LL Cool J (Exit 13)

[Slim Zaddy]

Released September 9, 2008
Recorded 2006–2008
Genre Rap
Length 72:43
Label Def Jam
Producer LL Cool J (exec.)
Suits & Ray Burghardt, Ryan Leslie, Illfonics, The Dream Team, DJ Scratch, Frado & Absolut, Tricky Stewart, Raw Uncut, Marley Marl, Cue Beats, Dame Grease, StreetRunner

Overview:
Exit 13 is the twelfth (13th overall) and final album on LL Cool J's record deal with Def Jam Recordings, a deal that had lasted for more than twenty years. The album was originally titled Todd Smith Pt. 2: Back to Cool. It was released on September 9, 2008.

Production
This album is the first LL Cool J album since G.O.A.T. to have the parental advisory label for explicit lyrics.[citation needed] LL said in an interview with Chicago radio personality DJ Z that the vulgarities are not heavy and the edited version has alternate lyrics rather than simply omitting the vulgarities. [1] LL and DJ Kayslay teamed up to release his first mixtape as a prelude to Exit 13 titled The Return of the G.O.A.T..Other contributors for this album include 50 Cent, Sheek Louch, Fat Joe, Ryan Leslie, Wyclef Jean, The-Dream, Lil Mo, Grandmaster Caz, Funkmaster Flex,Richie Sambora and Darlisa Blackshere.

Singles
The warm-up single, "Rockin' With the G.O.A.T.," premiered on June 20, 2008.
The first official single, "Baby" featuring The-Dream was released on July 1, 2008 to the iTunes Music Store. On August 19, 2008, iTunes released the rock remix featuring Richie Sambora, with a rock rhythm and sped-up lyrics.
The second official single, "Feel My Heart Beat" featuring 50 Cent was released on August 26, 2008. The song has not yet entered the charts. The Official single version of the song was leaked to the internet on November 27, 2008 on http://hear-it-first.net.

Track listing
1 "It's Time for War" Suits & Ray Burghardt 5:06
2 "Old School New School" Ryan Leslie 3:41
3 "Feel My Heart Beat" The Dream Team 50 Cent 3:21
4 "Get Over Here" Frado & Absolut It's Ya Girl Nicolette, Jiz, Lyrikal, & Ticky Diamondz 5:49
5 "Baby" Tricky Stewart The-Dream 4:01
6 "You Better Watch Me" Marley Marl 4:20
7 "Cry" Raw Uncut Lil' Mo 4:15
8 "Baby (Rock Remix)" Suits & Ray Burghardt Richie Sambora 3:08
9 "Rocking with the G.O.A.T." DJ Scratch 3:43
10 "This Is Ring Tone M..." DJ Scratch Grandmaster Caz 2:52
11 "Like a Radio" Ryan Leslie Ryan Leslie 3:34
12 "I Fall in Love" Suits & Ray Burghardt Élan of the Dey 3:57
13 "Ur Only a Customer" Dame Grease & Music Mystro 2:18
14 "Mr. President" Suits & Ray Burghardt Wyclef Jean 4:35
15 "American Girl" Illfonics Mark Figeroa 4:26
16 "Speedin' on da Highway/Exit 13" Suits & Ray Burghardt Funkmaster Flex 4:49
17 "Come and Party with Me" Illfonics Fat Joe & Sheek Louch 4:37
18 "We Rollin'" Cue Beats 3:03
19 "Dear Hip Hop" StreetRunner 4:28
20 "New York, New York (Interlude)"
(Japanese & iTunes Bonus Track) Kander and Ebb 0:18
21 "New York"
(Japanese & iTunes Bonus Track) Suits & Ray Burghardt 4:28

Music Videos
1."Baby" Tricky Stewart The-Dream 4:01

Chart & Awards
Canadian Albums Chart[2] 61
U.S. Billboard 200[3] 9
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[4] 3
U.S. Billboard Top Rap Albums[4] 2

Credits:
Elvis Aponte Assistant
Phil Arbogast Horn, Trombone (Bass), Tenor Trombone
Chris Atlas Marketing
El Ahmad Barack Choir, Chorus
Davis A. Barnett Viola
Brent Behrenshausen
Starr Blackshere Vocals, Vocals (bckgr)
Jennifer Burton Choir, Chorus
Jeff Chestek Engineer
Dave Clauss Guitar, Engineer, Assistant
Shaun Copeland A&R
Carol Corless Package Production
Joseph Cultice Photography
DJ Scratch Scratching, Producer
Dream Team Producer
Brian Farr Drums, Rhythm Section
Thomas Flanagan Sitar
Ghislaine Fleischmann Violin
Paul Gehman Bass, Rhythm Section
Chris Gehringer Mastering
Larry Gold Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements, Horn Conductor, String Conductor
Alex Haldi Art Direction, Design
Gail Hansen A&R
Nahemma Harper Choir, Chorus
Frankie Hill
Charlene Holloway Choir, Chorus
Paula Holloway Choir, Chorus
Josh Horn Assistant
Illfonics Producer
Infamous Keyboards
Sabrina Jacob Assistant
Mike A. Jarosz Trumpet, Horn, Associate Arranger, Copyist
Terese Joseph A&R
Janice Kinjo Leader
Mariko Koda Vocals (bckgr)
Olga Konopelsky Violin
Emma Kummrow Violin
Zach Larimer
Tamae Lee Violin
Alexandra Leem Viola
Ryan Leslie Producer, Engineer
Lil' Mo Vocals
Jennie Lorenzo Cello
Mike Makowski Assistant
Glen Marchese Engineer, Associate Producer, Mixing
Marley Marl Producer, Mixing
Brian Mavi Choir, Chorus
Louigi Mazzoechi Violin
Ky Miller Engineer
Monica Morrow Leader
David Nelson (Dahveed Ben Israel) Tympani [Timpani]
Lawrence Newton Choir, Chorus
Peter Nocella Viola
Anthony Palazzole Engineer, Assistant
Charles Parker Violin
Dana Paul Piano, Rhythm Section
Dave Pensado Mixing
Greg Riley Horn, Sax (Tenor)
Montez Roberts Assistant
Leonard Sideman Tabla
John Stahl Assistant
Brian Stanley Engineer, Mixing
Gabriel Staznik
Chris "Tricky" Stewart Producer
Shakir Stewart A&R
Igor Szwec Violin
Gregory Teperman Violin
Brian "B Luv" Thomas Engineer
Richard Torres Assistant
Lyric Tucker Choir, Chorus
Jon Virtue Trumpet, Horn
Barbara Walker Choir, Chorus
Teresa Williams Choir, Chorus
Andrew Wuepper Assistant

My Review:
This album is a travesty. Awful doesn't even begin to describe this pile of garbage. First of all, LL Cool J's rhymes are sloppier than a 2 dollar whore. Lines like "I'm going to put your boobs on a 20 dollar bill" and "While mama play bingo, she ride mandingo" are on every track. Don't get me wrong, it's not like LL Cool J has been good since 1998, but this is even terrible for him. Selling out is not even the word for this crap. This sounds more like it should be categorized as a raping. A raping of his reputation and hip-hop. By the way, if you want to hear the worst commercialized beats ever, then pick up this album. I don't know what crack heads he decided to produce this album, but they shouldn't even be allowed to touch a fisher price keyboard. I know why this is called Exit 13 because LL wants to exit out of the top 13 MC's list.