BILL VAUGHAN’S TASTY CLIPS: LL Cool J brings ‘Rock The Bells’ to Vegas and abroad
By Bill Vaughan
Entertainment Writer
Grammy Award-winning Hip-Hop icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer LL COOL J is bringing his brand to a Las Vegas residency and Caribbean cruise for 2027.
“Rock The Bells: The Residency” is an 11-show event described as “an electrifying, all-star live experience celebrating the music and moments that shaped generations, blending immersive storytelling, iconic hits, and special guests to be revealed in the coming weeks on one stage.”
Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com for the production kicking off May 15 at Dolby Live at Park MGM, with performances running through July.
According to LL: “Hip-Hop started in a few neighborhoods in New York, and now it belongs to the whole world. Along the way it changed rock, R&B, pop, soul, dance music, all of it. Rock The Bells celebrates everybody who was part of that story. This isn’t me doing a show in Vegas. It’s all of us. Artists from different generations and different genres, sharing one stage, for fans who were there at the beginning and kids hearing it for the first time. People from all over the world come to Vegas to celebrate, so this show belongs here.”
LL is also about to take it to the seas to introduce “Rock The Bells Presents: I Need Luv Cruise” — a new R&B vacation where the music sets the mood and connection takes center stage.
Sailing Nov. 15–19, 2027 from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas aboard Norwegian Jewel, the four-night getaway is designed for couples, singles and friend groups by going beyond the traditional music cruise with programming built around love, relationships, chemistry, friendship and the many ways people connect today.
The inaugural lineup features Tank, Xscape, Ginuwine, Mýa, K. Michelle, Kenny Lattimore, Eric Benét, Kindred the Family Soul and Eric Bellinger, with Jagged Edge performing a special port show. Bryan-Michael Cox and DJ Aktive will also join the voyage, with additional artists and special guests to be announced.
“R&B has always given people the words for what they feel but don’t always know how to say,” LL said. “It’s how a lot of us learned to tell somebody we love them, to make things right, to start over. With ‘I Need Luv,’ we wanted to take that connection people already have with R&B and build an entire vacation around it. Whether you come with your partner, your friends or on your own, come see what happens when love sets sail baby…”
For more info, visit rtbineedluvcruise.com.
TASTY QUIP: “To the b—h that’s booing, you didn’t have to come here. I hope someone sees you and politely removes you. The [eff] are you spending your money for, idiot! I’m sorry. Sometimes I have to go in.” – MARY J. BLIGE to a heckler at her Dolby Live at Park MGM Las Vegas residency
CLIPPETTES: LA Jazz Society presents the 2026 Jazz Tribute Concert & Awards honoring Harvey Mason Jr. & Sr., on Nov. 6 at the Broad Stage. Also that night, Mohini Dey closes her stay at Blue Note LA; the Sun Rose holds a birthday celebration for Kenneth Crouch; Alborosie & Shengen Clan hit the Regent Theater; Carl Cox spins at the Palladium; Don Omar returns to the Forum; Nia Archives is at the Fonda Theatre; and Keiko Matsui plays Catalina Jazz Club …
The LA Inner City Cultural Center celebrates 60 years with “C. Bernard Jackson: The Visionary and the Vision” featuring music by Larry V. Nash & the Quarter Pounder Quartet at Leimert Park’s historic Vision Theatre Performing Arts Center on Nov. 7 …
Meanwhile, the Marc Cary Focus Trio are at Loyola Marymount University; Danny Brown is at Catch One; Skilla Baby at the Belasco; Chris Dave, Eric Gales, MonoNeon & Cory Henry at Blue Note LA; and CineOpera hosts Utopia featuring guest DJs Deon Cole, Tailwind Turner & the Utopia Sonic Selectors …
Nov. 8 finds Ms. Lauryn Hill & Wyclef Jean celebrating 30 years of Fugees’ “The Score” at the Hollywood Bowl; the Buena Vista Orchestra at the Wiltern; PJ Morton at the United Theater on Broadway; Baby Smoove at the Regent; Matisyahu at Valley Beth Shalom; Kennedy Ryon at the Roxy; and Victor Orlando’s 74th annual celebration with Lawrence Hilton Jacobs, Castella & more at Catalina Jazz Club …
Blue Note LA on Nov. 9 hosts guitarist Lee Ritenour’s album release show for his latest “Live at Ronnie Scott’s” recorded at the legendary London jazz club in March …
On Nov. 10, as her latest book “We Make The World: Guided Aesthetics Practices for Art, Power, and Healing” is released, award-winning artist, bestselling author and Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors will be in conversation with Ashley Jackson (daughter of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson who leads PUSH The Next Generation) at Skirball Cultural Center. RSVPs are required at Skirball.org home of Cullors’ exhibit “Wishes Made Material …
Later, master drummer Najite Agindotan brings West African Conga Rhythms and Beats to The World Stage …
South Central’s own Def Sound celebrates the release of their first official mixtape “Raps for N*ggas Who Read Books Vol. 1” with a listening party followed by a Q&A with Neil deGrasse Tyson & Jason E.C. Wright and book swap at dublab on Nov. 11 as Dexter Story performs music from his new album “T’som” (pronounced sawm) with an 11-piece band and special guests at 2220 Arts + Archives …
That evening, “Purpose,” the 2025 Tony Award & Pulitzer Prize-winning play written by Branden Jacob-Jenkins and directed by Phylicia Rashad, opens at the Geffen Playhouse running through Dec. 20 …
Talib Kweli & Friends Residency is back by popular demand at Blue Note LA Nov. 12 while Pasadena’s Armory Center for the Arts opens Dominique Moody’s exhibition N.O.M.A.D. (Narrative, Odyssey, Manifesting, Artistic, Dreams) running through Jan. 16 …
Michael Wilbon of ESPN’s “Pardon The Interruption” and NBA coverage announced he is stepping away indefinitely to deal with some ongoing health issues …
The first large-scale exhibition dedicated to the impact of “The Brockman Gallery: Los Angeles, 1967–1990,” founded in South L.A. in the wake of the Watts Riots, opens at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Nov. 12 for a two-month run. Also that night, Libretto Jazz featuring John Beasley’s MONK’estra Big Band plays the Spotlight.
TASTY QUIP: “Good is how, like, you never, it feels like you’re never judged for being ambitious. Bad, I would say, I think the social interactions are more shallow here. More, not as in-depth as what I’ve seen in other countries.” – Congolese-French NBA star VICTOR WEMBANYAMA to “60 Minutes” on the positives and negatives of living in America
TC ON TV: Nov. 6 – “Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook” (AppleTV): Follows the comic actress on a cross-country culinary road trip as she attempts to revive her family’s beloved Chinese restaurant. “First Take” (ESPN): Stephen A. Smith’s show continues its HBCU Tour from the campus of Alabama’s Tuskegee University. “Jennifer Hudson” (Syn): Doja Cat & WNBA star Nneka Ogwumike.
Nov. 7 – “Terry McMillan Presents: Paradise with You” (Lifetime): Taye Diggs stars as an NFL star whose island retreat before retirement introduces him to an interior decorator (Heather Hemmens) recovering from betrayal. Their romance gets complicated when both want the same estate. Cynthia Bailey is featured in this movie filmed in Nevis. “Austin City Limits” (PBS): Gary Clark Jr., Black Pumas “Saturday Night Live” (NBC): Druski hosts with musical guests the Strokes.
Nov. 10 – “Portrait of an Artist: Stephen Curry” (Disney+/ESPN): A documentary exploring the hoop star’s creativity, discipline and mindset. “Janelle James: How Romantic” (Netflix): The “Abbott Elementary” favorite sounds off on body counts, bank accounts and why women should wrestle men. “Dancing with The Stars” (ABC/Disney+): Tatyana Ali had viewers and judges in awe with her dramatic moves last week. Now she advances to “Grammy Night.” “Nick Cannon @ Night” (BET): Dondré Whitfield & Dr. Zoe Indigo ponder “Can Poor Hygiene Kill Attraction?”
Nov. 11 – “Tyler Perry’s The Gospel of Christmas” (Netflix): Fantasia Barrino and Durrell “Tank” Babbs (as a pastor questioning faith) lead an all-star cast of Yolanda Adams, Fred Hammond, Smokie Norful, Jekalyn Carr, the Clark Sisters, CeCe Winans and Shirley Caesar in this holiday confection with music produced by Kirk Franklin.
Nov. 12 – “Elsbeth” (CBS): Sam Richardson (“Veep”) guest stars as an up-and-coming competitive eater in the episode helmed by Rob Hardy (“Power” franchise). “Cupertino” (CBS): Hardy also directs this one with Cliff “Method Man” Smith as a legendary rapper who needs the law firm to stop an AI-music studio from infringing upon his rights. Additionally, Michael (Mike Colter) goes up against his dad (Joe Morton) as opposing counsel.
END QUOTE: “Social media is not real. The comments is not real. People just do things and they probably won’t even meet you. You don’t even know these people. You don’t know if you would ever even come in contact with these people. I learned that it’s not real and to not let those things get in my head. It’s just keep going no matter what.” – YUNG MIAMI to Spin
For more than 12 years, Bill Vaughan has kept Wave readers up to date with the latest news in entertainment. To contact Vaughan, visit his social media pages on Facebook and Instagram or @tasty_clips, on X @tastyclips, and on LinkedIn to William Vaughan.
