LL COOL J is still a force to be reckoned with

On May 22, 2017, in the dead of night, LL COOL J posted a tweet that has become the stuff of internet legend: “If I hear one more terrible rap record I’m gonna have to do it to these meatballs.” The message, while hilarious in format, painted a picture of an artist who was hungry for an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the hip-hop industry. Again. LL COOL J is familiar with making his presence known—it’s not an exaggeration to say that he is still a commanding figure in hip-hop nearly four decades after his debut, 1985’s Radio. His face, voice, and physique are instantly recognizable for even the most casual of rap fans. That’s partially because of his acting career, which has been capped off by a successful run on the popular TV crime procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. As many accolades as LL has received for his time on the screen—a side quest solidified by a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame—his place as a pioneer of hip-hop culture remains his most prized status. Most Popular Born James Todd Smith in 1968, just five years before hip-hop’s apocryphal birthday, LL COOL J was destined to be...