LL COOL J STILL GOING STRONG

LL Cool J released his latest album, Todd Smith, earlier this month and after twenty years in the business the rapper still has enough staying power to make …

LL Cool J’s latest album, Todd Smith, entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at Number Six this week after selling more than 116,000 copies its first week in stores. While 116,000 copies is impressive, for LL Cool J it reflects a significant drop off from his recent releases.The rapper’s 2000 album, G.O.A.T., sold more than 209,000 copies to debut at Number Two. While the rapper’s 2002 set, 10, sold 154,000 copies to also enter the charts at Number Two. LL’s most recent release, 2004’s DEFinition, debuted at Number Four after moving 173,000 copies its first week out.

Even with the waning sales, it’s a testament to LL Cool J that he can still release an album after being in the rap industry for over twenty years. The rapper explained how Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five were an early influence on him. He said,

“You know Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five had a huge influence on me because what you had is you had five emcees. You had five rappers who are all very different and all had very different personalities. And all of those personalities as a little kid…When I say little kid and this is with respect I had pajamas with the feet in the bottom listening to these dudes, seriously. It really influenced me.”

Todd Smith features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Teairra Marí, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway, Mary Mary and Juelz Santana.

The latest single from the project is “Control Myself” featuring Jennifer Lopez.