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LL COOL J Delivered On His Promise to Elevate Classic Hip-Hop

LL COOL J Delivered On His Promise to Elevate Classic Hip-Hop

Published Sat, August 6, 2022 at 11:38 PM EDT

In a historic performance at the Rock The Bells Festival, LL COOL J delivered a dynamic show, bringing a proper close to an event that was jam packed with high-profile performances and appearances from some of Hip-Hop's best.

Rocking a red jacket that was a collaboration between Dolce & Gabbana and Rock The Bells, the legendary rapper/actor delivered a string of hits, including the show opener, 1990's "Mama Said Knock You Out" from his classic album of the same name.

LL, who lit the Empire State Building cyan blue yesterday (Aug. 5) in honor of the festival, said that the return of Rock The Bells was especially important for the continued celebration and preservation of Hip-Hop.

"I feel like Hip-Hop is indisposable, and I feel like, the same reverence and deference in the way Paul McCartney gets celebrated, the way Bob Dylan gets celebrated or Mick Jagger, I feel like these artists, these kings and queens, deserve that same treatment for this art form," he previously said of the importance of the festival, which was held for the first time in his hometown of Queens, NY.

Earlier during the festival, LL also received a key to the city, with Speaker of the NYC Council Adrienne Adams presenting the rap legend with a a proclamation acknowledging his influence and impact on the culture.

Well known for being one of the most dynamic performers in Hip-Hop, with a stage show that's virtually unmatched (he once poured a bottle of water on himself because the crowd at an outdoor concert was getting rained on — "If you're getting wet, I'm getting wet!" he declared), LL commandingly ran through his deep catalog of hits that spans decades. "Luv You Better," "Around The Way," "Jingling," "Going Back To Cali," "I Need A Beat," and "Flava In Ya Ear," were all on the list, much to the delight of the crowd who packed themselves into Forest Hills Stadium to witness the authentic celebration of Hip-Hop music and culture.

Rap legends Brand Nubian, Audio Two, Ultra Magnetic MCs, and Kool G Rap dropped in as a surprise during his performance, showcasing the bridge that Rock The Bells has built with its celebration of Hip-Hop culture. LL also played one new song for the crowd, "Run It Back," before fittingly closing the show with "Rock The Bells," and proving once more that he is indeed, a true Champion of Hip-Hop.

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