Draft:The Force (LL Cool J album)

The FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) is the upcoming fourteen studio album by rapper and actor LL Cool J. It is currently scheduled for a September 6, 2024 release. It will be LL Cool J's first official studio album in over eleven years since his 2013 predecessor, Authentic and his first under Def Jam Recordings since 2008's Exit 13. Rather than Def Jam and parent company Universal Music Group, the album will instead be distributed by both companies' independent sister label, Virgin Music Group.

The album is mainly produced by Q-Tip, which it has been in development since late 2020.

Background
The album was originally set for development in the summer of 2014 under the title, GOAT 2, alluding to it being a sequel to LL Cool J's 2000 number-one album, G.O.A.T. During 2015, he went idle from music to focus on acting (NCIS: Los Angeles) and hosting (Lip Sync Battle).

In March 2016, he announced his intentions to retire from recording music to focus more on his acting career. After negative feedback from fans, LL would later reiterate his announcement and decided to scrap the original album and create a new one. The then-untitled album was left under development hell from 2017 to 2023. In 2019, it was announced that LL Cool J and former labelmate DMX (who would later die in 2021) resigned with Def Jam Recordings for their upcoming albums to be released. No follow-ups were heard of LL's album afterwards until March 2022, when he confirmed on Instagram that producer Q-Tip was assigned to produce a majority of the album.

On February 22, 2023, LL playfully reminded his social media followers that his album was scrapped because "it was too hot", before instating that it was "not yet worthy of a release" that year. That March, he and various artists embarked on a promotional tour leading up to the release of the album. On July 12, 2024, in celebration for the fortieth anniversary of the founding of his label, Def Jam, he announced the newly-titled The FORCE, claiming that he "had to learn how to rap again".

On July 22, the album's track list was revealed.

Projected guest appearances
Artists who are predicted to appear on the album are rappers Nas, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Saweetie, Don Pablito, J-S.A.N.D., Mad Squabiz, Busta Rhymes and singer/musician Sona Jobarteh.

Singles
On June 15, 2024, the first projected single for the album, "Saturday Night Special", was released. It features Fat Joe and Rick Ross. According to LL, it was originally intended for a joint collaborative album he recorded with rapper 50 Cent; it would ultimately be cancelled, because it "didn't fit my style", said LL.

On July 12, 2024, the second single, "Passion", was released at the same time the album was announced.