cannibus and Method Man (both on "4,3,2,1"), where the guests unintentionally feel like the voices of ghosts, reminding LL of what it was like when rap music sold the beats and lyrics, instead of breakfast cereal and khakis. --Todd Levin  (less)