LL Talks Exit 13; Denies Signing To G-Unit

After a 2 year hiatus, veteran LL Cool J is gearing up for the release of Exit 13, his 13th and final LP under his Def Jam recording deal.

Unlike his other albums, the Farmer’s Boulevard legend has worked closely with another Queens native, rapper 50 Cent.

“I did a whole album with 50, I did an album by myself, then I went and did another album by myself,” LL disclosed to AllHipHop.com. “I decided to use like two or three songs from the album I did with 50, one from the second album I did by myself, and the rest is all new material.”

Some have expressed concern that LL may pattern himself after 50’s more successful albums, such a Get Rich or Die Tryin’, a claim the MC quickly denied.

“Watching him work made me hungry again, but it was also important for me to come out with an LL Cool J album that doesn’t sound like I’m trying to be 50 Cent,” LL clarified. “I’m not doing that.”

LL also dismissed rumors that he was attempting to sign to G-Unit over his dissatisfaction with Def Jam’s promotion of his last album.

“There were a lot of, for lack of a better word, doe-does out there that were like ‘LL is going to sign to G-Unit,’” the veteran laughed. “I don’t know what these guys were thinking. Why would I work for 20 years to sign to another artist? I don’t know where the stupidness came from. I don’t think they understand who they’re dealing with and the reason why I’m here.”

LL openly criticized former Def Jam president Jay-Z about his work in promoting rap albums on the label.

Now with a new regime, he feels rap projects including his own, will get the attention they deserve.

“Before Lyor and them left we did a deal and I got my full catalog. LL Cool J owns his whole body of work. I’m very happy about the growth Def Jam has experienced,” he revealed. “Now, do I feel the Hip-Hop side of the music needs more attention? Yes. I think Hip-Hop will be served more now that Shakir Stewart [new Def Jam Executive Vice President] is up there doing what he does. People are excited about Hip-Hop. People are excited about my project and I know it’s going to succeed.”

Exit 13 is set for release on August 26.

The album features production from DJ Scratch, Tricky Stewart, and Raw Uncut.

Guests include KRS-One, Jim Jones, 50 Cent, Lil’ Kim, Trey Songz, The Dream, and Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi.

LL on the cover of Men's Fitness magazine

LL Cool J’s copy of Men’s Fitness will be released July 7th. Check below for video of his workout.

LL Cool J Discusses New Mixtape

LL Cool J - The Return Of The G.O.A.T, Free Download

LL Cool J is finalizing material for his latest album and finishing up work on an upcoming mixtape, Return of the G.O.A.T. With all the business involved with this stage of his career, the rapper spoke on why he chose to hit the streets with a tape.

"Me and Slay was just talking: 'Let's do a mixtape.' I said, 'Okay. Let's knock it out. Let's hit them something hard, something hot," LL told MTV recently.

"'Let's do something for the fellas so they don't feel I'mma oil my chest up, roll around in some feathers with my toenails painted.' ... So I said, 'Slay, let's do it,' " LL continued.

"I do things when I feel it. I don't do things because everybody else is doing them. Like clothing lines. Let's take that for example. I did a clothing line in '87, Troop. It was everywhere. They talk about clothing lines. Then I did the clothing line with Fubu. It was everywhere in the '90s. Then I did the Todd Smith and this thing with Sears recently with the LL Cool J brand. People talk about Def Jam, I owned a piece of Def Jam. I sold it back. People don't really know my history. I own my own catalog. These are things that people don't understand that's going on in LL's life. I'mma do a mixtape for no money, just to show cats how nice I am on the microphone. You have a whole generation of people who think all I ever do is love songs."

Presumably, LL could have chosen any mixtape deejay to team up with. Why Slay?

"Slay is hot. I have a lot of respect for Slay," he said.

In the mixtape, LL blasts off on a variety of topics. He also spoke on some of them.

On "Laptop Gangsters":

"That's just a freestyle I call 'Laptop Gangsters' because these guys get on the Internet and become laptop gangsters. They have all these theories and ideas of what they think real hip-hop is and what it isn't. The reality is, most of them guys [weren't born] when the music was created. ... Now they wanna get on the Internet and tell me what's what. I'm kinda touching them up a little bit and dealing with that."

On "Who Want It With the G.O.A.T.":

"We used that Rick Ross 'The Boss' beat. I think it's important to just set the tone for what I feel I've contributed to hip-hop and this culture. It's not just about love songs — even though I invented that and brought it to this music. Now you almost can't have an album without it. It's become a part of the blueprint. As the first solo rap star in the history of our culture, sometimes you have to speak and let people know what you're really feeling. I felt a mixtape was the way to do it. Plus, I'm not looking for money from Slay. I'm not trying to get paid off the tape. It's not always about a dollar all the time. Money ain't my god. I'm paid, but it ain't my god. God is my god."

On his new album, LL also explained his confidence.

"I got Def Jam behind me. It's the new Lakers. The energy is great."