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Watch LL Cool J perform a medley of hits and new songs at the 2024 MTV VMAs

LL Cool J took the MTV VMAs stage on Wednesday night with a medley of his classic hits and new songs to celebrate Def Jam Records' 40th anniversary.

The rapper – whose performance also featured Flavor Flav and Chuck D of Public Enemy, two of LL's original labelmates at Def Jam – took the stage toward the end of the three-hour show.

LL opened the high-energy performance with “Headsprung,” with audience members wearing the rapper’s signature Kangol hats, all in red. The cameras then panned to several people in the audience holding up signs with goats on them while LL rapped his song “The GOAT,” as Flavor Flav and Chuck D joined him onstage to perform their own song “Bring the Noise.”

LL then briefly moved into his hits “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “Rock the Bells,” “Around the Way Girl,” and “Goin' Back to Cali.” He also performed his new songs “Passion” and “Proclivities” as part of the medley before ending with “Doin' It,” which he sang at the 1996 VMAs.

Busta Rhymes opened the performance, calling LL his “hero” and “true trailblazer.” “He's not just a hip-hop innovator; he's not just a godfather, a big buddy and a mentor,” Rhymes added, noting that LL was also the first artist to release an album on Def Jam.

The performance came hours after LL Cool J released a video for his new single “Murdergram Deux” featuring Eminem, who opened the 2024 VMAs with a performance of “Houdini” and “Somebody Save Me.”

LL's new album, The power (short for Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), was released on Friday. In addition to Eminem, the album, which was produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest, also includes collaborations with artists such as Rhymes, Saweetie, Nas and Snoop Dogg.

Megan Thee Stallion hosted the show, which aired live from New York's UBS Arena. Check out the full list of winners.

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