Mr. Smith

Mr. Smith
Studio album by LL Cool J
Released	November 21, 1995
Recorded	August 1994 - March 1995
Studio	Battery Studios (New York City) Chung King Studios (Manhattan, New York) Giant Recording Studio (New York City) Larrabee Sound Studios (Los Angeles, CA) Platinum Island Studios (New York City) Soundtrack Studios (New York City) Stone Creek Studios (Gladwyne, PA)
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Hardcore hip hop, Conscious hip hop
Length	58:25
Label	Def Jam Recordings / PolyGram
Producer	Trackmasters, Rashad Smith, Easy Mo Bee, Chad Elliott, Chyskillz

Mr. Smith is the sixth studio album by American rapper LL Cool J. It was released on November 21, 1995 under Def Jam Recordings and PolyGram Records. Recording sessions took place at Larrabee Sound Studios in Los Angeles, CA, Stone Creek Studios in Gladwyne, PA and at Battery Studios, Chung King Studios, Giant Recording Studio, Platinum Island Studios and Soundtrack Studios in New York City from August 1994 to March 1995. Production was handled by Trackmasters, Rashad Smith, Easy Mo Bee, Chyskillz and Chad Elliott. It includes guest appearances by Boyz II Men, Terri & Monica, LeShaun, Keith Murray, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), Fat Joe, and Foxy Brown.

The album peaked at #20 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the 4 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Mr. Smith released the singles: "Hey Lover", "Doin' It", "Loungin'" and "I Shot Ya". The album has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Track listing

1. "The Intro (skit)" - 1:33
2. "Make It Hot" - 4:31
3. "Hip Hop" - 5:00
4. "Hey Lover" (feat. Boyz II Men) - 4:44
5. "Doin' It" (feat. LeShaun) - 4:53
6. "Life As..." - 2:44
7. "I Shot Ya" (feat. Keith Murray) - 3:51
8. "Mr. Smith" - 3:59
9. "No Airplay" - 5:43
10. "Loungin'" (feat. Terri & Monica) - 4:12
11. "Hollis to Hollywood" - 3:58
12. "God Bless It" - 3:47
13. "Get da Drop on 'Em" - 3:57
14. "Prelude (skit)" - 0:30
15. "I Shot Ya (Remix)" (feat. Keith Murray, Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), Fat Joe and Foxy Brown) - 5:03

Samples

The Intro

• "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (Main Title)" by Ennio Morricone

Make It Hot

• "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls
• "I Like It" by DeBarge
• "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane feat. Biz Markie

Hip Hop

• "Tell Me If You Still Care" by The S.O.S. Band
• "The Bridge" by MC Shan

Hey Lover

• "All Night Long" by Mary Jane Girls
• "The Lady in My Life" by Michael Jackson

Doin' It

• "Wild Thang" by 2 Much
• "Go Stesta I" by Stetsasonic

Life As…

• "The Thrill is Gone" by Funk Inc.

I Shot Ya

• "Put It on the Line" by Lyn Collins

Mr. Smith

• "What a Night" by Hubert Laws
• "The Boss" by James Brown

No Airplay

• "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts
• "Blessed" by The Emotions

Loungin'

• "Nite and Day" by Al B. Sure!

Hollis to Hollywood

• "The Look of Love" by Isaac Hayes
• "Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)" by Craig Mack
• "My Philosophy" by Boogie Down Productions

God Bless It

• "The Message From the Soul Sisters" by Myra Barnes
• "Escape-Ism" by James Brown
• "The Def Fresh Crew" by Roxanne Shanté