Russell Simmons On LL Cool J & Beastie Boys Rock-N-Roll HOF Nods

Now that LL has been nominated for Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame again, his fellow Def Jam co-founder Uncle Rush retreated to his site to show his support as well as the Beastie Boys’ nod. Uncle knows best.

 Nothing makes me happier than seeing the greatest of all time, LL Cool J, getting nominated to become a member of the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame. I remember when Todd was just a young, runaway kid who kept sending his demo tape to Rick Rubin’s dorm room. When we first listened to his tape, we knew we had to make Todd part of the Def Jam family.But more importantly than being a hit maker, Todd has always said yes when asked to give back to his community. I have asked him to do many, many things and he has NEVER said no. He is a true friend and someone who truly deserves to immortalized in the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame.
And while on this subject, I also want to give praise to the Beastie Boys who have also been nominated. When I first met the Beasties, they were a bunch of white kids from New York City who were doing this new thing in music, fusing rock and rap and making it accessible to every white kid in America. Over the years, Todd made hit after hit, and maybe only to Jay-Z, he has the most hits in hip-hop history…at least in my book.
However, they took this incredible sound and made EVERY kid in America want to rock one of the greatest albums ever, license To Ill. They are amazing people and I feel honored to have the chance to have worked with them during the early years of Def Jam. I look forward to seeing them on the stage being inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall Of Fame.