Q&A: Don't call it a comeback: LL Cool J enters ninth season of 'NCIS: Los Angeles' | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Q&A: Don't call it a comeback: LL Cool J enters ninth season of 'NCIS: Los Angeles'

LL Cool J of "NCIS: Los Angeles" poses in this undated handout photo. It's shaping up to be a knockout year for LL Cool J. On Oct. 4, the actor/"Mama Said Knock You Out" rapper will be among the recipients of Harvard University's 2017 W.E.B. Du Bois medals, in December he'll become the first hip-hop artist to get Kennedy Center Honors, and on Sunday he'll reprise his role as special agent Sam Hanna in the season 9 premiere of "NCIS: Los Angeles" on Global and CBS. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - CBS Broadcasting, Kevin Lynch *MANDATORY CREDIT*

TORONTO - It's shaping up to be a knockout year for LL Cool J.

On Oct. 4, the actor/rapper will be among the recipients of Harvard University's 2017 W.E.B. Du Bois medals, in December he'll become the first hip-hop artist to get Kennedy Center Honors, and on Sunday he'll be back on TV as special agent Sam Hanna in the season 9 premiere of "NCIS: Los Angeles" on Global and CBS.

"For me, doing the show was about a challenge," said the New York native, who was born James Todd Smith. "At the time when I started the show, I had been doing music for the majority of my life and primarily that was my priority No. 1.

"So I just wanted to take on a challenge and try something different — and boy, did I take it on. It ended up really putting my music on the backburner for a minute and becoming my priority."

Indeed, acting is more than a crush for the two-time Grammy Award winner, who has earned Emmy nominations for hosting "Lip Sync Battle."

But as he recently told The Canadian Press, the creator of hits like "Mama Said Knock You Out" and "Going Back to Cali" remains committed to his music.

CP: There are many rappers who have gone on to great acting careers — what is it about being in hip hop that bodes well for an actor?

Cool J: I know that one thing we have in common is we bring words to life, and those words have to be infused with real feelings and real emotions.... But I don't want to diminish what it takes to act.

I've been studying acting for many, many years in order to be able to do a show like this. It's not like I just came in and said, 'You know what? I'm going to turn my hat backwards and be an actor.' ... I respect the art form, is basically what I'm saying.

CP: Are you still writing, though?

Cool J: I haven't been writing recently. I've been focused on television right now and acting, but you never know what can happen in the future, know what I'm saying? I'm always going to be an artist first. It's not that I'm more of an actor than a rapper, it's just that right now that's my focus.

CP: What about when you're on "Lip Sync Battle" — don't you just want to jump in there?

Cool J: Of course I want to jump in there and go crazy, do handstands ... with the beats playing and all that.... I'm never going to forget my first love. I have a lot of music fans that are really excited about the idea of me making new music and I would never just forget where I came from and say, 'Oh, I'm an actor now and a host now.' I'm going to always be an artist first. I love my music, forever.

CP: Are there any Canadian artists that you love? Celine Dion?

Cool J: There are so many Canadian artists that I love. Celine is phenomenal, but you know, what about Kardinal Offishall? ... Drake is talented.

CP: What's the one song that everybody comes up to you singing?

Cool J: It (depends) where I'm at. Some songs get bigger over time. Like 'Mama Said Knock You Out' got bigger over time. When it came out, they didn't even want to play it on the radio. Now everywhere I go: 'Mama Said Knock You Out.'

CP: Is there a favourite song of yours that you have?

Cool J: I probably like 'Doin' It.'

— This interview has been condensed and edited.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2017
The Canadian Press

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