LL Cool J hit the MTV VMAs stage Wednesday evening with a medley of his basic hits and new tunes to have fun the fortieth anniversary of Def Jam Information.
The rapper — whose efficiency featured an look by Public Enemy’s Taste Flav and Chuck D, who’re two of LL’s authentic Def Jam labelmates — took to the stage towards the top of the three-hour present.
LL kicked off the high-energy efficiency with “Headsprung,” with viewers members carrying the rapper’s signature Kangol hats, all in purple. The cameras then minimize to a number of folks within the viewers holding indicators of goats, with LL rapping his tune “The G.O.A.T.,” when Taste Flav and Chuck D joined him onstage for a efficiency of their very own “Deliver the Noise.”
LL then segued briefly into his hits “Mama Mentioned Knock You Out,” “Rock the Bells,” “Across the Method Woman” and “Goin’ Again to Cali.” He additionally carried out his new songs “Ardour” and “Proclivities” as a part of the medley, earlier than ending with “Doin’ It,” which he carried out on the VMAs in 1996.
Busta Rhymes launched the efficiency, calling LL his “hero” and a “true trailblazer.” “He’s not solely a hip-hop innovator; he’s not solely a godfather, massive homie and a mentor,” Rhymes added, noting that LL additionally was the primary artist to launch an album on Def Jam.
The efficiency got here hours after LL Cool J launched a video for his new single “Murdergram Deux” that includes Eminem, who opened the 2024 VMAs with a efficiency of “Houdini” and “Any individual Save Me.”
LL’s new album, The Drive (brief for Frequencies of Actual Inventive Power), dropped Friday. Along with Eminem, the album, produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Referred to as Quest, additionally options collaborations with the likes of Rhymes, Saweetie, Nas and Snoop Dogg.
Megan Thee Stallion hosted the present, which aired reside from Lengthy Island, New York’s UBS Area. See a full listing of winners.
