#lyor cohen

[soupy-sez]

Mike D, Russell Simmons, and MCA strike a pose, during a rare collective appearance in suits. The occasion: Lyor Cohen's wedding in the Dominican Republic in 1988.

Courtesy of Cara Lewis

Source

[onlybuilt4expensivetaste]

Oh don’t you worry, Scoot Scoot—we ain’t forget about your weird ass 😁

[freshthoughts2020]

New album by JHarry coming soon

[mcforwhatiam]

MCA and Mike D in Hollywood, January 1987

📸 Steve Granitz

(Press print via egg raid on hornblower's Instagram)

[warhead]

[onlybuilt4expensivetaste]

Regardless of race, people have the capacity to be absolute garbage. And with that said I hope Clive Davis is feeling the heat now that his mentee got exposed finally. Lyor Cohen and Jay-Z as well. 🧘🏾‍♀️✨

There is so much going on with this man that has been confirmed. I don't see why we can't just call a spade a spade.🤷🏽‍♀️

[liquoricebxxxh]

Jay-Z is just like Diddy 😐

[thraveenperera]

[soupy-sez]

MCA of the Beastie Boys and Lyor Cohen goofing around in a hotel during a stop on the Licensed to Ill tour. Within a year, the Beastie Boys went from being virtual unknowns to headlining their own national tour. Lyor, who was working full-time for Rush Management, was their manager.

Photo by Sunny Bak

Source

[strawberryqueen00]

Hell no we are not letting this OFMD finale distract from that THIS LETTER.

Had a signature from Taika Waititi. I understand the sensitivity here this issue with Taika being Jewish(and that’s not my place as someone that’s Not Jewish or in those regions to condemn him on that perspective’s behalf) but this letter is directly bastardizing the situation.

Now, when there is a major production from a major figure in this platform that did this, is when we can make the most impact. Remember our values, even when those values involve a show that is strengthening the LGBTQ community.

Because this letter tore down the strength of the movement in support of Gaza. There are going to be so many people that saw this letter and take it completely uncritically, unchallenged.

Standing up for our values means sacrificing our interests, holding accountable the things we enjoy.

And also. I don’t want to see ANYONE. Being fucking antisemitic or racist towards Taika here. That is never appropriate and absolutely inexcusable behavior. You should he ashamed if you think that’s okay even after Taika’s actions.

[Text of Letter]

October 23, 2023

Dear President Biden, We are heartened by Friday's release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today's release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and

Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity. But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people,

including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death.

They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400

Israelis were slaughtered - women raped, families burned alive, and infants beheaded. Thank you for your unshakable moral conviction, leadership, and support for the Jewish people, who have been terrorized by Hamas since the group's founding over 35 years ago, and for the Palestinians, who have also been terrorized, oppressed, and victimized

by Hamas for the last 17 years that the group has been governing Gaza. We all want the same thing: Freedom for Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side in peace. Freedom from the brutal violence spread by Hamas. And most urgently, in this

moment, freedom for the hostages. We urge everyone to not rest until all hostages are released. No hostage can be left behind. Whether American, Argentinian, Australian, Azerbaijani, Brazilian, British, Canadian, Chilean, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Eritrean, Filipino, French, German, Indian, Israeli, Italian, Kazakh, Mexican, Panamanian, Paraguayan, Peruvian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, South African, Spanish, Sri Lankan, Thai, Ukrainian,

Uzbekistani or otherwise, we need to bring them home.

Sincerely,

[Text of the names presented. This isn’t all of them, just the copy of this with Taika’s name on it)

Jessica Biel

Jessica Elbaum

Jessica Seinfeld

Jill Littman

Jimmy Carr

Jody Gerson

Joe Hipps

Joe Quinn

Joe Russo

Joe Tippett

Joel Fields

Joey King

John Landgraf

John Slattery

Jon Bernthal

Jon Glickman

Jon Hamm

Jon Harmon Feldman

Jon Liebman

Jon Watts

Jon Weinbach

Jonathan Baruch

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Marc Sherman

Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Steinberg

Jonathan Tisch

Jonathan Tropper

Jordan Peele

Josh Brolin

Josh Charles

Josh Dallas

Josh Goldstine

Josh Greenstein

Josh Grode

Josh Singer

Judd Apatow

Judge Judy Sheindlin

Julia Fox

Julia Garner

Julia Lester

Julianna Margulies

Julie Greenwald

Julie Rudd

Julie Singer

Juliette Lewis

Jullian Morris

Justin Theroux

Justin Timberlake

KJ Steinberg

Karen Pollock

Karlie Kloss

Katy Perry

Kelley Lynch

Kevin Kane

Kevin Zegers

Kirsten Dunst

Kitao Sakurai

Kristen Schaal

Kristin Chenoweth

Lana Del Rey

Laura Benanti

Laura Dern

Laura Pradelska

Lauren Schuker Blum

Laurence Mark

Laurie David

Lea Michele

Lee Eisenberg

Leo Pearlman

Leslie Siebert

Liev Schreiber

Limor Gott

Lina Esco

Liz Garbus

Lizanne Rosenstein

Lizzie Tisch

Lorraine Schwartz

Lynn Harris

Lyor Cohen

Madonna

Mandana Dayani

Mara Buxbaum

Marc Webb

Marco Perego

Maria Dizzia

Mark Feuerstein

Mark Foster

Mark Scheinberg

Mark Shedletsky

Martin Short

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary McCormack

Mathew Rosengart

Matt Geller

Matt Lucas

Matt Miller

Matthew Bronfman

Matthew Hiltzik

Matthew Weiner

Matti Leshem

Max Mutchnik

Maya Lasry

Meaghan Oppenheimer

Melissa Zukerman

Melissa rudderman

Michael Aloni

Michael Ellenberg

Michael Green

Michael Rapino

Neil Blair

Neil Druckmann

Neil Paris

Nicola Peltz

Nicole Avant

Nina Jacobson

Noa Kirel

Noa Tishby

Noah Oppenheim

Noah Schnapp

Noreena Hertz

Octavia Spencer

Odeya Rush

Olivia Wilde

Oran Zegman

Orlando Bloom

Pasha Kovalev

Pattie LuPone

Patty Jenkins

Paul Haas

Paul Pflug

Paul & Julie Rudd

Peter Baynham

Peter Traugott

Rachel Douglas

Rachel Riley

Rafi Marmor

Ram Bergman

Raphael Margulies

Rebecca Angelo

Rebecca Mall

Regina Spektor

Reinaldo Marcus Green

Rich Statter

Richard Jenkins

Richard Kind

Rick Hoffman

Rick Rosen

Rita Ora

Rob Rinder

Robert Newman

Roger Birnbaum

Roger Green

Rosie O’Donnell

Ross Duffer

Ryan Feldman

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sam Levinson

Sam Trammell

Sara Berman

Sara Foster

Sarah Baker

Sarah Bremner

Sarah Cooper

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Treem

Scott Braun

Scott Braun

Scott Neustadter

Scott Tenley

Sean Combs

Sean Levy

Seth Meyers

Seth Oster

Shannon Watts

Shari Redstone

Sharon Jackson

Sharon Stone

Shauna Perlman

Shawn Levy

Sheila Nevins

Shira Haas

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Simon Tikhman

Skylar Astin

Stacey Snider

Stephen Fry

Steve Agee

Steve Rifkind

Sting & Trudie Styler

Susanna Felleman

Susie Arons

Taika Waititi

Thomas Kail

Tiffany Haddish

Todd Lieberman

Todd Moscowitz

Todd Waldman

Tom Freston

Tom Werner

Tomer Capone

Tracy Ann Oberman

Trudie Styler

Tyler Henry

Tyler James Williams

Tyler Perry

Vanessa Bayer

Veronica Grazer

Veronica Smiley

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Will Ferrell

Will Graham

Yamanieka Saunders

Yariv Milchan

Ynon Kreiz

Zack Snyder

Zoe Saldana

[subtlesolitude-tailoredtaste]

Happy birthday hip hop. You’re dead to me now. But a great formative 20 years for better or worse. Thanks for the memories. Shoutout jazz, shoutout reggae, shoutout the next genre that comes from the fucking and pillaging of hip hop.

[militantinremission]

Katt Williams' interview w/ Shannon Sharpe on 'Club Shay Shay' is still reverberating ... My takeaway from it, was Katt's confirmation of Industry Plants & Gatekeepers. Several were revealed following Diddy's 'outing', but Katt literally blew the levies off! So far, EVERYONE that responded 2 this interview has spoken in Mush Mouthed tones (including Shannon Sharpe). Comedy is like Battle Rap- U either come Strong, or Stay Home; All of those Cats should've Stayed Home... Hollywood IS a Shark Tank. It doesn't take much blood 2 start a feeding frenzy; ask Johnathan Majors. It's clear that these Boule Types have brought too many of their 'Masters' secrets into The Light... Look 4 the Lyor Cohens, Jerry Hellers, & Jimmy Iovines 2 start chumming the waters 2 save their Own necks.

-Just Saying

[dear-indies]

full list of biden letter 2:

Aaron Bay-Schuck Aaron Sorkin Adam & Jackie Sandler Adam Goodman Adam Levine Alan Grubman Alex Aja Alex Edelman Alexandra Shiva Ali Wentworth Alison Statter Allan Loeb Alona Tal Amy Chozick Amy Pascal Amy Schumer Amy Sherman Palladino Andrew Singer Andy Cohen Angela Robinson Anthony Russo Antonio Campos Ari Dayan Ari Greenburg Arik Kneller Aron Coleite Ashley Levinson Asif Satchu Aubrey Plaza Barbara Hershey Barry Diller Barry Levinson Barry Rosenstein Beau Flynn Behati Prinsloo Bella Thorne Ben Stiller Ben Turner Ben Winston Ben Younger Billy Crystal Blair Kohan Bob Odenkirk Bobbi Brown Bobby Kotick Brad Falchuk Brad Slater Bradley Cooper Bradley Fischer Brett Gelman Brian Grazer Bridget Everett Brooke Shields Bruna Papandrea Cameron Curtis Casey Neistat Cazzie David

Charles Roven Chelsea Handler Chloe Fineman Chris Fischer Chris Jericho Chris Rock Christian Carino Cindi Berger Claire Coffee Colleen Camp Constance Wu Courteney Cox Craig Silverstein Dame Maureen Lipman Dan Aloni Dan Rosenweig Dana Goldberg Dana Klein Daniel Palladino Danielle Bernstein Danny Cohen Danny Strong Daphne Kastner David Alan Grier David Baddiel David Bernad David Chang David Ellison David Geffen David Gilmour & David Goodman David Joseph David Kohan David Lowery David Oyelowo David Schwimmer Dawn Porter Dean Cain Deborah Lee Furness Deborah Snyder Debra Messing Diane Von Furstenberg Donny Deutsch Doug Liman Douglas Chabbott Eddy Kitsis Edgar Ramirez Eli Roth Elisabeth Shue Elizabeth Himelstein Embeth Davidtz Emma Seligman Emmanuelle Chriqui Eric Andre Erik Feig Erin Foster Eugene Levy Evan Jonigkeit Evan Winiker Ewan McGregor Francis Benhamou Francis Lawrence Fred Raskin Gabe Turner Gail Berman Gal Gadot Gary Barber Gene Stupinski Genevieve Angelson Gideon Raff Gina Gershon Grant Singer Greg Berlanti Guy Nattiv Guy Oseary Gwyneth Paltrow Hannah Fidell Hannah Graf Harlan Coben Harold Brown Harvey Keitel Henrietta Conrad Henry Winkler Holland Taylor Howard Gordon Iain Morris Imran Ahmed Inbar Lavi Isla Fisher Jack Black Jackie Sandler Jake Graf Jake Kasdan James Brolin James Corden Jamie Ray Newman Jaron Varsano Jason Biggs & Jenny Mollen Biggs Jason Blum Jason Fuchs Jason Reitman Jason Segel Jason Sudeikis JD Lifshitz Jeff Goldblum Jeff Rake Jen Joel Jeremy Piven Jerry Seinfeld Jesse Itzler Jesse Plemons Jesse Sisgold Jessica Biel Jessica Elbaum Jessica Seinfeld Jill Littman Jimmy Carr Jody Gerson

Joe Hipps Joe Quinn Joe Russo Joe Tippett Joel Fields Joey King John Landgraf John Slattery Jon Bernthal Jon Glickman Jon Hamm Jon Liebman Jonathan Baruch Jonathan Groff Jonathan Marc Sherman Jonathan Ross Jonathan Steinberg Jonathan Tisch Jonathan Tropper Jordan Peele Josh Brolin Josh Charles Josh Goldstine Josh Greenstein Josh Grode Judd Apatow Judge Judy Sheindlin Julia Garner Julia Lester Julianna Margulies Julie Greenwald Julie Rudd Juliette Lewis Justin Theroux Justin Timberlake Karen Pollock Karlie Kloss Katy Perry Kelley Lynch Kevin Kane Kevin Zegers Kirsten Dunst Kitao Sakurai KJ Steinberg Kristen Schaal Kristin Chenoweth Lana Del Rey Laura Dern Laura Pradelska Lauren Schuker Blum Laurence Mark Laurie David Lea Michele Lee Eisenberg Leo Pearlman Leslie Siebert Liev Schreiber Limor Gott Lina Esco Liz Garbus Lizanne Rosenstein Lizzie Tisch Lorraine Schwartz Lynn Harris Lyor Cohen Madonna Mandana Dayani Mara Buxbaum Marc Webb Marco Perego Maria Dizzia Mark Feuerstein Mark Foster Mark Scheinberg Mark Shedletsky Martin Short Mary Elizabeth Winstead Mathew Rosengart Matt Lucas Matt Miller Matthew Bronfman Matthew Hiltzik Matthew Weiner Matti Leshem Max Mutchnik Maya Lasry Meaghan Oppenheimer Melissa Zukerman Michael Aloni Michael Ellenberg Michael Green Michael Rapino Michael Rappaport Michael Weber Michelle Williams Mike Medavoy Mila Kunis Mimi Leder Modi Wiczyk Molly Shannon Nancy Josephson Natasha Leggero

Neil Blair Neil Druckmann Nicola Peltz Nicole Avant Nina Jacobson Noa Kirel Noa Tishby Noah Oppenheim Noah Schnapp Noreena Hertz Odeya Rush Olivia Wilde Oran Zegman Orlando Bloom Pasha Kovalev Pattie LuPone Paul & Julie Rudd Paul Haas Paul Pflug Peter Traugott Polly Sampson Rachel Riley Rafi Marmor Ram Bergman Raphael Margulies Rebecca Angelo Rebecca Mall Regina Spektor Reinaldo Marcus Green Rich Statter Richard Jenkins Richard Kind Rick Hoffman Rick Rosen Rita Ora Rob Rinder Robert Newman Roger Birnbaum Roger Green Rosie O’Donnell Ross Duffer Ryan Feldman Sacha Baron Cohen Sam Levinson Sam Trammell Sara Foster Sarah Baker Sarah Bremner Sarah Cooper Sarah Paulson Sarah Treem Scott Braun Scott Braun Scott Neustadter Scott Tenley Sean Combs Seth Meyers Seth Oster Shannon Watts Shari Redstone Sharon Jackson Sharon Stone Shauna Perlman Shawn Levy Sheila Nevins Shira Haas Simon Sebag Montefiore Simon Tikhman Skylar Astin Stacey Snider Stephen Fry Steve Agee Steve Rifkind Sting & Trudie Styler Susanna Felleman Susie Arons Taika Waititi Thomas Kail Tiffany Haddish Todd Lieberman Todd Moscowitz Todd Waldman Tom Freston Tom Werner Tomer Capone Tracy Ann Oberman Trudie Styler Tyler James Williams Tyler Perry Vanessa Bayer Veronica Grazer Veronica Smiley Whitney Wolfe Herd

Will Ferrell Will Graham Yamanieka Saunders Yariv Milchan Ynon Kreiz Zack Snyder Zoe Saldana Zoey Deutch Zosia Mamet

[are-they-z]

Supporters of #NoHostageLeftBehind Open Letter to Joe Biden - Part 2/2

Gabe Turner

Gail Berman

Gary Barber

Genevieve Angelson

Gideon Raff

Grant Singer

Greg Berlanti

Guy Nattiv

Hannah Fidell

Hannah Graf

Harlan Coben

Harold Brown

Henrietta Conrad

Howard Gordon

Iain Morris

Imran Ahmed

Inbar Lavi

Jackie Sandler

Jake Graf

Jake Kasdan

Jamie Ray Newman

Jaron Varsano

Jason Fuchs

Jason Biggs & Jenny Mollen Biggs

Jason Segel

JD Lifshitz

Jeff Rake

Jen Joel

Jeremy Piven

Jesse Itzler

Jesse Sisgold

Jill Littman

Jody Gerson

Joe Hipps

Joe Quinn

Joe Russo

Joe Tippett

Joel Fields

John Landgraf

Jon Bernthal

Jon Glickman

Jon Liebman

Jonathan Baruch

Jonathan Groff

Jonathan Tropper

Jonathan Marc Sherman

Jonathan Steinberg

Jonathan Tisch

Josh Goldstine

Josh Greenstein

Josh Grode

Julia Lester

Julie Greenwald

Karen Pollock

Kelley Lynch

Kevin Kane

Kevin Zegers

Kitao Sakurai

KJ Steinberg

Laura Pradelska

Lauren Schuker Blum

Laurence Mark

Laurie David

Lee Eisenberg

Leslie Siebert

Leo Pearlman

Limor Gott

Lina Esco

Liz Garbus

Lizanne Rosenstein

Lizzie Tisch

Lorraine Schwartz

Lynn Harris

Lyor Cohen

Mandana Dayani

Maria Dizzia

Mara Buxbaum

Marc Webb

Marco Perego

Mark Feuerstein

Mark Shedletsky

Mark Scheinberg

Mathew Rosengart

Matt Lucas

Matt Miller

Matthew Bronfman

Matthew Hiltzik

Matti Leshem

Dame Maureen Lipman

Max Mutchnik

Maya Lasry

Meaghan Oppenheimer

Melissa Zukerman

Michael Ellenberg

Michael Aloni

Michael Green

Michael Rapino

Michael Weber

Mike Medavoy

Mimi Leder

Modi Wiczyk

Nancy Josephson

Natasha Leggero

Neil Blair

Neil Druckmann

Nicole Avant

Nina Jacobson

Noa Kirel

Noah Oppenheim

Noreena Hertz

Odeya Rush

Oran Zegman

Pasha Kovalev

Paul Haas

Paul Pflug

Peter Traugott

Rachel Riley

Rafi Marmor

Ram Bergman

Raphael Margulies

Rebecca Angelo

Rebecca Mall

Reinaldo Marcus Green

Rich Statter

Richard Kind

Rick Hoffman

Rick Rosen

Robert Newman

Rob Rinder

Roger Birnbaum

Roger Green

Rosie O'Donnell

Ryan Feldman

Sam Trammell

Sarah Baker

Sarah Bremner

Sarah Treem

Scott Tenley

Seth Oster

Scott Braun

Scott Neustadter

Shannon Watts

Shari Redstone

Sharon Jackson

Shauna Perlman

Shawn Levy

Sheila Nevins

Simon Sebag Montefiore

Simon Tikhman

Skylar Astin

Stacey Snider

Stephen Fry

Steve Agee

Steve Rifkind

Susanna Felleman

Susie Arons

Todd Lieberman

Todd Moscowitz

Todd Waldman

Tom Freston

Tom Werner

Tomer Capone

Tracy Ann Oberman

Trudie Styler

Tyler James Williams

Vanessa Bayer

Veronica Grazer

Veronica Smiley

Whitney Wolfe Herd

Will Graham

Yamanieka Saunders

Yariv Milchan

Ynon Kreiz

[ncisladaily]

Everyone was laughing at LL Cool J.

It was the fall of 1984, and the 16-year-old rapper also known as James Todd Smith was full of confidence as he jumped on the mic at a block party in his native Queens. Not only had he recently inked a record deal, but he’d just cut his debut single “I Need A Beat” in a real studio. His bars at the party garnered love… but then things went left.

“My record’s coming in November!,” he shouted to the onlookers with brash smile as he put the mic down — only to have another young dude pick it up and yell “Stop lyin!”

The entire block erupted into hysterical laughter, or so it seemed. “Everybody thought I was lying,” the now-56-year-old artist says with a smile.

LL took an L that day, but he had the last laugh a long time ago. And late last month, just a stone’s throw from that block, he was back in the neighborhood that spawned him for another block party — the annual Farmers’ Day — and for the hoop championships of his LL Cool J’s Jump and Ball Community Camp. And, of course to celebrate his 40 years as the superstar they didn’t believe he was.

Later that week, just a couple of miles away, he also would celebrate the 40th anniversary of Def Jam Records, his label then and now, as part of an all-star performance at the MTV VMAs by Public Enemy, Busta Rhymes and other veterans of the company’s storied roster. (This is part 2 of Variety‘s extensive interview with LL Cool J, head here for part 1.)

“The moment felt full circle,” LL said of the performance. “The sweetest part about it is I got to have my friends Public Enemy by my side. It was dope.”

Public Enemy’s Chuck D, a fellow area native., says, “It was surreal, because we were [performing at the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York] only blocks away from where he grew up. The arena is right on the borderline of Long Island and Queens, so it was sort of a throwback moment. Maybe 40 years ago, I was promoting a concert in Elmont, and [a group named] the Mastodon Committee didn’t show up, and I was scrambling.” Public Enemy producer Hank Shocklee mentioned that he’d gotten LL’s number at a T-La Rock concert.

“I said, ‘What the hell is a LL?,’” Chuck chuckles. But he cold-called LL on a Friday night and asked him to judge an MC contest. Not only did he judge, he also rapped for the crowd for 10 minutes while New York’s Dr. Dre, who would go on to co-host “Yo! MTV Raps” years later, cut and scratched records.

A year or so later, LL was a major star, and he’s been one ever since.

“He was and is the coolest,” says Grammy-winning Atlanta rapper Killer Mike. “All the girls loved him, the older dudes respected him, the little dudes looked up to him. I remember mowing lawns to earn money to buy his music — ‘I’m finnin’ to get ‘Bigger and Deffer’!,’” Mike recalls with a laugh. “He was young, Kangols and leather from top to bottom. He was everything to me that was the coolest in rap at the time. When I was a kid, Michael Jackson and LL came to town and the same time. My mother said ‘You can see one or the other’ and I said ‘I’m going to see LL Cool J!’”

“I call LL the GOAT because he proved it musically,” says LL’s favorite rapper, Big Daddy Kane. “He has a catalog as big as many pop stars and he’s been victorious in many rap beefs.”

“I am so proud of him,” says veteran executive Lyor Cohen, who is now YouTube’s global head of music but began his career in the early ’80s at Rush Management and Def Jam, where he worked closely with LL for many years. “His creativity doesn’t stop. From Queens to Hollywood, performing around the world, he’s an inspiration and a north star for every artist to continue being creative.”

Yet his home borough of Queens has remained a vital part of LL’s life. He might have moved to L.A. and had a 14-season run on “NCIS: Long Angeles,” but he’s always come back to his neighborhood. And on August 31, a few days before the release of his first album in 11 years, “The FORCE,” he was back for a stroll through Farmers Day. After that, he went to Daniel O’Connell Playground in St. Albans for the hoop championships of his LL Cool J’s Jump and Ball Community Camp. He established the free camp in 2005 to help children learn basketball, team-building and leadership skills. He goes back every year.

Derrick Davis, chief of staff and senior adviser to New York State Senator Leroy Comrie of District 14 in Queens, presented LL with a plaque to honor his commitment to the neighborhood.

“We wanted to acknowledge what you do, not only for this park, but for the community — your community,” Davis said. “You’ve never changed, you’ve always been LL Cool J.”

In a short acceptance speech, LL said, “Thank you to the Parks Department and everyone who’s been contributing to this event for 17 years now. To the coaches, you guys have done an amazing job with the kids. To all of these young ones out here playing and having fun, I’m happy to see you guys doing what you love. It’s an opportunity for you to get closer to your dreams and away from everything else that will distract you.  That being said, I’ll say this community has a lot of great DNA. In this community, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. If I can make it off the streets of Queens, so can you.”

Yvonne McNair, CEO of Captivate Productions says “There are kids who have gone on to college and have come back to support the younger generation of camp participants because it meant so much to them growing up.” LL and his manager of 25 years, Claudine Joseph, raised all the money for the Camp themselves for the first 13 years before bringing on sponsors.  Two years ago, McNair was brought on to be a Jump and Ball Camp producer.

“It really embodies the spirit of true community, and it has been such a joy to see and be a part of what LL has built with this amazing event,” McNair adds.

After countless selfies and autographs, LL says, “When you love your community and they give you that love back, it’s a hell of a feeling. I’m just glad I can do it.”

He buys a strawberry sundae from a Mister Softee truck and stops for more photos in front of wall with murals that includes ones of himself and fellow Queens native and “FORCE” producer Q-Tip, from the foundational hip-hop group A Tribe Called Quest. “That’s trippy,” LL says.

Turning more serious, he says, “The main thing I’m trying to show the community is that [achieving dreams] is possible. I appreciate the accolades and the respect and the love, but it’s more about the example it sets for them to do their own thing. And dreams don’t have deadlines: Colonel Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65 years old, B. You may feel that your best entrepreneurial years or dreaming years are behind you, but they’re not.”

He’s trying to prove that point with his latest album, with a goal of being “culturally relevant,” as he puts it.

Veteran producer 9th Wonder agrees. “It is very important that our heroes and greats in hip-hop continue to work,” he says. “Sometimes we figure that we don’t have a lot to say or do in this culture, which has a lot of people in their teens and twenties. We never prepared for what happens when our greats get [older]. That’s what makes this album important.”

A week after his album was released, at least part of LL’s dream has come true: His songs are getting playlisted alongside much younger stars. “For real — this is not arrogant, tough talk. But yo bro, my first song came out in ’84, and [my new songs] are on playlists with Lil Durk and Megan Thee Stallion and Glorilla and Sexyy Red right now. LL Cool J is on the same playlists, B! This is facts.”

Havoc from Mobb Deep says, “The album is a Queens street sound, but it’s universal. Everybody could listen to this — I’m listening to it and I could see my kids listening to it.”  

LL and producer Q-Tip reached out to nearly a dozen MCs to jump on songs starting with fellow legends like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Nas, Fat Joe, Rick Ross and Busta Rhymes.

“From Nas to Bus to Marshall [Eminem], everybody was excited to work with him,” Q-Tip says.

Nas says with awe, “I used to write in my room as kid, trying to find words to flow like the words he used, so being on his new album is still something I can’t believe. I used to hope one day he would know who I was.”

“He’s my idol — he’s the sole reason I rap,” says Fat Joe, who is featured along with Rick Ross on the album’s lead cut, “Saturday Night Special.” “Anytime I stand next to him or do a song with him or collaborate with him, it’s like a dream come true — it puts me back into the memories of me as that kid in Forest Projects who had the ‘I’m Bad’ poster on the wall. There is no bigger honor and privilege.”

With the legends locked in, LL next reached out to underground rappers Mad Squablz, J-S.A.N.D. and Don Pablito for “The Vow,” then he called up a top female rapper for the album’s radio and dancefloor moment.

“He’s a true pioneer who continues to evolve and pays attention to the younger generation of artists,” says Saweetie, who guests on “Proclivities.” “I felt so honored that LL tapped me to be a part of his album. I grew up listening to his music with my parents.”

The esteemed cross-generational company inspired L to step up his own game — he was determined to tap into new flows and concepts, and make sure all of his lyrics penetrate.

“He sounds sharper than ever,” Jadakiss says. “I think a lot has to do with his staying in great shape and still looking like a young wrestler or linebacker,” he laughs. “That has a lot to do with breath control and what he’s doing with the flows and cadences.”

L admits that he lost a little steam and motivation with the poor reception of his last project, “Authentic,” in 2013. L calls that album “experimental”; it is the only album of his entire career not on Def Jam Records. 

“I found out a few things,” he reflects. “One, you can’t be a part time artist,” as he was juggling the album with his commitment to “NCIS” at the time. “Two, you can’t phone it in. You can’t — even unintentionally or unknowingly — be operating from a creative vacuum. It’s about creative execution. Although there’s some interesting moments on [‘Authentic’], it wasn’t what it needed to be. One critic, I believe in the L.A. Times, wrote, ‘This guy forgot he’s a rapper.’” Oof.

“It annoyed me at first,” he admits. “But I started processing it and let it marinate on my spirit. And it took me eight or nine so years to make a new record.”

As he did 40 years ago after that memorable incident at the block party, LL is having the last laugh, this time with “The FORCE.” “It feels like he’s moving the needle on that higher level right now,” Busta Rhymes says. “It’s like he found his Chi.”  

Top Def Jam artist Pusha-T assesses, “Hip-hop is still the youngest genre of music, so we haven’t gotten to see our elder statesmen be competitive at it. But I watched L on the VMAs and was like, ‘He loves it!’ And if you love it, you’re gonna be competitive at it. You’re gonna look at the game and understand how precious it is and take it to new heights.”

He concludes, “L coming back — it’s needed.”

[worshipgodalone19]

How Lyor Cohen Built Def Jam, Reinvented Warner, Launched 300 + Reimagin...