Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)

Phenomenon
Phenomenon
Studio album by LL Cool J
Released	October 14, 1997
Recorded	1996–1997
Genre	Hip hop
Length	43:58
Label	Def Jam; PolyGram;
Producer	The Hitmen (Including Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan, & Ron Lawrence); Trackmasters; Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool; L.E.S.; Curt Gowdy; Erick Sermon;
LL Cool J chronology
Singles from Phenomenon
	"Phenomenon"; Released: September 23, 1997; "4, 3, 2, 1"; Released: December 9, 1997; "Father"; Released: January 13, 1998; "Hot, Hot, Hot"; Released: March 27, 1998; "Candy"; Released: July 3, 1998;

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music	^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B+^[3]
Los Angeles Times	^[4]
Rolling Stone	^[5]
The Source	^[6]

Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J, released on October 14, 1997. After the success of his previous release Mr. Smith, the same basic principles are followed here, with several R&B-influenced tracks, and a couple of more hardcore rap tracks. The album was certified Platinum, unlike Mr. Smith, which was certified 2× Platinum. The album is executively produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and therefore features production from his in-house roster of producers the Hitmen.

Track listing

*Phenomenon* track listing
#	Title	Length	Featured Artists	Producer(s)	Sample(s)
1	"Phenomenon"	4:04		Sean "Puffy" Combs for The Hitmen, Ron "AMEN-RA" Lawrence	"Who Is He and What Is He to You?" by Creative Source "White Lines (Don't Don't Do It)" by Grandmaster Melle Mel
2	"Candy"	4:32	Ricky Bell & Ralph Tresvant	Trackmasters	"Sunshine" by Alexander O'Neal "Candy Girl" by New Edition
3	"Starsky & Hutch"	4:03	Busta Rhymes	L.E.S.	"Dance With Me" by Peter Brown
4	"Another Dollar"	3:48		Curt Gowdy, Trackmasters	"Stealing" by Dr. John
5	"Nobody Can Freak You"	3:20	LeShaun & Keith Sweat	Trackmasters	"Nobody Can Be You" by Steve Arrington
6	"Hot, Hot, Hot"	4:22		Sean "Puffy" Combs, Deric "D-Dot" Angelettie & Ron Lawrence for The Hitmen	"Pleasure of Love" by Tom Tom Club
7	"4, 3, 2, 1"	4:16	Canibus, DMX, Master P & Method Man & Redman	Erick Sermon	"Superrappin'" by Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five
8	"Wanna Get Paid"	4:11	The Lost Boyz	Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool	"Action" by Orange Krush
9	"Father"	4:44		Trackmasters	"Father Figure" by George Michael
10	"Don't Be Late, Don't Come Too Soon"	6:38	Tamia	Steven "Stevie J" Jordan for The Hitmen	"You Are My Starship" by Norman Connors

Charts

Chart performance for *Phenomenon*
Chart (1997)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[7]	88
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[8]	7
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[9]	48
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[10]	24
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[11]	39
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[12]	57
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[13]	48
UK Albums (OCC)^[14]	37
UK R&B Albums (OCC)^[15]	6
US Billboard 200^[16]	7
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[17]	4

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[18]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[19]	Platinum	1,000,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Phenomenon at AllMusic
^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "LL Cool J". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8 – via Google Books.
^ Farber, Jim (October 17, 1997). "Cool's story of youth". Entertainment Weekly. No. 401. New York. p. 73. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
^ Hodari Coker, Cheo (November 2, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
^ Stovall, Natasha (October 30, 1997). "Bigger and deffer". Rolling Stone. No. 772. pp. 65–66. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2024.
^ Wilson, Elliott (December 1997). "Record Report: LL Cool J – Phenomenon". The Source. No. 99. New York. p. 179. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 169.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Offiziellecharts.de – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Charts.nz – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Swedishcharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
^ "Canadian album certifications – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Music Canada.
^ "American album certifications – L.L. Cool J – Phenomenon". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

LL Cool J – Phenomenon at Discogs (list of releases)

This 1990s hip hop album–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[AMG-1] Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. Phenomenon at AllMusic

[2] Larkin, Colin (2011). "LL Cool J". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8 – via Google Books.

[EW-3] Farber, Jim (October 17, 1997). "Cool's story of youth". Entertainment Weekly. No. 401. New York. p. 73. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

[4] Hodari Coker, Cheo (November 2, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.

[RS-5] Stovall, Natasha (October 30, 1997). "Bigger and deffer". Rolling Stone. No. 772. pp. 65–66. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2024.

[6] Wilson, Elliott (December 1997). "Record Report: LL Cool J – Phenomenon". The Source. No. 99. New York. p. 179. Archived from the original on December 11, 2010. Retrieved September 20, 2024.

[7] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 169.

[ac_BillboardCanada_LL_Cool_J-8] "LL Cool J Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_Netherlands_LL_Cool_J-9] "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_Germany4_LL_Cool_J-10] "Offiziellecharts.de – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_New_Zealand_LL_Cool_J-11] "Charts.nz – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_Sweden_LL_Cool_J-12] "Swedishcharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_Switzerland_LL_Cool_J-13] "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_UK2_-14] "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[ac_UKR&B_-15] "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.

[ac_Billboard200_LL_Cool_J-16] "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[ac_BillboardRandBHipHop_LL_Cool_J-17] "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.

[CanadaLL_Cool_JPhenomenonalbumCertRef-18] "Canadian album certifications – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Music Canada.

[United_StatesL.L._Cool_JPhenomenonalbumCertRef-19] "American album certifications – L.L. Cool J – Phenomenon". Recording Industry Association of America.

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v t e LL Cool J
Discography
Studio albums	Radio Bigger and Deffer Walking with a Panther Mama Said Knock You Out 14 Shots to the Dome Mr. Smith Phenomenon G.O.A.T. 10 The DEFinition Todd Smith Exit 13 Authentic The FORCE
Compilations	All World: Greatest Hits All World 2
Singles	"I Can't Live Without My Radio" "Rock the Bells" "You'll Rock" "I'm Bad" "I Need Love" "Going Back to Cali" "I'm That Type of Guy" "Big Ole Butt" "One Shot at Love" "Jingling Baby" "To da Break of Dawn" "The Boomin' System" "Around the Way Girl" "Mama Said Knock You Out" "6 Minutes of Pleasure" "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" "Strictly Business" "How I'm Comin'" "Back Seat (of My Jeep)" "Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings" "Stand By Your Man" "Hey Lover" "Doin' It" "Loungin" "I Shot Ya" "Ain't Nobody" "Hit 'Em High (The Monstars' Anthem)" "Phenomenon" "4, 3, 2, 1" "Hot, Hot, Hot" "Father" "Candy" "Zoom" "Say What" "Deepest Bluest" "Shut 'Em Down "Imagine That" "You and Me" "Put Your Hands Up" "Luv U Better" "Paradise" "All I Have" "Amazin' "Headsprung" "Hush" "Control Myself" "Cry" "Baby" "Murdergram Deux"
Featured singles	"Rampage" "Why Me Baby?" "This Is for the Lover in You" "Incredible" "Fatty Girl" "All I Have" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti"
Other songs	"Accidental Racist"