Editing LL Cool J (section)

===2006–2012: ''Exit 13'' and touring===
LL Cool J's 11th album, ''[[Todd Smith (album)|Todd Smith]]'', was released on April 11, 2006. It includes collaborations with [[112 (band)|112]], [[Ginuwine]], [[Juelz Santana]], [[Teairra Mari]] and [[Freeway (rapper)|Freeway]]. The first single was the [[Jermaine Dupri]]-produced "[[Control Myself]]" featuring [[Jennifer Lopez]]. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. The second video, directed by [[Hype Williams]], was "Freeze" featuring [[Lyfe Jennings]].

[[File:LL Cool J performing in Wilmington, Delaware.jpg|thumb|right|LL Cool J performing in [[Wilmington, Delaware]] in August 2008]]
In July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam Recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. The album is titled ''[[Exit 13]]''. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper [[50 Cent]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Moss |first=Corey |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535528/20060630/50_cent.jhtml?headlines=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720105910/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1535528/20060630/50_cent.jhtml?headlines=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 20, 2006 |title=50 Cent, LL Cool J Teaming Up For LP – News Story Music, Celebrity, Artist News &#124; MTV News |publisher=Mtv |date=July 5, 2006 |access-date=March 24, 2011}}</ref> ''Exit 13'' was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2-year delay, it was released on September 9, 2008, without 50 Cent as the executive producer. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13.
LL Cool J partnered with [[DJ Kay Slay]] to release a [[mixtape]] called "[[The Return of the G.O.A.T.]]". It was the first mixtape of his 24-year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their renditions of his songs. A track titled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "[[Hi Hater]]". He toured with [[Janet Jackson]] on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City.

In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the ''NCIS'' TV series. It is a single and is available on [[iTunes]]. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]] and [[United States Navy|Navy]] [[United States Navy SEALs|SEALs]]," LL Cool J said. "It represents the collective energy in the room. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."<ref>{{Cite news | author=Adam Bryant | title=VIDEO: Check out LL Cool J's New NCIS:LA-Inspired Song | url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/NCIS-Cool-J-1009723.aspx | work=TV Guide | date=September 16, 2010 | access-date=September 16, 2010}}</ref>

At [[SXSW|South by Southwest]] in March 2011, LL Cool J was revealed to be [[Z-Trip]]'s special guest at the [[Red Bull]] Thre3Style showcase. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. The two took part in an interview with [[Carson Daly]] where they discussed their partnership.<ref>{{cite web|last=Daly |first=Carson |title=Last Call |url=http://www.nbc.com/last-call-with-carson-daly/video/ll-cool-j-and-dj-z-trip/1317254 |publisher=NBC |access-date=May 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602230418/http://www.nbc.com/last-call-with-carson-daly/video/ll-cool-j-and-dj-z-trip/1317254/ |archive-date=June 2, 2013 }}</ref> Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic"<ref>{{cite web|last=Freedman|first=Pete|title=SXSW Interview: LL Cool J and Z-Trip Talk About Their Collaboration, Their High Esteem For The Hip-Hop "Blueprint" and Their Thoughts On Rap's Up-And-Coming Talent.|url=http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2011/03/sxsw_interview_ll_cool_j_and_z.php|publisher=Dallas Observer|access-date=May 15, 2012|date=March 20, 2011|archive-date=May 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518123521/http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2011/03/sxsw_interview_ll_cool_j_and_z.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act [[Kasabian]]'s single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJ [[Zane Lowe]] as his "Hottest Record In The World"<ref>{{cite web|last=Lowe|first=Zane|title=Hottest Record – Kasabian – Days Are Forgotten (LL Cool J Remix)|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/zanelowe/2011/08/hottest_record_-_kasabian_-_da.html|work=BBC|access-date=May 15, 2012}}</ref> and received a [[Days Are Forgotten|favorable reception]] in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. In January 2012, the pair released the track "[https://web.archive.org/web/20131005190429/http://ztrip.bandcamp.com/track/super-baller Super Baller]" as a free download to celebrate the [[New York Giants]] [[Super Bowl]] victory. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond.