Today, Jan. 14, LL Cool J and Slick Rick celebrate their birthdays.

LL Cool J turns 50 today. Born in 1968 in Queens, New York, LL burst on the rap scene in the mid-1980s. His first album, Radio, went platinum and he didn't stop there. His music career continued to thrive with more platinum records and a Grammy award. He went on to conquer acting, fashion, books and the internet. In 2017, he became the first rapper to receive the coveted Kennedy Center Honor.

Slick Rick "The Ruler" turns 53 today. A Grammy-nominated British-American rapper, Rick is praised for being one of the greatest storytellers in hip-hop. His 1988 release, The Adventures of Slick Rick, achieved platinum status, as did his 1999 release, The Art of Storytelling. Additionally, Slick Rick remains relevant through mentions throughout a variety of rap songs, including tracks by Lil Wayne, Lauryn Hill, Nas and Nicki Minaj.

Happy Birthday, LL Cool J and Slick Rick!—Emily Cappiello

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