Exit 13

The title to LL Cool J’s Exit 13 symbolized his exit from his longtime home Def Jam Records as it would be his last for the label. It received mixed reviews but managed to peak at #9 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top Rap Albums chart. “Cry” with Lil' Mo and “Rockin' with the G.O.A.T.” were released as promo singles prior to the album’s release, while “Baby” with The-Dream and “Feel My Heart Beat” with 50 Cent were released as the album’s official singles.

LL spoke to AllHipHop in 2008 about how the album came together:

I did a whole album with 50, I did an album by myself, then I went and did another album by myself. I decided to use like two or three songs from the album I did with 50, one from the second album I did by myself, and the rest is all new material. 50 definitely inspired and motivated me. Watching him work made me hungry again but, it was also important for me to come out with an LL Cool J album that doesn’t sound like I’m trying to be 50 Cent. I’m not doing that.