Like Jay Z, LL Cool J made history in 2017. While Jay became the first hip hop artist to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame, LL became the first hip hop artist to become a Kennedy Center honoree.
The rapper, née James Todd Smith, received the Honor alongside fellow legends Gloria Estefan, Lionel Richie, Norman Lear and Carmen de Lavallade. At 49, LL is also the Kennedy Center’s youngest honoree since Stevie Wonder, who was honored at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors back in 1999.
During his presentation LL was honored with an introduction from Queen Latifah and The Roots‘ Questlove, while he was tributed with an energetic performance from Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte, Black Thought and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels of Run-DMC.
Watch everything below.
