By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
Usually gregarious, charming, and charismatic, LL Cool J was out of character during the time he was recording his Exit 13 album. LL Cool J, instead of his usual calm and collected self, came off as bitter and angry. These are all things LL Cool J had a right to feel because he was not treated like the legend he was by Def Jam. Their treatment of their first signed artist forced LL Cool J into retirement.
With his back against the wall, LL Cool J recorded some of the best music of his career on what became his final album. One notable Exit 13 track was “New York,” a song where LL Cool J analyzed the current New York hip hop scene. Many feel the song contained jabs aimed toward former Def Jam president, Jay-Z. While Jay-Z was not in charge when the album was released, he was when LL Cool J was trying to secure a release date.
LL Cool J said the veteran New York rappers had become “money rappers who need to give you their money back” and the younger rappers “let the country boys take over the soundtrack.” Those statements were indeed true, as the birthplace of hip hop found themselves falling, daily, in relevance to the hip hop scene. Following Exit 13, LL Cool J took on acting full-time, as he has a role on the “NCIS: LA” series. Currently, the series is in its fourth season and hip hop has continued to evolve, with the future looking bright for New York hip hop.
In 2009, Queens femcee, Nicki Minaj, caught the attention of Lil Wayne, who signed her to Young Money. By 2010, Nicki Minaj had become one of the most-popular rappers in the game. She attracted fans with her body and her eccentric style, but she was able to maintain her fan base with her solid lyrics. Another popular mixtape rapper on the New York streets was French Montana, who caused a bidding war late in 2011. Eventually, he would sign with Bad Boy Records and is currently one of the most-discussed names in hip hop, as he is working with the most-popular figures in hip hop.
Many other rappers from the New York City area are having a major impact on the game. Veteran rapper, Raekwon, has enjoyed a resurgence of his career, since 2009. Maino, Jim Jones, and the Dipset movement have been enjoying years of dominance. Meanwhile, other newcomers, such as Fred the Godson, A$AP Rocky, PUSH!, Ryshon Jones, and many more have been among the newer names to gain national recognition from the New York area. These rappers are not inspired by any particular region, they all simply have their own style.
If LL Cool J were to record another song about New York hip hop, would he give a better review than he did in 2008?
