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)
* Track Masters
* 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

Professional ratingsReview scores

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

Phenomenon is the seventh studio album by rapper LL Cool J. 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[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, 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[edit]

Chart performance for Phenomenon Chart (1997)  | Peak
position

|

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

## Certifications[edit]

Region  | Certification | Certified units/sales

|
|

Canada (Music Canada)[17] | Platinum  | 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[18] | Platinum  | 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

## References[edit]

1. ^ https://www.allmusic.com/album/r312967
2. ^ Larkin, Colin (2011). "LL Cool J". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
3. ^ Album Review: 'Phenomenon'
4. ^ Hodari Coker, Cheo (November 2, 1997). "In Brief". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
5. ^ Rolling Stone link
6. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 169.
7. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
8. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
9. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – LL Cool J – Phenomenon" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
10. ^ "Charts.nz – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
11. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
12. ^ "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
13. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
14. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
15. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
16. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
17. ^ "Canadian album certifications – LL Cool J – Phenomenon". Music Canada.
18. ^ "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

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"

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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