LL Cool J first burst onto the charts at the age of 16 with the still classic beatbox-dominated I Can't Live Without My Radio. Since then, he's had a series of hits, misses and comebacks, most notably with his hard-hitting 1990 single Mama Said Knock You Out.

Now, at 40, he's practically a senior citizen in the rap world, a genre that prizes youth, new trends and newer beats above all else.

So with a flagging acting career and his longstanding deal with record label Def Jam about to end, LL, aka James Todd Smith, has come out guns blazing on his 12th album.

On opening track It's Time for War, he even addresses his veteran status by defiantly stating: 'When I walk into a room, boys look at me strange, as if I'm a relic from some forgotten age'. When he decides to dispense with the fighting words, LL is still musically adept at his best. On Old School New School, the rapper weaves around a feel-good horn motif.

Elsewhere he passionately addresses US President George W. Bush about his foreign policy before segueing into a humorous ode to the many virtues of American women, accompanied by flutes and a marching band.

But at 19 tracks, LL is also trying to keep up with current trends by loading up on guest stars such as 50 Cent and Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.

The latter features on a passable rock update, while the rest end up being bass-heavy jeep blasters that will sound just fine in a club but mind-numbing elsewhere. If this is the current state of hip hop, one has to wonder why LL still wants to be called the greatest of all time.