Eminem has often cited LL as a major influence on his career. “When I saw the ‘Bad’ video, I was like, ‘the f*ck?!’ He had the whole package — the look, the swag, the chain, everything! You know, you just wanted to be LL Cool J,” the Detroit icon said a 2021 episode of Behind The Music. “He was like the first rock star of rap. I’m like, ‘Yo, I wanted that.’ That is what actually made me want to rap.”
Further showcasing their longtime friendship, during LL's 30th anniversary celebration of 1990's landmark album, Mama Said Knock You Out, Em stopped by LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio to show love. "One of the reasons to me this album is so significant is because it was LL COOL J's fourth album and to me, it was his fourth classic in a row," he said.
As for the F.O.R.C.E. tour, so far it's been one for the ages, as Questlove pointed out earlier this week. "The exciting thing about this tour is EVERY NIGHT is a new show," he wrote on Instagram. "Every night I learn something new.
The F.O.R.C.E. tour will stop in Detroit tonight (Aug. 18) at Little Caesar's Arena. The tour will roll through arenas across the United States and Canada, before wrapping on November 19th in Boston, MA, at TD Garden. Tickets are available now at rockthebells.com/forcelive.