Rock The Bells has returned! The long-running hip-hop festival, which originally focused on legacy and underground rap acts, was basically defunct for the past ten years. However, that was until the rapper whose song the festival is named after revived the festival last year. The man born Todd Smith revealed the full lineup for the 2023 festival today with a trailer reproducing scenes from headliner Queen Latifah’s 1996 film debut Set It Off (this is a trend), showing the only thing that changed is the coast (the original Rock The Bells took place in California, and so featured more West Coast artists).
The lineup for this year’s festival (“don’t call it a comeback”) includes Big Daddy Kane, Boot Camp Clik, De La Soul, Fabolous, Ludacris, MC Lyte, MC Sha Rock, Method Man & Redman, Monie Love, Rakim, Roxanne Shanté, Salt-n-Pepa, Slick Rick, Swizz Beatz and friends, The Cold Crush Brothers, and Yo-Yo. In addition, the festival will feature a tribute to the late Sean Price by the members of Boot Camp Clik, including his widow Bernadette Price, as well as a set honoring the pioneering women of hip-hop who are often ignored.
The 2023 Rock The Bells Festival will take place on Saturday, August 5, 2023, at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, New York. You can get more information here.
Liv Nation Urban has announced a once-in-a-lifetime touring experience and celebration of hip-hop culture. Rock The Bells and Live Nation Urban The Kennedy Center Honoree, two-time Grammy Award winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame® Inductee, and Hip-Hop Icon LL COOL J as the headlining act at The F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy) Live.
For the first time in 30 years, LL COOL J will headline an arena tour with this historic tour. The lineup for this tour was chosen by LL COOL J himself, living true to the phrase F.O.R.C.E. (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy).
All events will feature collaborative live performances with renowned Grammy Award-winning Hip-Hop band The Roots, the famous DJ Jazzy Jeff, and DJ Z-Trip, building on their incredible performance together on the GRAMMY® Awards earlier this year celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. The evening will be a continual musical mix up with artist performances intertwined into one continuous musical set, contrary to the typical “opening act – headliner” style, supported by The Roots. Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Rakim, Common, MC Lyte, Method Man & Redman, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ice T, Juvenile, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick, De La Soul, Goodie Mob, Jadakiss, Rick Ross, and more are among the legendary performers on the lineup in some cities.
“I’m excited to be on my first Arena tour in 30 years. It’s proof that our culture is more viable than ever,” LL COOl J says of the tour. “Get ready for some non stop beats and rhymes. See you this summer!”
The F.O.R.C.E. Live begins its journey on June 25 at Boston, Massachusetts’ TD Garden, stops in Brooklyn, New York’s Barclays Center on June 27, travels to arenas throughout the United States and Canada, and concludes on September 3 in Los Angeles, California’s Kia Forum.
Verizon will offer customers an exclusive presale for the tour in the U.S. through Verizon Up. Customers will have access to purchase presale tickets for select shows beginning Tuesday, April 25th at 12PM local time through Thursday, April 27th at 10PM local time. For more details visit Verizon Up.
Citi is the official card of the tour. Citi cardmembers will also have access to presale tickets for select shows beginning Tuesday, April 25th at 12PM local time through Thursday, April 27th at 10PM local time through the Citi Entertainment program. For complete presale details visit www.citientertainment.com.
On Thursday, April 27th between 10AM-10PM local time, fans may purchase tickets through either the Live Nation presale, Ticketmaster presale, or local venue and radio presales. General on-sale kicks off Friday, April 28th at 10AM local time.
TOUR DATES
6/25 Boston, MA TD Garden
6/27 Brooklyn, NY Barclays Center
6/28 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
6/29 Toronto, ON Scotiabank Arena
7/1 Baltimore, MD CFG Bank Arena
7/2 Washington, DC Capital One Arena
7/4 Atlanta, GA State Farm Arena
7/6 Hollywood, FL Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
LL Cool J’s “Rock The Bells” festival is set to return this year with a boost from a $15 million investment led by Paramount Global. The news comes on the heels of the rap legend’s hosting gig at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards. Paramount Global has announced a $15 million investment in LL Cool […]
LL COOL J Says the Rock the Bells Festival is on the way back. Evoking the energy of “Mama Said Knock You Out,” the Queens rapper added, “You can’t call it a comeback.”
Hitting Instagram, LL announced the return of the festival for August 5. The lineup hasn’t been announced yet, but the original GOAT is suggesting fans go ahead and grab those tickets while they can.
Recently, LL Cool J showed why he is one of the GOATs, taking the stage dressed in all black, spotlight on him, and going crazy.
LL dropped over two minutes of bars during his appearance at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The event went down on Monday, and the legendary rapper delivered a show-stopping performance for Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday, highlighting where his journey as a rapper.
“Break beats played, he had a speaker for a crib she screamed ‘Jack the Rip!’ and ignited his gifts To the parents he’s a legend, to the children a myth Here’s ya firsthand experience with Mr. Smith alias Mr. ‘Killing-Every-Rapper-In-His-Radius’ cyphers like a stadium, bars is vibranium.”
If this is a preview of LL Cool J’s new album, we are excited. Coming off his 55th birthday, LL announced a new album. It would be his first album since 2013’s Authentic.
“I’m competing with myself on this new album. Wait til you hear this MF,” LL tweeted. “This year B. It’s coming.”
I’m competing with myself on this new album. Wait til you hear this MF. This year B. It’s coming.
2023 is proving to be a massive year for LL Cool J. In addition to a new album, his inaugural Hip-Hop cruise is ready to take off.
The “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” has been announced in collaboration with Sixthman, the industry leader in immersive music and lifestyle festivals at sea. The cruise is the first of its type, sailing from Miami to the Bahamas on Nov. 13 – Nov. 17, 2023, and offers an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop adventure aboard the Norwegian Pearl.
The company is taking its annual Rock The Bells Festival to sea, a dynamic, day-long event created by Rock The Bells founder LL COOL J in his birthplace of Queens, NY, featuring live performances by renowned musicians. The cruise is one of several announcements planned by the corporation to commemorate and celebrate Hip-50th Hop’s anniversary and to recognize its icons.
LL Cool J shows why he is one of the GOATs, taking the stage dressed in all black, spotlight on him, and going crazy.
LL dropped over two minutes of bars during his appearance at the 2023 iHeartRadio Music Awards. The event went down on Monday, and the legendary rapper delivered a show-stopping performance for Hip-Hop’s 50th birthday, highlighting where his journey as a rapper.
“Break beats played, he had a speaker for a crib she screamed ‘Jack the Rip!’ and ignited his gifts To the parents he’s a legend, to the children a myth Here’s ya firsthand experience with Mr. Smith alias Mr. ‘Killing-Every-Rapper-In-His-Radius’ cyphers like a stadium, bars is vibranium.”
If this is a preview of LL Cool J’s new album, we are excited. Coming off his 55th birthday, LL announced a new album. It would be his first album since 2013’s Authentic.
“I’m competing with myself on this new album. Wait til you hear this MF,” LL tweeted. “This year B. It’s coming.”
I’m competing with myself on this new album. Wait til you hear this MF. This year B. It’s coming.
2023 is proving to be a massive year for LL Cool J. In addition to a new album, his inaugural Hip-Hop cruise is ready to take off.
The “Rock The Bells Cruise: A Hip-Hop Experience” has been announced in collaboration with Sixthman, the industry leader in immersive music and lifestyle festivals at sea. The cruise is the first of its type, sailing from Miami to the Bahamas on Nov. 13 – Nov. 17, 2023, and offers an all-inclusive four-day, four-night Hip-Hop adventure aboard the Norwegian Pearl.
The company is taking its annual Rock The Bells Festival to sea, a dynamic, day-long event created by Rock The Bells founder LL COOL J in his birthplace of Queens, NY, featuring live performances by renowned musicians. The cruise is one of several announcements planned by the corporation to commemorate and celebrate Hip-50th Hop’s anniversary and to recognize its icons.
Amazon Music is paying tribute to Queen Latifah with a short film called Generational Queens. The film will honor Latifah for her 1993 women’s empowerment anthem, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which turns 30 this year. Amazon Music honors rapper/actress Queen Latifah with a short film titled Generational Queens. The film will highlight Latifah’s 1993 hit, “U.N.I.T.Y.,” which turns […]
Although he is one of the greatest emcees Hip Hop has ever seen, LL COOL J is quite the actor as well. Whether it is on TV, in theater, or hosting a game show, the New York rapper excels when he gets behind the camera. For decades, LL has been showing his talents off and should be recognized. Out of all his performances, there are a few that stand out.
Here’s the best acting performances from LL COOL J.
Deliver Us from Eva
In 2003, LL Cool J starred in the movie, Deliver Us from Eva. The movie had notable stars such as Gabrielle Union, Duane Martin, and Meagan Good. LL Cool J plays a ladies’ man who is sought out to develop a relationship with a bossy woman (Union) so she can give her sisters more time with their husbands. Union plays a Health Inspector that doesn’t have anything on her mind, but to keep tabs on her little sisters. Ultimately, the two fall in love.
On the popular movie rating platform, Rotten Tomatoes, Deliver Us from Eva received a rating of 44%. Many critics believed the romantic comedy was too predictable. LL Cool J does well in his role as he makes you believe he really fell for Union.
Last year, the wife of ex-NBA superstar Dwayne Wade, posted a photo of the two from a photo shoot for the movie. Fans were even in the comments stating Deliver Us from Eva was their favorite movie. Some claim they still watch it to this day.
Any Given Sunday
If you watched Any Given Sunday, then you might’ve thought LL Cool J had a future in the NFL. Surely, he looked the part alongside actual NFL players like Jim Brown, Lawrence Taylor, and Terell Owens, who were actually in the movie.
In this film, the Queens native was also around some big names in Hollywood. Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, Bill Bellamy, and Jamie Foxx starred in this movie as well. The Queens rapper played star running back, Julian Washington, who didn’t see eye to eye with new, flashy star quarterback, Willie Beamen played by Jamie Foxx. The infamous fight scene in the movie between Foxx and LL COOL J was actually real, believe it or not.
Although, in the movie, LL COOL J’s character had a problem with his quarterback after he was taking all the credit for their winning streak, the two stars had issues behind the cameras as well. Last year, Bill Bellamy, who also starred in this film, clarified on what actually happened between the two stars on an episode of Drink Champs.
According to Bellamy, it appears that the “All I Have” rapper did not take kindly to all of the comedian’s sarcasm. Bellamy even claims he warned Foxx about poking fun at LL, but he wouldn’t listen. After an incident occurred where Foxx busted LL’s lip, LL had had enough. That’s when he punched Foxx, which made for a great scene.
LL Cool J In The House
The “Mama Said Knock You Out” rapper starred in his own show in the mid 90s, In the House. LL COOL J played Marion, a former professional football player, who has to deal with life after football, like working as a “manny”. The sitcom lasted five seasons airing on popular networks, NBC and UPN. Starring alongside the rapper was Debbie Allen, Kim Wayans, and Alfonso Ribeiro.
LL made you feel like you knew Marion. He was cool, funny, and fly! There’s no doubt that this came with ease as he made it seem so natural. It seems as if executive producer Quincy Jones knew he LL was made for this role. Maybe he had him in mind when creating it.
LL Cool J Survives Deep Blue Sea
Deep Blue Sea was so good that they made a trilogy! The first one stars LL COOL J as Preacher, in a role many feel he excelled in. Deep Blue Sea is regarded as one of the best shark movies of all time.
A team of scientists are in an underwater facility researching sharks when they find out some of the sharks have been genetically engineered. As the sharks are attacking people, the team fights to escape the facility. Preacher plays an important role as he kills the first shark the team encounters as well as the final shark to end the movie. LL’s character caused fans to be on the edge of their seats. Alongside the legend, Samuel L. Jackson, the “Doin It” rapper clearly made the movie.
Last Holiday
Similar to Deliver Us from Eva, LL COOL J falls in love in Last Holiday. In a touching holiday love story, Queen Latifah stars as Georgia, a woman who has been suddenly diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder after taking a fall. LL COOL J stars alongside her as her love interest as they both are interested in each other, but have not admitted it. Again, the Queens rapper nails his role in a romantic film.
NCIS: Los Angeles
In 2009, LL COOL J was casted as Special Agent Sam on NCIS: Los Angeles. He is one of the original cast members as the show has been running for 14 years. Although the show is ending, he had nothing but good things to say.
”Well, I gotta tell you-it’s not hard at all. CBS did an amazing thing with us; it’s been an amazing run. We’re talking about 14 years…I think that the show has done tremendous numbers…I couldn’t complain. I have nothing to complain about.”
In Too Deep
In what might be his best role yet, LL COOL J starred alongside Omar Epps in the movie, In Too Deep. LL COOL J plays the biggest drug dealer around with so much power, his nickname is God. Omar Epps plays a detective that goes undercover to infiltrate God’s crew.
The “Paradise” rapper excels in his role as being an intimidator as well as an enforcer. His most infamous line comes at the end of the movie when Epps’s character sends him to prison. As, he is being carried out of the courtroom, he screams, “You ain’t no cop, J. Reid!” LL was so good, you would’ve thought he was really a kingpin.
Let us know your favorite roles that LL COOL J has played.
As the future of his next album is rumored to hang in the balance, LL Cool J is testing the heat on Hot Ones. The beloved Rap icon is fresh off an epic Grammy Award performance with dozens of his peers as they celebrated 50 years of Hip Hop. After heating up the stage, he’s powering his way through different levels of hot wings on the First We Feast series, and it’s an episode that had audiences laughing.
It was also clear from the jump that spicy foods may not be LL’s cup of tea. He ate the first wing with a low-burning sauce and joked, “That’s hot enough.” While laughing, he made it through, but it didn’t take long for LL to regret agreeing to appear on the show. The Rap icon was asked questions about his career as he paced himself. LL spoke about this year’s Grammy performance and admitted it was his “most enjoyable.”
This Year’s Grammy’s Made Hip Hop History
Spliff Star, Black Thought, Sandra Denton, Flavor Flav, Grandmaster Melle Mel, LL Cool J, Grandmaster Flash, and GloRilla perform onstage at the 65th Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Crypto.com Arena on February 5, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
“I’ve had other moments hosting, just purely hosting, that were amazing as well,” LL further stated. “But as an artist, this was like, by far the most fun for me. Being on stage with Rakim and Public Enemy and Salt-N-Pepa and Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Rahim. I just want people to know that, you know, for years Hip Hop has been served in a brown paper bag. The greasy brown paper bag. I also want people to—I wanted it to be served on a silver platter and thankfully, it was. I was able to make a huge contribution.”
He praised the production and Questlove for helping to curate the performance. “I think it turned out to be something real special for Hip Hop,” LL added. Previously, Questlove also spoke about the development of the show. He revealed that it wasn’t an easy feat getting all of those artists together. Fans took to social media to fire off questions to The Roots icon about why certain rappers didn’t show face. Quest was ready for all complaints.
Questlove Set The Record Straight
Undoubtedly, we would have loved to see all of our favorites at the Grammys Hip Hop 50th tribute. However, Questlove revealed that many people declined, others were already booked, and some had excuses that the Rap legend didn’t share. There were reportedly talks of having something feature all femcees, but they decided against it. Production also opted to avoid highlighting artists who have passed on because there was always the chance that someone would be excluded and fans would be upset.
Ice-T also revealed that Lil Wayne and Future were supposed to perform at the Grammys, too. However, it is unclear exactly why the two hitmakers didn’t make the stage. Check out more from LL Cool J above as he quotes Cardi B’s “WAP” lyrics to describe the heat on Hot Ones.
LL Cool J just graced the stage at the Grammys, holding down hosting duties during the Hip-Hop 50 tribute set. The concert brought forth the OGs and pioneers with the new generation of artists to emerge. Who would’ve thought they’d ever see Grandmaster Mele Mel & Scorpio/Ethiopian King and Lil Uzi Vert on the same stage? Ultimately, it showcased the power of hip-hop 50 years after its inception as a block party in the Bronx. Coming off of the momentum of the performance, LL Cool J began ramping up the efforts for his next studio album.
The comeback album has been in the works for a few years with Q-Tip at the helm of production. The two began working on the project in 2020 but following the Grammys, LL Cool J provided a promising update. “I know all the tricks. I got this covered,” he said during an interview on the Grammys red carpet. “Look, it was executive produced by Q-Tip. The album I think is really, really special. I think it’s something it’s modern without chasing. It’s a whole new thing. I can’t wait for the people to see it.”
This morning, LL Cool J startled fans when he announced that the project wouldn’t drop. He shared three tweets where he stated that he won’t release the project. “Just not feeling like this album is worthy of being released [face palm emoji] I tried… Not dropping it,” he wrote after claiming that he’s working relentlessly to put the album out. It seemed odd, especially with Q-Tip’s involvement, that the project wasn’t to his liking.
Ultimately, he deleted the tweets and it seems that he was either trolling or Q-Tip convinced him to backtrack. LL hit the ‘Gram with another video where he explained the reason why he didn’t want to drop the project. “I was considering not putting the record out because… IT’S TOO FUCKIN’ GOOD,” he said with a laugh. “Q-Tip, you a genius, baby!” He added that it’s his favorite album that he’s ever made before confirming that he’ll be dropping a release date and tracklist soon. Who do you think will land on the project? Sound off in the comments.
Celebrities often find themselves facing odd accusations from strangers that they’ve never met. Drake, for instance, dealt with a home intruder last year, who claimed that he was the rapper’s son. Though the claims didn’t necessarily stick, it’s not uncommon to see people on the internet claim that they’re related to a celebrity. Unfortunately, these types of allegations can be quite harmful to the parties involved and are better addressed off the internet. These days, personal matters have a tendency to spill onto Instagram pages if you’re a high-profile figure.
It appears that LL Cool J may have found himself in a similar situation. Though he emerged onto the scene as the Ladies Man of rap, he hasn’t necessarily found himself in too many controversies surrounding his familial life. He married Simone Johnson in 1995 after meeting in 1987. Nearly 30 years later, they’re still together with four children. However, a recently released video suggests that LL may have more children that we don’t know about.
Over the weekend, a video of rapper LoveBenji began to circulate online as he made some wild claims surrounding his alleged father. BenJi claimed that he’s the “hidden son” of LL Cool J, though he’s only aware of his dad by his government name, James Todd Smith. BenJi claimed that LL made him sign a non-disclosure agreement because “they wanted to silence me,” though he felt that he needed to tell his truth.
“I feel like it should be public; now I need to just get this off my chest. I want to give thanks to you too, man. James Todd Smith, That’s what I know him as, [my] father [and] great man. But many of you probably know him as LL Cool J,” he said. He claimed that LL blocked him on socials, though he sends him $200 every once in a while. BenJi also stated that he tried to visit his father and his family in the past. “I really didn’t want to take it here and have the blogs blow it up or nothing like that…Since he’s blocking my number, I haven’t heard much from him. I feel like this is how I’ll be about to reach out to him. That’s my truth. Let me know, Dad,” he concluded. Check the video out above.
This year B. It’s coming.
