via MTV
LL Cool J: “People can say what they want,” he said. “But this is a Mayweather moment. I’mma take a page out of Floyd’s book on this one. The album is hot. It’s crazy. … I can’t guarantee the first-week sales, because retail is gonna be looking at my last albums’ sales and thinking about that. They gonna be caught up in that. So I don’t know what I’m gonna do the first week. That’s all based on how many records you put out there in the first place. But let me tell you something: That word of mouth on that album and that second week, you watch. We’re gonna see…”
“Mr. Smith did 80,000 the first week and sold 3 million, Mama Said Knock You Out did maybe 100,000 first week; that sold 3 million. Bigger and Deffer sold triple-platinum. I have a feeling that sold pretty well, but this is my favorite album that I’ve made. It is. It’s hard for people to think that way. They have records that’s embedded in their heads so deeply, you can’t move them. But for those new hip-hop fans, its gonna be crazy.”
LL is obviously positive on his own album (his compensation is directly tied with sales – duh), but what do reviews have to say? It turns out they are not all that positive:
HHDX (1.0/5.0): “Each and every time LL has delivered an album since 14 Shots to the Dome, fans have had to bear witness to a legend with deteriorating skills. It’s about as painful as watching Mike Tyson continue to take fights knowing good and damn well that his time has passed…”
Norwichbulletin: “But a solid third of “Exit 13″ is a reminder that LL was, and is, a lyrically-sharp, creative giant of hip-hop…”
UGOmusic: “So is Exit 13 the grand comeback, or should we say, finale, that LL Cool J fans have been anticipating for over a decade? Sadly, the answer is no.”
Comments
Sadly, I predicted it (along with Brass Knuckles) here
http://www.yourfavoritewhiteboy.com/2008/09/fall-08-brick-season.html
Although it definitely did not take a psychic to know LL would brick.
Not sure who Todd will blame it on after this. Maybe George W, the economy.