Defsounds

LL Cool J has had beef with Def Jam (his home label since 1984) for a little over a year now. He remains unsatisfied with the way they are handling his business. The G.O.A.T. has not been silent about the issue. In fact he’s had a lot to say in interviews as well as on songs (i.e. “Queens” which was leaked to the internet). His new album, entitled “Exit 13”, is executive produced by 50 Cent, however LL has expressed concern in regards to the label’s promotion plans. He said: “I address a lot of issues I have with the record company, but I kept it business. It feels good to speak my voice,” said LL recently in New York. “People are listening. These guys fail to realize that when you talk about Def Jam, you’re talking about my legacy. Everything that ever happened at Def Jam is my legacy. Without me being a 16-year-old with my rhyme book, Def Jam [wouldn’t] exist. Everything that’s ever been a success up there is a product of me, and I’ve given birth to it. I didn’t personally attack anyone [on ‘Queens’], but at the same time I have the right to speak on something I helped build. When [Def Jam co-founder] Russell [Simmons] feels something, he speaks on it as Russell Simmons; LL speaks on it through his music.”

While they may seem a bit far fetched, LL’s claims are not exaggerated. “I Need a Beat” was one of Def Jam’s first releases. Furthermore, his 1985 Radio LP was its first full-length album. Bottom line, LL was the label’s first major success. He’s also survived more than two decades as one of the label’s franchise artists. The G.O.A.T. has been down with the label since the beginning, when its main office was Rick Rubin’s dorm room at New York University – it’s safe to say that he’s attached. “This is a time when everything’s real,” he said. “You go on blogs and everything, people know when people are lying. Things are not all rosy up there [at Def Jam]. Too many [artists] have suffered: Method Man, Redman, the Roots, Fabolous, Ludacris! The list goes on. Nobody is getting promoted the way they should be promoted. I’m one man. I can’t battle a whole record label. So we not gonna try to turn this into what it’s not. To try and battle a record label is foolish. It’s bad enough they are calling around to radio stations telling them not to play my records.”

During the listening session for American Gangster on Friday, current Def Jam president Jay-Z denied the accusations, “I would never block anybody’s blessings,” he said. “That type of sh—comes back to you. ... I believe in karma.” He also denied the rumors that he and Cool J may soon be battling it out on wax. “He’s a legend,” said Hov. “I’m not doing that.” “He’s upset, not me,” said Jay on Wednesday. “If he wanna work it out, I’m more than willing to do that.” At times, it seemed as though LL was ready to take it past words and step into a ring with Hov. He was especially bothered after hearing 50 Cent’s “I Get Money” remix on which Jay claims that he’s the “G.O.A.T.” (Greatest of all Time) which, ironically, was the title of LL’s 2000 album. In a YouTube interview, LL said to Jay: “I don’t even know why you did that to yourself. When you doing that verse, you should have been doing your job, B. See?”

However, in an interview with MTV, LL softened his tone: “I don’t need to go all-out,” he said. “At this point I think the focus should be to make great music, trying to keep it positive, trying to have some sort of relationship where we can work together. Hopefully [Def Jam] can do well and look great, I can do well and look great. We can part company as civilized businessmen and give the world something great. I’m working on some new music. I wanna have some fun.”

50 Cent had this to say on the issue: “[LL’s] got his own issue [with Def Jam], to be honest with you,” said. “He feels that they’re not prioritizing him. He’s been there from the start. I talked to him and I talked to Jay. I’m the liaison between them for that project to keep that functioning. And I’m gonna bring the material necessary for us to have a great project. ... Jay’s priority is business. He’s a businessman. If it makes good business sense, he’s doing it.”

There is no release date set for “Exit 13” which is also the last album on LL’s Def Jam contract, However, sources say it should drop sometime in early 2008. Also, LL has leaked another record entitled “New York Gangstas.” “This is my last record on Def Jam, so it’s important that the record is not just another record,” he said. “It has to represent my legacy, be incredibly hot. All of the energy I put into building that company, it’s gonna be a great reminder to people that I really did start that company with Russell [Simmons] and Rick Rubin and Heidi Smith, the secretary. I’m a get busy on it. I’m a deliver [what] I’m supposed to deliver and I’m not gonna ignore my male fans this time. I’m gonna embrace everybody. It’s gonna be real. I’m a be blunt, brutally honest, be frank, speak with clarity, and they gonna feel me.” “It’s hip-hop, true hip-hop,” he said. “It’s about the bars and beats, it’s fly. I’m not trying to look down on anybody. I’m not gonna try to hurt people and tell them how rich I am or what I’m driving. It’s a little of that, but that’s not my focus. It’s never been my focus to make the ‘hood feel bad. This record is for the ‘hood — specifically for the ‘hood. It’s for Queens, it’s for people who are real hip-hop fans. It’s the real thing. I’ve been throwing records away, trashing some records; I’ve had some records that I thought were garbage, records I thought were hot. I’m mixing it up.”

“The hip-hop community, especially in New York, is paying attention to L and paying attention to what’s coming out my mouth,” he concluded. “So now I need to give them what they want and a little of what I think they need. The combination will be great.”