Watch Busta Rhymes, Black Thought, and More Perform LL Cool J Hits at the Kennedy Center Honors
Source: YouTube
Source: YouTube
LL Cool J is hard as hell.
History was made earlier this month, when, for the first time in its 40 year history, The Kennedy Center honored a rapper. That rapper was GOAT candidate LL Cool J, who has had one of the most storied rap careers ever.
CBS finally aired the ceremony on Tuesday night.
READ:The Okayplayer Interview: LL Cool J Talks Dr. Dre, G.O.A.T. Status & Honesty
The Kennedy Center went all out to honor LL. First, they had The Roots frontman Questlove do the intro. During the intro, Questlove called LL's 45-second cameo in Krush Groove "one of the greatest, most important entrances in music history."
And that's when the show really began.
READ:LL Cool J Becomes First Rapper To Receive Kennedy Center Honor
Busta Rhymes and Spliff Star performed "Mama Said Knock You Out;" MC Lyte then came out and did "I’m Bad;” Black Thought rapped “It Gets No Rougher;” and then finally D.M.C. did the iconic "Rock the Bells."
It was a touching performance, full of great moments and even greater audience reaction shots, including this one of Rob Reiner throwing up an L sign:
LL was honored among other legends like Gloria Estefan and Lionel Richie. For Estefan's dedication, Becky G, Estefan’s daughter Emily, and the On Your Feet castperformed some Estefan classics. While Stevie Wonder, Luke Bryan, and Leona Lewis honored Lionel Richie.
Watch all the performances below.
