LL COOL J talked about his new album, “THE FORCE,” collaborating with Eminem on the track “Murdergram Deux,” crediting Michael Jackson as a writer on the song “The FORCE,” learning to rap again, and much more during a track-by-track album special on his new SiriusXM channel, LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel.
Featuring LL COOL J’s Rock the Bells Radio host Roxanne Shanté and a live audience, “LL COOL J ‘THE FORCE’ Track-By-Track Album Special” premieres on LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel on Friday, September 6, at noon ET and will be available to stream on the SiriusXM app (see more details below). During the show, LL went through his process working with Eminem.
“Me and Em actually went to Dr. Dre’s studio and recorded it out in LA,” LL COOL J said. “We Went together in the studio. And the way the process was: I would write my rhyme. Then I would lay it. He would come in, he would hear it, I would leave. He would write his rhyme. He would record. And we went back and forth in the booth without seeing each other record until we did the very last thing together, where I kinda come together with him a little bit.”
Tune in to LL COOL J’s THE FORCE Channel on channel 79 from now through September 19 at 3am ET in cars and through October 3 at 3am ET on the SiriusXM app.
Today (August 30), LL Cool J shared another taste of his first album in a decade. On his latest single, “Murdergram Deux,” LL Cool J linked up with Eminem to remind rap rookies that the veterans can still lyrically kill beats.
Between their verses, LL Cool J and Eminem pulled out ever sharp-witted trick in the hip-hop book. From swift cadence flips to multi-layered metaphors, “Murdergram Deux,” is a rap masterclass.
“What? A supa-dupa switch / I can’t understand a single word you’re saying / I think you have syrup brain, ’bout to finish you like polyurethane / All that molly probably sure to drain your spinal fluid from your vertebrae / This the Murdergram and I brought my murder game / My sh*t fire, that is why you log on it like Duraflame,” rapped Eminem.
LL Cool J follows that stanza with a fiery take of his own, rapping: “Murdergrams, turn over your ambulance, thirty bullets in advance / Candlelight and crying fans, we go in and buy a land / Slide up behind you, testing my rifle / Give blessings to my disciples, professional I’m a sniper / Like eight miles away, me and Marshall doing murders.”
The two emcees weren’t the only certified rap veteran to craft the record. Behind the scenes Q-Tip served as its co-producer and recording engineer to transport vintage hip-hop instrumental styles to present day.
After just over 11 years of waiting, LL COOL J fans will soon be able to enjoy a new album. Next Friday, September 6, the man who continues to defy Father Time will be dropping off The FORCE, his 14th studio LP. The acronym “FORCE” stands for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy, and it’s something that LL COOL J has continued to bring up during its rollout. “When you listen to this album, you’re not just hearing music, you’re experiencing a whole new vibe, a whole new level of artistic passion“, he said in statement. That “passion” is certainly on full display on this new LL COOL J single “Murdergram Deux”.
If that title sound familiar, it’s because there was an unfinished version of the song that got leaked online. It was originally titled just “Murdergram”, but after people spoiled it, LL went back to the drawing board. That is most likely why it’s now called “Murdergram Deux”, with the latter word meaning “two” in French. This track was hyped up big time, thanks Eminem’s inclusion. Both legends can really rap their a** off and their command of flow, as well as their lyrical abilities are front and center here. It feels like they were trying to outdo one another and if so, it’s intense. As with all of the tracks on The FORCE, this was one was handled by Q-Tip, but Em also has credits. Both murder the beat and are also doing the same to the competition with this one. Be sure to stream it with the link below.
Do you remember first time you heard the legend in leather? The career ender with the road-killer stuck to his fender I’m on another bender, drunk off the power that make a coward surrender as I devour contenders Talkin’ foul of whoever, your head is ’bout to get severed Then I bounce it with pleasure, I’m pouring out Amaretto Homies, I won’t forgеt ’em, so tap the bottle and pour it
LL COOL J is not aligned with Yung Miami laughing at Joe Budden’s gold plaque for “Pump It Up.” TMZ tracked down Hip-Hop’s OG G.O.A.T. and asked his opinion.
“Some people never go gold!” LL said. “It doesn’t matter, you have artists that don’t go do diamond ’til posthumously. I mean, it’s life. But it’s beautiful for him, [I’m] happy for Joe.”
On a recent episode of his podcast, LL COOL J dropped off Budden’s gold plaque for his hit single “Pump It Up.” Seeing the moment, Yung Miami had some jokes to crack. You can see them below.
Yung Miami laughs at Joe Budden just recently receiving his plaque for “Pump It Up”, 21 years after its release.
This comes after he laughed at ‘Caresha Please’ appearing to be nonexistent
Returning to the pod, Budden had some smoke, dubbing her “the worst female rapper” in the world right now.
“The thing about laughter, I think that she will soon realize is, it’s also a luxury,” Budden said. “So while I’m happy Caresha is able to laugh because she’s had a stressful year, I am a little surprised that she has found enough time to laugh at anything.
“I want to keep this professional and on the music. If Complex were to do a list of where all the female rappers rat, Caresha, you would be last on the list. You would be drop dead last on that list. Every female out there is wiping you down right now.
“Caresha, may you not only be dropped from your label right now, but you are not allowed to put music out. There is nothing happening.”
Joe Budden had time. On a recent episode of his podcast, LL COOL J dropped off Budden’s gold plaque for his hit single “Pump It Up.” Seeing the moment, Yung Miami had some jokes to crack. You can see them below.
Yung Miami laughs at Joe Budden just recently receiving his plaque for “Pump It Up”, 21 years after its release.
This comes after he laughed at ‘Caresha Please’ appearing to be nonexistent
Returning to the pod, Budden had some smoke, dubbing her “the worst female rapper” in the world right now.
“The thing about laughter, I think that she will soon realize is, it’s also a luxury,” Budden said. “So while I’m happy Caresha is able to laugh because she’s had a stressful year, I am a little surprised that she has found enough time to laugh at anything.
“I want to keep this professional and on the music. If Complex were to do a list of where all the female rappers rat, Caresha, you would be last on the list. You would be drop dead last on that list. Every female out there is wiping you down right now.
“Caresha, may you not only be dropped from your label right now, but you are not allowed to put music out. There is nothing happening.”
LL Cool J recently chatted with SiriusXM host D-Stroy on SiriusXM’s “CTRL, ALT, D-Stroy” on Shade 45. During the interview, LL Cool J talks about hip hop culture at the Paris Olympics and hopes they bring back breaking for the 2028 games.
When asked about this year’s Olympics in Paris and its inclusion of breaking(breakdancing) as an Olympic sport, Ladies Love responded, “The boombox. I saw judges with Kangols which I felt, I did feel like I was part of it. Whenever I see the boombox radio obviously. Yeah that kind of and my first album radio right? Boombox. So it personifies that. So it’s like when I see that I always think about you know my music and my contribution to hip hop, so it was amazing man.“
He added,” Like look I’m so happy about hip hop culture. I hope that they reconsider bringing back breaking for the 2028 games. I do know that the breakers will be even better in the 2028 games. There were a lot of great ones out there, don’t get me wrong, but I think that it will only get better and stronger. You just have to give it some time and I feel good about it man. I love this culture. I love hip hop, man. I love it.”
Even though L was excited over the breaking/Hip Hop inclusion in this year’s Olympics, fans and critics alike were perplexed after the performance of a b-girl from Brazil named “Raygun”, whose “dance” moves were ridiculed and made into some of the funniest memes to date.
The Olympic Committee decided to eliminate breakdancing from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
LL COOL J is looking to go 3/3 on the singles front for his upcoming album as he drops “Proclivities” with Saweetie. Prior to this, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee put out “Passion” and “Saturday Night Special” with Rick Ross and Fat Joe. The New York legend had taken a lot of time to get The FORCE right and lately, he’s been feeling that is a project worth hyping up. “We’re talking 14 tracks of straight fire, all crafted by myself and the one and only Q-Tip. When you listen to this album, you’re not just hearing music, you’re experiencing a whole new vibe, a whole new level of artistic passion”. So far, we have certainly been hearing the detailed approach from LL and Q. The previous tracks have been in our rotation consistently thanks to standout rapping and instrumentals that recapture the early days of hip-hop.
When fans heard that LL COOL J would be working with Saweetie on a song, they weren’t sure how it would sound. However, we are happy to report that the California femcee is able to put forth a pretty killer performance. She flexes her singing chops on the chorus which are highly sexual and steamy. She then effortlessly transitions right into her raunchy verse, keeping the sensual tension high. LL’s verses carry a majority of the runtime, and both of their performances are backed by another winning instrumental from Q-Tip. Its smoky, grand, and it’s just got an alluring quality to it. Fans can expect to have LL’s new album, The FORCE, on September 6. Stream “Proclivities” and check out its accompanying music video below.
The hip-hop world is buzzing as LL COOL J, the GRAMMY® Award-winning icon and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, released his sultry new single “Proclivities” featuring chart-topping rapper Saweetie. This latest track, filled with seductive energy and magnetic appeal, is a standout preview from his highly anticipated album, The FORCE, set to drop on September 6th.
Photo credit: Rock The Bells
In “Proclivities,” LL COOL J delivers his signature smooth flow and lyrical mastery, while Saweetie adds a fresh, confident vibe with her silky verses. The track is a powerful blend of both artists’ distinct styles, creating a dynamic collaboration that’s as sexy as it is fun. The provocative lyrics and infectious beat are sure to make “Proclivities” a hit on the charts.
Lyrics Sample:
“Damn baby I don’t know if you dance or not I’d love to see you on the pole I don’t know if you conservative or if you a freak But I’d love to see you lose control”
From the first beat drop, “Proclivities” takes listeners on a thrilling ride, with LL COOL J and Saweetie exchanging verses that ooze confidence and allure. The accompanying music video amplifies the track’s seductive energy, reminiscent of LL’s classic “Doin’ It,” set against a captivating after-dark backdrop.
“‘Proclivities’ is a fun song about the inner secrets we all have,” LL COOL J shared. “It’s one of my favorites on the album. Keep it on repeat, baby!”
“Proclivities” is the third single from The FORCE, following the release of “Saturday Night Special” and “Passion.” The FORCE marks LL COOL J’s first new album in over a decade, and it promises to be a powerful return to the music scene. Produced entirely by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, the album is a blend of modern soundscapes with LL’s legendary lyrical finesse. LL describes the process as “learning how to rap again,” likening it to a director returning to film school after a series of blockbusters.
Photo credit: Rock The Bells
Last week, The Source was invited to an exclusive preview of The FORCE at Lavan Midtown in New York City, where LL COOL J sat down with Elliot Wilson to discuss each track. The event, complete with light bites and specialty cocktails by COORS Light, showcased LL’s renewed energy and passion for his craft. Attendees left convinced that LL is poised to reaffirm his status as one of the greatest of all time.
The FORCE Track Listing:
Spirit of Cyrus (Featuring Snoop Dogg)
The FORCE
Saturday Night Special (Featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe)
Black Code Suite (Featuring Sona Jobarteh)
Passion
Proclivities (Featuring Saweetie)
Post Modern
30 Decembers
Runnit Back
Huey In Da Chair (Featuring Busta Rhymes)
Basquiat Energy
Praise Him (Featuring Nas)
Murdergram Deux (Featuring Eminem)
The Vow (Featuring Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D., and Don Pablito)
With The FORCE, LL COOL J is not just making a comeback—he’s reasserting his place at the top of the hip-hop hierarchy. As fans eagerly await the full album, “Proclivities” sets the stage for what promises to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
The FORCE is available to pre-order and pre-save now through the link HERE.
LL Cool J wanders a rap bordello in the video for his newest single, “Proclivities,” which features Saweetie and is produced by Q-Tip. Over a ’80s New Wave-ish sample, LL raps about various kinks and fetishes — y’know, his usual, raunchy material — while Saweetie croons on the hook and references past LL hits like “Jingling Baby.” Naturally, there are plenty of scantily clad women scattered throughout the video, so maybe don’t watch on your work computer. If anyone was worried about LL’s previous proclamation that he had to “teach myself to rap again,” have no fear — his pen game sounds as sharp as ever (if anything, he sounds a lot like Nas, another Queens native).
LL Cool J is a legend. He doesn’t have to back up his claims on hip-hop culture. That being said, LL is dishing out some hot takes during his recent press tour. The rapper is promoting the release of his new album, and discussing where he stands within the culture. He recently went on the Club Shay Shay pod, and declared that he should be on the Mount Rushmore of Def Jam artists. Shannon Sharpe noted some of the other names who have been on the label, but LL Cool J stood firm and prioritized himself over the likes of JAY-Z and DMX.
Shannon Sharpe asked which four artists defined Def Jam to LL Cool J, and the latter answered quickly. “It’s LL, it’s Public Enemy, it’s the Beastie Boys and it would have to be Slick Rick,” he asserted. It’s tough to argue with any of his picks. All four acts were defining hip-hop names in the 1980s, and helped turn it into what it is today. LL Cool J is one of the few artists who could get away with putting himself on the list because, frankly, he deserves it. He was the first solo superstar to crossover. He was also the first artist on Def Jam, period. Still, Sharpe stirred the pot.
The host listed off the other rappers who were on Def Jam after LL. “We got JAY-Z, we got Kanye, we got Rihanna, we got DMX, we got Luda, we got Nas,” he read aloud. “Was Hov not on Def Jam?” LL Cool J gave Sharpe a puzzled look before noting that JAY-Z arrived a decade after he did. “Yeah, a thousand years later,” he quipped. This isn’t the first time LL has discussed his fraught relationship with JAY-Z in recent weeks. He also set the record straight on a rumor that JAY-Z battle rapped him in a parking lot in 1996. LL admitted the story was true. That said, he rapped JAY’s partner beforehand, and claimed he spent all of his rhymes.
LL Cool J and JAY-Z have never collaborated, and most of their comments about one another have contained slight jabs. In the same Out of Context interview where LL addressed the rap battle, he shut down the rumor that he dissed JAY-Z on the song “Loungin.” The Queens legend asserted that he would have no reason to diss Hov back in 1996. Why? Because he wasn’t big enough to warrant the attention. It’s blunt but it’s also true. “What could I possibly want from him in 1996,” LL noted. “What do I want with him?”
LL Cool J about Caresha (Yung Miami) laughing at Joe Budden’s Gold Plaque
