LL Cool J says he feels he 'was part of' 2024 Olympics breakdancing: 'Whenever I see the boombox'
"I hope that they reconsider bringing back breaking for the 2028 games. I do know that the breakers will be even better in the 2028 games," LL Cool J says.
LL Cool J didn't just watch the 2024 Paris Olympics breakdancing competition — he felt like he "was part of" it.
Seeing the breakdancers with "the boombox" reminded the Grammy award-winning rapper and actor of his 1985 debut album Radio, he told host D-Stroy of SiriusXM’s CTRL, ALT, D-Stroy on Shade 45.
"I did feel like I was part of it, whenever I see the boombox radio, obviously," the artist, born James Todd Smith in Long Island, said.
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LL Cool JRelated: Adele calls Australian breakdancer Raygun's Olympic routine 'f---ing fantastic'
The rapper noted that his tours used to incorporate a giant boombox onstage to the point where he became synonymous with the music player in his early career.
"It personifies that, so it’s like, when I see that, I always think about my music and my contribution to hip-hop," added LL Cool J, who has also starred as an actor in NCIS: Los Angeles and movies including Deep Blue Sea, Halloween H2O, and Deliver Us from Eva. "So it was amazing man. I’m so happy about hip-hop culture."
The 2024 Paris Olympics was the first time breakdancing (or breaking) was featured as a competition. Canada's Phil Wizard won the gold medal, France’s Dany Dann won silver, and the U.S.'s Victor Montalvo won bronze. The new fan-favorite sport won't be included in Los Angeles' 2028 Olympics, however, and LL wishes that would change.
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"I hope that they reconsider bringing back breaking for the 2028 games," he said. "I do know that the breakers will be even better in the 2028 games. There were a lot of great ones out there, don't get me wrong, but I think that it will only get better and stronger. You just have to give it some time, and I feel good about it, man. I love this culture. I love hip-hop, man. I love it."
Last week, Australian Olympic breakdancer Raygun went viral for her kangaroo-like moves, prompting Adele to praise her during her concert in Munich, Germany, as well as Saturday Night Live star Chloe Fineman to channel her inner Raygun in her own TikTok, dressing up in a jumpsuit similar in color to Team Australia’s and prancing her way around a gym. She captioned the video, "All hail RAYGUN. Girl hopped like a kangeroo and ate???"
Raygun has since spoken out in defense of her moves. "I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best — their power moves," she told the AP. "What I bring is creativity."
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