LL Cool J still Rocks the Bells, puts on dope 50 years of Hip-Hop show at Dickies Arena

It’s hard to see James Todd Smith and not know him as a movie star and actor with more than 30 films to his credit.

He is most known these days for his starring role in the hit television series “NCIS: Los Angeles.”

But Smith, known professionally as LL Cool J, is a rapper at heart. That’s where he got his start and it remains his first and only true love.

And as the two-time Grammy winner and one of the foundational stars of hip hop told a nearly sold out crowd at Dickies Arena Thursday night, rap is what he loves most.

And it’s the reason he helped organize and curate “The F.O.R.C.E. Live Tour,” a multi-artist package to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hop.

It is LL Cool J’s first arena tour in 30 years.

Questlove helped curate the tribute to honor the 50th anniversary of hip-hop at the 2023 Grammys, which LL Cool J was a part of.

They both promised that the 24-city F.O.R.C.E. Live Tour would be the Grammy performance on steroids.

And they didn’t disappoint.

The stop in Fort Worth, known locally as Funky Town, was a nonstop dope party that included the Questlove and the Roots, Rakim, M.C. Lyte, Ceelo Green and Goodie Mob, Raekwon from the Wu-Tang Clan, Juvenile, Bone Thugs and Harmony — who got a kick out of wearing a Dickies outfit in Dickies Arena — and Big Boi.

LL Cool J was the headliner but it wasn’t your traditional show, as the Roots played the entire night as the musical accompaniment for every act along with the legendary DJ Jazzy Jeff. Black Thought of the Roots served as the host.

The artists played their own songs but it was truly a celebration of hip-hop as the show featured tributes to Eazy E., Whodini and Jay Z, among others.

LL Cool J came onto the stage just after 9 p.m., following performances from the Roots, Rakim, M.C. Lyte and Goodie Mob.

And he wasted no time getting his classic hits, starting with “I’m Bad,” the first single from his second album, “Bigger and Deffer,” released in 1987.

He went through a number of hits, including “Doing It,” “Big Ole Butt,” “Luv U Better,” “Round the Way Girl,” “Jingling Baby” and “Going Back to Cali,” sending the packed house into a tizzy.

Juvenile took the stage and literally Set it Off. When he hit “Slow Motion for Me” and “Back that Azz Up,” the crowd couldn’t contain themselves.

Bone Thugs-n-Harmony and Big Boi followed Juvenile. Their hits “Get Up and Get It,” “1st of Tha Month,” “Tha Crossroads,” “So Fresh and So Clean” and “Sorry Miss Jackson” kept the party going until LL Cool J returned to the stage to finish the show just after 11 p.m. with a medley of his hits.

“I Need Love,” “Jack the Ripper,” “My Radio,” “Phenomenon” and “Mama Said Knock You Out” among others were capped by “Rock the Bells,” proving LL Cool J is still “Hard as Hell.”