Mr. Smith (album)

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Mr. Smith
Mr. Smith cover
Studio album by LL Cool J
Released November 7, 1995
Recorded 1995
Genre Hip hop
Length 58:25
Label Def Jam
Producer Rashad Smith
Chyskillz
Chad Eliott
Trackmasters
Professional reviews
LL Cool J chronology
14 Shots to the Dome
(1993)
Mr. Smith
(1995)
All World: Greatest Hits
(1996)
Singles from 14 Shots to the Dome
  1. "Hey Lover"
    Released: 1995
  2. "I Shot Ya"
    Released: 1995
  3. "Doin' It"
    Released: 1996
  4. "Loungin"
    Released: 1996

Mr. Smith is the sixth album by rapper LL Cool J, released in 1995. After the commercially disappointing 14 Shots to the Dome, it was a bit of a comeback for the artist, going 2x Platinum and spawning the hits "Hey Lover", "Doin' It", and "Loungin'". Unlike his previous release, which focused on hardcore rap, this album sees LL concentrating on the ballads for which he is now famous.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

  1. "The Intro (Skit)"
  2. "Make It Hot" (Produced by Trackmasters)
  3. "Hip Hop" (Produced by Trackmasters)
  4. "Hey Lover (featuring Boyz II Men) (Produced by Trackmasters)
  5. "Doin' It" (featuring LeShaun) (Produced by Rashad Smith)
  6. "Life As..." (Produced by Easy Mo Bee)
  7. "I Shot Ya" (featuring Keith Murray) (Produced by Trackmasters)
  8. "Mr. Smith" (Produced by Chyskillz)
  9. "No Airplay" (Produced by Chad Elliot)
  10. "Loungin" (featuring Total) (Produced by Rashad Smith)
  11. "Hollis to Hollywood" (Produced by Trackmasters)
  12. "God Bless" (Produced by Rashad Smith)
  13. "Get da Drop on 'Em'" (Produced by Trackmasters)
  14. "Prelude (Skit)" (Produced by Trackmasters)
  15. "I Shot Ya (Remix)" (featuring Keith Murray, Prodigy, Fat Joe & Foxy Brown) (Produced by Trackmasters)

The Track "No Airplay" is edited on both the Edited and Explicit Versions of the Album, However the Explicit only backmasks on the song, the Edited version even edits the intro

[edit] Singles

Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles
1995 "I Shot Ya" - - -
1995 "Hey Lover" #3 #3 #1
1996 "Doin' It" #9 #7 #2
1996 "Loungin #3 #4 #1

[edit] Samples

  • Hey Lover contains a sample of "The Lady in My Life" performed by Michael Jackson.
  • Loungin' contains a sample of “Nite and Day” performed by Al B. Sure!.
  • Lounging' Remix (Summer Luv) contains a sample of "Who Do You Love" performed by Bernard Wright and “Dizzy” performed by Hugo Montenegro.
  • Hollis to Hollywood contains a sample of Isaac Hayes' "The Look of Love" and "My Philosophy" by Boogie Down Productions.
  • Doin' It contains a sample of "My Jamaican Guy" performed by Grace Jones, "Wild Thing" performed by 2 Much and "Top Billin'" performed by Audio Two. The original version of Doin' It was recorded by the Beastie Boys in 1989 but did not contain this sample. This version was criticized by producers and never commercially released, but pirated versions made it into the public.
  • I Shot Ya & I Shot Ya (Remix) both contain a sample of "Put it on the Line" performed by Lyn Collins.
  • Make It Hot contains a sample of "I Like It" performed by DeBarge.
  • Mr. Smith contains a sample of "What a Night" performed by Hubert Laws.

[edit] Miscellanea

  • There was a previous version of Mr. Smith that was scrapped. Only two songs were used from the original Mr. Smith album, "Mr. Smith" and "No Airplay".
  • The original album contained a tracklist of (not necessary all the tracks and in order):
"Dear Lover" 3:54
"Pump My Sh**" 2:53
"Set It Off, New York" 5:03
"New York Mentality" 3:40
"2 Minute Warning to Shake that Ass" 2:53
"Bring On The Mo's & Ho's" 3:01
"Mr. Smith" 3:59 
"No Airplay" 5:43
"Soliloquy"
"Candyman"
"Intro (Mr. Smith's Party)
"Forever Yours"
Languages