LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith arrived at a crucial crossroads in his career.
Coming off 14 Shots to the Dome, which had been deemed one of the more lackluster efforts up to that point, the rapper faced pressure to prove he could still adapt and thrive in a changing era.
Instead of retreating, he delivered an album that became a testament to his ability to regroup and rebrand himself with confidence and style.
Supported by producers Rashad Smith, Chyskillz, Chad Elliott, Trackmasters, and Easy Mo Bee, the project blended polished production with LL’s renewed focus, creating a body of work that felt both contemporary and true to his roots.
LL Cool J during 10th Annual Soul Train Music Awards at Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, United States.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Featuring guest appearances from Boyz II Men, Fat Joe, Keith Murray, Prodigy, and Foxy Brown, the Emotions, and Terri & Monica, the album served as the bridge from his first decade in the game and introduced him to a new generation of fans.
Mr. Smith stands as one of the more popular entries in his catalog, and this retrospective will revisit its key moments to understand why its impact endures.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of its release, VIBE highlights and ranks the best songs from LL Cool J’s Mr. Smith album.
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“God Bless”
LL Cool J’s “God Bless,” produced by Rashad Smith, finds the Queens icon in an unapologetically cocksure zone, flexing his longevity as much as his lyrical bite. When he fires off lines like “I bust shots off…” and later “Swerve with it, get it get it… feels good to bust shots at the critics,” he’s not just boasting—he’s reaffirming supremacy. The track radiates that classic LL bravado, a reminder that even in victory-lap mode, he still savors the ring and relishes outpacing anyone daring to keep up.
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“Hollis To Hollywood”
Image Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images LL Cool J’s “Hollis To Hollywood,” powered by the Trackmasters’ slick production, shows him gliding in full swagger, blending cinematic metaphors with razor-sharp dominance.
He breaks foes down to the “very last compound” while spinning a movie-like scenario around another man’s woman, boasting with the same sly flair he brought to his “Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)” verse.
Lines like “I’ll make the speed like I’m Keanu Reeves…” capture a rapper fully aware of his mythic aura—and confidently expanding it.
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“I Shot Ya” Featuring Keith Murray
Image Credit: Chris Weeks/Liaison “I Shot Ya” stands out as one of Mr. Smith’s most formidable moments, a hard-charging showcase of LL Cool J at full power.
Produced by Trackmasters and driven by a tough Lyn Collins sample, the track pairs LL’s aggression with Keith Murray’s gritty hook to lethal effect. LL fires off some of his hardest bars ever—all while boasting, “Ya wanna hit, give me a hour, plus a pen and a pad.”
It’s a record that crackles with menace and precision, reminding listeners that beneath his polished hits, LL always kept a razor-edged skill set. A must-spin highlight from one of the definitive albums in the Queens legend’s extensive catalog.
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“Loungin” Featuring Terri & Monica
Image Credit: Al Pereira/Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archives “Loungin,” featuring Terri & Monica, finds LL Cool J in a smooth but unmistakably cocksure mode, sending his signal “from ghetto to ghetto” with unbothered authority.
Riding an interpolation of “Nite and Day,” he turns seduction into a flex, dropping lines like “Mad pleasure, blowin’ up your whole world” with casual dominance.
Though many fans gravitate toward the remix, the album version carries its own magnetic charm—a sensual escapade that quietly reinforces LL’s command of both style and swagger.
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“Hey Lover” Featuring Boyz II Men”
Image Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc “Hey Lover,” featuring Boyz II Men, remains one of LL Cool J’s premier rap ballads—a smooth, seductive masterclass in the lady-friendly lane he helped define.
Produced by Trackmasters and LL himself, and built on a sample of Michael Jackson’s “The Lady in My Life,” the track became the album’s biggest hit, reaching No. 3 on the Hot 100 and earning a Grammy.
LL’s notorious “dirty-macking” is on full display—“You only knew him five months”—yet the charm and melodic pull make it irresistible.
It’s easily one of Mr. Smith’s strongest, most enduring inclusions and a classis example of the magic created when Hip-Hop meets soul.
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“I Shot Ya (Remix)” Featuring Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, Foxy Brown
Image Credit: Paul Natkin/Getty Images “I Shot Ya (Remix)” stands as one of Mr. Smith’s most storied and essential inclusions—a B-side to “Hey Lover” that quickly eclipsed its status thanks to its ferocity and star power.
Produced by Trackmasters, the remix unites LL Cool J with Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe, and a debuting Foxy Brown, forming one of the premier posse cuts of its era.
Released amid real-life tensions between Prodigy and Murray and marking one of Fat Joe’s earliest high-profile spotlights, the track crackles with competitive electricity. It’s a must-listen cipher showcase and a defining collaboration in LL’s catalog.
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“Doin It” Featuring LeShaun
Image Credit: Newsmakers “Doin’ It,” LL Cool J’s sultry 1995 smash featuring LeShaun, remains one of his signature hits and a standout moment on Mr. Smith.
Co-produced by LL and Rashad Smith, the track flips Grace Jones’ “My Jamaican Guy” into a slow-burning groove originally earmarked for The Notorious B.I.G., while heavily drawing from LeShaun’s own “Wild Thang.”
Its flirtatious, battle-of-the-sexes energy—echoed later on “Loungin”—gives the song irresistible pull. Peaking at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, “Doin’ It” endures as a must-hear reminder of LL’s mastery of sensual, radio-ready dominance.
