Paradise (LL Cool J song)

"Paradise"
UK CD single cover
Single by LL Cool J featuring Amerie
from the album 10
ReleasedDecember 14, 2002
StudioSony Music Studios (New York City)
Genre
Length4:35
LabelDef Jam
Songwriters
ProducerPoke & Tone
LL Cool J singles chronology
"All I Have"
(2002) 		"Paradise"
(2002) 		"Amazin'"
(2003)
Amerie singles chronology
"Talkin' to Me"
(2002) 		"Paradise"
(2003) 		"1 Thing"
(2005)
Music video
"Paradise" on YouTube

"Paradise" is a song by American rapper LL Cool J featuring American singer Amerie. The song was released on December 14, 2002, as the second single from LL Cool J's ninth studio album, 10 (2002). It also appears on the soundtrack to the 2003 film Deliver Us from Eva, in which LL Cool J stars alongside Gabrielle Union. "Paradise" embodies portions of Keni Burke's 1982 song "Risin' to the Top", penned by Burke, Allan Felder, and Norma Jean Wright.

Background

"Paradise" was composed by LL Cool J, 50 Cent, Amerie, and Jean-Claude Olivier and Samuel Barnes from production duo Trackmasters for the former's ninth studio album, 10 (2002), with production overseen by Olivier and Barnes.[1] The song embodies portions of American singer Keni Burke's 1982 song "Risin' to the Top." Due to the sample, its songwriters, Burke, Allan Felder, and Norma Jean Wright, are also credited as songwriters on "Paradise."[1] 50 Cent contributed to writing the song's chorus,[2] which was later recorded by Amerie.[3] LL Cool J commented in August 2023: "He didn't write my rhymes [...] when that happened, I didn't even know 50 was involved. That was The Trackmasters, they got that done."[3]

Commercial performance

In the United States, where "Paradise" was released simultaneously with his collaboration with Jennifer Lopez, "All I Have," the song was commercially less successful than its predecessor, "Luv U Better," peaking at number 36 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 10 on the US Hot Rap Songs chart.[4][5] It fared better in the United Kingdom, where it opened and peaked at number 18 on the UK Singles Chart,[6] while also reaching number six on the UK Hip Hop/R&B chart.[7] "Paradise" also entered the Australian Singles Chart, peaking at number 28.[8]

Music video

A music video for "Paradise" was directed by Benny Boom and filmed in Maui, Hawaii in fall 2002.[9] Actress Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J's co-star in the romantic comedy film Deliver Us from Eva (2003), appears as his love interest in the visuals, with Amerie also appearing in the video.[9] In an interview with MTV News, LL Cool J commented on the shoot: "Doing that video was like a straight-up fantasy. We had villas on the beach with no television. It was crazy, the look of it, the vibe of it [...] Black sand beaches, waterfalls — it's a whole 'nother thing. It has a little story in it. Me and the young lady, I'm taking her all throughout paradise. It's the ultimate vacation and we're having a lot of fun."[9]

Track listings

Credits and personnel

Credits lifted from the liner notes of 10.[1]

Charts

Release history

"Paradise" release history
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States November 25, 2002 (2002-11-25) Rhythmic contemporary · urban contemporary radio Def Jam [19]

References

  1. ^ a b c 10 (booklet). LL Cool J. Def Jam Recordings. 2002.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ "LL COOL J On 50 Cent Writing Paradise, Biggie Studio Session & Not Letting Rappers Sample His Songs". Club Shay Shay. August 3, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via YouTube.
  3. ^ a b Denis, Kyle (August 11, 2023). "LL Cool J Reveals He Has an Unreleased Collaborative Album With 50 Cent: 'It Didn't Work'". The Breakfast Club. Retrieved January 24, 2026 – via Billboard.com.
  4. ^ a b "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  5. ^ a b "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  6. ^ a b "LL Cool J Songs and Albums | Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart on 16/2/2003 – Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  8. ^ a b "LL Cool J feat. Amerie – Paradise". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c Reid, Shaheem (November 25, 2002). "LL Cool J Re-Creates 'Paradise,' Gives Thanks And Shares Pain". MTV News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2026.
  10. ^ "The ARIA Report, Issue 697". ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography LL Cool J". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  12. ^ "LL Cool J feat. Amerie – Paradise". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  13. ^ "LL Cool J feat. Amerie – Paradise". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 16/2/2003 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 19, 2023.
  15. ^ "LL Cool J feat. Amerie – Paradise". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  16. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 20200.
  17. ^ "LL Cool J Chart History (Rhythmic Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  18. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1480. November 22, 2002. p. 24. Retrieved July 10, 2022.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.