>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WELCOME BACK!
MY FIRST GUEST IS A MULTI-PLATINUM, GRAMMY-WINNING
ARTIST, A BESTSELLING AUTHOR, AND AN ACTOR YOU KNOW FROM HIS
11 SEASONS ON "NCIS: LOS ANGELES."
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," LL COOL J.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: HEY, DAPPER DAN.
>> DAPPER DAN.
>> Stephen: GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> WHAT'S UP?
WHAT'S UP?
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: NOW, THIS BEING WEDNESDAY, TOMORROW IS
THANKSGIVING.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: AND THIS IS-- THIS IS OUR LAST SHOW BEFORE WE TAKE
A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.
>> ABSOLUTELY GLI LIKE TO DO THE COOKING?
DO YOU DO THE COOKING FOR THANKSGIVING?
>> NO, IF I COOKED YOU WOULD BE IN THE HOSPITAL.
IT WOULD BE TOUGH.
>> Stephen: I FIND THAT HARD TO BELIEVE.
BECAUSE I SAW "DEEP BLUE SEA."
YOU PLAYED A COOK IN "DEEP BLUE SEA."
A JESUS-LOVING COOK WHO HAS A COCKATOO.
>> I ONLY MADE AN OMELET IN "DEEP BLUE SEE."
COOKING REQUIRES MORE THAN THAT.
>> Stephen: YOU NEVER COOKED FOR YOURSELF.
>> A LOT OF CHINESE FOOD.
>> Stephen: I KNOW THAT RECIPE.
>> LET'S NOT MAKE IT SOUND FANCY.
I CAN FRY SOME BALONEY.
I WILL WHIP UP SOME BALONEY FOR YOU.
YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE THE FORK AND STICK THAT LITTLE BUBBLE AND PUT
ON, YOU KNOW, SOME TOAST AND A LITTLE MUSTARD AND MAYO.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT.
>> I'M A MAST WER THAT.
>> Stephen: THE WHOLE THING GOES IN THE TURKEY.
>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING I CAN DO-- I KNOW HOW TO CARVE A
TURKEY.
>> Stephen: OH,IALLY RALE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S YOUR APPROACH?
>> YOU GO RIGHT BY THE BACK BONE.
>> Stephen: AND COME IN LIKE THAT AND IT'S ALL SLICES.
>> ALL MY VEGAN FRIENDS ARE REAL UNHAPPY WITH ME RIGHT NOW.
SORRY!
>> Stephen: NOW THIS IS-- THIS IS-- THIS IS EXCITING.
YOU WERE ANNOUNCED THAT YOU'RE DOING THE-- YOU'RE HOSTING THE
KENNEDY CENTER HONORS THIS YEAR.
>> YES, YES.
>> Stephen: THAT'S A GREAT-- >> YES.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE NIGHTS-- ONE OF MY
FAVORITE NIGHTS IN THE YEAR.
ALSO IN 2017 YOU WERE THE FIRST HIP-HOP ARTIST HONORED WITH A
KENNEDY CENTER HONOR WHICH WAS VERY MEANINGFUL TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
WHAT DID THAT MEAN TO YOU?
>> IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE AS MY CAREER PROGRESSED WE WERE ABLE
TO DO A LOT OF FIRSTS FOR HIP-HOP AND NOT JUST FOR ME BUT
IT LIFTS THE ENTIRE GENRE UP AND VALIDATES IT WITH A CERTAIN
AUDIENCE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL.
I'M HONORED TO BE A PART OF IT.
IT WILL BE COOL TO HOST ASK JUST HAVE A GOOD TIME AND GET OUT
THERE.
IT'S NOT ABOUT ME.
IT'S ABOUT THE SHOW.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN AND, YOU KNOW, KENNEDY CENTER
HONORS, LET'S DO IT.
>> Stephen: I HOSTED A FEW TIME-- I HOST AID FEW TIMES AND
IT'S LIKE A WHOLE WEEKEND.
IT'S LIKE A WEDDING.
>> YOU GO TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
>> Stephen: THAT ROOM AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
>> I REMEMBER SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH JAMES BROWN, AND I'M
SITTING THERE HAVING DINNER WITH JAMES BROWN.
AND IT WAS JUST, LIKE, YOU KNOW, I KEPT LEANING-- HUH?
I WAS LEANING OVER A LITTLE BIT.
BUT IT WAS AN AMAZING, AMAZING FEELING TO JUST SIT THERE--
FRAUM, YOU'RE SURROUNDED BY SO MUCH-- YOU KNOW, AMERICA-- WE
HAVE-- LOOK, LET'S TALK ABOUT AMERICA FOR ONE SECOND, RIGHT.
WE HAVE OUR DIFFERENCES AND A LOT OF US SEE THE WORLD WITH
DIFFERENT THREATS AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
BUT WHEN YOU GET PAST SOME OF THOSE THREATS AND EVERYBODY
THINKS THAT THREAT IS DIFFERENT, DEPENDING ON WHERE THEIR
VIEWPOINT IS, WE REALLY HAVE AN AMAZING COUNTRY, RIGHT?
>> Stephen: SURE.
>> AND I THINK THAT--
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, ME SITTING THERE WITH JAMES BROWN
AND JUST SITTING IN THAT ROOM, IT JUST-- YOU KNOW, IT SHOWED ME
THAT ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT THERE AREN'T SYSTEMIC ISSUES.
I DIDN'T SAY THAT THERE AREN'T CERTAIN THINGS THAT CERTAIN
PEOPLE AREN'T HELD BACK, AND CERTAIN DOORS CERTAIN PEOPLE
CAN'T GET IN.
WE KNOW THERE IS THINGS THAT EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY LIKE THAT.
BUT OVERALL, I THINK THAT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF UP SIDE, YOU KNOW,
DOING THIS AMERICAN THING.
AND WE KIND OF GOT TO, YOU KNOW, NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THAT PUP KNOW
WHAT I MEAN?
>> Stephen: AND THAT NIGHT WHEN YOU GO TO THE STATE
DEPARTMENT, IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL, BECAUSE WHEN YOU WALK NTHE FIRST
ROOM YOU WALK INTO, THERE IS THE ACTUAL TREATY OF PARIS.
>> IT'S CRAZY.
>> Stephen: SIGNED BY THOMAS JEFFERSON.
THERE IS THE DESK THAT HE WROTE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ON.
>> ACTUALLY, DAVID RUBENSTEIN ACTUALLY HAD A COPY OF IT --
>> Stephen: THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
HE HAD A COPY OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE THERE, THERE,
LIKE, HE HAD PURCHASED.
>> Stephen: YOU CAN'T HELP BUT BE MOVED BY THE ENTIRE THING.
>> IT'S PRETTY INTERESTING.
BUT, REMEMBER, FREEDOM SHOULD BE FOR ALL OF US, RIGHT.
AND WE HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, ALL BE FREE, RIGHT.
AND I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
AND IT'S NOT ABOUT BITTERNESS.
IT'S NOT ABOUT TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING TO BE ANGRY ABOUT.
IT'S NOT ABOUT STICKING YOUR CHEST OUT JUST TO BE STICK YOUR
CHEST OUT.
BUT IT'S ABOUT FINDING THAT COMMON GROUND, THAT COMMON
CONNECTION, AND ACTING ON THAT AND INJECTING A LITTLE BIT OF
LOVE INTO THAT.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN KIND OF MOVE FORWARD.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE OVERLY IDEALISTIC.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED.
>> Stephen: I THINK YELLISM IS GOOD.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A STANDARD, YOU KNOW.
YOU HOPE TO BEHAVE THAT WAY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: YOU STARTED OFF WHEN YOU WERE SO YOUNG.
HERE ARE YOU-- THIS IS EVEN WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED.
THIS IS YOU AT 17.
AND YOU'VE ALREADY-- YOU'D ALREADY BEEN GOING FOR A COUPLE
YEARS AT THIS POINT.
>> I CAN TELL BY THE JEWELRY.
YEAH.
>> Stephen: YOU ALREADY-- >> I DIDN'T START OFF WITH
JEWELRY.
>> Stephen: YOU RELEASED YOUR FIRST SONG WHEN YOU WERE 16.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: DID YOUR FAMILY ENCOURAGE YOU, OR WERE THEY KIND
OF BAFFLED BY THE DESIRE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I HAD A FAMILY-- I HAD A GRANDMOTHER WHO
ALWAYS TOLD ME, "IF A TASK IS ONCE BEGUN, NEVER LEAVE IT UNTIL
IT'S DONE."
AND THAT SOUNDED CUTE UNTIL I STARTED OVERSLEEPING ON MONDAY
MORNING BECAUSE I HAD DONE CONCERTS ALL WEEKEND.
AND THEN IT WAS, "AAHHGGHH."
I ENDED UP LEAVING THE HOUSE.
I SLEPT ON THE TRAIN FOR A WHILE, SLEPT AT FRIENDS' HOUSES,
JUMPING OVER ROACHES -- >> Stephen: YOU WEREN'T LIVING
AT HOME BECAUSE YOU PRIORITIZED YOUR CAREER AND THAT WAS NOT
UNDERSTAND.
>> WHEN I HAD 12, $1500 BUCKS TO CONTRIBUTE, "COME ON IN, BABY!"
ALL OF A SUDDEN I WAS, YOU KNOW, SALMON AND GRITS, BISCUITS AND
ROLLS AND, YOU KNOW.
SO-- BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS' FUN TIME.
IT WAS A FUN TIME.
>> Stephen: DID YOU EVER THINK ABOUT QUITTING?
>> YOU ALWAYS-- YES, ABSOLUTELY.
LISTEN, LISTEN -- >> Stephen: WHEN DID YOU STOP
THINKTHINKING ABOUT QUITTING?
>> YOU NEVER STOP THINKING ABOUT QUITTING.
NOT IF YOU'RE STRIVING TO BE AGREEMENT AND MAKE YOUR DREAMS A
REALITY.
THERE IS NOBODY WHO IS SUCCESSFUL WHO HAS NEVER THOUGHT
ABOUT QUITTING.
IT'S ABSURD TO EVEN IMAGINE THAT.
YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE MOST-- THAT'S-- THAT'S WHY-- THAT'S
WHAT IT TAKES, RIGHT?
IT'S POWERING THROUGH THOSE TIMES WHERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
CAN'T MAKE IT.
IT'S POWERING THROUGH THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU
SHOULD JUST FORGET EVERYTHING.
>> Stephen: BUT ONCE YOU'VE MADE IT, THERE'S I CAN'T STAY AT
THE STANDARD I WANT TO KEEP FOR MYSELF.
>> IF YOU'RE NOT GETTING BETTER, YOU'RE GETTING WORSE.
MAKING IT, ALL THAT MEANS IS THAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED THAT GOAL.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A FULL AND RICH LIFE, WHEN YOU ACHIEVE
THAT GOAL, YOU NEED TO SET A NEW GOAL, RIGHT.
THERE IS NO "MAKING IT."
IT'S NOT LIKE OH, YOU GET A CHECK AND YOU MADE IT.
BILL GATES, PHENOMENAL GUY.
HE'S DONE INCREDIBLY WELL WITH HIS LIFE AND THE FINANCE, HE'S
STILL TRYING TO FIND A CURE FOR MALARIA.
YOU SET NEW GOALS.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOMETHING BECAUSE I THINK WE'RE
ON THIS PLAN TOTE MAXIMIZE OUR POTENTIAL.
WE'RE NOT JUST HERE TO EITHER MAKE A LOT OF MONEY OR BE REALLY
FAMOUS, AND THAT'S IT.
LIKE, YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE YOUR POTENTIAL, WHATEVER IT IS YOU
DO.
AND I DON'T BELIEVE THAT DREAMS HAVE DEADLINE.
I'LL GIVE YOU AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE.
LIKE, I WAS SPEAKING TO ELENA BUNCH ROAM THROW UPON THE
FOUNDER AND THE GUY WHO BUILT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE IN D.C. AT THE SMITHSONIAN.
NOW THAT IDEA OF BUILDING THAT MUSEUM IS OVER A CENTURY OLD,
OVER 100 YEARS OLD.
PEOPLE HAVE FAILED AND TRIED AND FAILED AND TRIED.
AND THIS GUY WENT IN THERE AND OVER THE COURSE OF 11 YEARS HE
WAS ABLE TO BUILD THIS MUSEUM AND TAKE THIS MUSEUM TO ANOTHER
LEVEL AND NOW PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE WORLD CAN REQUEST GDOWN
THERE AND GET AN EXPERIENCE THEY PROBABLY NEVER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN
AND THAT'S PATROL TO THE AMERICAN STORY BECAUSE YOU WANT
TO KNOW ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE IN AMERICA SO YOU CAN HAVE A BETTER
UNDERSTANDING OF WHO WE ARE AS A COUNTRY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THAT GUY DOING, THAT YOU THAN DREAMS
DON'T HAVE DEADLINES, AND THERE'S NEVER AN END.
HE HAD DONE MANY THINGS THAT WERE REALLY AMAZING PRIOR TO
THAT.
SO THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.
( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: BEAUTIFUL.
NOW, YOU'RE AN ACTOR ON "NCIS: LOS ANGELES", AS EVERYBODY HERE
KNOWS.
YOU STARTED ACTING IN THE EARLY 19s WHEN UPPER ALREADY A
SUCCESSFUL HIP-HOP STAR.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO BECOME AN ACTOR, TOO?
>> I DIDN'T WANT TO LIMIT MYSELF.
I FELT I HAD THE ABILITY.
AND I'LL EVEN BE MORE CANDID.
THE FIRST TIME I WENT TO A RECORD COMPANY I SAID, "I'M
THINKTHINKING ABOUT STARTING A N RECORD," AND THE GUY STARTED
ADJUSTING HIMSELF IN THE SEAT.
I SAID I'M NOT GOING TO BE HANDCUFFED TO THIS GAME.
I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO DIFFERENT THINGS.
I HAVE THE TALENT AND THE ABILITY, WITH HUMIMENT, I HAVE
THEITALLANT AND THE ABILITY TO DO OTHER THINGS.
I'M NOT GOING TO BE DOING ONE THING JUST TO BE DOING IT YOU.
>> Stephen: HAVE DONE IT ON "NCIS: LOS ANGELES" IS IN ITS
11th SEASON.
I WILL ASK YOU AGAIN THE FIRST QUESTION I ASKED YOU ABOUT THIS
SHOW: HOW MUCH NAVAL CRIME IS THERE IN LOS ANGELES?
( LAUGHTER )
ODOBL BE IF THERE'S STILL THIS MUCH NAVAL CRIME AFTER 11
SEASONS?
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
CRIME IS OVER.
THERE'S NO MORE CRIME, YEAH, YEAH.
WE'VE SOLVED CRIME.
CRIME IS SOLVED.
>> Stephen: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
"NCIS: LOS ANGELES" AIRS SUNDAYS AT 9:00 P.M. ON CBS.
LL COOL J, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK