Metascore
46

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Negative: 3 out of 9
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  1. Apr 30, 2013
    50
    LL sounds rusty and a bit under-rehearsed as he belts out his iffy punch lines and motivational anthems, but he pours his heart into the pop numbers and sounds at home during the nostalgic throwbacks.
  2. May 8, 2013
    50
    Unfortunately, Authentic suffers the same fate as LL’s other late-career missteps: too many features and a superficial brand of R&B bog down another release from one of rap’s earliest superstars.
  3. May 15, 2013
    60
    Despite his years away acting, LL hasn't really lost his touch rapping. What he has lost is a sense of focus and direction.
  4. Apr 30, 2013
    60
    Not "authentic"--amiable.
  5. Apr 30, 2013
    60
    The beats here don't always pop, but Authentic offers plenty of lyrical pleasures across 12 rather dense tracks--less bloated than the garden-variety, 18-song hip-hop album, but with plenty of substance nonetheless.
User Score
4.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 11
  2. Negative: 5 out of 11
  1. Jan 21, 2016
    4
    as a big fan of ll cool j i wasn't really impressed with this album. i will give him props with trying to make a comeback and show us he stillas a big fan of ll cool j i wasn't really impressed with this album. i will give him props with trying to make a comeback and show us he still can make another one.. but on this album he has a little too much of guest appearances. he sounds like hes having trouble carrying his own . his past works displayed he can make a good records that you can bop your head to and as well showing his usual b boy rhymes that he possesses. but sadly it seems from being absent for too long hes lost most of that raw energy he once possessed. Full Review »
  2. May 5, 2013
    3
    Maybe LL Cool J don't remember that we are in 2013. Authentic is a stupid, meaningless and unbearable album. One of the worst album of thisMaybe LL Cool J don't remember that we are in 2013. Authentic is a stupid, meaningless and unbearable album. One of the worst album of this year and the last ten years. Full Review »