Todd Smith (album)
Todd Smith | ||||||||||
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Studio album by LL Cool J | ||||||||||
Released | April 11, 2006 | |||||||||
Recorded | 2005–2006 | |||||||||
Genre | East Coast hip hop | |||||||||
Length | 51:47 | |||||||||
Label | Def Jam | |||||||||
Producer | Lyfe Jennings, Pharrell, Trackmasters, Keezo Kane, Bink! | |||||||||
LL Cool J chronology | ||||||||||
|
Professional ratings | |
---|---|
Aggregate scores | |
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 51/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | [2] |
AllMusic | [3] |
Entertainment Weekly | C+[4] |
PopMatters | [5] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10[6] |
Rolling Stone | [7] |
Slant Magazine | [8] |
Stylus Magazine | C–[9] |
Vibe | [10] |
XXL | [11] |
Todd Smith is the eleventh studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, released on April 11, 2006 by his label Def Jam Recordings. It includes collaborations with Jennifer Lopez, Pharrell, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari, Jamie Foxx, Ginuwine, Mary J. Blige, 112, Mary Mary, Ryan Toby (from City High) and Freeway.
Album information
The first single is the high-intensity, Jermaine Dupri produced dance track "Control Myself", another song with singer Jennifer Lopez after their collaboration on "All I Have" on Lopez's 2002 album This Is Me... Then. LL Cool J and Jennifer Lopez shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006 at Sony Studios, New York. The video was shot by Hype Williams. Originally the song was to feature Fergie (from The Black Eyed Peas), however difference in terms of payment resulted in her being replaced by Jennifer Lopez. Todd Smith scored mixed reviews, although most critics enjoyed tracks "Preserve The Sexy" and "Freeze". Freeze was the album's second single and it features Lyfe Jennings. The album shipped 500,000 copies but sold just 367,000 copies. Despite the fact the album debuted at number-six, it quickly fell off in 6 weeks. LL Cool J said he will be doing his last album on Def Jam which is a sequel to Todd Smith. The original title for the album was called "My Favorite Flavors" and this is the 4th album of LL's where he has appeared either shirtless, or has used a bare/exposed part of his body as the cover of the album.
Producers on the project include Pharrell, Scott Storch, Bink!, Shea Taylor, Keezo Kane and Trackmasters.
The album premiered on the Billboard charts at #6, selling 116,000 units and premiered at #79 on the UK albums chart and #40 in Canada.[12]
The album has been certified Gold by the RIAA.[13]
Track listing
- "It's LL And Santana" (featuring Juelz Santana) (Produced by Shea Taylor) 3:00
- "Control Myself" (featuring Jennifer Lopez) (Produced by Jermaine Dupri, LRoc) 3:53
- "Favorite Flavor" (featuring Mary J. Blige) (Produced by Poke and Tone) 3:26
- "Freeze" (featuring Lyfe Jennings) (Produced by LL Cool J & Lyfe Jennings) 4:52
- "Best Dress" (featuring Pharrell & Jamie Foxx) (Produced by The Neptunes) 3:57
- "Preserve the Sexy" (featuring Teairra Mari) (Produced by Keezo Kane) 3:39
- "What You Want" (featuring Freeway) (Produced by The Narcotics) 4:24
- "I've Changed" (featuring Ryan Toby) (Produced by Poke and Tone) 3:50
- "Ooh Wee" (featuring Ginuwine) (Produced by Scott Storch) 4:02
- "#1 Fan" (featuring Miredys Peguero) (Produced by Poke and Tone)
3:17 - "Down the Aisle" (featuring 112) (Produced by Poke and Tone) 4:01
- "We're Gonna Make It" (featuring Mary Mary) (Produced by Bink) 4:55
- "So Sick (Remix)" (Ne-Yo featuring LL Cool J) (Produced by Poke and Tone) (United States Bonus track) 4:23
Samples
- "It's LL and Santana"
- "Blind Man" by New Birth
- Re-Sung Lyrics from "Have You Seen Her" by The Chi-Lites[14]
- "Control Myself"
- "Looking for the Perfect Beat" by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force
- Re-Sung Lyrics from "Planet Rock" by Afrika Bambaataa and Soulsonic Force[15]
- "Favorite Flavor"
- "Preserve the Sexy"
- "Slaughter's Theme",[17] "Get Up, Get into It, Get Involved" & "My Thang" by James Brown
- Vocals[18] from "Make It Funky" by James Brown
- Crowd Noise[19] from "From The Love Side" by Hank Ballard & The Midnight Lighters
- "What You Want"
- "Hot Wheels (The Chase)" by Badder Than Evil
- "Heaven and Hell Is on Earth" by 20th Century Steel Band
- "Nobody Beats The Biz" by Biz Markie
- "Down the Aisle"
- "We're Gonna Make It"
- "So Sick (Remix)" samples
- "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson
- Vocals from "B Side Wins Again" by Public Enemy[20]
- Drums from "Flash It to the Beat" by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five[21]
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2006) | Peak position |
---|---|
Belgian Albums Chart | 88 |
Dutch Albums Chart | 99 |
Swiss Albums Chart | 64 |
UK Albums Chart | 79 |
US Billboard 200 | 6 |
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 2 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[22] | Gold | 500,000^ |
*sales figures based on certification alone |
References
- ↑ "Reviews for Todd Smith by LL Cool J". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ↑ Rizoh. "LL Cool J - Todd Smith (Def Jam)". About.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ "Todd Smith - LL Cool J". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Sinclair, Tom (April 17, 2006). "Todd Smith". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Frauenhofer, Michael (April 20, 2006). "LL Cool J: Todd Smith". PopMatters. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ↑ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (April 11, 2006). "LL Cool J :: Todd Smith :: Def Jam". RapReviews. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Relic, Peter (April 18, 2006). "Todd Smith : LL Cool J : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (April 12, 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ↑ McGarvey, Evan (April 20, 2006). "LL Cool J - Todd Smith - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on May 23, 2008. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
- ↑ Gonzales, Michael A. (May 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". Vibe. Vibe Media. 14 (5): 135–36. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ↑ Golianopoulous, Thomas (April 21, 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
- ↑ CANOE - JAM! Music SoundScan Charts
- ↑ http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=L.L._Cool_J&format=&go=Search&perPage=50
- ↑ "It's LL and Santana" Sample of "Have You Seen Her". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/262974/LL-Cool-J-Juelz-Santana-It%27s-LL-and-Santana-Chi-Lites-Have-You-Seen-Her/
- ↑ "Control Myself Sample of "Planet Rock". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/72342/LL-Cool-J-Jennifer-Lopez-Control-Myself-Afrika-Bambaataa-Soulsonic-Force-Planet-Rock/
- ↑ "Favorite Flavor" Sample of "Mary Jane". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/70759/LL-Cool-J-Mary-J.-Blige-Favorite-Flavor-Mary-J.-Blige-Mary-Jane-(All-Night-Long)/
- ↑ "Preserve The Sexy" Sample of "Slaughter's Theme". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/320734/LL-Cool-J-Teairra-Mari-Preserve-the-Sexy-James-Brown-Slaughter%27s-Theme/
- ↑ "Preserve The Sexy" Sample of "Make It Funky". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/358606/LL-Cool-J-Teairra-Mari-Preserve-the-Sexy-James-Brown-Make-It-Funky/
- ↑ "Preserve The Sexy" Sample of "From The Love Side". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/262976/LL-Cool-J-Teairra-Mari-Preserve-the-Sexy-Hank-Ballard-%26-the-Midnighters-From-the-Love-Side/
- ↑ "So Sick Remix" Sample of "B Side Wins Again". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/118180/Ne-Yo-LL-Cool-J-So-Sick-(Remix)-Public-Enemy-B-Side-Wins-Again/
- ↑ "So Sick Remix" Sample of "Flash It to the Beat". WhoSampled.com. http://www.whosampled.com/sample/232418/Ne-Yo-LL-Cool-J-So-Sick-(Remix)-Grandmaster-Flash-The-Furious-Five-Flash-It-to-the-Beat/
- ↑ "American album certifications – LL Cool J – Todd Smith". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH