Todd Smith (album)

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Todd Smith
Ll-cool-j-Todd Smith.jpg
Studio album by
LL Cool J
ReleasedApril 11, 2006
Recorded2005–06
Genre
Length51:47
LabelDef Jam
Producer
LL Cool J chronology
The DEFinition
(2004) 		Todd Smith
(2006) 		Exit 13
(2008)
Singles from Todd Smith
  1. "It's LL and Santana / What You Want"
    Released: November 10, 2005
  2. "Control Myself"
    Released: February 1, 2006
  3. "Freeze"
    Released: April 5, 2006
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic51/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com3/5 stars[2]
AllMusic2.5/5 stars[3]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[4]
PopMatters5/10 stars[5]
RapReviews7.5/10[6]
Rolling Stone1/5 stars[7]
Slant Magazine3/5 stars[8]
Stylus MagazineC–[9]
Vibe3.5/5 stars[10]
XXL2/5 stars[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.

Background[]

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.[citation needed] 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]

Music and lyrics[]

Todd Smith is composed of radio-friendly hip hop, with LL Cool J foregoing street material in favor of straightforward, commercial pop-rap.[3] Much of the album is built on minimalist, distilled synthesized rap, featuring thick drum swirls and bright record production.[9] The lyrics demonstrate LL Cool J comfortably rapping slow songs exclusively aimed at the opposite sex.[8][9]

Critical reception[]

Todd Smith was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 51 based on 17 reviews.[1]

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's LL and Santana" (featuring Juelz Santana)
Taylor3:00
2."Control Myself" (featuring Jennifer Lopez)
3:53
3."Favorite Flavor" (featuring Mary J. Blige)
Poke and Tone3:26
4."Freeze" (featuring Lyfe)
  • LL Cool J
  • Jennings
4:52
5."Best Dress" (featuring Jamie Foxx)
The Neptunes3:57
6."Preserve the Sexy" (featuring Teairra Mari)
Keezo Kane3:39
7."What You Want" (featuring Freeway) 
  • The Narcotics
4:24
8."I've Changed" (featuring Ryan Toby) 
  • Poke and Tone
3:50
9."Ooh Wee" (featuring Ginuwine) 
4:02
10."#1 Fan" 
  • Poke and Tone
3:17
11."Down the Aisle" (featuring 112) 
  • Poke and Tone
4:01
12."We're Gonna Make It" (featuring Mary Mary) 
4:55
13."So Sick Remix" (featuring Ne-Yo) (bonus track) 
  • Poke and Tone
4:23
UK bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Control Myself" (featuring Jennifer Lopez) (Nevins Funktek Remix)
  • J. Smith
  • Dupri
  • Phillips
  • Toby
  • Miller
  • Bambaataa
  • Baker
  • Robie
  • Dupri
  • LRoc (co.)
3:46
Japanese bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."Control Myself" (featuring Jennifer Lopez) (Joe Bermudez Radio Edit)
  • J. Smith
  • Dupri
  • Phillips
  • Toby
  • Miller
  • Bambaataa
  • Baker
  • Robie
  • Dupri
  • LRoc (co.)
3:49

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[21] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Reviews for Todd Smith by LL Cool J". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  2. ^ Rizoh. "LL Cool J - Todd Smith (Def Jam)". About.com. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Todd Smith - LL Cool J". AllMusic. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  4. ^ Sinclair, Tom (April 17, 2006). "Todd Smith". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  5. ^ Frauenhofer, Michael (April 20, 2006). "LL Cool J: Todd Smith". PopMatters. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  6. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (April 11, 2006). "LL Cool J :: Todd Smith :: Def Jam". RapReviews. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Cinquemani, Sal (April 12, 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c 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.
  10. ^ Gonzales, Michael A. (May 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". Vibe. Vibe Media. 14 (5): 135–36. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  11. ^ Golianopoulous, Thomas (April 21, 2006). "LL Cool J Todd Smith". XXL. Townsquare Media. Retrieved August 21, 2011.
  12. ^ CANOE - JAM! Music SoundScan Charts
  13. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-20. Retrieved 2014-05-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "Ultratop.be – LL Cool J – Todd Smith" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – LL Cool J – Todd Smith" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  16. ^ "Swisscharts.com – LL Cool J – Todd Smith". Hung Medien. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  17. ^ "LL Cool J | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  18. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  19. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  20. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  21. ^ "American album certifications – LL Cool J – Todd Smith". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links[]

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