LL COOL J on surprising VMAs audience with Public Enemy appearance during performance
LL COOL J, who first gained fame in the 1980s, has been a trailblazer in hip-hop for decades. He is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a Kennedy Center honoree.
His performance on Wednesday at the MTV Video Music Awards was a nod to his storied career, but it was also a chance to introduce new music to his fans.
At the VMAs, the 56-year-old artist brought out fellow rap pioneers Chuck D and Flavor Flav of Public Enemy on the VMA stage, calling them “instrumental” in the early days of Def Jam.
NCIS: Los Angeles for over a decade, LL COOL J took time off from making music but returned with a renewed focus.
“You can’t be a part-time artist,” he said. “I said, you know what, I’m just going to chill … once I was done [with the show], I said, now I can get back in the studio.”
As both a father and grandfather, LL COOL J spoke about balancing family life with his music career.
“When it comes to art, you really have to separate the two. You can’t sacrifice what you’re inspired to create because you have a family … The best way for me to take care of my family is to be true to my art.”
LL COOL J’s “The FORCE” is now available.
More
Source: cbsnews.com