LL COOL J poses confidently in a feature image for Hip Hop Was Born Here, his new docuseries on Paramount+ celebrating the legacy of hip-hop culture.
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LL COOL J to Host and Executive Produce New Paramount+ Docuseries ‘Hip Hop Was Born Here’

Phyllis Coley @phyllis_coley
LL COOL J

RALEIGH, NC – Paramount+ is set to bring viewers a high-energy, history-rich celebration of hip-hop’s roots with its upcoming music docuseries Hip Hop Was Born Here, premiering Tuesday, July 22. Executive produced and hosted by LL COOL J, the five-part series will offer an insider’s look into the genre’s early days, cultural rise, and lasting influence on global music and identity.

Joining LL COOL J behind the scenes as executive producer is none other than NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, making the series a unique intersection of sports, storytelling, and sound. The series will stream exclusively on Paramount+ in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Brazil.

A Journey Through the Places, People, and Power of Hip-Hop

Each episode of Hip Hop Was Born Here takes viewers deep into the neighborhoods, studios, and street corners where hip-hop was born and shaped, blending historical context with modern-day reflections. Viewers will hear directly from pioneers and rising stars, as well as revisit iconic songs and cultural moments that defined generations.

Special guests featured in the series include:

  • Big Daddy Kane
  • Doug E. Fresh
  • Method Man
  • Rev Run
  • Roxanne Shante
  • Salt (of Salt-N-Pepa)
  • Jadakiss
  • Grandmaster Caz
  • Lady London
  • and more

LL COOL J—an icon in both music and television—serves not only as host but also as guide, mentor, and cultural historian throughout the series.

Watch the Official Trailer:

LL COOL J: A Living Link to Hip-Hop’s Golden Era

With a career spanning four decades, LL COOL J is one of the most enduring and influential figures in hip-hop history. A two-time Grammy Award winner, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, and Kennedy Center Honoree, he continues to elevate hip-hop through both creative and entrepreneurial endeavors.

LL COOL J poses confidently in a feature image for Hip Hop Was Born Here, his new docuseries on Paramount+ celebrating the legacy of hip-hop culture.In 2018, he launched LL COOL J’s Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM, now one of the leading platforms for classic hip-hop. His company, Rock The Bells, has evolved into a global brand dedicated to timeless hip-hop culture.

Last year, LL released THE FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy)—his first album in over a decade—executive produced by Q-Tip of A Tribe Called Quest. With that release, he became the first hip-hop artist to chart Billboard entries across five decades, reaffirming his impact across generations.

Behind the Series: Production Credits

Hip Hop Was Born Here is executive produced by:

  • LL COOL J and Stone Roberts for Rock The Bells
  • Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz for Omaha Productions
  • Kirk Fraser
  • Bruce Gillmer and Vanessa Whitewolf (MTV Entertainment Studios)
  • Alicia Portugal, co-executive producer

Conclusion: A Celebration of Culture, Not Just Music

With its combination of deep cultural reverence, iconic guest appearances, and behind-the-scenes storytelling, Hip Hop Was Born Here aims to go beyond the music—to highlight hip-hop’s role as a movement, identity, and force of change.

The series premieres Tuesday, July 22, exclusively on Paramount+. All five episodes will be available to stream on launch day.

For more information, visit www.paramountplus.com or follow @ParamountPlus across social platforms.