LL Cool J- Rocks Yahoo's! Nissan Live Sets

all photos below courtesy of Stephanie Cabral, Yahoo




Ahh, LL Live! When I learned from my girl Dana in Baltimore that LL would perform live in LA, I immediately reached out to my equally music obsessed friend Billy Johnson at Yahoo for his assistance in getting me into the show. Mission Accomplished! Thanks Billy! I've seen LL perform live many times but never in an environment as intimate and friendly as Nissan Live Sets, where the arist also participates in a Q&A session with the fans. The show, filmed in a state of the art soundstage will air on August 15th on Yahoo! Make sure you log on to check him rock out.

Past performers include: Christina Aguilera, Common, Sheryl Crow, Ne-Yo, Maroon 5 and many legends and chart toppers.

LL performed as many classics as he could fit into the live taping, such songs included: "Mama Said Knock You Out, Doin' It, Hey Lover, Loungin', Headsprung, and Around the Way Girl". He also performed singles, "Baby" and Heartbeat" from his soon to be release, Exit 13. One of the songs I was beyond impressed with during his performance was "Laptop Gangstas", which is featured on his Kay Slay Presents: The Return of the G.O.A.T mixtape cd. He performed an accapella version of the song, with the delivery of a poet ala Dej Poetry Jam. He talks about haters wanting him to give up on is career because he's been around for a long time, but he's sayin', "I still got it, why should I stop"? I concur. He describes himself as Classic instead of Old School or New School and understands his relevance and where he fits in the entertainment industry.

During the Q&A portion of the show, one giddy female fan asked if he could lick his lips for her, of course being the Lady Lover he is, he obliged. Geez, where is his Chap Stick commercial? Doesn't he have a deal with Chap Stick? Talk about a commercial I would love to be in.

Thank you's: Billy Johnson, Janda Lane, Stephanie Arnoldy, and Dana Smith. This blog post was made possible because of you all. Thanks!

LL Cool J- feat. Ladies That Love Him

LL & Tiff after his Yahoo Nissan Live Sets performance

LL, being attentive to the lady
Signing autographs. He actually requested a sharpie so he could sign his autograph for a fan. See, the little things. How cool.
These young ladies, recent high school graduates were excited to photograph with LL.
LL, leaves the scene.

Ok, so as I was snaping these photos of the work of art, the blessing to a woman's eyes, God's gift to the ladies and Simone's man, LL Cool J. I didn't realize in all the photos I took, there was a female in them. We really love him, huh? The above photos were taken after LL's taping of Yahoo Music's Nissan Live Sets web show. To help assist in the area of keeping thoughts pure, my friend Lashan, who attended the taping with me, suggested we refer to him as "Simone's Man". So every now and then I will insert that reminder, "Simone's Man".

Moving on, I know it's customary for many hip hop artists to "hate" on one another, but I am seriously suggesting that artists, especially new one's, study this man. Whenever the opportunity is available, observe him on or off the stage; he knows how to connect with people and leave lasting impressions.

His Def Jam project, Exit 13, which features the single, "Baby" w/ The Dream is available in-stores and online on September 9th. In the meantime, his first ever mixtape cd, produced by DJ Kay Slay, The Return of the G.O.A.T. is in the streets and it's lyrically impressive; and fellas, there's only one love song on the mixtape. :)

Special Thanks to LL crew member, Brian Daughtry for making it possible for me to take the photos, and for always looking out regarding "all things "Cool J.