| G.O.A.T. | ||||
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| Released | September 12, 2000 | |||
| Length | 73:43 | |||
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| Producer |
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| LL Cool J chronology | ||||
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| Singles from G.O.A.T. | ||||
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G.O.A.T. featuring James T. Smith: The Greatest of All Time (simply known as G.O.A.T.) is the eighth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J, issued on Def Jam Recordings. It was released on September 12, 2000, and peaked at number one on the US Billboard 200. It was LL Cool J's first and, to date, only album to reach the top spot.
The bulk of the album came about in the year of 1999, when DJ Scratch handed LL a CD of six instrumentals. The submission of beats took place when Scratch first met LL in the studio, as both men were working on the song "Ill Bomb," for Funkmaster Flex and DJ Big Kap's album, The Tunnel (1999). [1]
In a 2023 interview with Adam Graham of The Detroit News , who credited LL with creating the acronym G.O.A.T., LL said he got the term from Earl "The Goat" Manigault and Muhammad Ali. [2] Ali's business entity was called G.O.A.T., Inc., based at his home in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 73/100 [3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [4] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ [5] |
G.O.A.T. received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 73, based on 12 reviews. [3] Entertainment Weekly 's Tom Sinclair noted that the album "finds the Queens-bred rapper in near top form. Talking trash, passing the mic to guests like DMX and Snoop Dogg, reeling off endlessly inventive boasts — he makes it all seem as easy as chillin’ on the boulevard on a hot summer night. The only downer is the creeping note of defensiveness, as though the old goat (who's all of 32) felt compelled to convince a new generation he's still relevant." [5]
Nathan Rabin from The A.V. Club found that "G.O.A.T. suffers from an unsure tone and a lack of thematic cohesion. Although a solid album by a gifted performer, it feels like the work of a rapper chasing trends instead of following his own path. That lack of vision makes the boast inherent in the title seem more hopelessly far-fetched than ever." [6] In her mixed review for AllMusic, editor Diana Potts wrote that G.O.A.T "disappoints. [...] The theme of L.L. as the older seducer who is better than the current man of a girlish temptress has been common through L.L.'s albums. It's like listening to the confessions of a horny 14-year-old teenage boy in the girl's locker room. Even with the help of popular rap acts like DMX and Redman, L.L. Cool J has made the same album he did once before, with no new twists." [4]
G.O.A.T. debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200, becoming his first album to do so. [7] It also reached number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. [8] By 2004, the album had sold 818,000 copies in the United States. [9]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" |
| James "Bimmy" Antney | 1:52 |
| 2. | "Imagine That" (featuring LeShaun) |
| Rockwilder | 4:59 |
| 3. | "Back Where I Belong" (featuring Ja Rule) |
|
| 4:07 |
| 4. | "LL Cool J" (featuring Kandice Love) |
| DJ Scratch | 4:24 |
| 5. | "Take It Off" |
| Adam F | 3:34 |
| 6. | "Skit" | 0:45 | ||
| 7. | "Fuhgidabowdit" (featuring DMX, Method Man & Redman) | Trackmasters | 4:33 | |
| 8. | "Farmers" (featuring Tikki Diamondz) |
| Self | 3:39 |
| 9. | "This Is Us" (featuring Carl Thomas) |
| Vada Nobles | 5:55 |
| 10. | "Can't Think" |
| Ty Fyffe | 4:52 |
| 11. | "Hello" (featuring Amil) |
| DJ Scratch | 3:52 |
| 12. | "You and Me" (featuring Kelly Price) |
| DJ Scratch | 5:31 |
| 13. | "Homicide" |
| DJ Scratch | 5:01 |
| 14. | "U Can't Fuck with Me" (featuring Snoop Dogg, Xzibit and Jayo Felony) |
| DJ Scratch | 4:26 |
| 15. | "Queens Is" (featuring Prodigy) |
| Havoc | 4:25 |
| 16. | "The G.O.A.T." |
| Adam F. | 4:09 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17. | "Ill Bomb" (Funkmaster Flex & Big Kap featuring LL Cool J) |
| DJ Scratch | 4:02 |
| 18. | "M.I.S.S. I" (featuring Case) |
| Ill Am | 3:18 |
| 19. | "Shut 'Em Down" |
| DJ Scratch | 3:23 |
| Total length: | 73:43 | |||
Sample credits [10]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada) [22] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [23] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
James Todd Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.
Radio is the debut studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on November 18, 1985, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. It was also Def Jam's first full-length album release.
Mama Said Knock You Out is the fourth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was produced mostly by Marley Marl and recorded at his "House of Hits" home studio in Chestnut Ridge and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. After the disappointing reception of LL Cool's 1989 album Walking with a Panther, Mama Said Knock You Out was released by Def Jam Recordings on September 14, 1990 to commercial and critical success.
10 is the ninth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released by Def Jam Recordings on October 15, 2002 in the United States. LL Cool J and 10 hit a milestone in Def Jam history, being the first artist ever on Def Jam to have ten albums under the same record label. The album peaked at number two on the US Billboard 200, while also reaching number 26 on the UK Albums Chart.
Mr. Smith is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist LL Cool J, released on November 21, 1995, by Def Jam. The album has been certified Double Platinum in the US by the RIAA.
All World: The Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits album by American rapper LL Cool J. The compilation was released on November 5, 1996 via Def Jam Recordings, and cover the artist's career from his 1985 debut album Radio to his 1995 sixth studio album Mr. Smith. Production was handled by Rick Rubin, Marley Marl, L.A. Posse, Rashad Smith, Quincy Jones III, Tone, and LL Cool J himself, with Brian Latture and Steve Ett serving as assistant producers on three out of sixteen tracks. It features guest appearances from Boyz II Men and Total.
Todd Smith is the eleventh studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on April 11, 2006 by 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 and Freeway. Producers on the project include Pharrell, Scott Storch, Bink!, Shea Taylor, Keezo Kane and Trackmasters.
Exit 13 is the twelfth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on September 9, 2008, on the record label Def Jam Recordings. This would be his last album release with the label.
"Doin It" is the second single from LL Cool J's sixth album, Mr. Smith, and was released on February 20, 1996 for Def Jam Recordings. Based on a sample of Grace Jones' "My Jamaican Guy", it also featured LeShaun, production from Rashad "Ringo" Smith and LL Cool J. In several interviews, both the artist and producer stated that the instrumental was originally meant for The Notorious B.I.G., to be used for a song and single on his Life After Death album, which was posthumously released.
"Hey Lover" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J, released as the first single from his sixth album, Mr. Smith (1995). The song features vocals from American R&B group Boyz II Men. It was released on October 31, 1995, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by The Trackmasters and LL Cool J. The song samples Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life" from his 1982 hit album Thriller; thus Rod Temperton, the writer of that song, was given credit as a writer of this song. On the B-side is the "I Shot Ya" remix.
"4, 3, 2, 1" is a song by Queens rapper LL Cool J featuring Method Man & Redman, Canibus and DMX from LL Cool J's seventh album Phenomenon as the second single. It was released on December 9, 1997, for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by Erick Sermon. The single featured an extended version not featured on the album featuring an additional verse from Southern hip hop rapper Master P. Both the original song and the extended cut had accompanying music videos. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 10 on the Hot Rap Singles and number 24 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"Mama Said Knock You Out" is a song by American rapper and actor LL Cool J, released in February 1991 by Def Jam and Columbia as the fourth single from his fourth studio album of the same name (1990). The song famously begins with the line, "Don't call it a comeback/I been here for years." Before "Mama Said Knock You Out" was released, many people felt that LL Cool J's career was waning; his grandmother, who still believed in his talent, told him to "knock out" all his critics. The song takes various shots at Kool Moe Dee. It was produced by Marley Marl with help from DJ Bobcat along with LL.
"Loungin" is the third and final single by American rapper LL Cool J from his sixth studio album Mr. Smith. It was released as a single by Def Jam Recordings on June 25, 1996. The LP version was produced by Rashad "Ringo" Smith and featured backing vocals by R&B duo Terri & Monica. The Radio Remix Edit, titled "Loungin ", was featured on the soundtrack to Paramount and Nickelodeon's 1997 comedy film Good Burger, remixed by Trackmasters and featured backing vocals by R&B group Total.
"You and Me" is a song by LL Cool J, released as a single from his ninth album, G.O.A.T.. It was released on October 17, 2000 for Def Jam Recordings, was produced by DJ Scratch and LL Cool J, and featured R&B singer Kelly Price. It peaked at #44 on the Billboard's Hot Rap Singles and #59 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
"Incredible" is a song by American rappers Keith Murray and LL Cool J. It was released on September 15, 1998 through Jive Records as the only single from Murray's third studio album It's a Beautiful Thing. Recording sessions took place at Mirror Image Recorders in Dix Hills. Production was handled by Erick Sermon, who used a sample from James Brown's song "Sportin' Life". The single peaked at 70 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and 27 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States.
The Tunnel is a collaborative album by American DJs Funkmaster Flex and Big Kap. It was released on December 7, 1999, via Def Jam Recordings.
Authentic is the thirteenth studio album by American hip hop recording artist LL Cool J. It was released on April 30, 2013, by S-BRO Music Group, 429 Records. The album was his first album since 2008's Exit 13 and his first to not be released on Def Jam. It features guest appearances from Fitz and The Tantrums, Eddie Van Halen, Snoop Dogg, Fatman Scoop, Seal, Charlie Wilson, Melody Thornton, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bootsy Collins, Travis Barker, Chuck D, Tom Morello, Z-Trip, Mickey Shiloh, Monica and Brad Paisley.
20 is a compilation album by American girl group TLC. It was released on October 15, 2013, by Epic and LaFace Records, marking both the group's 20-plus year legacy in entertainment business and the release of their biographical VH1 original film, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which largely inspired the track listing for 20. Many of their hits are featured, including their four number-one singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty", as well as "Meant to Be", a new track co-written by singer Ne-Yo. Most of the tracks are featured in the original radio format, like on their previous compilation album Now and Forever: The Hits, and "No Scrubs" is featured in its original radio version with an accompanying rap of Left Eye.
"Flava in Ya Ear" is a song by American rapper Craig Mack. It was released as the lead single from his debut studio album Project: Funk da World on July 26, 1994, by Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. It was remixed with the addition of rappers The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes.
"Flex" is a song by American rapper Polo G featuring fellow American rapper Juice WRLD from the former's second studio album The Goat (2020). The track was written by the artists alongside Chris Madine, producer Hit-Boy, and co-producer Dustin Corbett.
Well that was basically through the Funk Master Flex [and Big Kap] project, The Tunnel Album. I gave a beat to Flex. It was the track 'Ill Bomb.' Flex put LL on it and he killed it. And that is one of my favorite songs out of my whole discography. I went to do the scratches on the song, and LL was there in the studio, and he asked me if I had any beats. I gave him a cd with six songs on it, and he picked all of them for the album.
