He’s baaaaaaaack! For anybody who thought LL Cool J fell of or that he couldn’t put out another gem this review probably isn’t for you because L done did it again. He had a trick up his sleeve. He pulled a rabbit out the hat. Exit 13 is bangin’ and anybody who’s been watching L’s career should be able to realize one thing. No matter how many millions he makes, no matter how many movies he stars in, he always wants to be the best and if he drops a wack album you best believe the follow up in going to be a serious problem, and Exit 13 is just that.

On the opening track, “It’s Time For War” LL sounds like he’s ready for just that as he rips through the beat like a madman, throwing verbal darts at anybody who thought his reign was over. “He’s over/ He ain’t spittin’ the same/ What he says is irrelevant/ Hip-hop culture has changed/ When I walk in the room/ Young boys look at me strange/ As if I am a relic from some long forgotten game/ It makes my blood boil/ Turns my eyes to flames/ I built an Empire/They tried to kick me out in the rain”, are just a few bars off the track and it’s definitely not a game.

On “Old School New School” LL recounts his legendary status with a passion that hasn’t been seen in a while. L spits lines like, “I’m beyond a legend/ I’m iconic/ Fall off/ Rebuild/ Your man’s bionic”. “Feel My Heart Beat” featuring fellow Queens nat ive 50 Cent is a joint for the ladies and the chemistry between the two is evident and they melodically deliver their lyrics over a horn heavy track.

“Get Over Here” featuring It’s Ya Girl Nicolette, Jiz, Lyrikal, and Ticky Diamondz is LL’s obligatory posse cut and while it’s a definite stab at reaching the Southern market it works because it’s just hot. Nicolette is a force to be reckoned with and the rest of the crew deliver admirable verses as well. This song is proof that there are only two types of music, good and bad, and this is good.

“I met this little girl/ She was off the hook/ I got cold chills when her body shook/ Hot sex on a platter/ No need to cook/ I let her steal my heart like a horny crook” are some lines off the single “Baby” featuring The Dream. This joint is vintage LL with lyrics for the ladies and a beat for the club.

“You Better Watch Me” brings us a Cool J that might be even hungrier than the 1985 version of himself as he mercilessly rips through a hardcore track with lines like, “20 mil a year/ 20 years in a row/ First 20 mil came when I was 20 years old/ I average right around 20 percent on my dough/ Fast forward 20 years they comparin’ our flow/ The only difference is I own mine and you still owe”. “Cry” is more vintage Cool J as he tells his lady what he would do for her.

“Rocking With The G.O.A.T.” finds LL spittin’ more of that hardcore over a grimy beat. On “Ringtone M” featuring the legendary Grandmaster Caz. LL spits more witty lines like, “Take ya dick out ya hand/ No homo/ But you probably on the low low/ Damn!”. “Like A Radio” featuring Ryan Leslie has that T-Pain feel to it but again it works and it’s a hot track. LL spits for the ladies while Ryan sings for ‘em and you have a winning combination.

“I Fall In Love” featuring Elan of the DEY is a track for the ladies but it verges on uncharted territory due to the unorthodox beat and Elan’s unique voice. All put together however it ends up meshing together and making for a dope song. “It’s Lams and Maseratis/ Hotties with hard bodies/ Ridin’ on Ducatis/ Toast to after parties” are the perfect bars to set the theme for “Only A Customer” where LL Cool J effortlessly flows over a light beat with some slick lyrics.

“Mr. President” featuring Wyclef Jean is LL’s track to address what’s wrong with the world and he does his thing both musically and with the message. His sped up flow over the beat is impressive and his keen observations are cool as well. He fails to disappoint on this one. “American Girl” is hot because it’s different.

LL has always had anthems for the ladies but on this track he singles out those who salute the Red, White, and Blue. The lyrics fit the beat and it would have taken a veteran MC to make it pop which L did. “Everybody that rides with me becomes a believer/ ‘Cause I come from the hood/ But I think like a Caesar/ Goin’ 0 to 60/ Four deep in the Bentley/ Hell yeah I be speedin’/ That’s why niggas resent me” are just a couple lines off the track “Speedin’ On The Highway/ Exit 13” featuring Funkmaster Flex as L continues his verbal assault.

“Come And Party With Me” is a party track no doubt but with LL spittin’ hard and appearances by Fat Joe and Sheek Louch it’s most definitely on it’s New York shit. On “We Rollin’” LL continues pounding it into our heads and we can’t be mad because he’s doing it in true Cool J fashion. On “Dear Hip Hop” L lets some feelings be known with lines like, “Too much time was wasted, whoa/ So here we go/ I’m tired of the money talk and bitches and hoes”. The track bumps hard and with the old school scratches on the hook it’s damn near flawless.

Like I said, LL is back and it’s amazing that after 25 years in the game an MC could still put together an album this dope. While LL takes it back to the old school in his flow he doesn’t get caught up in it as you hear a new, reinvented Cool J as well. There are 2 or 3 songs that I could see people hating on but only because they don’t fit a mold.

This album’s production is phenomenal and not many people can hang with L lyrically. This is L’s best work since Mr. Smith and I don’t care if it sells one or one million it is damn near a classic. No hip-hop superstar is doing it like LL just did it with Exit 13 and you could take that comment however you want it.