LL COOL J On Rock The Bells, Chris Lighty, RUN DMC Impact & Wild Tour Stories

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 09:11:44 +0000

Join 247HH’s Culture Builders as hip-hop legend LL COOL J breaks down the blueprint behind building a lasting legacy in music and culture.

From creating Rock The Bells and reshaping how timeless hip-hop artists thrive, to sharing stories about Chris Lighty, RUN DMC, and Def Jam’s early days, LL delivers powerful insight into longevity, ownership, and evolution in the game.

LL COOL J also dives into following intuition, taking risks, handling criticism, and turning doubt into fuel. Plus, he shares unforgettable moments—from getting booed early in his career to wild tour stories overseas and witnessing iconic figures like Berry Gordy and Muhammad Ali backstage.

This is more than an interview—it’s a masterclass on staying relevant, building culture, and never waiting for permission.

Watch now and tap in with the mindset of a true Culture Builder.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro – Industry mindset & not complaining
0:34 Rock The Bells & timeless hip-hop resurgence
2:05 Creating opportunity for legacy artists
3:07 Impact on hip-hop culture & Super Bowl moment
4:04 Refusing industry limitations on hip-hop
5:26 Inspiring artists & collaboration wave
6:25 Chris Lighty legacy & Violator era
7:38 Following intuition & dropping out of school
9:41 Keys to success: intuition, vulnerability & humility
12:00 Tough skin, criticism & mindset
12:49 “I Need Love” & breaking barriers in hip-hop
14:03 Leaning into criticism & doing what you want
15:14 First time performing & being told “you can’t rap”
16:10 Early Def Jam moment & proving doubters wrong
17:36 Revenge moment with industry artist
19:24 Wild tour story – Scotland crowd fight
21:47 Berry Gordy & Muhammad Ali backstage moment
23:02 RUN DMC influence & early career growth
24:14 “Rock The Bells” origin & Def Jam history
25:08 Lessons from DMC & longevity mindset
26:16 Beastie Boys, Rick Rubin & Def Jam beginnings
27:00 Closing thoughts & legacy perspective