While promoting his new album, Force, LL Cool J recalled his previous album flop in an interview with The Independent.
On Saturday (September 7), the award-winning entertainer opened up about the commercial disappointment of his 2013 album Authentic, more than a decade after its release. In a candid interview, he reflected on the challenges he faced while juggling his music career with his role as Sam Hanna on NCIS: Los Angeles.
Authentic marked his first independently distributed album after spending his entire career with Def Jam Records. Before that, he had released Exit 13 in 2008. When Authentic dropped, LL Cool J expressed that it was a personal project.
“I wanted to work on something that showed my genuine love for music and was truly made for the fans,” he said in a 2013 interview with Billboard. “I’m not trying to compete with 17-year-olds on the radio, but I’m talking to the people who grew up with me and those who appreciate real music. We may not be teenagers anymore, but we still like to have fun.”
At the time, LL was a key figure on the long-running series, appearing in 323 episodes between 2009 and 2023. “You can’t be a part-time artist,” the four-time Emmy nominee told the outlet. “I was on set, making creative decisions for the album by phone. It didn’t work.”
LL Cool J admitted that when he first signed on to NCIS: Los Angeles, he didn’t expect the show to last as long as it did. “I thought it’d be over in a couple of years, and I’d be back to doing my thing,” he explained. “But it took off.”
On September 6, LL Cool J released his latest album The Force, once again with Def Jam, coinciding with the label’s 40th anniversary. In an interview with E! News, he reflected on his long history with Def Jam, where he first signed in 1984.
“I called the [Def Jam] phone number every day for a week and a half. That demo led to the creation of Def Jam,” he said. “Now, 40 years later, here I am, putting out this record with them again.”
LL Cool J’s first single, “I Need a Beat,” sold over 100,000 copies, establishing him as a cornerstone of the iconic label. His stage name, “Ladies Love Cool James,” was adopted when he was just 16. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Jay-Z, cementing his legacy as one of hip-hop’s pioneers.
Looking forward, LL Cool J remains focused on innovation, particularly in the ever-evolving hip-hop landscape.
“I want to show that you can be creative in your 40th year in hip-hop, just like a film director can be creative 40 years into their career,” he said. “There’s no reason an artist in hip-hop can’t continue to innovate, as long as they stay curious, keep caring, and come up with new ideas.