Photo taken by The Chocolate Voice at NAACP Image Awards
OnΒ Saturday evening (Dec. 2), LL became the first rapper to earn the prestigious Kennedy Center Honor, which is Americaβs highest achievement for any performer.
Along with LL Cool J, singer-songwriter Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan, TV creator Norman Lear and dancer-actress Carmen de LavalladeΒ were all on hand to receive their award at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
The event, while very distinguished, is also top secret and the eveningβs honorees usually donβt know who will honor their artistic achievements. The NCIS actor and Lip Sync Battle host has a pretty robust catalogue of music to choose from so whomever is tasked with praising Todd Smithβs musical career, theyβll have a healthy arsenal to choose from.
LL later took to Instagram to speak on the moment and captioned that for hip-hop to be acknowledged was bigger than him.
βThis one is for those who came before me and those who followed me. We were sent to this planet to love and inspire one another. Manifest our dreams and make them a reality. I hope youβre inspired by me because Iβm absolutely inspired by you,β LL wrote.
LL later took to Instagram to speak on the moment and captioned that for hip-hop to be acknowledged was bigger than him.
βThis one is for those who came before me and those who followed me. We were sent to this planet to love and inspire one another. Manifest our dreams and make them a reality. I hope youβre inspired by me because Iβm absolutely inspired by you,β LL wrote.
The 40th annual ceremony will air on CBS Dec. 26 at 9pm.
This article originally appeared in Vibe.