by Debra Au
Daily Lobo
Most musicians make music nearly 20 years after their debut.
Such is the enigma of James Todd Smith, better known as LL Cool J - the rapper, producer and frequent actor.
Nearly two decades ago, Smith was one of the first to make the Kangaroo hats and thick gold chains popular, and he's still setting trends with his album Todd Smith.
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Every track is filled with featured guest artists, from Juelz Santana to Jennifer Lopez, even artists who haven't been on the music scene for a while like 112 and Genuwine.
The first single is "Favorite Flavor" in which Mary J. Blige lends her vocal chops to lace a smooth sound between Smith's rougher raps.
The next expected single will be "Control Myself," a sure dance favorite that features Lopez counting to three in Spanish with intermittent singing. The only part that may make listeners more than a little confused is at the end, where Smith and Lopez make some sort of "zzzzzzzzz" sound over and over for a solid 30 seconds. It sounds like a manic swarm of bees all of a sudden.
Overall, you can expect to find testosterone-laden tracks throughout the album. Sex, sexual tension, cars, sex, shout-outs to baby mamas - did I mention sex? - are all prevalent themes on this album, which is now Smith's umpteenth release. Smith's libido is working overtime on this one.
But don't worry ladies. Smith doesn't leave out his softer, more sensitive side. There are some romantic moments on Todd Smith. "Down the Aisle," which features 112, is sure to be played at many weddings this spring, and "Best Dress" are great tracks to put on the stereo and listen to in front of the fire. The latter features Jamie Foxx, who sings in his own voice and not his Ray Charles vocal impressions.
The only problem with the album is that every track has a featured artist on it. While doing so does indeed add another dimension and, I suppose, enhance the tracks, is it really necessary? Surely Smith, with more than two decades' worth of experience, doesn't need every artist in the R&B top 20 to help him out. One would think that by this 12th album, he would know what to do all by himself. It just seems like an overdone attempt to say, "See, I'm still popular."
As a bonus track, Smith adds his remix of Ne-Yo's "So Sick." Just in case you haven't heard it on the radio enough, DJs now have another excuse to keep it on playlists.
If you're not sure you'll enjoy the entire album, buy Todd Smith for the album art; Smith is still just as, umm, defined as he was back in the '80s. No doubt it will be the determining factor for many female listeners.
Todd Smith
LL Cool J
Grade: B-
