VIDEO: Joe Budden - Touch And Go

This is Joe Budden going late-era LL Cool J on us with a club track for the ladies. It's unfortunately even more misguided than some of LL's moves. Joe can do a lot better than this generic 2001 crap.

'Touch And Go' was initially supposed to be the lead-single for Joe's sophomore LP, Padded Room, but because of some developments Joe has recorded a new lead-single which is so dope, the label and Joe decided to push Padded Room back to 2-24-09, to give the new single a push at radio and video. Now, 'Touch And Go' resurfaces as the lead-single to Joe's "pre-quel" to Padded Room, Halfway House which will be released on 10-28-08.

LISTEN: LL Cool J - New York, New York

DOWNLOAD LL Cool J - New York, New York (MP3)

LL Cool J was one of my favorite rappers back in the day, before he made a sharp turn for the wack. Recently he finally released one or two tracks that again had some life to them, ones that weren't terribly misguided pop efforts. (Check out the dope 'Rockin' With The G.O.A.T.' here.) But this bonus track off of Exit 13 shows he hasn't lost his ability yet to release badly conceived and poorly executed tracks. Lets summarize, a tired Frank Sinatra sample (you can guess which one), lame claims of 'taking New York back', that overly fake and annoying laugh opening the track, a Nas bite, a played out flow, and synthy strings that make it sound like an even lamer A+ 'Enjoy Yourself' knock off (and that's hard to do). Try harder Uncle L. You're better than this.

VIDEO: LL Cool J - Rockin’ With The G.O.A.T.

Finally LL Cool J does something dope again.

NEWS: Jay-Z Resigns As President Of Def Jam

Jay-Z is about to leave the building. The Def Jam building that is. Not unexpected and probably a very smart move. Watch out for an announcement in the next month on what he will be doing, elsewhere. Now who will certain rappers complain about when they're mediocre albums flop?



"Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter said Monday that he will leave his post as president of Universal Music Group’s Def Jam Records label after his contract expires this year. The rapper, who was named Def Jam president three years ago, said in a statement that it is “time for me to take on new challenges." He will continue to release his own music through his record label, Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam after his contract expires Dec. 31." (MSNBC)

VIDEO: LL Cool J Interview w/ Jim Jones

Is it just me or is Tim Westwood's vibe, for all of his great work throughout the years, just kind of annoying in that fronting kind of way? Anyway, he interviews LL Cool J and in an interesting moment they cut to the also present Jim Jones who according to LL appears on a posse cut with Method Man, KRS One, Lil'Kim and LL himself. He also states Jim "...put a hard verse together on there. it's crazy, he went in too deep. No pen or nothing, he just looked up in the air and just came out with some heat." Jim is doing Jay-Z's rainman redux now?

VIDEO: will.i.am, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J & Eve Perform Shaft's Theme

This is quite the trainwreck conceptually, but worth the watch just to see LL Cool J kill that good ol' 'Mama Said Knock You Out' verse and to see Eve just be absolutely gorgeous. Together with will.i.am and Busta Rhymes they perform an odd version of 'Theme from Shaft'.

VIDEO: LL Cool J Talks About Crappy Albums & More

LL Cool J talks about labels, Exit 13, putting out crappy records, and more. He seems a little wound up.

NEWS: J.A.M. Awards Tribute To Jam Master Jay

It killed me to not be able to attend this due to birthday obligations (my own) last night. Mobb Deep, M.O.P., Jim Jones, Papoose, De La Soul, Dead Prez, Everlast, Raekwon, Snoop Dogg and others performed at the J.A.M. Awards, a tribute to the late Jam Master Jay’s vision of Justice, Arts & Music. This sounds it would've hit the old school sweet spot: "EPMD took the stage to perform classics including “You Gots to Chill,” “So Wat Cha Sayin” and “Headbanger.” LL Cool J joined them for a verse, putting his fist in the air for JMJ." (More over at RS)


Related: Inspired by the recent murder of Sean Taylor and other violent crimes recent, P. Rosenberg wrote an interesting, long and worthwhile post about violence, hip hop culture and responsibility here called 'We Must Change This Ourselves'.

NEWS: LL Cool J Almost Ready To Admit It Wasn't Jay-Z's Fault

LL Cool J is almost ready to admit that his comments about Def Jam not pushing his last album, and it being Jay-Z's fault that it tanked, probably weren't true.


In an interview with MTV: "It's an incredible feeling" said Cool J, who proclaims this is the best album he's done in almost a decade. "And you know what? I have to give 50 props for that. If a guy calls you on the phone and says, 'You know what? Your last record was kinda slow and this was a little weak.' It was like, 'Yo, I just thought the record was slow, man, don't mess my LL up.' [...] I'm humble. I'm confident, but I'm humble. "I don't mind having a conversation with a guy who seems to have his finger on the pulse and having a conversation with him and talking with him and seeing if he can push me a little bit and get my mojo back," he added. "I didn't feel I fell off, but I felt I was a little bit out of touch with the things I should be thinking about. I needed to get a little more focused and close to my people and closer to the street." Read the full interview here.

VIDEO: LL Cool J On Jay-Z

LL Cool J's latest Jay-Z comments. Most interesting quote: "I don't know any other record company that he worked for where he learned how to run this business." Now, Roc-A-Fella might not have been as massive of an entity like Def Jam, but I'd say Jay-Z has a pretty decent record as a business maaannnnn.

However, my favorite quote: "I can get a cheeseburger if I need it." LOL Alright then, well I'm glad for that. Bottom line is the last LL record sucks and no one cared for it.

VIDEO: Rappers Speak On LL Vs. Jay-Z

Nelly, Cassidy, Lupe Fiasco, Ice T, and a bunch of others speak on the LL Cool J Vs. Jay-Z situation. KRS-One again emphasized that he thinks Jay-Z is the greatest lyricist of all time.

LISTEN: LL Cool J - New York Gangstas

DOWNLOAD LL Cool J - New York Gangstas (MP3)


LL Cool J leaks 'New York Gangstas' fresh off of his jabs in the direction of Jay-Z, which was a response to Jay's subliminal disses on the remix to 50 Cent's 'I Get Money Remix'. 50 Cent is of course now the executive producer to LL's upcoming album but it's unclear if he had anything to do with this particularly 80's pop sounding track. The track doesn't address the Jay-Z beef. (Track via HHG.)

VIDEO: LL Cool J vs Jay-Z

Please, please, please, please, please LL Cool J make your little diss record targeting Jay-Z that you are hinting at in this interview below. I beg you. Do it. Is it possible to end a career that's already over?


Eskay is right to point out that blaming someone else for your record not selling is lame whether you're small time, or a legend. I will second that and say especially when you're a legend.