Dr. Dre was supposed to be helm LL COOL J’s upcoming album before he made the switch to bring Q-Tip into the fold.
The Queens, New York legend joined Way Up With Angela Yee, where he explained that he actually recorded about 30 to 40 songs with Dre, but felt something wasn’t right and changed course creatively.
“So, the real story is that I did about 30 to 40 songs with Dr. Dre, and in doing those songs I felt like — the music was amazing what Dre was bringing to the table was super dope — but I felt like the writing, what I was bringing to these songs didn’t feel strong enough to me,” he explained.
“I didn’t feel like I was expressing, I was getting out of me, what I was feeling. In my mind, I didn’t feel like it was written properly.”
LL went on to say that the late Phife Dawg visited him in a dream and sparked the idea for him to call on his A Tribe Called Quest groupmate Q-Tip to produce his album.
“So, I took a pause. Me and Dre just kinda paused for a minute. And I ended up having a dream, and in this dream Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest came to me,” he added. “When he came in my dream he was like ‘Yo, that album you gonna do with Dre is gonna be dope.’ And I’m looking at him and he’s smirking a little bit.
“He had a funny look on his face. And then when I woke up, I just felt like Q-Tip was on my spirit. So I just called him. He picked up and I told him that I wanted to do an album. We went and did the record and the rest is history.”
The as-yet-untitled project will serve as LL COOL J’s first album in a decade and is expected to arrive later this year to coincide with Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary.
While LL would probably prefer not to call it a “comeback,” he’s calling on yet more big names to help him make his return, with Eminem, Nas, Rick Ross, Fat Joe and Saweetie reportedly set to feature on the project.
During a chat with E! News at the 2023 Grammy Awards — where he participated in the star-studded “Hip Hop 50” tribute performance — earlier this year, the self-proclaimed G.O.A.T. fueled excitement for his album by praising Q-Tip’s “unbelievable” skills behind the boards.
“The album I think is really, really special,” he said. “I think it’s something it’s modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it.
“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 Tip’s 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 J’s 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.
Imagine if all of this happened in 1990.
Why not release both as a double album or separately for more money. I call bs tbh
exactly
Based on L’s language, it sounds like he had creative differences with Dre and it didn’t turn out the way he wanted it to.
Yea old ass, heavily over-rated, womanizer gay ass Dre was “supposed” to do everything but he never really does anything. He’s supposed to do this and supposed to do that and the end result is always ZERO. He hasn’t done shit in like 20 years now and I don’t care who disagrees with me it’s the cold hard truth.
Cold hard truth huh? That’s the thing about this internet, everyone has an opinion but no one really has the facts, which in turns makes you look like a groupie or chatty patty. If you wasn’t in the studio with Dre then you can’t speculate on what he’s done or not done because you end up sounding dumb.
@TruthTeller #ShutYoDumbAssUp
Nah I’m 100 percent spot on with this I don’t have to be in the stu with him I have eyes and ears. I read, see and hear stuff and I’m not naive af like you are. It’s hilarious you’re calling me a “groupie” when I dissed him for no material the past 20 years and his horrible character (woman abuser) and you’re the 1 pole riding him so you’re the actual “groupie” not me. Been hearing about Detox for decades now never came out. Dre is in the studio with Snoop working on bla bla never comes out. Dre is in the studio with this person working on bla bla never comes out. Jman wake tf up fool you’re in a slumber Dre ain’t been hitting in over 20 years now. What has he put out that was hitting since the early 2000s? Go head Jman let me know fool I’ll wait….
Says the even “Bigger Dummy” still waiting on Dre material. Smh
@U big dummy you’re clearly stuck on stupid. Yea keep waiting for that Dre stuff they been hyping for years n years now don’t worry it’s still coming in 2068 you cornball. I got a bridge I wanna sell also I know you’re the perfect fuktard to buy it.
He actually released am album “Compton” in 2015 and it sold very well
You sitting here speculating on a man you don’t know from a can of paint like you in there and I’m the groupie? Nah that’s you my man. You speaking on this man’s work like you know for a fact what’s up and don’t know anything is the definition of swinging on his sack. That’s groupie talk and you news to take his package out yo mouth and grow up. He did more than you in 20 years that you would accomplish in 2 lifetimes. I’m not defending him or anyone else, I just hate when cats sit in they momma’s basement and spew stuff on the internet they don’t know what they talking about. Just sit back and be a groupie and leave the production talk to the grownups ok?
Compton was utter trash if you think that was hard you really need to step your bar up.
Jman in Truth Teller’s defense he did provide some facts to back his argument you provided nothing to back up yours
I could care less if Dr Dre puts out new music. Have I mentioned that you’re a dummy ?
Jman I never said I had the musical accomplishments that Dre did and I respect what he did from like 1988 to early 2000 but you said all that irrelevant nonsense but still didn’t answer my very simple question. What has he released in the past 20 years? (COMPTON was utter trash) what else you got? You’re talking a whole lot but ain’t saying nothing you’re a whole MOOPIE a male groupie pathetically pole riding and slurping a guy from the 80s and 90s who ain’t did shit since the very early 2000 and it’s now 2023. Detox NEVER DROPPING…..Dre/Marsha album NEVER DROPPING…. Dre/Snoop album NEVER DROPPING….. Dre/all those other “artists” they keep reporting he in the studio with NEVER DROPPING. Jman again WAKE TF UP you’re the definition of a sheepish simp.
@haha u dumbass bitch yea I know you can care less you’re a Justin Bieber stanboy. How Justin’s ass taste fool?
And what facts was that because all I see is opinion
1) Compton was not trash and wasn’t too many releases that came out that year comparable. 2) Dr Dre has several production credits since then (look them up yourself, I’m not going to to support an argument with a nobody). 3) Interscope recently had a whole listening party for the Marsha album so I doubt they’re going to take it that far for it not to come out (could be wrong but I doubt it) 4) the Snoop album is damn near done and the excitement in the inner circle is there. 5) I could care less if Dre never drops another beat in life, my only thing is everytime we get a Dre related article, it’s idiots like you that come out and talk about what he did and didn’t do like you know so I had to reply and check it. And for you use gay slurs towards me like slurp and pole let’s me know you really mad about a producer you don’t even know. That’s why I liked the rap game before the internet where it was professionals that knew what they were talking about speaking on it, now all the kids can talk with the grownups but don’t have a clue.
Can we please hear these tracks with Dre though?! Please!
I call BS. Where’s the Dr Dre helmed Marsha Ambrosius album btw? Wasn’t it completed? Now it’s quiet on the home front. Never believe any Dre news. Interscope keep running with the stories to keep his value up. Y’all sheeple keep expecting a false narrative. That’s why Ye is the best producer of 2 generations. Dre’s Compton was wack. He’s done. And 30-40 songs LL? Shut up. You couldn’t even finesse 12-15? Part of an agreement since Em is on his album.
Exactly I agree 100 percent. You get it unlike the sheepish simp Jman and some of the other delusional idiots here still stuck in the 90s. Hey Jman it’s not 1999 anymore fool.
I call BS. Where’s the Dr Dre helmed Marsha Ambrosius album btw? Wasn’t it completed? Now it’s quiet on the home front. Never believe any Dre news. Interscope keep running with the stories to keep his value up. Y’all sheeple keep expecting a false narrative. That’s why Ye is the best producer of 2 generations. Dre’s Compton was wack. He’s done. And 30-40 songs LL? Shut up. You couldn’t even finesse 12-15? Part of an agreement since Em is on his album.
Dre sucks.
He never releases his stuff, because he is always afraid.
so called “great producer”? lol. no. what did he bring to the table in 20 years? nothing!
his last decent effort was in 1999. thats it. 24 years of being not relevant.
Dre s*cks.
He never releases his stuff, because he is always afraid.
so called “great producer”? lol. no. what did he bring to the table in 20 years? nothing!
his last decent effort was in 1999. thats it. 24 years of being not relevant.
Exactly my point but Jman and the rest of these slow simps here are too stupid to get it they still living in 1999 Smh.
Dre lost his touch. He will just perform his hits from the 90’s for the rest of his life.
Lots of emotional damage in here 😂