Editing LL Cool J (section)

===2012–2023: ''Authentic'', ''G.O.A.T. 2'' and recognition===
On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released "Ratchet", a new single from his upcoming album titled ''Authentic Hip-Hop''. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with [[Joe (singer)|Joe]] and the production duo [[Trackmasters]] on his second single, "Take It".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=2qYWVpFsdDo|title=LL Cool J – Take It ft. Joe|website=Youtube|date=April 3, 2013 }}</ref>

On February 8, 2013, it was announced that the title of LL's upcoming album would be changed from ''Authentic Hip-Hop'' to ''[[Authentic (LL Cool J album)|Authentic]]'', with a new release date of April 30, 2013. A new cover was also unveiled.<ref>{{cite web|last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21831/title.ll-cool-j-authentic-hip-hop-cover-art-release-date |title=LL Cool J Announces "Authentic" Release Date & Tracklist |website=HipHopdx.com|date=February 14, 2013 |access-date=May 2, 2013}}</ref> At around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J had collaborated with [[Van Halen]] guitarist [[Eddie Van Halen]] on two tracks on the album.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kearth101.cbslocal.com/2013/03/28/ll-cool-j-on-eddie-van-halen-i-have-worked-with-one-of-the-greatest-guitarists-that-ever-lived/|title=LL Cool J On Eddie Van Halen Collabo: "Now He's Officially Done Hip-Hop"|access-date=June 30, 2016|archive-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816012514/http://kearth101.cbslocal.com/2013/03/28/ll-cool-j-on-eddie-van-halen-i-have-worked-with-one-of-the-greatest-guitarists-that-ever-lived/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guitarworld.com/eddie-van-halen-teams-ll-cool-j|title=Eddie Van Halen Teams Up With LL Cool J|work=Guitar World |date=April 2, 2013|access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ultimateclassicrock.com/eddie-van-halen-ll-cool-j-songs/|title=Hear Eddie Van Halen Perform on Two New LL Cool J Songs|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=May 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2016}}</ref>

On October 16, 2013, the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] announced LL Cool J as a nominee for inclusion in 2014.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nirvana-kiss-hall-and-oates-nominated-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-20131016 "Nirvana, Kiss, Hall and Oates Nominated for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902070929/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/nirvana-kiss-hall-and-oates-nominated-for-rock-and-roll-hall-of-fame-20131016 |date=September 2, 2016 }}. ''Rolling Stone''. October 16, 2013. Retrieved October 16, 2013.</ref> In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called ''G.O.A.T. 2'' and would be released in 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2014/10/ll-cool-j-def-jam-interview/|title=LL Cool J On Def Jam's 30th Anniversary And His New Street Album|work=XXL Mag|date=October 6, 2014 }}</ref> LL stated that "the concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine, and put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, the album was put on hold. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7262648/ll-cool-j-new-album-goat-2-eminem-twitter |title=Unretired Rap Legend LL Cool J Shares New Album Details & Offers 'G.O.A.T. 2' Update |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419000033/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/7262648/ll-cool-j-new-album-goat-2-eminem-twitter |archive-date=April 19, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref>

On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis_los_angeles/photos/1005644/ll-cool-j-gets-a-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/101595/everybody-loves-ll-cool-j/ |title=LL COOL J Gets a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame |website=[[CBS]] |access-date=January 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192304/http://www.cbs.com/shows/ncis_los_angeles/photos/1005644/ll-cool-j-gets-a-star-on-the-hollywood-walk-of-fame/101595/everybody-loves-ll-cool-j/ |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref>

In March 2016, LL announced his retirement on social media, but quickly walked back his announcement and indicated that a new album was on the way.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/entertainment/ll-cool-j-retire-feat/index.html |title=LL Cool J retires, unretires, then announces new album |website=[[CNN]] |date=March 15, 2016 |access-date=March 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503003118/http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/15/entertainment/ll-cool-j-retire-feat/index.html |archive-date=May 3, 2016 |df=mdy }}</ref> LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for five consecutive years, from the [[54th Annual Grammy Awards|54th Grammy Awards]] on February 12, 2012, through the [[58th Annual Grammy Awards|58th Grammy Awards]] on February 15, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/grammys-2016-ll-cool-j-849351/|title=Grammys: LL Cool J Back for Fifth Year as Host|access-date=May 29, 2021|website=Hollywood Reporter|date=December 16, 2015 }}</ref>

In October 2018, LL Cool J was nominated for the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rockhall.com/class-2019-nominees|title=Class of 2019 Nominees|work=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=2018-10-11|language=en}}</ref> In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://allhiphop.com/news/exclusive-def-jam-records-re-signs-ll-cool-j-to-iconic-label-VVCdYIfpMUeXJXkXRHUMkw|title=EXCLUSIVE: Def Jam Records Re-Signs LL Cool J To Iconic Label|website=Allhiphop.com|access-date=2020-04-13|archive-date=February 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227164406/https://allhiphop.com/news/exclusive-def-jam-records-re-signs-ll-cool-j-to-iconic-label-VVCdYIfpMUeXJXkXRHUMkw|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled his performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Mamo|first=Heran|title=LL Cool J Cancels 'New Year's Rockin' Eve' Performance After Testing Positive for COVID-19|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ll-cool-j-chloe-cancel-new-years-rockin-eve-performance-covid-1235014619/|date=December 29, 2021|access-date=December 29, 2021|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

LL Cool J hosted the [[2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards]] on March 22, 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Grein|first=Paul|title=LL Cool J Set to Host 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/ll-cool-j-host-2022-iheartradio-music-awards-1235035400/|date=February 24, 2022|access-date=February 24, 2022|magazine=Billboard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Justin |title=How to Watch iHeartRadio Music Awards |url=https://www.si.com/tv/entertainment/iheartradio-music-awards-mar-22-live-stream-watch-online-free |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=How to Watch and Stream Major League & College Sports – Sports Illustrated. |date=March 22, 2022 |language=en-us}}</ref>