LL Cool Jbrought down the house during the 2021Rock and Roll Hall of FameInduction ceremony with his famous friends.
On Saturday evening, the 53-year-old rapper and actor celebrated his induction with a powerhouse medley that spanned his illustrious career and also featured surprise appearances fromJennifer LopezandEminem.
Then, LL Cool J performed his track “I’m Bad,” before Lopez, 52, took to the stage to sing her No. 1 single with the artist, “All I Have.” There, Lopez, who recently announced her partnership with Bodyarmor SuperDrink, wore Dolce & Gabbana, which she paired with her own JLoJennifer Lopezshoes and an AZ Factory coat.
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The set came to a close when the inductee gave a powerful performance of his 1991 smash tune, “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
LL Cool J later received The Musical Excellence Award fromDr. Dreduring the ceremony, which took place at Cleveland’s Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse arena.
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LL Cool J’s induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame came about over the weekend after the star had been nominated six previous times in years past.
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Speaking withRolling Stoneafter the news that he would be inducted into the prestigious group of fellow musicians, LL Cool J said the honor was both “humbling” and “inspiring.”
The artist also told the publication that getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was never on his radar when he first began his music career. “I was thinking about getting a pair of Pumas, a gold chain, and writing my rhymes in my composition notebook,” he said. “And just going to the block party and just being the best rapper I could be, the best MC I could be, and just going through that process. I didn’t know about these things.”
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Famefirst announcedthis year’s class of inductees in May, calling the honorees “the most diverse list of Inductees in the history of the organization.”
Alongside LL Cool J, the class of 2021 also includedTina Turner,JAY-Z,Foo Fighters, The Go-Go’s and Todd Rundgren.
The Musical Excellence Award went to LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhodes, while Kraftwerk, Gil Scott Heron and Charley Patton received the Early Influence Award.
Clarence Avant also received theAhmet Ertegun Award, which is given to a “non-performing industry professional” who has had “a major influence on the creative development and growth of rock & roll and music that has impacted youth culture.”
An induction ceremony special is set to air on Nov. 20 and will be available to watch on HBO and HBO Max.
source: people.com
