This Is Why LL Cool J Stopped Making Music
LL Cool J is rap royalty and has been making music since the mid-1980s. Despite not releasing any new material for nearly a decade, his many classics such as "Mama Said Knock You Out," "Doin' It," and "I Need Love" remain deeply appreciated to this day. As of this writing, LL Cool J has put out 13 studio albums, 12 of which were released through the legendary hip-hop label Def Jam, per AllMusic. The "Paradise" hitmaker achieved his first No. 1 album on the U.S. Billboard 200 with "G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time)" in the year 2000, according to Billboard.
During a February 2021 interview with The Binge Guide for The Daily Telegraph, the Grammy Award winner admitted he never imagined he would be able to live the successful career he's had. "In my neighbourhood where I grew up, you know, most of us didn't even think we'd live to be 25," he said (via Daily Mail), adding, "And that's not a good thing." He truly didn't expect to make it. LL Cool J continued, "[With] gunshots ringing off and people getting killed over silly stuff ... The answer at that time was I would have never thought I'd get this far."
LL Cool J's final album with Def Jam "Exit 13" took place in 2008. Even though he was one of the label's most credible rappers, there was conflict between him and another rapper around that time.
LL Cool J didn't benefit from Jay-Z becoming Def Jam's CEO
According to Showbiz Cheat Sheet, LL Cool J has been a featured guest on VH1's "Behind the Music" three times. His most recent appearance took place in 2021, where he discussed why he had problems with Def Jam. The episode noted LL Cool J sold over 20 million albums and helped make history with the label. After being signed to Def Jam in the 1980s, some changes were made in 2004 when fellow rapper Jay-Z became the CEO.
By 2006, LL Cool J felt like he was being pushed to the side and not being promoted and appreciated the way he should. "That hurt. That was painful, and that created a lot of bruised blood in my spirit," he explained (via Cheat Sheet). In a clip dating back to 2007, he stated he wasn't against Jay-Z, but was just supportive of himself. "I need my records promoted, and your job is to promote them. He needs to be on the phone, calling radio stations. I just don't feel like he had the necessary experience to do that job," LL Cool J told VH1 during the 2007 episode.
Jay-Z didn't stay at the label long and was replaced by L.A. Reid in 2007. However, LL Cool J still wasn't happy and didn't renew his contract after releasing "Exit 30" in 2008. It wouldn't be until 2013 that he dropped his next record "Authentic," per PR Newswire. He referred to the album as a "project that was for the true fans."
LL Cool J and Jay-Z are back on good terms
Headlines suggested that LL Cool J and Jay-Z would address their supposed beef in diss tracks. However, Jay-Z squashed those rumors in 2007 when talking to MTV News. "He's a legend. I'm not doing that," the "Empire State of Mind" hitmaker said, adding, "He's upset, not me. If he wanna work it out, I'm more than willing to do that."
Fortunately, the New York-born rappers did squash the tension between them and are now on good terms. While on Instagram Live with Fat Joe in 2020, LL Cool J said he and Jay-Z are all good and said that he wants to see everyone succeed. The following year, both rappers were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. As seen in the snapshot above, the duo was happy to be in each other's company and proved that they are now on good terms.
After Def Jam, LL Cool J signed to 429 Records and released his last album to date — the aforementioned "Authentic" — in 2013, per AllMusic. However, the "Hush" chart-topper has remained booked and busy, as he has carved out a successful career in acting and presenting.