Traditional Hip-Hop
LL Cool J’s The Force features collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and Nas
LL Cool J‘s “Murdergram Deux,” a bass-heavy track off of his latest album The Force, marked the rapper’s first collaboration with Eminem. The rap legends have now teamed up again for the single’s music video, which incorporates LL Cool J’s and Big Daddy Kane‘s iconic album art into the backdrop.
The music video pans into the cover art for LL Cool J’s sophomore album Bigger and Deffer, which featured hits like “I’m Bad” and “I Need Love,” before transitioning to Big Daddy Kane’s greek-inspired cover art for Long Live the Kane. References to LL Cool J’s “Going Back to Cali” music video and the 1996 Vibe cover “Live from Death Row” also appeared in the music video.
Although this marks the duo’s first official release together, they previously performed “Going Back To Cali” and “Rock The Bells” at the 2021 Rock Hall of Fame ceremony. LL Cool J’s The Force, which stands for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy, was produced by Q-Tip and includes 14 tracks with features from Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, and Nas.
A Rolling Stone review called the hip-hop album, “still lyrically competitive after 39 years of rhyming,” and gives credits to Q-Tip who modernizes “LL’s sound for those who’d actually want to stream a new LL Cool J album and gives them what they came for: boastful brags (‘Murdergram Deux’ with Eminem), lover-man vibes (‘Proclivities’) and some old-school rap storytelling (‘Spirit of Cyrus’).”
On Aug. 27, MTV announced LL Cool J will join Shawn Mendes, Karol G, and Anitta at the Video Music Awards on Sept. 11 in New York. He last performed at the award show in 2023 alongside Nicki Minaj, Doug E. Fresh, and Lil Wayne during the 50th anniversary of hip-hop tribute.