LL COOL J SAYS FORTHCOMING 'FLAVOR' WILL BE 'REFRESHING'

Veteran rapper L.L. Cool J says he is putting the finishing touches on his next album project, expected sometime in early 2006. Tentatively titled My Favorite Flavor, the Queens, New York rap artist says the star-studded set is his "most refreshing" project yet.


Appearing at the BET: 25 Strong anniversary celebration in Los Angeles on Wednesday (October 26th), L.L. said backstage that the new album features guest appearances by Mary J. Blige, Teairra Mari, 112, Ginuwine, Freeway, and Mary Mary, among others.

Said L.L.: "I got a new record coming out, it's called My Favorite Flavor. I got Mary J. Blige, on there, 112, Ginuwine, Teairra Mari, Freeway, and Mary Mary--we did an incredible, exciting, like gospel record so that's incredible. There's amazing, amazing, amazing stuff going on with the music. I feel real good about it, it's the most refreshing album I've done in years, I'm real of proud of it. I can't talk about commercialism, if it's gonna sell, but I love it."

The rapper-turned-actor noted that he has several films slated to hit theaters in the coming months, including the comedy Last Holiday with Queen Latifah, which hits theaters January 13th; Slow Burn with Ray Liotta and Taye Diggs; and Edison, with Morgan Freeman and pop star Justin Timberlake.

More importantly, the artist born James Todd Smith has recently signed a nine-picture deal with Lions Gate Entertainment that will put him in the role of film producer, as he told journalists: "In terms of production, I have a nine-picture deal with Lions Gate Films to produce movies, so I have the ability to greenlight films in Hollywood, as well. I don't have to act in them. I can choose to, but I don't have to."

L.L. performs a blazing medley of his old school and new school hits "Rock The Bells" and "Headsprung" on 25 Strong: The BET Silver Anniversary Special, airing November 1st at 9 p.m. ET/PT on the network.