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LL COOL J will reportedly trade bars with a host of heavy hitters on his forthcoming 14th studio album, including Eminem, Nas and more.

LL COOL J will reportedly trade bars with a host of heavy hitters on his forthcoming album, including Eminem and Nas. Looking to make his musical comeback (just dont call it that), the Queens, New York rap legend is currently gearing up to release his first album in a decade to coincide with Hip Hops 50th birthday this year. While LL needs no assistance on the mic, the as-yet-untitled project will boast a bevy of big-name guests including Eminem, Nas, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Saweetie, according to AllHipHop. With the exception of Joey Crack, who featured on the I Shot Ya (Remix) back in 1995, itll mark the first time each of those artists has appeared on wax with James Todd Smith. Eminem was originally supposed to be on LLs G.O.A.T. 2 in 2014, and while that project got shelved, LL continued to tease a Slim Shady collaboration on his long-awaited 14th studio album. He actually did his vocals and everything, he told Billboard in 2016. It really happened. I want the overall project to be good. Em is my man and I love him. Hes also a friend of mine, so well definitely get it poppin. The world has been waiting for that. Theyll get it the right way and its gonna be amazing. Although the song never saw the light of day, the pair eventually shared the stage in 2021 at LL COOL Js Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where Em helped his Hip Hop hero perform Going Back to Cali and Rock the Bells. In addition to its stacked supporting cast, LL COOL Js new album boasts plenty of firepower behind the boards, with A Tribe Called Quests Q-Tip set to handle production duties. The album, I think, is really, really special, LL told E! News at the 2023 Grammy Awards in February, where he partook in the star-studded Hip Hop 50 tribute performance. I think its something modern without chasing. Its a whole new thing. I cant wait for the people to see it. May 9, 2023 He added: I think honestly and sincerely that Q-Tip as a producer is unbelievable and what he did on this record for me, I think is amazing. So the world will decide. While further details remain scarce, LL kickstarted the rollout for the project earlier this month by premiering the first single, The Force, on Rock the Bells Radio. Produced by Q-Tip, the hard-hitting track borrows sonic elements from Tips 1999 Amplified cut End of Time and lists the late, great Michael Jackson as a co-songwriter. It also shares the same name as LL COOL Js upcoming arena tour with The Roots, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Z-Trip. Billed as the ultimate Hip Hop mash-up tour, the collective will be joined by a slew of special guests in select cities, from Big Boi and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony to Rick Ross and Rakim. More on Read more