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On Friday (June 15), LL Cool J dropped his first single of the year, “Saturday Night Special,” featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joe. Produced by Q-Tip, the song which takes on the mantle of grown man rapping and will be included in the hip-hop icon’s upcoming album, The Force.
Speaking exclusively with Rock The Bells, the Queens native revealed that his approach to the project centered on enhancing his rap skills, starting with defining what makes a “good rap song.”
“Let’s take a song like ‘Saturday Night Special’. I really worked on writing better songs, wordplay and things that I felt would make me a better rapper,” Cool J told Rock the Bells. “I went into this project figuring out how to learn how to rap. What is a song like, how do you write a good rap song? What does a good rap song sound like? What’s gonna make the song impactful? I really went into it from that space.”
LL Cool J is the founder of Rock the Bells, a media platform dedicated to classic hip-hop, which launched in 2018.
In 2013, Cool J released his last solo project, Authentic, which featured an extensive list of grade A collaborators including Monica, Chuck D, Snoop Dogg, Earth, Wind & Fire, Charlie Wilson, Seal, Bootsy Collins, and more, debuting at number 23 on the Billboard 200.
The “I Shot Ya” emcee has previously collaborated with Q-Tip, the respected A Tribe Called Quest creative, prior to “Saturday Night Special.”
At the 2023 Grammys, he shared his excitement about the new album and highlighted Q-Tip’s exclusive touch to the project with E! News.
“I know all the tricks. I got this covered,” he told E! News. “Look, it was executive produced by Q-Tip. The album I think is really, really special. 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.”
However, shortly after his comments at the Grammys, Cool J postponed the release of his 14th studio album, citing the need to perfect and fine-tune the project to his satisfaction.
Last May, with the 50th anniversary of hip-hop culture on the horizon, Cool J released “The Force,” a single produced by Q-Tip. He announced that this song would be part of his upcoming album, planned for release that year and executively produced by Q-Tip.
“Saturday Night Special” sees the mature hip-hop icon collaborating with Fat Joe and Rick Ross on a lyrical exploration of the complexities and characteristics of different hustlers. The chorus, featuring Q-Tip, conveys themes of trust, loyalty, and respect with the line, “Always keep ya word, always pay him back.”
With the release of “Saturday Night Special” and its official music video, the coming of LL Cool J’s 14th studio album, The Force, seems imminent. This year, he joins a lineup of hip-hop greats, including Rakim and MC Lyte, making their comeback to the music scene. Watch the video below.
