On October 14, 1997, LL COOL J released his seventh studio album Phenomenon. In '97, LL was one of the emcees from the mid 1980s class of recording artists who was still going strong with no signs of slowing down. The same enduring skillset and knack for reinvention that kept him in the game for more than a decade, (at that point), also allowed him to deliver a great album.

And 1997 was busy year for rap releases.

Bad Boy dominated the radio with uber-hits from multiplatinum albums like The Notorious B.I.G.'s Life After Death, Puff Daddy's No Way Out, Money, Power Respect from The LOX, and Harlem World, the debut album from Ma$e. Wu-Tang Clan dropped their long awaited double sophomore album Wu-Tang Forever, Rakim returned with The 18th Letter, O.C. dropped Jewelz, EPMD was Back In Business and Master P was serving Ghetto D. In the wake of the murders of the Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, the posthumous R U Still Down? became a huge hit for the late, great 2Pac.

Phenomenon was executive-produced by Sean "Diddy" Combs and produced largely by his team of producers, The Hit Men. The album's lead single is the title track "Phenomenon" with its playful chanted "something like a phenomenon" hook borrowed from Grandmaster Melle Mel's 1983 hit "White Lines." LL's self-awareness and where he fits in the timeline of rap is evident in the first line of the song: "Baby girl was draped in Chanel, said she loves Tupac but hates some LL."

The club banger released in September of 1997 was a strong introduction to the upcoming full length project.

"4,3,2,1," was the second single from Phenomenon and it highlighted fact that LL is a master of balancing commercial hits with street credibility. The song, which famously featured Method Man, DMX, Redman, Canibus and Master P, is one of the genre's most revered posse cuts; and, along with the video, was greatly responsible for the platinum success of the album.

"Father," which contained an interpolation George Michael's 'Father Figure," represents one of LL's first and most introspective songs. He describes a parent who abused drugs and verbally and physically abused him and his mother. "Wanna Get Paid," "Hot Hot Hot," "Another Dollar" and "Candy" round out one of 1997's most well-rounded releases from the genre's most enduring emcee.