Don't Call It A Comeback
What do you do after you have sold 20 million albums, won 2 Grammy's, 15 music awards, 10 Soul Train Awards, starred in movies, your own TV show, and battled emcee's who called you out? You go back into the studio and lay down tracks for your new album, decide to make a music video and call your friends at to watch. At the age of 16 he was the first Def Jam artist to release a single, ("I Need A Beat," 1984). How many rappers can you name from the early '80's are still around? None, except LL Cool J. He's been a significant part of hip hop and will go down in history as the greatest of all time.

Log onto LL Cool J Online every week until the release of LL Cool J's album, "The G.O.A.T.", as we take you behind the scenes of the making of his video, share samples of his album and let you hear directly from Uncle L himself.

LL vs CANIBUS - EXCLUSIVE CHAT WITH DEFJAM A&R BIMMY ATNEY

- Posted on August 01, 2000

AUDIO: "Feels So Good" from "The G.O.A.T." Album

Hip Hop has always had its moments of beef from the day's of KRS-One and MC Shan, to the infamous Bad Boy Entertainment and Death Row Records beef. But no beef made as much noise and caught so much attention as the Canibus and LL beef. Excluding the deadly B.I.G and Tupac beefs, it was LL Cool J and Canibus who sparked a flame of nostalgia in hip hop which had been dying. LL while working on his Hollywood career was confronted on record and caught by surprise by new comer Canibus and all hell broke loose soon after. Many new school hip hop fans who were just thoughts in their parents eyes when LL came out proclaimed Canibus the winner. It was the old school fans who remembered LL and his contribution to hip hop that proclaimed blasphemy and challenged Canibus to a full out battle on wax.

Canibus decided not to respond to LL and instead, focused on the promotion of his album which in the end garnered a Gold Plaque. Many critics and hip hop fans believed that the Canibus diss was meant to jack sales and he never fully recovered. Canibus' album fell short of the underground freestyle's we were used to hearing and in end never lived up to Canibus' potential.

LL although surprised by Canibus' attack was not afraid to strike back. LL's been at war on records with many including the infamous LL vs Kool Moe Dee beef so all this was not new for him. LL came out with his own diss album titled, "The Ripper Strikes Back" which fans soon scooped up on the internet.

LL Cool J Online brings you our interview with Def Jam's A&R Bimmy Atney. Bimmy speaks on the Canibus beef.
How did you feel about Canibus coming at LL?
To me it affected hip hop. Ya know when you go at a person that's been in the game for fifteen years and he opened the door for a guy like Canibus or a guy like myself. I was working with Method Man at the time and me and Meth discussed it and we were like that's wrong. You know me as an artist or an A&R person that's wrong. Because here's a man that set the tone for everybody to get what they got to get. He dissrespected his family his kids his wife, everybody.

How did LL Cool J react to the Canibus diss?
He was in Hollywood at the time and he was working on a movie and he had called my phone. He asked me what the people in the hood were saying. And I told him, "they're saying Canibus got you. You know what I mean, you gotta come back." So he said , "I am" and then he hung up. (laughter)
Damn that's kind of scary man!
To speak on the Canibus thing. When I first started on L's project I had said to L I said, "Yo man let's just shock hip hop and let's do a record with Canibus. I got the producer and everything". I said, "Let's just shock hip hop and show them that there's really unity in here. We all can live together, we can fight on records but we can still get paid together. And he (LL) said, "Let me think about it."

But in his heart he still had it for him cause he woke up one morning and said, "Yo I'm ready to set it on him. I'm gonna start it this time. I'm in New York now (he moved back to NY) and he said Bim let's get him." So I said, "Yo let's get him. I'm with you." So we have a record getting him. And then Canibus' people called me and said, "Yo Bimmy we heard your dissing his mother!" I said, "Did you hear how he dissed his kids, did you hear second round knockout?" Then he said, "oh oh oh . Wel we aint gonna come back at yall." I'm waiting because we have a record waiting. You know what I mean? For the world to hear. We got him.

"The G.O.A.T." resheduled to Sept. 12
- Posted on July 18, 2000

The latest album from LL Cool J - "The Greatest Of All Times (The G.O.A.T.)" is now rescheduled to September 12th, 2000. This is the latest word from his official label, Defjam. Sources reveal that LL is currently remixing and editing several songs in-order to make a stronger product. The album is projected to be released in three different flavours - a hardcore (parental advisory), a radio friendly version and a special edition double cd set. The special edition will contain a cd of unreleased, remixed and previously released LL Cool J songs. There is also word that the rescheduled album is to facilate LL's movie commitments and to provide sufficient time for promotion. The new date release must also be seen as a counter balance to the release of LL's nemesises Canibus and Wyclef. Canibus's album "2000 B.C." is already in stores and Wyclef's album "The Ecleftic" is slated for a August release. A close listen to several tracks from both albums indicates that the beef held with LL is far from over and one is assured that LL will answer these with ferocious battle rhymes on "The G.O.A.T."

"The G.O.A.T." features DMX, Meth & Red, Kelly Price, Amil, Ja Rule, Snoop Dogg, Xzhibit, Jayo Felony, and Prodigy with production by LL Cool J, Trackmasters, Dr. Dre, Dj Premier, Q-Tip, DJ Scratch, Lofey, Da Rockwilder, Self, Ty Fyffe, Vada Nobles, and Funkmaster Flex. The soundtrack to the "Nutty Professor 2" movie features a eight minute promo with samples of the songs from "The Greatest of All-Time" on the last track. It's a good listen and well put together by Defjam's A&R department. LL Cool J is on the cover of The Source’s September issue on newsstands now and on VIBE’s October issue on newsstands Sept. 5th to Oct. 2nd. Check It Out!

LL Asked To Work With Canibus
- Posted on July16, 2000

For his upcoming album, "The Greatest Of All Times (G.O.A.T.)", LL Cool J was asked by Def Jam A&R Bimmy to collaborate with his infamous nemesis Canibus. LL refused and instead shreds Canibus apart on several cuts. But he saves his best lines on "Back Where I Belong" feat. Ja Rule. On the track, he accuses Canibus of being Canadian and stealing lyrics from the Internet as well as taking shots at his mother and girlfriend.

Here are some highlights:
"You came up with that bullsh*t, some heads sucked it up/Then you dropped that garbage album and totally f*cked it up". "I could have told the world that your label hates your guts/And how me and Wyclef got together to set you up/And how you gave me half your budget/Don't believe me/Look it up." "I heard your second album, that sh*t is garbage too/LL Cool J and I did this to you." The album boasts a bevy of star guest appearances including DMX, Snoop Dogg, Mobb Deep, Method Man, Redman and Xzibit. DJ Scratch handled the bulk of the production duties with Rockwilder, Havoc, Trackmasters and Q-Tip pitching in. G.O.A.T. is now re-scheduled for an September 12 release.

LL Joins Busta, Redman In Support For Keith Murray
- Posted on July 15, 2000

L.L. Cool J, Busta Rhymes and Redman are expected to come together in New York on Tuesday July 25 at 2 p.m., to rally in support of imprisoned rapper Keith Murray. Mary J Blige, Erick Sermon, Britney Spears (???) and other notables will all be in attendance at Parker Meridian Hotel in Manhattan to support the re-opening of his case. He was convicted for beating up the brother of a concert promoter at a show in New Britain, CT and sentenced to five years in prison based on false testimony. The aforementioned hip-hop stars will join Murray's attorneys Joe Moniz and Larry Rudolph to address the press about the rapper's on-going incarceration on a 1998 arrest for second-degree assault. To date, Murray has served more than a year and a half of his five-year sentence, but the rapper maintains his innocence. His famous friends agree and are working with Murray's attorneys to lobby the Connecticut court system to re-address the case.

Murray's attorneys claim that an eyewitness has come forward to back up Murray's testimony saying he was bribed by the alleged victim's brothers to keep quiet. The eyewitness was part of the promotional team that helped put that particular show together and saw the entire incident in question. He feared for his life, but now wants to come forward and let the nation know that Keith is innocent. Murray's supporters also claim that the witness feared for his own safety had he testified that Murray had absolutely nothing to do with the assault. We’ll keep you posted on the outcome.

LL chats it up with VIBE ONLINE
- Posted on July 10, 2000

LL Cool J. is scheduled to release his ninth album, G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Times) on September 12th. The hip hop superstar's latest single, "Imagine That," is receiving heavy radio and video rotation. He recently talked to VIBE Online about his new album and his motivation for writing music. "I've never been a quitter and I've always had the courage to do what I believed in regardless of what everybody else was doing," said LL. "If everybody else is talking about killing people and selling crack, I'll make a love song. And while everyone else is talking about black power, I'll make a record about champagne and girls or riding around in fancy cars or whatever. Because I've always been willing to stand up for what I believe in and not try to be part of the crowd just to fit in."

He also said, "I made an album with no handcuffs artistically. I didn't have any rules or set any boundaries or guidelines. I just wanted to make some music that was from the heart as an artist. There are a lot of rappers, but all rappers aren't artists. I'm really an artist. I do this from the heart and I think that the music speaks for itself and people will feel it."

The Making of "Imagine That" video
- Posted on July 06, 2000

LL's new video for the smash single "Imagine That" with La Shaun has been serviced to TV outlets. It is the bomb! It is directed by Hype Williams and features some very funny and sexy scenes. "Imagine That" was featured on MTV's "Making The Video" on July 05, 2000. If you missed it, there are several clips including the whole video for you to view.
CLIPS
Teachin' The Ladies
Vibin'
I Want My MTV
Watch The Video
Buy The Single at CDNOW

LL Cool J made his debut over 15 years ago in the classic movie Krush Groove when he was just 16-years-old and is considered a hip hop legend, but unlike many other veterans of his era, LL has been able to change with the times.

In a recent interview, LL Cool J attributed this growth to simply loving new music and new artists. "That's just us being human beings. I allow myself to grow, I'm not in a time capsule," LL told "As I grow and I get older times change and I change with it. I'm not gonna go to the store and put on some shit that was hot ten years ago. That's just the vibe. When I'm 60-years-old I'll be sitting in a barbecue with the new shit on. I'll do that regardless if I made a rap record or not. I like the new cars. I like the hottest new jewelry. I just like all the hot new shit. I like the hottest new bitch. I can't have her, but I like her." LL Cool J's new album, The G.O.A.T. (Greatest Of All Time), is scheduled to hit record stores on September 12.

After a stint a few years back the Broadway production of "Beauty And The Beast," singer Toni Braxton is set to make her feature film debut in "Kingdom Come," a movie also starring L.L. Cool J, Whoopi Goldberg, and Jada Pinkett Smith. "Kingdom Come" is being directed by Doug McHenry ("Jason's Lyric") and tells the story of an African-American family that tries to set aside its differences while mourning the death of the family patriarch. "Kingdom Come" began shooting last month in Los Angeles and isn't expected to be released to theaters until 2001. The film may get another title before then, however, as there is a supernatural western by the same name tentatively set for release later this year featuring Wes Bentley, Milla Jovovich, and Sarah Polley.

In the fall of 1998, Braxton took over the part of "Belle" in Disney's Broadway musical of "Beauty And The Beast" for several months as she was in the middle of a contract dispute with her label, LaFace Records . Braxton's new album, "The Heat," is currently on the "Billboard" album chart and has already spawned a hit single with "He Wasn't Man Enough." As for L.L., he's expected to literally roll into production on another film project, a remake of the '70s sci-fi flick "Rollerball," after completing work on "Kingdom Come."

LL Previews "G.O.A.T." At Listening Party
- Posted on June 25, 2000

Just short of a year in the making, L.L. Cool J's eighth album, "The G.O.A.T." (The Greatest Of All Time), set to be released on September 12, boasts a bevy of hip-hop and R&B's hitmakers, as was revealed at a listening party on Tuesday, June 20th in New York. Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Jayo Felony join Uncle L. on the track "Can't Think," which addresses L.L.'s well-publicized troubles with actor-comedian Jamie Foxx on the set of the 1999 film "Any Given Sunday." R&B crooner Kelly Price, who will soon release her second album, "Mirror Mirror," guests on the track "U & Me."

Following in the tradition of L.L.'s last posse cut "4, 3, 2, 1," which featured DMX, Redman, Method Man, Canibus, and Master P on the remix (and prompted the lyrical battle between L.L. and Canibus), "Forget About It" spotlights verses from the returning DMX, Red, and Meth. Mobb Deep's Prodigy guests on a track titled "Queens Sh**" produced by Havoc, the other half of the Queens hip-hop duo. Other producers featured on the project include EPMD's DJ Scratch, Q-Tip, Lofey, Self, Trackmasters, Ty Fyffe, and Vada Nobles. The album's first single, "Imagine That," produced by Da Rockwilder, has already hit radio, while the Hype Williams-helmed clip for the second single "Hello," starring Amil of the Roc-A-Fella camp, is set to debut early July. Meanwhile, L.L. Cool J is currently filming "Kingdom Come" with Whoopi Goldberg, and next month the MC-turned-actor will begin filming a remake of the '70s classic "Rollerball".

Here's what you'll find on "The G.O.A.T." when it arrives on September 12 (with tracks listed in no particular order):

• "Intro"
• "Imagine That"
• "L.L. Cool J"
• "Queens Sh**"
• "Mirror Mirror"
• "Legendary N****"
• "East To West"
• "U & Me"
• "Homicide"
• "Forget About It"
• "Farmers"
• "Can't Think"
• "Back Where I Belong"
• "Live Me Life"
• "Ill Bomb"
• "Hello"

Please note that there will be a clean and edited version of the album available in stores too. TUNE IN ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 5TH AT 10:30pm TO MTV'S MAKING OF THE VIDEO WITH LL COOL J's "IMAGINE THAT" FROM HIS NEW ALBUM "G.O.A.T." WHICH IS IN STORES ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12!

It is now official. The guest appearence list to LL's "The Greatest of All-Time" will now include DMX, Meth & Red, Amil, Kelly Price, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Jayo Felony. Featuring production from Dr. Dre. LL previously worked with Dre on the classic song "Zoom" for the Warren Beatty movie "Bulworth". It is unknown if Dre has produced any other tracks on the album. We'll keep everyone updated here also on the audio clip and any other updates for the album. Remember September 12th is the release date for "The Greatest of All-Time.

LL inks Movie deals
- Posted on June 23, 2000

Last year, L.L. Cool J slapped on the shoulder pads for a role in the pro football flick "Any Given Sunday," and now it appears that the rapper-actor will slip into a pair of rollerblades for an update of the 1975 cult classic "Rollerball."

L.L. has signed a million-dollar deal to co-star with Chris Klein ("Here On Earth") in the new version of "Rollerball" being directed by John McTiernan ("The Thomas Crown Affair," "Die Hard") from a screenplay penned by John Pogue, according to "The Hollywood Reporter."

James Caan starred in the original "Rollerball," a sci-fi action-adventure film directed by Norman Jewison ("The Hurricane") and set in the not-too-distant future where corporations have supplanted countries and governments, and the violent game of Rollerball has become the global sport of choice.

In the planned remake, L.L. Cool J and Klein will portray superstar athletes in the year 2005 who rebel against their team's owner, a Russian businessman who is willing to kill for higher ratings. "Rollerball" marks the second film project that L.L. Cool J has lined up for himself since the completion of Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday." In February, the rapper signed on to star in another flick, "Crazy Town," in which he's set to portray a teacher responsible for educating kids confined to a mental institution. According to "The Hollywood Reporter," Warner Bros. has snatched up rights to a script written by Andy Lieberman and which is described as a mixture of such films as "Dangerous Minds" and "To Sir With Love." In "Crazy Town," L.L. will apparently portray a teacher who is brought in to instruct some high school students who have been institutionalized at a mental hospital. L.L. Cool J's most recent role was that of Miami Sharks running back Julian Washington in Oliver Stone's pro football flick, "Any Given Sunday."

LL drops lyrical freestyle for Dj Clue
- Posted on June 20, 2000

LL Cool J has a drop a lyrical freestyle for the new Dj Clue mixtape "The Great Ones Part II". It is the bomb. Also feature on the album is a preview of LL's first single from G.O.A.T. called "Imagine That". Dj Clue is well-known for releasing and previewing rap and rhythm and blues songs before they hit airwaves or video screens. You can also check out "The Great Ones Part I" which features a LL collaboration with Meth & Red called "Forget 'bout It". "The Great Ones Part I" is currently in production, samples of which can be obtained online. LL is also feature on the Funkmaster Flex CD which with "Ill Bomb." The track is definitely the "Mr. Smith" style with Funkmaster Flex providing the beat and some classic LL samples and scratches throughout the song. LL has been using a variety of styles and flows throughout all the songs he has recorded since "Phenomenon."

"The Greatest of All-Time" has once again been delayed to August 8th so LL Cool J can promote the album after finishing up all of his movie projects. Now there are four songs which have already been released to DJs off the new album, including the first single "Imagine That," "Homicide," "Can't Think" and "Mirror, Mirror."

Is it us, or does it feel like L.L. Cool J spends more time in front of cameras than the cast of "The Real World?"

With roles in two new movies on the horizon, the rapper/actor will find himself on the business end of a film crew once again later this month when he shoots the first video from his upcoming album, "The G.O.A.T. (The Greatest Of All Time)."

On June 17 and 18, L.L. will hook up with noted video director Hype Williams (the man who put the shine in clips from TLC, Puff Daddy, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, No Doubt, Will Smith, Dr. Dre, Missy Elliott, and other big-money clients) to shoot a video for "Imagine That," the first single from "The G.O.A.T." The track also features La Shawn (who also turned up on L.L.'s "Doin' It"), who will meet up with L.L. and Hype in Los Angeles for the shoot.

The track and video will give fans their first taste of "The G.O.A.T.," which was recently pushed back from a June 13 release date to August 8 to accommodate L.L.'s film projects. The rapper will team with Whoopi Goldberg for the dramatic comedy "Kingdom Come" and then star alongside Chris Klein in a remake of the 1975 cult hit "Rollerball."

When the album's release was pushed back, L.L. told MTV News, "I wanted to make sure that I was available. I want to go to the radio stations, I want to go to the 'hood and be at the little record store on the corner and sign autographs and talk to the people myself."

"The G.O.A.T." will feature appearances by Redman, Method Man, and Kelly Price, as well as production from DJ Scratch, Gang Starr's DJ Premier, and Trackmasters.