*LL Cool J performed a medley of his hits at the MTV VMAs on Sept. 11 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Def Jam Records.
His performance featured an appearance from two Def Jam labelmates, Public Enemy’s Flavor Flav and Chuck D. If you missed it, watch the YouTube clip above.
LL’s VMA appearace coincided with the release of his new single “Murdergram Deux” featuring Eminem. The rapper’s new album, “The Force” dropped Friday. Produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, the project features collaborations with Saweetie, Nas, and Snoop Dogg.
LL Cool J is a two-time winner at the MTV Video Music Awards, once in 1991 and in 1997 when he became the first rapper to take home the Video Vanguard award. In a new interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the rapper attributed his longevity to his passion for music.
Scroll to continue reading
“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,” LL Cool J said.
Elsewhere in the interview, LL recalled his difficult childhood, which included witnessing his father shoot his mother and being abused by his mother’s ex-boyfriend.
“Yeah. You know, life is funny,” said the rap veteran. “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 added.
Watch LL Cool J’s full conversation with CBS Sunday Morning below.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: RZA Partners with Iconic Artists Group and LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells to Expand Wu-Tang Clan Brand
