LL Cool J to release 14th album and tour

 Two-time Grammy®-winning recording artist, LL COOL J, will release his 14th studio Album, AUTHENTIC, on April 30, 2013 on 429 Records/The Savoy Label Group.  The multi-platinum artist returned to the studio and kicked the volume up to create a powerful new album that came from his true passion for music and would speak to his fans. AUTHENTIC is currently available for pre-order at Amazon.com, iTunes andTarget.   

AUTHENTIC features a diverse and wide array of legendary and new artists that underscore the Album's roots of being born out of the true love for music, including, Brad Paisley, Bootsy Collins, Chuck D, Charlie Wilson, Eddie Van Halen, Earth, Wind & Fire, Monica, Snoop Dogg, Seal, Travis Barker and many more. Collectively these artists have achieved tremendous success in music, including many Grammy® Awards, multi-platinum albums, American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Billboard Awards, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions and nominations, NAACP Awards, and Country Music Awards, among many other accolades.

"With AUTHENTIC, I wanted to work on a project that showed my genuine love for all music," LL says. "Collaborating with these myriad of artists was an amazing experience and this album got me back to my roots and is for the fans across all generations who love real music too."

Celebrating his 30th year in music, AUTHENTIC features the iconic rapper in his element. The album is anchored by LL's expressive attitude where his sensitive side is as present as his slicing lyrical switchblades.  AUTHENTIC comes to life with rock-hip-hop anthems, crazy club jams, tender tracks, personal tributes, and hard-hitting commentary addressing the current hip-hop climate. 

Fans have gotten an early taste of the musically diverse and genre defying AUTHENTIC with the release of the Album tracks "We Came To Party" feat. Snoop Dogg & Fatman Scoop and "We're The Greatest" featuring Eddie Van Halen and Travis Barker, a thunderous rock/rap anthem which includes symbolic lyrics, frenetic, over the top guitar licks played with reckless abandon and solid drum beats.

On the heels of the release of LL's new album, LL will tour this summer all across the country in support of AUTHENTIC. As a part of performing this summer, LL featuring DJ Z-Trip, will headline "The Kings Of The Mic" Tour, joined by legendary Hip-Hop artists Ice Cube, Public Enemy and De La Soul.  LL will kick-off touring May 23, 2003 in Tucson, AZ and wrap-up in Los Angeles, CA on July 7, 2013. For a full list of LL's dates and cities, and to purchase tickets, visit here.  

First introduced to the world in 1984 as a Def Jam Records flagship artist, LL is the first rap artist to amass ten consecutive platinum-plus selling albums.  The multi-platinum artist and two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee is currently tied for third place for the mostBillboard chart debuts by a rapper. For three decades, LL has continued to influence hip-hop with rap ballads that captivate generations of audiences. Since then, the veteran rapper has evolved his scope of work across entertainment appearing in numerous television and film roles, among many other projects. 

AUTHENTIC was recorded in Los Angeles and is Executive Produced by LL COOL J and will be released as a joint venture by LL COOL J, Inc. and 429 Records. For more information, details and updates, visit ­­­­www.LLCOOLJ.com, Facebook.com/LLCOOLJ, Twitter.com/LLCOOLJ and Twitter.com/TeamLLGoat.

AUTHENTIC TRACKLIST:

1. "Bath Salt"
2. "Not Leaving You Tonight" Feat. Fitz & The Tantrums with Eddie Van Halen
3. "New Love" Feat. Charlie Wilson
4. "We Came To Party" Feat. Snoop Dogg & Fatman Scoop
5. "Give Me Love" Feat. Seal
6. "Something About You" Feat. Charlie Wilson, Earth Wind & Fire and Melody Thornton
7. "Bartender Please" Feat. Snoop Dogg, Bootsy Collins & Travis Barker
8. "Whaddup" Feat. Chuck D, Travis Barker, Tom Morello and Z-Trip
9. "Between The Sheetz" Feat. Mickey Shiloh
10. "Closer" Feat. Monica
11. "Live For You" Feat. Brad Paisley
12. "We're The Greatest" Feat. Eddie Van Halen & Travis Barker

LL COOL J TOUR DATES:

5/23      Tucson, AZ                               Ava Amphitheater

5/24      Las Vegas, NV                          Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - The Joint

5/25      San Francisco, CA                    Shoreline Amphitheatre

5/26      Santa Barbara, CA                     Santa Barbara Bowl

5/30      Minneapolis, MN                       Target Center

5/31      Council Bluffs, IA                      Harrah's Hotel & Casino - Stir Cove

6/1        Saint Louis, MO                        Scottrade Center

6/4       Atlanta, GA                              Fox Theatre

6/6       St Petersburg, FL                     Mahaffey Theater

6/7        St Augustine, FL                       St. Augustine Amphitheatre

6/8        Orlando, FL                               94.5 Block party

6/12      Baltimore, MD                          Lyric Opera House

6/14      Simpsonville, SC                       Charter Amphitheater at Heritage Park

6/15      Portsmouth, VA                        nTELOS Wireless Pavilion

6/16      Durham, NC                              Durham Performing Arts Center

6/18      Newark, NJ                                New Jersey Performing Arts Center

6/19      Boston, MA                              Bank of America Pavilion

6/20      New York, NY                            Roseland Ballroom

6/22      Canandaigua, NY                      Constellation Brands Marvin Sands Performing

Arts Center

6/23      Mount Pleasant, MI                    Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort - Outdoor

6/25      Cleveland, OH                           Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica

6/26      Clarkston, MI                             DTE Energy Music Theatre

6/27      Cincinnati, OH                           Riverbend Music Center

6/28      Milwaukee, WI                           Summerfest

7/1        Grand Prairie, TX                       Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie

7/2        Austin, TX                                 Stubb's Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater

7/3        Houston, TX                              Bayou Music Center

7/5        New Orleans, LA                        Essence Festival

7/7        Los Angeles, CA                       The Greek Theatre