LL Cool J feat Amerie "Paradise"

Ha i suoi anni, stilisticamente si potrebbe definirla pure superata ma per me rimane una delle canzoni rap preferite.
Fresca, solare, con una ottimo cantato ma soprattutto con un ritornello che non mi stancherei mai di ascoltarlo. Ogni elemento di "Paradise" (ascolta) è creato appositamente per stare al suo posto e rendere ogni singolo pezzo del brano davvero indimenticabile.
Uno dei pezzi più famosi di LL Cool J, che solitamente non seguo molto, ma anche una delle prime canzoni in cui compariva Amerie, cantante che invece ho sempre apprezzato (qui, ma anche qui, ad esempio) nonostante non sia sempre sulla cresta dell'onda.
Prodotto da Trackmasters (duo formato da Jean-Claude Olivier e Samuel Barnes) "Paradise" riprende "Risin' to the top" di Keni Burke, un campionamento davvero indovinato che regala un'atmosfera molto carica al brano, avvicinandolo al mondo R&B.
È proprio la commistione di questi due generi a rendere il brano piacevole, e dal groove giusto per accontentare gli appassionati di entrambi e generi.

Testo | Lyrics

[ll] 10..
[am] mm, mmm, mmm, mmm

[intro: amerie]
If you need me baby im, for, real
The rest of your life, Ill take you to paradise..
If you want it baby just, be, real
The rest of your life, Ill take you to paradise
Im gonna give-a-you all my love, yeah

[ll cool j]
We went through this before
Actin like the ls cant bag em no more
Nightgown draggin on the heated marble floor
Flash cartier when you open up the door - slide these on baby
So butter, still relate to the gutter
Just your lifestyles different, spirit uplifted
Fell in love with a cat whos gifted
Turn you back to paradise, damn I missed it
Pop a bottle, light a purple candle
I got somethin that you cant quite handle, thats why you love me
Pour bubbly, glow from the flame make your skin shine lovely
Im sayin baby
Touch it why dontcha (ohh) touch it why dontcha (ohh)
Touch it why dontcha (ayy) touch it why dontcha (mmm)
Hey girl.. aw, girl!
Hey girl, I wanna rock your world

[chorus: amerie] + (ll)
If you need me baby im, for, real
The rest of your life, Ill take you to paradise..
(paradise, is very nice)
If you want it baby just, be, real
The rest of your life, Ill take you to paradise (uh, uh)
Im gonna give-a-you all my love, yeah

[ll cool j]
Next phase is this
Black sand, tahiti, ten days to reminisce
Gods my witness (uh)
I paid the price for paradise, so Im livin this
I never limit myself, the ls fearless
Lay back while I illuminate the darkness
Like it smooth dontcha
Make it move wontcha, think I wont?
Take you to your peak I know them other cats dont
And it wont stop - this is beyond paper
First I get your mind right, then I might drape ya
Never pimpin, raise my girls well
Young thoroughbreds get schoolled by uncle l.l.
C-double, l tattooed on the bubble
I lay the mink down, let you walk over a puddle
True love is so rare
But dont you worry I aint goin nowhere

[chorus] w/ minor variations

[interlude: amerie]
Trust me, trust me, trust - me, baby
Rest of your life Ill take you to paradise
Ill take you to paradise, oooohh
So wont you try me, try me - try, this, lady
Rest of your life Ill take you to paradise
Im gonna give-a-you all my love, yeah

[ll cool j]
Belly to belly, one hand on the jelly
At the telly on the celly - get that money elle
Please believe it, if the mind can conceive it
Then the man can achieve it; you gotta breathe it
And I breathe deep, Im one with the universe
Minimum, ten percent go to God first
Lay back baby, close your eyes
Ice on the pinky finger froze your thighs
So much shade baby, the waterbed fries
Walk around nude in the suite yellin, recognize!
Do your dance, baby pour me a class
It feels so good to have the world in a smash
Touch it why dontcha (ohh) touch it why dontcha (ohh)
Touch it why dontcha (ayy) touch it why dontcha (mmm)
Hey girl.. aw, girl!
Hey girl, I wanna rock your world

[chorus] w/ minor variations

{*amerie ad libs*}

[ll cool j]
Yea yea, gotta keep your eyes on the prize baby
Skys the limit
If you can see it, you can be it
Ha ha, its on you, word up
Everybody put your hands in the air
Its high time baby
One love, one god, recognize, uhh

[amerie]
If you need me, just call me
Said if you want me, just be for reallll
And if you like me, come and talk to me
And if you want me, tell me how you feeelll

[chorus] - fades out