Tag Archives: LL Cool J

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WATCH: LL Cool J on his Continued Connection to Hip-Hop

Rapper turned actor LL Cool J speaks on his dual role as a hip-hop pioneer and Hollywood player

The hip-hop pioneer and star of NCIS: Los Angeles opens up about the evolution of…

By Anslem Samuel

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As the co-founder of Violator Management, music industry veteran Chris Lighty has had a hand in the careers of such notable artists as LL Cool J, Missy Elliott and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, among others. Recently, he partnered with fellow music mogul Michael “Blue” Williams to form Primary/Violator, a new full-service management, publishing and marketing firm. During his interview with BlackEnterprise.com about the merger, Lighty shared his five tips for success in business. —Brett Johnson

Chris Lighty’s 5 Tips for Success in Business

The music mogul shares his personal keys to a fruitful career

Co-founder of Violator Management and current manager for Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, Chris Lighty reveals…

By Brett Johnson

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Music Managers Chris Lighty & Blue Williams Make a Power Move

The successful music moguls join forces to launch a new full-service firm, Primary/Violator

After steering the careers of artists like 50 Cent and OutKast, among others, music moguls…

By Brett Johnson

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Each year some of the culture’s greats descend upon Atlanta, Georgia for the BET Hip-Hop Awards.  This year’s gathering was no different as a who’s who of hip-hop celebrities, as well as industry experts and avid fans, gathered to highlight the accomplishments of the trendsetters and trailblazers. Among those honored were LL Cool J, who received the “I Am Hip-Hop Icon” award.


 
 

As an added bonus, some of the movers and shakers in attendance at the 2011 award show got a chance to experience Hip Hop, A Cultural Odyssey, the 400-plus page coffee table book that documents the art form’s storied history and influence through original essays and photos. Here are a few highlights of the behind-the-scenes experience. —Anslem Samuel




 

Atlanta rapper Roscoe Dash is all smiles as he flips through the expansive book.

Hip-Hop Stars Take a ‘Cultural Odyssey’

Hip-hop's biggest names got a chance to flip through the new coffee table book that documents their culture

A photo recap of the BET Hip-Hop Awards 2011 that highlights various rap stars and…

By Anslem Samuel

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DEF DIVIDENDS

At just 17 years old, LL became Def Jam Record’s flagship artist. His debut album, Radio, went on to go platinum and his 13-album catalog features many more million-plus sellers, including 1992’s Mama Said Knock You Out and 1997’s Mr. Smith, which both sold over two million copies and earned LL a pair of Grammies. To date, the Queens rapper’s catalog includes a dozen proper albums chockfull of classic records, and all that songwriter publishing means plenty of guaranteed money in the bank.

LL Cool J Decoded: The Greatest Brand of All Time

Taking home I Am Hip-Hop honors at the BET Hip-Hop Awards the entertainment veteran gets Decoded

From artist to actor to author to businessman, LL Cool J is a brand that…

By Alvin Blanco

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It’s a known fact that a celebrity’s career rarely includes only one single job. Any multi-faceted entertainer—be it actor, artist, or both—learns fairly quickly that the key to climbing the success ladder is through constant diversification. Making money in various markets guarantees a well-rounded (and long-lasting) career. With the fickle tastes and short attention spans of most audiences, it’s only necessary to jump into multiple roles, bulking up pockets and fan bases equally.  Many artists have made the migration from musicians to actors, film producers, authors and all around entrepreneurs. Such transitory career goals have allowed many artists to garner successes they never achieved during their time solely working as musicians. As part of our continued Black Music Month coverage, BlackEnterprise.com has compiled a list of 11 celebs that started out as artists and have since evolved into well-oiled self-entities. —Kathy Iandoli

11 Successful Artist Brands Beyond Music

Music is only the beginning of building a brand that's something these artists know well

Artists like Jay-Z, Will Smith, Beyonce and will.i.am are multi-millionaires solely because of their music,…

By Kathy Iandoli

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