HARI In-House Blog

LL Cool J Honored with W.E.B. Du Bois Medal

October 6th, 2017

Arguably rap’s first major solo star, LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith in St. Albans, Queens. From the beginning, he aimed high: “There hasn’t been a rap star yet, just rappers,” he said when he was already on the rise, at age 19. [Today] LL Cool J occupies a rare position in hiphop: he has become a popular figure in the American mainstream who nevertheless retains his credibility.

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