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LL Cool J Talks Kennedy Center Honor, New SiriusXM Channel & More On ‘Kimmel’

blame it on Meka April 18, 2018

One the lowest of keys, LL Cool J is having an amazing run right now.

Before 2017 wrapped up, James Todd Smith made history as he became the first rapper to receive a Kennedy Center Honor. He then followed that up by partnering with SiriusXM, transforming their throwback Backspin channel to the recently-launched Rock The Bells Radio.

Speaking to Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night show last night (April 17th), LL spoke on both accomplishments. “For so many years artists had to water their music down, including myself on certain levels, and just hope and pray and cross our fingers that some program director would play our music,” LL said. “This is a radio station that’s about the culture. It’s about the classic hip hop for real.

“You gotta understand where it comes from,” he continued. “And you can understand ‘OK, what is Kendrick Lamar doing? What is Drake doing? Ok, how does that compare to where it came from? What does it mean?'”

Watch the interview below.