LL Cool J Says He Made Exit 13 'As A Hip-Hop Fan'

[Elano]

The first-week numbers for LL Cool J's Exit 13 will be released Wednesday, but hip-hop's G.O.A.T. said the only stat that matters is how many hits are on the album.

"People can say what they want," he said. "But this is a Mayweather moment. I'mma take a page out of Floyd's book on this one. The album is hot. It's crazy. ... I can't guarantee the first-week sales, because retail is gonna be looking at my last albums' sales and thinking about that. They gonna be caught up in that. So I don't know what I'm gonna do the first week. That's all based on how many records you put out there in the first place. But let me tell you something: That word of mouth on that album and that second week, you watch. We're gonna see.

"Mr. Smith did 80,000 the first week and sold 3 million," he added. "Mama Said Knock You Out did maybe 100,000 first week; that sold 3 million. Bigger and Deffer sold triple-platinum. I have a feeling that sold pretty well, but this is my favorite album that I've made. It is. It's hard for people to think that way. They have records that's embedded in their heads so deeply, you can't move them. But for those new hip-hop fans, its gonna be crazy."

LL spoke with so much pride about the project because it's the LP he's worked the longest on.

"Just hating on it, hating on yourself," he said about recording the album over the past two years. "I hated on the joint. Say what you want about me, but everything I do musically is on purpose and by design. I know what I'm doing. And that being said, when it's time to make a joint, I hated on the joint. 'Make a new joint, flip it. I'll make two types of joints.' There's two types of albums I make: Albums I make by myself when I'm being artsy and albums I make as a hip-hop fan. I made this album as a hip-hop fan.

"Mama Said Knock You Out — that was, maybe, almost a year," he continued. "[Exit 13] is crazy. Two years to get it right, B. I'm telling you. I promise you. It's gonna be mailmen that ain't bought a hip-hop album in 10 years that's gonna buy this album. It's gonna be junior high schools that never bought an LL album buying this album once it gets in the system, God willing."

LL is currently opening for Janet Jackson's Rock Witchu Tour. On November 21, he'll head to New Jersey's Izod Center for Hot 97's Check the Rhyme concert. Besides LL, 50 Cent, Q-Tip, T-Pain, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Ice Cube and Brandy are all on the bill.

[Lord Funk]

I really wanted to like the album, but nothing I've heard from it has inspired me to pay money for it.

[red]

I really wanted to like the album, but nothing I've heard from it has inspired me to pay money for it.

the album did it for me.  mad entertaining

[D1G1T4L]

The album is tight! a lot of 'old' school feel joints
It's time for war and You better watch me are crazy joints 

[midwestryder]

the album is crazy .  i can't stop playing it.

[Jome]

It's time for war and You better watch me are crazy joints 

Yeah, that's the 2 standout tracks, but he left the best track off the album.. New York, New York.

The album isn't really something you can listen through several times, I will probably just save 4-6 tracks.

[Meho]

LL is full of bullshit, I don't know how he can honestly say that. Let's say that half of the album is what he claims to be (and that's being nice) but the rest is filled with corny chick songs.

[red]

It's time for war and You better watch me are crazy joints 

Yeah, that's the 2 standout tracks, but he left the best track off the album.. New York, New York.

The album isn't really something you can listen through several times, I will probably just save 4-6 tracks.

I ain't gonna lie, you take the chick songs off the album save maybe Like A Radio and Heartbeat and you got a grade A album.  The lyrics and the beats are there.  What else can you ask for?

[midwestryder]

LL is full of bullshit, I don't know how he can honestly say that. Let's say that half of the album is what he claims to be (and that's being nice) but the rest is filled with corny chick songs.

LL is not full of bullshit . the album is dope as hell . ll  cool j made old school hip hop album

[Matty]

this album is very hit and miss. it ranges from VERY dope 'you better watch me' to EXTREME cringe-worthy cheese like the track with 50 cent:

baby, its time to switch up the way things go,
tonights the night you'll be in control,
i bought you a uniform so you can play the role,
now here's the stethoscope

[midwestryder]

this album is very hit and miss. it ranges from VERY dope 'you better watch me' to EXTREME cringe-worthy cheese like the track with 50 cent:

baby, its time to switch up the way things go,
tonights the night you'll be in control,
i bought you a uniform so you can play the role,
now here's the stethoscope

you most not be from the old school my friend .  because this was all cool back in the day.

[Matty]

yeah sorry i guess 50's candy shop went over my head too. funky party tracks are cool but i found this one to be a bit too much. ll overstepped the funky/corny line

[BIG D O]

lol @ this nigga babbling incoherently......

stfu nigga and admit that you fell off a long ass time ago and you are over 40 still trying to appeal to teenagers...

he just refused to grow with his fans from the 80's and the early 90's.....

then he tried to be mr. super lover and shit.....lol, I can't front, he had some success with that angle, but truly, it came off mad lame at times ......

[midwestryder]

lol @ this nigga babbling incoherently......

stfu nigga and admit that you fell off a long ass time ago and you are over 40 still trying to appeal to teenagers...

he just refused to grow with his fans from the 80's and the early 90's.....

then he tried to be mr. super lover and shit.....lol, I can't front, he had some success with that angle, but truly, it came off mad lame at times ......

ll COOL J HAS NEVER CAME LAME,NEW SCHOOL. LL cool J has been smae person all his life & never changed who he was & never will just because of stupid new school fans who don't get it like you . LL cool j has laways made same kind of music . whathte fuck do you mean by he just refused to grow with his fans from the 80's and the early 90's?  that is bullshit . most of his fans from the 80's & 90's grow like you think . instead that hate new school & don't listen to rap anymore. so everything you have said is wrong . LL cool j has always been same person since the 80's . that mr superl over bullshit you said is wrong because LL cool j has been super lover since he started in 80's . so thisshows how much you know at all,new school. so no stfu wigga & admit that you don't know siht about hip hop because yo uare new school . i from the real old school & ll cool j music is stil dope as hell,hater. LL cool j ihas never fell off,hater. also LL cool J Is not over 40 still trying to appeal to teenagers Instead he Is over 40  trying to appeal to his old scooh fans like me not you ,new school. LL cool j's new album was one of the dopest of the year.