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Authentic
by
Authentic Image
Metascore
46

Mixed or average reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
4.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

  • Summary: The actor/rapper's first release in four years features guest appearances from such artists as Travis Barker, Bootsy Collins, Chuck D, Monica, Tom Morello, Brad Paisley, Seal, Snoop Dogg, Eddie Van Halen, and Charlie Wilson.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 9
  3. Negative: 3 out of 9
  1. Boston Globe
    Apr 30, 2013
    70
    Thirty years in, LL still spins taut couplets as often as he licks his lips and delivers them with nimble style.
  2. Rolling Stone
    Apr 30, 2013
    60
    Not "authentic"--amiable.
  3. RapReviews.com
    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. AllMusic
    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.
  5. HipHopDX
    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.
  6. Los Angeles Times
    Apr 30, 2013
    25
    Authentic not only misses the mark, it doesn't even come close.
  7. NOW Magazine
    May 2, 2013
    20
    Authentic is ridiculous right down to the heavy-breathing interludes, which worked for Usher circa 2003.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 2
  3. Negative: 1 out of 2
  1. BIGMAN22
    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.… Expand
  2. rydermusic
    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.… Expand