Veteran rapper LL COOL J has returned to the hip-hop scene with a new single, “Saturday Night Special,” featuring fellow artists Rick Ross and Fat Joe.
After taking a decade-long hiatus from recording to focus on acting, LL is back to what made him a household name. The song, released by Def Jam Recordings and Virgin Music Group, was produced by another hip-hop veteran, Q-Tip. An accompanying music video, with Ross and Fat Joe, was released June 14.
“‘Saturday Night Special’ is just the beginning,” LL said, as reported by The Source. “There’s a lot more where this came from, and I’m hype for y’all to hear this new record. We’re doing this for the fans and for hip-Hhop culture.”
Fans of the legendary rapper can expect to hear more with his 14th album, The Force (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy)
. The album also commemorates the 40th anniversary of Def Jam, which first signed LL. Under the label, LL COOL J found mainstream success, releasing hits such as “Mama Said Knock You Out” and the R&B single, “I Need Love.”Ahead of the LP’s fall release, “Saturday Night Special” explores the dynamics of hustle culture, touching on the
themes of early hip-hop that LL helped establish. As for the lyrics themselves, the song, named after a revolver class, speaks about players in the hustle culture, such as the “greedy killer” and “daredevil type” in the game.The 56-year-old explored other parts of his career in recent years. He hosted the Grammy for four consecutive years, as well as played Agent Sam Hanna in the long-running TV series NCIS: Los Angeles. However, his contribution to rap remained celebrated with his induction into
the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021. He also became the first rapper to receive a Kennedy Center Honor in 2017.RELATED CONTENT: LL Cool J And Ice T Team Up For New A&E Show ‘Hip Hop Treasures’