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The return of LL Cool J, the rapper
Walking in the St. Albans neighborhood of Queens, New York, LL Cool J said, “I love this hood, man. Love this neighborhood. Love everything about it. Love the energy. I made a name for myself rappin’ around here.”
LL Cool J is still a neighborhood hero here. Forty years after his first record, he is a walking embodiment of hip-hop history, which doesn’t mean he’s retired. Last week, at the MTV Video Music Awards, he celebrated his extraordinary track record.
LL Cool J performs at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards:
Asked what he thinks has kept people interested in his work for so many years, he replied, “I just continuously do what I love. And I know an apple tree keeps giving fruit, an orange tree keeps giving fruit, until it’s gone. So, I just keep giving.”
His career began in his childhood bedroom, in the basement of his grandmother’s house in Queens. “You’re in the museum,” he said. “You in Graceland, baby.”
He still has boxes filled with old demo tapes, and handwritten rhymes. For him, this was his artist’s studio. “I wrote ‘Rock The Bells’ down here. I wrote ‘I Need Love’ down here. I wrote ‘I’m Bad,’ like, in the car and down here.”
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He said this basement was the place where dreams come true. As a boy, James Todd Smith also saw this basement as a refuge.
Sanneh asked, “I think a lot of people who experience what you experienced – you’ve seen your father shoot your mother, you get abuse from your mother’s ex-boyfriend, you go through these really difficult things – don’t come out of it the way you came out of it.”
“Yeah. You know, life is funny,” said LL. “You can use things as an excuse for failure, or a reason to succeed. When my mother was shot, they told us they didn’t think she’d walk again. She walked again.
“Using the things that happen in your life to propel you towards your dreams is probably the healthiest way to deal with anything that happens,” he said.
He was largely raised by his grandparents. They bought him turntables to keep him in the house (and out of trouble). It was a more important gift than they could have imagined. “It really was just wanting to escape pain,” he said. “It was an escape, you know what I’m saying? And so, the music became, like, a way to feel empowered.”
LL Cool J (short for “Ladies Love Cool James”) started writing rhymes and recorded a demo tape, and in 1984, the right person found it. Adam Horovitz, known as Ad Rock from the Beastie Boys, was friends with producer Rick Rubin, who had just started his record label, Def Jam. “I would just kind of go through demo tapes,” Horovitz said. “Something about [LL] just sounded really cool. I don’t know, he sounded interesting.”
Horovitz convinced Rubin to listen to him; and he remembers when LL came by to meet them: “So, a teenager walks in and he’s like, ‘I’m LL Cool J. And the LL stands for Ladies Love Cool James.’ And you’re just, you know, a high school kid? The ladies love you? Okay, all right. If you say so! He was real confident, and he should have been. He was really good at what he did.
“He is a force, but I never would have predicted that LL Cool J would be what he is now, never,” Horovitz said. “LL’s personality, his inner light, like, shines. It really does.”
Horovitz helped produce LL Cool J’s first single, “I Need a Beat.”
That track got LL a record deal, although you might say it got the record company an LL deal; he was the first artist ever signed to Def Jam Recordings.
Getting the deal, LL said, “felt like Christmas, honeymoon, hitting the lottery, jumping out of an airplane, a roller coaster, all at once. it was the best feeling in the world. Best feeling in the WORLD, getting that deal!”
LL Cool J became one of the first major hip-hop stars. Hits like “Going Back to Cali” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” blazed a trail for other rappers to follow.
And in 1987, he pioneered a new tradition: the hip-hop love song, with “I Need Love.”
His music career turned into a career in film, and then on television: For 14 seasons, he played special agent Sam Hanna on “NCIS: Los Angeles,” which mainly kept him away from the recording studio. “I thought the show would last two years and it’d be done,” he said. “I had no idea that ‘NCIS’ would be so huge. And I’m very grateful. I had a great time doing it. But you can’t be a part-time MC. You can’t really be a part-time musician. There’s no such thing.”
Now 56, LL Cool J is returning to the thing he loves most: rapping. He recently released his first album in more than a decade, “The Force,” which includes appearances from Eminem and other rappers who grew up listening to him.
You can stream the LL Cool J album “The Force” by clicking on the embed below (Free Spotify registration required to hear the tracks in full):
He says there’s still something magical about making a hip-hop record: “My job is to go into a room and paint on silence, and then say, ‘Listen to this.’ Like, it’s easy to sit around and judge it or say, ‘That album was better than that album.’ But can you go in a room, paint on silence, present it to the world, and have them enjoy it? Can you do that?”
LL Cool J says he’s still having fun making music, which doesn’t mean he doesn’t want people to pay attention. “I love the idea that you’re talking to a hip hop artist in Year 40, and his record is relevant and impacting the culture,” he said.
“They were talking about it on the radio this morning,” said Sanneh.
“I love it,” he laughed. “I love it. I love it. Because you know why? Not only for me, I love it for future generations. I love that they get to see, ‘Oh, I can keep doing what I love?’ Yeah!”
For more info:
Story produced by Robbyn McFadden. Editor: Lauren Barnello.
See also:
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How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Minnesota Vikings will take on the Chicago Bears today. The Vikings are currently 8-2, an impressive run so far this season, and will be looking to add a fourth win to their current streak after last Sunday’s 23-13 win against the Tennessee Titans. The Bears, on the other hand, are entering this game on the heels of a four-game losing streak after a tough 20-19 loss against the Green Bay Packers last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Vikings vs. Bears game today, whether or not you have cable.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
The Vikings vs. Bears game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Fubo offers you an easy, user-friendly way to watch NFL games on CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network, plus NCAA football channels. The Pro tier includes 200+ channels and unlimited DVR, while the Elite with Sports Plus tier adds NFL RedZone and 4K resolution. New subscribers get a seven-day free trial and all plans allow streaming on up to 10 screens simultaneously.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The Detroit Lions will face off against the Indianapolis Colts today. The Lions enter this game as top contenders with a near-perfect record of 9-1 so far this season. The Colts, who are 5-6 this season, could have a tough game on their hands against the Lions but will be looking to rack up another win after prevailing over the New York Jets in a tight game last Sunday.
Here’s how and when you can watch the Colts vs. Lions game today, whether or not you have cable.
Here’s how and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts
The Lions vs. Colts game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (11:00 a.m. PT). The game will air on Fox and stream on Fubo and the platforms featured below.
How and when to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts game without cable
You can watch this week’s NFL game on Fox via several streaming services. All you need is an internet connection and one of the top options outlined below.
Experience NFL action like never before with Fubo’s comprehensive sports streaming platform. From Sunday showdowns to primetime matchups, catch every NFL game across major networks including CBS, Fox, NBC, ABC, ESPN and NFL Network. Choose the Pro package to unlock 200+ channels and limitless DVR storage, or elevate your game-day experience with the Elite with Sports Plus package, featuring NFL RedZone’s commercial-free scoring highlights and stunning 4K quality.
Test drive the service with a no-commitment seven-day free trial, and share the excitement with family and friends — Fubo supports simultaneous streaming on up to 10 devices, so everyone can watch their favorite teams.
You can watch today’s game with a subscription to Sling’s Orange + Blue tier, which includes ESPN, ABC, NBC, and Fox. The plan offers 46 channels with local NFL games, nationally broadcast games, and 50 hours of DVR storage. For complete NFL coverage, add Paramount+ to get CBS games, or upgrade with the Sports Extra add-on for additional sports channels like Golf Channel, NBA TV and NFL RedZone.
Watching NFL games, including Fox broadcasts, is simple with Hulu + Live TV, which includes 90 channels, unlimited DVR storage, and access to NFL preseason games, live regular season games and studio shows. The service includes ESPN+ and Disney+ in the subscription.
Want to watch today’s game live on your smartphone? If so, NFL+ streaming service is the solution you’re looking for. It lets you watch NFL Network and out-of-market games on mobile devices, with an upgrade option to NFL+ Premium that includes NFL RedZone for watching up to eight games simultaneously. Note that NFL+ only works on phones and tablets, not TVs.
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How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
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The New England Patriots will face off against the Miami Dolphins in a game today at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The Patriots have had an uneven season so far, coming into the game with a record of 3-8, including a 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on November 17. The Dolphins, however, haven’t fared much better this season as they enter the game with a record of 4-6, although they are coming off two wins in a row, the latest against the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend.
Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today, even without cable.
CBS, Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are all subsidiaries of Paramount Global.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game today
The New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game will be played on Sunday, November 24, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. ET (10:00 a.m. PT). The football game will be shown on CBS and streamed on Paramount+ and the platforms noted below.
How and when to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins game without cable
While CBS is available with many basic cable packages, you’ll have other viewing options, too for the Patriots-Dolphins game. Just understand that the below streaming options will require the use of an internet provider:
Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL games without cable
With Paramount+ you’ll have multiple viewing options to choose from. You can catch NFL games on the Paramount+ Essential tier for just $7.99 each month or you can watch college football with a Paramount+ with Showtime subscription for $12.99 monthly. In addition to live streams of NFL games airing on CBS, you’ll get to watch additional live sporting events including NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, soccer and more.
Get started with Paramount+ here today.
Amazon Prime Video: Add Paramount+ to your existing subscription
Already have an Amazon Prime Video account? Simply add Paramount+ to your current subscription to watch all the CBS-aired NFL games in addition to Paramount+ originals. The same prices from above apply, depending on which tier you choose. Not sure which is best for you? Don’t worry. Both options come with a free seven-day trial that can help you decide.
Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game on Amazon Prime Video.
Fubo: Watch the Patriots-Dolphins game for free
Looking for an inexpensive way to watch football? Fubo could be the best way to do so. The live TV streamer is currently offering a seven-day free trial and $30 off of your first month’s subscription. Once subscribed, you’ll gain access to all of their live sporting events immediately. And there will be a lot to choose from. Not only does Fubo come with access to NFL games airing on your local CBS channel, it also includes Fox Sunday NFC games, “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN and all of the games that air on the NFL Network. So don’t wait.
Get started with Fubo online now.
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears NFL game today: Livestream options, more
How to watch the Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts NFL game today: Livestream options, more