Diddy & Queen Latifah Honor LL Cool J At His Walk Of Fame Ceremony In Hollywood, CA

I'm so blessed and thankful to be here today just to say a couple of words for this great man that you see standing next to me. He is the greatest of all time. The greatest of all time. I don't say that just because of some acronym that someone came up with. I say it because if you Wikipedia him right now, his career says from 1984 to present. That's longevity, stick to it, perseverance. And most of all, he lives in our hearts. He lives in our hearts as fans. I've been a fan since the very beginning. But that was something that represented me and where I came from. So I understood it. I respected it. I wrote my first rap record. My first ever rap, period. It was not a record. But my first ever rap I wrote to his song, I Need a Beat. I remember like it was yesterday being in my brother's room and putting that record on the turntables and playing the instrumental and writing it just so hard. And I played his version, get inspired, and then go write mine some more. He's been setting a bar from day one for everybody. I feel like he owes me some money because when he made, when he made Booming System, I had to have a booming system in my car. So I went and spent a lot of money on extra speakers and amps. So that I could play Booming System on a booming system. And I did. And I was fronting. And every time he spelled that word out, I was fronting even harder. You know what I mean? That's one of the first times I ever saw El. Was just driving through Manhattan in a Benz and I was on the corner. He didn't know me. I wasn't Queen Latifah and he just kind of looked up. I was like, he was like. I was like, oh snap! He was fronting real hard that day. But I'll tell you what, he is a true man of character and heart. I've had the great pleasure of working with him and knowing him for a very long time. When he made Around the Way Girl, I felt like. Yeah, you can cheer for that because that was a great record. But when he made that song, I felt like he was representing me. I feel like he was speaking for me, to me, and validating me. As an Around the Way Girl who was worthy of this man's love. And I felt like his love represented all the black men who wanted to love their Around the Way sisters. So that meant a lot to me. So thank you for that. But most importantly, as I've worked with him, whether he's in New Orleans or in the Czech Republic, Europe. What I see most is a real man of heart. A father who loves his family dearly. A husband who loves his wife, supports her in everything she does. Simone Smith, thank you. I'm definitely going to get some free earrings out of that. Putting it on a little thick. Nah, she's dope. She's dope, but he's always supportive of her and they support one another. But most, most importantly, I always see a son of God. Someone who loves the Lord and is not ashamed to talk about it and takes the Lord wherever he goes through life. And that's how I live life. And so I really appreciate him, you know, showing that and displaying that. So your uniqueness, your dedication, your passion has traveled with me my whole career, Elle. And I thank you so much. This means so much. To have one of these means that you will inspire more and more people as they walk down the street and see your name as they walk past your star on the ground. Just say this man from Hollis, Queens, if he can do it, I can do it. And that means so much to me. So I'm so, so proud of you today. You deserve this. Give it up for LL Cool J, y'all. Man, we were talking the other night from Hollis to Hollywood, man, to what you had to do, how you had to stay focused, how you had to not believe or listen to the naysayers, your work ethic, how you had to just keep on persevering and persevering to get to this point. Brother, I congratulate you. A lot of y'all don't know this, but I'm also LL's ex-manager. I managed LL for four weeks. He has a very strong personality. So he had this routine. He would pick me up in the morning and we'd go to the studio. And then at the end of the night, we would want to debate about records all night. And one night we started debating about a record that we had just made. And it kind of went kind of far. We started going back and forth, insulting each other in certain ways. And I remember that when I got up that next morning to come and meet him at the usual time, he didn't show up. So that's how I found that I was fired. So I had the honor to manage this man's career. But LL, what you've been able to do and show hip-hop. I remember when I first saw you, it was like watching a superhero walking through Rucker Park in New York. And it was like the first hip-hop superstar that I ever saw. Like, you know, this guy was just like glowing, man. He just had this glow to him, this smile, this charisma. What he's been able to do in the world of hip-hop and what he's been able to do in the world of film and television and philanthropy has been a leading example to all of us. We wouldn't know what to do or how to do it or have that glow or that shine. LL is our Muhammad Ali. LL is the GOAT. He's the greatest of all time. Hold on, hold on one second. Calling all cars, calling all cars. He's been on the lookout for a tall, light-skinned brother with dimples, wearing a black Pando sweatsuit, gold chain and sneakers. Alias, LL Cool J. He's bad. We love you, bro. Wow. The first word that comes to my mind is gratitude and just being grateful. I'm just so thankful and so appreciative of, you know, this honor. I really don't know what to say. What I'd like to do is instead of rambling with the speech, I'd like to thank people in stages because I think that my career has many stages. You know, this face, this familiar face that I'm looking across there is a guy who gave me my break, produced my first record. He's one of the greatest producers in the world. His name is Rick Rubin and he is just, you know, if it wasn't for Rick Rubin calling a 16-year-old back in 1984, I wouldn't be standing here now. So thank you. That being said, he introduced me to a gentleman over in this front row over here named Russell Simmons, who is a person that taught me about career. You know, Russell told me, no, LL, you don't have to wear thigh-high leather boots. You can wear your sneakers that you normally wear and you can be who you are, dress normal. You don't have to. I know you're a Rick James fan, but you don't have to dress like that. You can be LL Cool J. I was like, oh, I can be me? He was like, yeah. I was like, oh, okay. So I'll just dress regular then. So I want to thank you, Russell, for all you've done for my career because, again, I wouldn't be here without you. Then before I get to this section, I'd also like to thank the luminaries in the crowd. I'd like to thank Mike Tyson because Mike inspired me to be great. And I reckon I'm bad when I say I'm like Tyson. Tyson, I'm a soldier at war. I really meant that. And every time you knock somebody out, you made me feel like I could get out there and knock them out on stage. So I appreciate you. To Magic Johnson, everything you did in basketball was unbelievable. And every night, it was like I was experiencing something new, something magical, something majestic. And then you took a low point in your life and turned it into an inspiration that inspired all of us. And for that, I thank you very much. Queen, female, and strength. I don't want to extend this too long, so I'm going to try to keep it short. But, Queen, what you did as a female and as a woman and the strength that you displayed and the dignity and the grace and the class that you brought. Because sometimes, you know, we can be quick as A&Rs and as producers to push our women in a certain direction. But you've always maintained your dignity and your class. And we respect you and appreciate you for that. And then to my man, Diddy. Diddy, you know, I remember him handing out flyers in the club and us just standing there and him running around. And I remember the first time we talked about doing something together, he had started Bad Boy Records. And he came up to me and he said, you know, I want you to get on this Craig Mack remix. And I was like, I don't think I want to do that. He was like, why not? And I really didn't have an answer. So I did it. I really didn't have an answer. So I said, OK, I'll do it. And he's always been a very creative, very motivating factor in my life. And everything that he did, even though you started a little while after me, the heights that you've reached have motivated me and inspired me. And I appreciate you and respect you for that. And then there's a gentleman, Ken Ehrlich. Now, I'm fast forwarding a little bit, but I see Ken and Neil sitting there. And I must say what you guys have done with the Grammys, the executive producer that you are, you've given me an education on entertainment. You've given me an education on how to be creative, how to show love, how to be appreciative, how to work with artists, all different genres of music. He is an encyclopedia. And I would say I would beg. I would say that Ken Ehrlich is probably one of the most creative executives in the business that people just you may not know him when he's walking down the block, but you have been touched by a show that Ken Ehrlich put together. So I just want to say I love you and I love you, Neil. And then, you know, my new family, Kevin, Casey, you know, everything we're doing, Jay, I appreciate you guys from the bottom of my heart because you've shown me that you're willing to place big bets and just believe in what we're doing. And you taught me not to say no. And I appreciate you for that. Now, before I go any further, I have to say something about this section. I'm fast forwarding and I'm skipping stages and I'm going to save the best for last. But, you know, CBS, Les Moonves, you have changed my life. You believed in me from day one. I definitely would not be standing here if it wasn't for you. These all these gentlemen and ladies, they are the foundation, but you absolutely put me on your shoulders and took me to new heights. And you have, you know, taken LL Cool J from A to B, you know, to the next level. And I am very appreciative of that. I recognize it. And, you know, what you've done for my career and the trust that you've bestowed upon me, allow me to break bread at your house, be around your family. Thank you very much. Thank you. And to the rest of the CBS staff, you guys are amazing. Shane has done a great job with NCIS Los Angeles. Chris O'Donnell has been a wonderful partner. Daniela, Eric Christian Olsen, a great, charming, charismatic actor. You know, I got, oh my God, I got too many people here. My man Sloan, Jason Sloan, who has just been so great for me and just made, you know, great deals in my life. Paul, Mark, I mean, you know, Rich, Andrew. I mean, the whole crew is here. It's just, it's just amazing. And then I want to also just thank my family. You know, my wife has been just supportive and amazing to me and been by my side every step of the way. My mother, my children, my, you know, my best friend, Jerry, who I've known since I was five years old and he was eight. You know what I'm saying? My man, Rich, you're so close to the stage. I didn't even see you. My man, Richard Weitz is here. Love you. My son, my daughters, Michael Hertz, Jason Barrett, who has been with me from day one. Claudine Joseph, who has just worked tirelessly. I mean, she's one of the hardest workers I've ever met in my entire life. I mean, she bleeds for us and bleeds for the team. Um, just, you know, all you guys, Chris and Katie, uh, you know, Michael Hertz, you know, if there's anybody, and for any reason that I, and I'm not mentioning your name, like Kevin Lowes, Neil Portnow, everybody here, just know that I really, truly, and deeply from the bottom of my soul, appreciate this award. And I want to say one last thing, and that is, if a task has once begun, never leave it till it's done. Be thy labor, great or small, do it well or not at all. Thank you, Grandma. I love you.