Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)

1997 studio album by LL Cool J

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
| All World: Greatest Hits
(1996)  | Phenomenon
(1997)  | G.O.A.T.
(2000)

|
|

Singles from  Phenomenon

1. "Phenomenon"
Released: September 23, 1997
2. "4, 3, 2, 1"
Released: December 9, 1997
3. "Father"
Released: January 13, 1998
4. "Hot, Hot, Hot"
Released: March 27, 1998
5. "Candy"
Released: July 3, 1998

Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J, released on October 14, 1997, through Def Jam Recordings. After the success of his previous release Mr. Smith (1995), the same basic principles are followed here, with several R&B-influenced tracks, and a couple of more hardcore rap tracks. The album is executively produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs and therefore features production from his in-house roster of producers the Hitmen, alongside the Trackmasters, Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool, L.E.S. and Erick Sermon. The album received mixed reviews from critics. Phenomenon debuted and peaked at number seven on the Billboard 200 and was certified Platinum, unlike Mr. Smith, which was certified 2× Platinum. It spawned five singles: the title track, "4, 3, 2, 1", "Father", "Hot, Hot, Hot" and "Candy".

## Critical reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

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

Cheo Hodari Coker, writing for the Los Angeles Times, called it "LL's best record" since Mama Said Knock You Out, praising "Father" for showing him on "rap's cutting edge" and being more personal.[4] Jim Farber of Entertainment Weekly wrote that: "Musically, the album takes far fewer risks than his innovative early work. With its happy beats, easy funk bass, and eager R&B melodies, Phenomenon best recalls the early rap LL grew up on. Think Sugar Hill for the '90s, but with a wholly new kind of role for LL: the rapper who never had a real father here aims to father us all."[3] Natasha Stovall of Rolling Stone praised LL for delivering quality loverman ballads and battle rap tracks while also being an insightful storyteller on "Father", but critiqued that the album's "competent grooves" don't match with his words.[5] AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine called it "a retread of Mr. Smith," highlighting "a couple of killer singles, a few dogs, and a lot of filler", concluding that: "Still, Phenomenon sounds good when it's playing, and even if it doesn't leave a lasting impression, it's a solid, professional effort that illustrates why LL is still in the game, 12 years after his first record."[1]

## Track listing

[edit]

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 & 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

[edit]

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

[edit]

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

[edit]

1. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Phenomenon - LL Cool J". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 16, 2014. Retrieved December 13, 2010.
2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "LL Cool J". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
3. ^ a b 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. ^ a b Hodari Coker, Cheo (November 2, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
5. ^ a b 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.
8. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
10. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
11. ^ "Charts.nz – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
12. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
13. ^ "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
14. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
15. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
16. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
17. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
18. ^ "Canadian album certifications – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Music Canada.
19. ^ "American album certifications – L.L. Cool J – Phenomenon". Recording Industry Association of America.

## External links

[edit]

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

* 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"

Authority control databases |

* MusicBrainz release group

|

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