LL Cool J explains why he included Eminem in a limited number of artists behind the Rock the Bells Festival.
LL sets elevating the hip hop culture and its roots as one of his main objectives. The festival he founded in 2018 was one of the means to achieve it. And also to recognise iconic artists that have shaped the culture. LL COOL J announced at the festival that an equity stake in the business had been given to 13 hip hop pioneers, including Roxanne Shanté, Kool Herc, and Big Daddy Kane.
One of these 13 is Eminem, and some might question why LL included him in the number of hip hop forefathers. Andscape quotes the rap veteran giving his reasoning:
Eminem wrote a check and invested in Rock the Bells because he believed in the mission as much as we did. He is one of our icons. Eminem also took hip-hop further globally, and he touched many markets that many artists probably wouldn’t have touched.
Make no mistake, this is not about Marshall’s check, this is about his vision and his impact. LL has a deep appreciation for Em’s talent. The first rapper LL Cool J suggested to include into the Rock and Roll Hal of Fame after his own induction was Slim Shady.
