Maps of Music

Authentic (2013)

Where the lyrics of Authentic take you, and where it was really made.

Authentic was LL Cool J's first album not released by Def Jam, and its title was changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic only weeks before release.

Key places

Recorded at Henson Recording Studios (2013)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — Listed as a recording location for Authentic. The pin sits at Hollywood city-center level, not on the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Westlake Recording Studios (2013)

Recording site Westlake Recording Studios — Listed as a recording location for Authentic in West Hollywood. The pin marks the studio building. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recorded at Downtown Music in New York City (2013)

Recording site Jungle City Studios — Listed as a recording location for Authentic in New York City. Downtown Music is one of several New York rooms named in the source. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Authentic is the thirteenth studio album by American hip hop artist LL Cool J
• Released April 30, 2013 by S-BRO Music Group and 429 Records
• First album since 2008's Exit 13
• First album not released on Def Jam
• Guests include 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
• Track listing has 12 songs, including Bath Salt, Whaddup, Closer and Live For You

Background

• By June 2012 LL Cool J had begun work on the album
• On February 8, 2013 the title changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic, with a new cover
• Release date was first set for February 12, 2013, then pushed back; on February 14, 2013 it moved up to April 30, 2013
• On March 14, 2013 Eddie Van Halen posted a photo with LL Cool J in front of a mix board, captioned 'Authentic 4.30.13'
• The photo suggested Eddie would be involved in some way with the release
• First single 'Whaddup' debuted during the live 2013 Grammy Awards telecast
• Second single 'We Came to Party' with Snoop Dogg and Fatman Scoop released March 18, 2013
• Third single 'Live for You' with country singer Brad Paisley released April 16

Recording

• Recording locations named in sources: Henson Recording Studios in Hollywood, Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, and Downtown Music in New York City
• 'Closer' samples Guy's 'I Like'
• 'Whaddup' samples Public Enemy's 'Welcome to the Terrordome'
• 'Take It' samples The Jones Girls' 'When I'm Gone'

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Career

• James Todd Smith, known as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper and actor.
• He was among the earliest rappers to achieve crossover commercial success alongside new-school acts like Run-DMC.
• Signed by Def Jam Recordings in 1984; his breakthrough single "I Need a Beat" (1984) was followed by debut album Radio (1985).
• Later albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997) brought continued success.
• Released The FORCE (2024), his fourteenth studio album, after re-signing with Def Jam.
• Acting work includes Toys, Halloween H20, Any Given Sunday, and NCIS: Los Angeles (2009–2023) as Sam Hanna.
• Two-time Grammy winner; in 2017 became the first rapper to receive a Kennedy Center Honor; inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 (Musical Excellence).

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Authentic received generally mixed reviews from music critics
• Metacritic average 46 out of 100, based on 9 reviews
• AllMusic (David Jeffries): LL sounded rusty and under-rehearsed, but was at home in the nostalgic throwbacks
• Los Angeles Times (Gerrick Kennedy): LL Cool J had lost touch with rapping, which bogged down the 13th album
• Slant Magazine (Ted Scheinman): older listeners would find wistful pleasure in what may be the most heartfelt effort of LL's career
• Robert Christgau: 'Cooler as Captain Lifer than Mr. Goodbar, but surprisingly likable either way'
• USA Today (Steve Jones): a mixed bag of party anthems and the rap ballads LL pioneered years earlier
• San Diego Union-Tribune (Christina Jaleru): praised the album, calling it more hip-pop or hip-rock than rap
• HipHopDX (Jay Balfour): too many features and a superficial R&B approach bogged it down
• Rolling Stone (Jody Rosen): the guest list showed open-mindedness and crossover ambitions, with choruses built for radio
• The Boston Globe (Ken Capobianco): metal hip-hop was more compromise than authentic, but much of the disc sounds genuine

Records

• Debuted at number 23 on the Billboard 200 in its first week
• Sold 14,000 copies in the United States in the first week
• Sold 5,500 more in the second week, 3,400 more in the third and 2,700 more in the fourth
• Total sales reached 26,000 copies after four weeks
• Placed 4th on Top Independent Albums and Top Rap Albums, and 7th on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• First single 'Whaddup' debuted during the live 2013 Grammy Awards telecast, which featured Chuck D, Travis Barker, Tom Morello and Z-Trip
• Eddie Van Halen posted a photo with LL Cool J in front of a mix board on March 14, 2013, captioned 'Authentic 4.30.13'
• 'Whaddup' samples Public Enemy's 'Welcome to the Terrordome'
• 'Closer' samples Guy's 'I Like'
• 'Take It' samples The Jones Girls' 'When I'm Gone'

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Maps of Ages ↗ (mapsofages.com)

Privacy · Contact