LL Cool J to Release a New Album

LL Cool J's next album, "Todd Smith," is set for to be released on March 21. His first self-titled album features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway and Juelz Santana.

A video for the single produced by Jermaine Dupri, "Control Myself," featuring Jennifer Lopez, was recently shot in New York and Atlanta by director Hype Williams. The project also includes a spring tour.

"Todd Smith" album, taken from the rapper's given name, James Todd Smith, will be the follow-up to 2004's "The Definition," which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 2004 and has sold 747,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

About the new album, LL Cool J says: "All I can really do is what I do and what comes natural, what I love," he said when asked if, as a veteran artist, he consciously tried to appeal to a younger audience. "If you pay attention to that, then hopefully someone should be able to relate to it. Whatever project I'm involved with, I try to make it positive and fun and as cool. I just make it to my taste, in other words, and go from there."

Having already tackled film and television, LL is also venturing into fashion with the launch of two new signature collections. He premiered his high-end line Todd Smith and the active wear line TS last week during Olympus Fashion Week in New York.