LL Cool J

The Source (12/97, p.179) - 3.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...PHENOMENON is, musically, a safe ride...LL knows just what he has to do to eat off another platinum plate--keep the people dancing to his latest jams..."
Rap Pages (1/98, p.97) - Solid Material - "...Uncle L has managed to maintain his rap authenticity while developing into other areas of the entertainment industry....Not too many rappers can call themselves a phenomenon and actually make you consider the possibility..."
Rolling Stone (10/30/97, pp.65-66) - 3 Stars (out of 5) - "...The love zone is where L.L. dominates on this album....he holds his own against certifiable heavyweights Busta Rhymes...and Method Man and Redman..."
Entertainment Weekly (10/17/97, p.73) - "...With its happy beats, easy funk bass, and eager R&B melodies, PHENOMENON best recalls the early rap LL grew up on. Think Sugar Hill for the '90s, but with a wholly new kind of role for LL: the rapper who never had a real father here aims to father us all."
- Rating: B+