Though LL is still under contract with Def Jam for two more efforts -- the first of which he hopes to release this November -- he says he may seek alternative forms of distribution after his obligation to the label ends, though he declined to disclose whether this would mean a jump to another label or an online venture. "I wish Def Jam the best," the rapper-actor says. "I just wanna give them my two albums and then explore my possibilities." (The label did not return EW Online's calls by press time.)
Def Jam -- whose roster features DMX and Foxy Brown -- was recently folded into the Universal Music Group. The move gave the label a financial boost but also prompted criticism from some members of the hip-hop community, who accused Def Jam of becoming more bottom-line-driven than bass-line-driven.
But LL says that with so many artists taking over the reins of their careers (Master P and the Artist, to name two), it may be time to move on while he's still on top of his commercial game. "I?m glad that I?m in [rap] right now, because the majority of stars who are real popular right now are around my age. I can get out there and see what?s available."
Still, LL's relationship with the label is far from acrimonious. "[Def Jam] has helped me build a career to the point where I?m at," he says, "and I helped them a little bit too." Talk about laying down a smooth rap.
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