February 14, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Diddy, Queen Latifah Show Up At LL Cool J’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony

LL Cool J received the 2,571st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Thinkstock: Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images).
LL Cool J received the 2,571st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (Thinkstock: Photo by Ben Gabbe/Getty Images).

LL Cool J received the 2,571st star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Thursday, honoring a pioneering recording career that made him the first rap artist to amass 10 consecutive platinum-plus-selling albums.

Queen Latifah and Sean “Diddy” Combs were among those speaking at the ceremony in front of the Hard Rock Cafe on Hollywood Boulevard. But the crowd included a host of television, sports and recording industry luminaries, including Russell Simmons, Magic Johnson, Chris O’Donnell and Les Moonves.

LL Cool J spent most of his speech at the event recognizing dignitaries in the crowd and thanking them for the impacts they had on his career.

“Just know that I really, truly and deeply from the bottom of my soul appreciate this award,” he said. “And I want to say one last thing, and that is: ‘If a task is once begun, never leave it ’til it’s done; be thy labor great or small, do it well or not at all.’ Thank you grandma.”

The ceremony came one week after his birthday and slightly more than three weeks before he hosts the Grammys for the fifth consecutive year.

Born James Todd Smith on Jan. 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, New York, on Long Island and raised in the Hollis neighborhood of Queens, he adopted a stage name meaning Ladies Love Cool James.

LL Cool J began his career in 1984 with Def Jam Records. He is tied for third for most Billboard chart debuts by a rapper. All but one of his 14 albums have reached Billboard’s rhythm and blues/hip-hop chart Top 10.

LL Cool J won Grammys for best rap solo performance in 1991 for “Mama Said Knock You Out” and 1996 for “Hey Lover.”

LL Cool J has also had an extensive acting career and is best known for his role as NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna on the CBS crime drama “NCIS: Los Angeles.” His film credits include “Deep Blue Sea” and “Any Given Sunday.”

Related Posts

UCLA Suspends Pro-Palestinian Student Groups Following Protest at UC Regent’s Home

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Chancellor Cites Potential Student Code Violations; Student Groups Reject Allegations UCLA has suspended two pro-Palestinian student organizations following a protest...

Flash Flood Warning Issued for Burn Areas, LAFD Officer Swept off Road by Debris

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Storm Damage Closes Pacific Coast Highway, Officials Urge Caution Not even members of the LAFD are being spared from the...

Culver City Police Investigate Disturbing Incident in Culver City Park

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Police Secure Area as Investigation Unfolds on Thursday Morning The Culver City Police Department received a call around 7:23 a.m....

Here are Your Last Minute Ideas if You Still Haven’t Planned Your Valentine’s Day Date

February 13, 2025

February 13, 2025

Luscious Cookies, Delightful Drinks, Full Dinners at Home or In House, We’ve Got Them Okay, maybe you have been a...

Beloved Baldwin Hills Family-Owned Restaurant Post & Beam to Close After 13 Years

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Community Icon Shuts Doors as Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Redevelopment  In yet another loss for the Los Angeles culinary community,...

Santa Monica Hotel Event Space Offers Affordability, Accessibility

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Elevate Your Events with Versatile Venues and Exceptional Service Coastal stays and eclectic event spaces don’t have to be expensive....

Flour Pizzeria & Cafe to Bring Brooklyn-Style Pizza to Brentwood This Week

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Family-Owned Favorite from the Palisades to Open on San Vicente  Flour Pizzeria & Cafe, a restaurant from Pacific Palisades run...

(Video) The Willows Students Bring a 50-Foot Dragon to Life Through Art and Teamwork

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Kristy Acero, The Willows DK-4th Grade Art teacher, led her students in a large-scale, collaborative project, with each grade creating...

ART& 2025: NeueHouse Unveils Inspiring Lineup Celebrating Feminine Leadership

February 12, 2025

February 12, 2025

Four-Day Event in Venice Beach Explores Creativity, Activism, and Cultural Impact NeueHouse has unveiled the schedule for ART& 2025, a...

LA Attorney Who Represented Rodney King Sentenced to Prison for Tax Evasion Scheme

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Milton C. Grimes Ordered To Serve Time in Prison and Pay Restitution Milton C. Grimes, a longtime Los Angeles attorney,...

Canned Tuna Pulled from Shelves Over Botulism Contamination Risk

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

El Segundo Seafood Company Issues Voluntary Recall Through FDA Tri-Union Seafoods has issued a voluntary recall of certain canned tuna...

Powerful Storm to Bring Heavy Rains, Possible Debris Flow to Los Angeles

February 11, 2025

February 11, 2025

Officials Warn of Risks, Urge Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather A Pacific storm system is expected to bring widespread...

Retailers Impose Egg Purchase Restrictions as Supply Chain Disruptions Cause Concern

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Egg Limits Are Back – What’s Causing the Shortage? Retailers across the United States, including Costco and Trader Joe’s, have...

Donate Blood, Save Lives: Culver City Hosts Valentine’s Week Drive

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Urgent Need for Donors as Red Cross Faces Critical Blood Shortages As Valentine’s Day approaches, the Culver City Police Department...

New Bill Targets Crime in Disaster Zones – Here’s What You Need to Know

February 10, 2025

February 10, 2025

Lawmakers Push for Tougher Penalties To Protect Vulnerable Communities California lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at cracking down...