LL Cool J - 'Exit 13' (Def Jam) Released 15/09/08

People hate on LL Cool J simply because he’s the true definition of hip-hop. While many of today’s rappers weren’t even born when LL started his career, they feel like they’ve got the right to trash talk the man that made it cool to rock sweat suits, hats, and make hip-hop for women. How many rappers do you know today that don’t make music for the ladies with an R&B newbie? None!!! LL Cool J is the blueprint upon which these so-called rappers perfected their whole style on. And while many of these artists class themselves as rappers, LL Cool J is not a rapper. He’s an emcee. He knows when to switch up his flow in accordance to the times, and he certainly knows how to spit real talk - instead of some clever punchline used to disguise the fact that you have no lyrical skills.
 
Thirteen albums deep, LL Cool J’s latest offering is his final release on the world famous Def Jam Records, his home for the past twenty four years. With much controversy surrounding his exit from the label, with fingers pointing at the appointment of Jay-Z as the label’s President who has since vacated this post, much attention and detail has been paid to this project by both LL and his fans. With advice and assistance from 50 Cent, 'Exit 13' is a new skool album for the old skool fan. Proving he’s not over-the-hill, as some critics have suggested, LL drops hardcore hip-hop (‘This Is Ring Tone M…’), seductively alluring female anthems (‘Baby’), and influential gems (‘Mr. President’).

Doing what he does he best, ‘Feel My Heart Beat’, which features 50 Cent on the hook, is a sexually explicit outing splashed over an eighties funk riff. Flexing his lyrical love muscle, and probably his impeccable physical structure also, he makes the ladies love him all over again, while giving the fellas some ammo to spit game to their boo. Another cut that qualifies for this same prescription is his ode to the ladies of liberty, ‘American Girl’. Whilst not quite as lyrically complex as some of his material, it works as a great club record for the women of the world to shake their stuff to on the dance floor.

Proving he’s not a one trick pony, ‘Rocking With The G.O.A.T.’ is without doubt the album’s finest moment. Letting loose with some heavy artillery, the beat is knocking, and LL’s words school the youth of today in the ways of real hip-hop. Not holding back he spits, “My technique’s ugly/ Dirty like rugby/ Drop jewels like Yoda, my young students love me/ All rappers are under, not one of them above me.” The way he runs through it bar for bar, no emcee on the planet is stepping up to the challenge he lays down on this track. Other cuts that demand hardcore respect include ‘Come Party With Me’ featuring Fat Joe and Sheek Louch, ‘It’s Time For War’, and the retro influenced ‘You Better Watch Me’.

While the album might be a tad bit long standing at nineteen tracks, with ‘I Fall In Love’ and ‘Get Over Here’ not really needing to be included on the final tracklisting, LL holds his own. He’s a dope emcee, in peak physical condition, and an icon in the eyes of both men and women. Why does he need to listen to the bullshit when he’s achieved more in his career than most other artists in hip-hop – ten consecutive platinum plus albums anyone? 'Exit 13' is a fitting finale to his reign as Def Jam’s finest signing. They owe him so much for what he’s achieved. No one can ever question his superiority in the game. LL Cool J – still the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T.)!