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| E.S. (various instruments); David Foreman
(guitar); Myron Mckinley (Fender Rhodes); Erick Sermon
(keyboards, bass, drums); Kern Brantley (bass); James Gamble
(drums); Dent (programming); Poke, Tone, Curt Gowdy (drum
programming); DJ Scratch (scratches); LeShaun Williams,
Shantel Jones, Kenny Greene (background vocals). Producers
include: Sean "Puffy" Combs, Trackmasterz, Poke,
Tone, Erick Sermon. Engineers include: Michael Patterson,
Lane Craven, Ken Ifill, Greg Mann, Bob Brown. Over the
years, hip-hop's reigning king has accomplished much more
than the average rapper. With his own book, television
sitcom, and, oh, yeah, a stack of platinum-selling albums,
LL Cool J is proof-positive that hip-hop can translate to
the mainstream with it's integrity intact. PHENOMENON comes
12 years after his debut, and LL still represents the
essence of true hip-hop. LL's success is probably due to his
ability to cross over without selling out, and to his
versatile style. The hard-core rapper that "rocked the
bells" in 1986 coexisted with the sensitive smoothie
who "needed love" from all the ladies. And in
1997, while LL Cool J makes it "Hot, Hot, Hot" on
an incendiary, Puffy-produced track, James Todd Smith tells
his story of growing up as an abused child on
"Father."
Vocals:
LL Cool J, Redman, Method Man, Cannibus, DMX,
Ralph Tresvant, Ricky Bell, Busta Rhymes, The
Lost Boyz, Tamia, Keith Sweat
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Albums
and Song Listings
Phenomenon
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1._ |
Phenomenon |
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1._ |
Phenomenon |
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2._ |
Candy
(featuring Ralph Tresvant and Ricky Bell of New Addition) |
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QT |
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Starsky
& Hutch (featuring Busta Rhymes) |
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QT |
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Another
Dollar |
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Nobody
Can Freak You (featuring Keith Sweat and LeShaun) |
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QT |
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Hot,
Hot, Hot |
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QT |
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4,3,2,1
(featuring Redman, Method Man, Canibus & DMX) |
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QT |
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Wanna
Get Paid (featuring The Lost Boyz) |
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Don't
Be Late, Don't Come Too Soon (featuring Tamia) |
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QT |
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Rating:   
(2.8 out of 5 )
The Source (12/97, p.179) - 3.5 Mics (out
of 5)
...PHENOMENON is, musically, a safe ride...LL knows just what he
has to do to eat off another platinum plate--keep the people
dancing to his latest jams...
Rap Pages (1/98, p.97) - Solid Material
...Uncle L has managed to maintain his rap authenticity while
developing into other areas of the entertainment industry....Not
too many rappers can call themselves a phenomenon and actually
make you consider the possibility...
Rolling Stone (10/30/97, pp.65-66) - 3 Stars (out of 5)
...The love zone is where L.L. dominates on this album....he
holds his own against certifiable heavyweights Busta
Rhymes...and Method Man and Redman...
Entertainment Weekly (10/17/97, p.73)
...With its happy beats, easy funk bass, and eager R&B
melodies, PHENOMENON best recalls the early rap LL grew up on.
Think Sugar Hill for the '90s, but with a wholly new kind of
role for LL: the rapper who never had a real father here aims to
father us all."
- Rating: B+
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Label:
Def Jam
Release
Date: 10/14/1997
Available Formats: CD, Cassette, Vinyl
Genre: R&B/Soul
Catalog Number: 539 186
Distributor: Universal Distribution
Spars Code: n/a
Mono/Stereo: Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Available for Purchase: Y
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