In the closing days of 2019, Hip-Hop Heads learned that LL Cool J had returned to the label he helped make legendary. James Todd Smith was back on Def Jam Records. Moreover, the Queens, New York icon has teamed with another borough great to work on music, with Q-Tip producing LL’s latest material. Earlier this year, LL reminded fans that the album was on its way, and that the A Tribe Called Quest founder was executive producing.

Over three years later, fans get a taste of that chemistry, courtesy of the one-minute snippet titled “The Force.” In the sampling, LL says that his Farmers Boulevard days are still fuel to his fire. He also talks about yacht travel, drinking exotic juices, and maneuvering in the days of Rich Porter and Alpo. Q-Tip supplies a busy beat with booming drums, synths and the kind cacophony cooked up by Public Enemy in the 80s. The 60 seconds end in the middle of LL’s rhyming, leading folks to believe that a full version may appear soon.

THE FORCE. This album is my contribution to the culture. watch it unfold. 💪🏾⚡️ it’s not a moment it’s a movement. I love y’all.

— LLCOOLJ (@llcoolj) May 5, 2023

LL Cool J Is Back On Def Jam & Q-Tip Is Producing His Music

Online, LL Cool J alluded to The Force as a potential album title for his fourteenth LP. He also called the material his “contribution to the culture.” Cool J last released Authentic in 2013, his only album outside of Def Jam. Since then, the MC also recorded extensively with Dr. Dre.

Earlier this year, LL Cool J joined Questlove, Ice-T, Too Short, Scarface, DJ Jazzy Jeff and others for a Grammy tribute to Hip-Hop’s 50th anniversary. The MC born Todd Smith will be taking that show on the road this Summer, as he and The Roots headline a national tour joined by special guests like Rakim, Common, MC Lyte, Method Man & Redman, Jadakiss, Slick Rick, De La Soul, Rick Ross, Juvenile, Salt-N-Pepa and more.

#BonusBeat: A 2020 episode of Ambrosia For Heads’ What’s The Headline podcast that discusses LL Cool J’s GOAT status: