LL Cool J is returning to his hip-hop roots, working on his first album in 4years.

The rap legend is in the studio is working on an " "authentic " " rap album after taking four years off to concentrate on his acting career, appearing in "NCIS: Los Angeles ".

He spoke to MTV: " "Well, I took four years off to do TV and kinda explore other things artistically. I just felt like it was time to come back to my roots.

" "I don "t forget where I came from, and I love music. So it "s time for me to give those LL Cool J fans a real, proper, true album.
" "It "s authentic hip-hop. It "s definitely for people who grew up and who bought some vinyl or at least bought a CD when they were growing up, and its real hip-hop. " "

The recent hero, who stopped a home intruder while his family was asleep, also said he "s not planning to cram the record with guest stars and is aiming it at older hip-hop fans rather than teenagers.

" "It "s not LL cashing in, trying to do what people are doing now in terms of hip-hop, but it "s very current and real."

" "Sometimes I listen to the radio, and I might like the song, and I "ll recognize the artists, but I don "t know whose song it is. It "s five artists who all perform together on every record, and I don "t know whose record it is."

" "I would say a lot of music right now is catering to 14 and 17-year-olds, and that "s totally OK, but there are people who grew up on hip-hop who are a little more mature and want to hear a different style of hip-hop. " "