Even if I consider my self full time hip-hop head, I was never really interested in what LL Cool J has to say. Let’s say that he was going out on back door while I was entering hip-hop on front door. I knew he had many classics, and I knew their names, and I know he proclaimed himself the G.O.A.T. and stuff but never really showed some interest to hear that and shape my own opinion about that.
First LL’s album I have bought was Todd Smith, it was Summer of 2006… the funniest thing is that I haven’t listened to it even once since I got it. It’s still new.

A few months ago, I had gone on trip through my whole hip-hop collection. The albums are sorted alphabetically, and once when LL’s 14 Shots To The Dome got it’s turn ( after N.W.A.’s 100 Miles And Runnin’ ), I was sceptical again, I didn’t know why but I had no will for listening to this. But… somehow I forced myself to do it. And now, I’m glad I did. It was really enjoyable record.


When I listen to (any) album, I have a expectation of getting at least one 5 stars rated song. Unfortunately, that was not a case in many albums I’d listened to. Sometimes, there was even case to have several straight albums without 5 stars rated song.
Fortunately, that was not a case in 14 Shots To The Dome. I remember that I listened to this album during my workout and I was impressed with LL’s aggressive flow which made my work harder (lol). Great examples are Buckin’ Em Down and How I’m Comin.
The first one is explosion of adrenaline, the real adrenaline rush with great storm of aggressive lyrics and the second one is very similar to it, a great braggadocio (there is even a lot of gun usage but I don’t blame him because the 1993 was year of Doggystyle and the year after The Chronic), and that is what LL does in great way through the whole album. He simply brags but still gets charismatic in some way.
Diggy Down is the another attractive song, social lyrics are just okay but that melody and hook are incredibly appealing, I think I could listen to it whole day. Soul Survivor is another song of that type, but with little bit less magic in it. I consider Crossroads a highlight too. It has some haunting melody similar to horror movies, and LL once again flows terrifically.
Back Seat was album's single as I’d seen on Wikipedia . It is one of those love songs, a type of songs I’d always liked, but here I have a feeling that something is missing, I don’t know why, maybe it’s for boring hook or something but anyway it’s still quite enjoyable. Funkadelic Relic is some kind of nice narration of his whole career but don’t expect miracles. Nice concept is used on Pink Cookies In A Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings (what a title). The same thing GZA did with labels in 1995’s Labels , LL did in 1993 but with names of rappers and groups.

What to say about the rest of the tracks? I don’t have too many disappointments on this album. Maybe the main problem is that almost all other songs are simply average, not above average, not below average, just plain average. I can’t say nothing against A Little Somethin’ , Stand By Your Man, All We Got Left Is The Beat and others, but they represent nothing too good neither nothing too bad. These are just type of songs you’ll listen to once and feel nothing for them. You’ll just forget them and probably never listen to them again.
Only songs here which I simply can not listen to is Straight From Queens. Lyricism is just average and that hook is just horrible. When I hear that reggae, dancehall or whatever it’s name is in hip-hop hooks, I immediately want to rate song a one star. Blame me if you want, but I hate it in hip-hop.

And…here is the end, believe it or not, I listened to LL Cool J’s album. And the conclusion is that I want more. I had seen that this is considered as a bad album. I like it, and that’s the only thing which matters for me. Maybe I won’t like Mama Said Knock You Out album, I don’t know… but this is very enjoyable hip-hop record and it will have it’s number of spins on my iPod, iTunes, Stereo and other. I suggest you to cop this and get yourself another great hip-hop experience.



TRACKLIST:

1. How I'm Comin' (4 stars)
2. Buckin' Em Down (4,5 stars)
3. Stand By Your Man (3,5 stars)
4. A Little Somethin' (3,5 stars)
5. Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed By Buildings (3,5 stars)
6. Straight from Queens (2 stars)
7. Funkadelic Relic (3 stars)
8. All We Got Left Is the Beat (3,5 stars)
9. No Frontin' Allowed (3 stars)
10. Back Seat (3,5 stars)
11. Soul Survivor (4 stars)
12. Ain't No Stoppin' This (4 stars)
13. Diggy Down (5 stars)
14. Crossroads (5 stars)


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Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends