Disco de LL Cool J: “Exit 13 [PA]”

This is a very good album. I know a lot of people are not going to respect it because of LL's imagery but if you really listen to the album you'll realize it's one of the best hip-hop albums of the year.

There are a number of standout tracks... Namely, "You better watch me", "ring tone murder", and "we rollin". All very solid songs that showcase LL's versatility.

His core audience will also love it. He has a number of very solid LL love songs on the album including "Like a Radio" and the 50 Cent assisted "Heartbeat." Trust me, the fellas will love these when their girls start rocking to them. I was expecting another weak performance by LL, but he really surprised me. No, he's not in his prime and there are some missteps, "American Girl" being the most blatant, but he proves once again that he can spit with anyone. And he can spit any style. He's an elder statesman who just keeps proving himself. A lot of people are harsher critics of LL than they are of all these other rappers who drop albums. This album is far better than Game's latest and Young Jeezy's latest. It's one of the better albums of this year.

You should buy it and really listen to it.

After reading some of the reviews of this album, it's obvious that most of you are young'uns. Here's the real...There's a HUGE difference between HIP-HOP and RAP. There's a HUGE difference between MC's and RAPPERS. LL COOL J is one of the only cats in the game that is capable of doing both but he's truly an MC in the HIP-HOP game. THE GOAT ! This album is vintage LL of the last 10 years. Some tracks are hard hip hop and some are radio ready rap songs. The people that diss this album know nothing about hip hop. I'm not knocking what music you like but you have to give the veterans in this game respect. If it's not about murder, drugs, clubbin and sex, it considered not hot. Learn your history and MR. SMITH is a part of Hip Hop History...A REALLY BIG PART.

Sure LL has made better albums but in my opinion, this one is the best since MR. SMITH. Tracks like OLD SCHOOL NEW SCHOOL, GET OVER HERE, ROCKING WITH THE GOAT, RINGTONE MURDER, UR ONLY A CUSTOMER and DEAR HIP HOP show that he still can flow with the best of them. Radio/Club tracks like BABY and CRY pays the bills. But when it comes to the art of the MC Battle, few do it better than UNCLE L.

Pick the album up if you are a fan of LL...don't think you'll be disapointed. I hope it's not his last for DEF JAM or his last period. LL still got it !

YO TODD ! Grab Rick Rubin and Marley Marl for the next one. Let's take it back to the REAL BOOM BAP. Back to LL HARD AS HELL. Back to ROCK THE BELLS...teach these kids a little something !

LL Cool J has been rapping for 24 years. Period. There's not too much he can cover that hasn't been covered already. He's afflicted with the same issue that bothers most rappers that have been around as long as him (like KRS One, for example) and that's what can make a lot of his work seem repetitive and forgettable. That being said, Exit 13 is probably LL's best release since he dropped G.O.A.T. back in 2000. You'll have to take that with a grain of salt, though, since LL hasn't made a good album during those 8 years -- he could only go in one direction. There are a few tracks where he exhibits a return to form and it's good to see L went back to making tracks like "Rocking With The G.O.A.T.", "This is Ring Tone M..." and "Old School New School" where he doesn't forget about his male fans for a change. And, also for a change, these songs are in the majority this time around.

Despite all of the improvements, there are some huge flaws to be found on this disc. Tracks like "Get Over Here" exhibit LL at his most awkward while trying to stay relevant over a southern styled beat. That isn't and never has been L's style. I give props for trying something new, it just didn't work. The "Baby" remix and "Mr. President" are corny...straight up. There are a few joints that are obviously aimed at the club (Baby) that despite nice production just didn't seem to mesh because LL's lyrics seem elementary and uninspired ("your body's a gun, baby...pump me full of lead..."). A good portion of the rest of the album is filled with songs about how he' the heart of Def Jam (You Better Watch Me) or how he's the best ever. Though he may have an argument, it gets monotonous after a while because, even though this is the makeup of a good 90% of his albums, his flow in 2008 is just a hair above nonexistent.

Exit 13 is a solid and respectable outing from LL Cool J. It's not the best he's ever released, but it's not the worst either. I'd say it's right around average and, judging from his last couple albums, that's a step up for L. I'd recommend checking it out before you buy it, but if you're a long time fan, I can't think of any reason why this album would disappoint.

Standout Tracks: Dear Hip Hop, Old School New School, This Is Ring Tone M... feat. Grandmaster Caz, We Rollin' (My Favorite), Feel My Heart Beat, Ur Only A Customer, Rocking With The G.O.A.T., Speedin On Da Highway/Exit 13 feat. Funkmaster Flex, and It's Time For War

I'll be honest here, I'm a collector. I bought this CD to complete the catalog for this artist. The beats are hot and LL is just being him when he did this album.

the first ll album i bought was mr. smith, still enjoy it. i hope this is not the last from him. like his good friend DMX, spreading the gospel of our lord and saviour Jesus christ via music