If LL COOL J wasn’t the world’s first modern rap star, he was certainly the template. Combining heartthrob looks, the braggadocio of a badass, and steady craftsmanship, the MC quickly proved he could make everything from defiant anthems (“I’m Bad”) to surprisingly tender love songs (“I Need Love”). By the end of the ’90s, each of his albums had been RIAA-certified Gold or better, further cementing his status as one of the most commercially and critically successful spitters of all time. By 2004, it was unclear whether he could keep up the pace and remain relevant. But, in a moment of resurgence, he responded with The DEFinition (2004), an LP that reaffirmed LL’s status as one of the most enduring all-around hitmakers in rap history.
Listen to LL COOL J’s The DEFinition now.
LL flaunts his customary blend of playboy slick talk and machismo as he oscillates between moods and aesthetics with seamless ease. On the Timbaland-produced “Rub My Back,” he glides across a bed of sun-soaked electric guitar and jittery synths as he dives into his tricking bag; it sounds like an island vacation with robots serving you beach side drinks. Meanwhile, for “Feel The Beat,” he laces subdued boom bap with agility and charisma that evoke rap’s golden age — you can practically see LL lower his fitted hat before he decides to crush the cypher.
LL adapted to the crunk soundscapes of the era, too. On the N.O. Joe-produced “Move Somethin’,” he bounces across quirky synths and the type of marching band percussion you could hear at an HBCU homecoming. And then, of course, there’s the Timbaland-produced “Headsprung.” Here, LL and Timbo join forces for an instrumental that’s at once mysterious and irresistible. The hook keeps that same energy, evoking a clandestine night of club thrills and pulsing cool.
While The DEFinition is perhaps LL’s strongest album of the 2000s, it isn’t traditionally considered one of his classics. That’s just what happens when you’re your own competition. Still, it’s a reminder of an artist with the mic presence and versatility to command fans’ attention across multiple generations. Although the names and sounds might change, when it comes to the concept of “rap superstar,” LL COOL J’s always been the definition.
