By Brennan Williams, BlackVoices.com
For the past two years hip-hop veteran LL Cool J has been very vocal, to say the least, about his displeasure in the way Def Jam Records were handling their business.
Well now the Queens legend has appeared to have a change of heart for the label.
With newly appointed Executive Vice President Shakir Stewart overseeing his 13th and final album with Def Jam, 'Exit 13,' LL feels pretty confident about the project's outcome.
"We have a great relationship," Cool J said recently at the '2008 Essence Music Festival.' "I own my catalog and they administrate my catalog, so we're going to always have that relationship moving forward. I feel really good about Shakir [the new president], and I feel really good about L.A. Reid."
He continued, "I think that the world is hearing and seeing more LL Cool J musically in the last six months than you have seen me in the last two and half years. So I think it's pretty obvious that I'm focused and they're focused."
And focused he is.
Over the past few weeks, not only did the 'I Need Love' MC release his new single 'Baby' and, appear on the remixes to Alicia Keys' 'Teenage Love Affair' and G-Unit's 'Straight Outta Southside,' he also released his very first mixtape with New York City DJ, Kay Slay titled 'Return of the G.O.A.T.'
For the past two years hip-hop veteran LL Cool J has been very vocal, to say the least, about his displeasure in the way Def Jam Records were handling their business.Well now the Queens legend has appeared to have a change of heart for the label.
With newly appointed Executive Vice President Shakir Stewart overseeing his 13th and final album with Def Jam, 'Exit 13,' LL feels pretty confident about the project's outcome.
"We have a great relationship," Cool J said recently at the '2008 Essence Music Festival.' "I own my catalog and they administrate my catalog, so we're going to always have that relationship moving forward. I feel really good about Shakir [the new president], and I feel really good about L.A. Reid."
He continued, "I think that the world is hearing and seeing more LL Cool J musically in the last six months than you have seen me in the last two and half years. So I think it's pretty obvious that I'm focused and they're focused."
And focused he is.
Over the past few weeks, not only did the 'I Need Love' MC release his new single 'Baby' and, appear on the remixes to Alicia Keys' 'Teenage Love Affair' and G-Unit's 'Straight Outta Southside,' he also released his very first mixtape with New York City DJ, Kay Slay titled 'Return of the G.O.A.T.'
With various music festivities and empowerment seminars coming to an end on Sunday afternoon, the '2008 Essence Music Festival' left New Orleans with a bang!
Last night men and women from all over the country were fresh, dressed like a million bucks, as the '2008 Essence Music Festival' kicked off it's second night of music festivities at Louisiana's Superdome. 
"The 5th Annual McDonald's 365 Black Awards" kicked off the "2008 Essence Music Festival" weekend in New Orleans today, recognizing not only African American culture, but the history and achievements by selected individuals who have made an impact over the course of the year. 
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