LL Cool J, the renowned rapper, has made a significant decision to lend his impressive Kehinde Wiley portrait to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington D.C. This vibrant painting, which captures his essence, is currently on display at the prestigious gallery, adding another layer to his already storied legacy in the world of hip-hop.
The Grammy Award-winning lyricist shared his motivation behind this decision in an exclusive conversation before the release of his book, “The Streets Win 50 Years of Hip Hop Greatness,” scheduled for October 3rd. The portrait, a stunning creation commissioned for the hip-hop honors and facilitated by Fab 5 Freddy, holds immense significance to LL Cool J.
Describing the artwork, LL Cool J expressed, “I had a painting by Kehinde Wiley. It was done for me for the commission for the hip-hop honors. It was commissioned. Fab 5 Freddy set it up, and I purchased my painting. It’s this ginormous portrait of me.” Upon receiving the portrait, LL Cool J was left in awe, stating, “I put it in my house, and I walked in, and I was like, ‘Yo, this is crazy.’ It was taking up a whole wall. And it was me staring at the whole family.”
However, the rapper soon realized that having such a massive homage to himself prominently displayed in his family’s home might have unintended consequences. He explained, “It felt like it was leaning… It would lean on their dreams a little bit. It could inspire, and make them aspire, but it’d also go either way.” Concerned about the impact on his family’s psyche, LL Cool J made a thoughtful decision.
“I ended up loaning it to the Smithsonian, so people could see it, beautifully framed, hanging in the National Portrait Gallery,” he revealed. While he finds the display of his artwork at the Smithsonian to be beautiful, LL Cool J is also aware of how this decision benefits his family.
“To me, that’s an example of being there for your family,” he emphasized. “For a person who’s, maybe, not doing what I’m doing, maybe the version is you try your best to have a man cave. Or, maybe this particular week you watch the game on your phone and let them have the big TV.”
In essence, LL Cool J’s decision to display his remarkable artwork at the Smithsonian reflects his dedication to creating a harmonious family environment by giving them space and consideration. His impressive portrait, created by the talented Kehinde Wiley, is now on view at the National Portrait Gallery, adding to the rich tapestry of art and culture at the esteemed institution.