Who could have known that statues can be sustainable?
LL Cool J has definitely upped his celebrity status with his first statue at the Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, New York.
What sets his statue apart from others is that it is sustainably fabricated with solar panels in the back to play his legendary music hits at the speakers.
TimeOut reported that the speakers are timed to blast the Cool J's music from 12NN to 5PM for five days a week.
Sculptor Sherwin Banfield, who also grew up in Queens, created the one-of-a-kind statue. The monument was made out of bronze, resin, stainless steel, winterstone, and wood.
It features LL Cool J, real name James Todd Smith, in his signature Kangol bucket hat and fat Cuban link chain, holding up a giant boombox loaded with a glowing cassette of his 1985 debut album, Radio.
At the back, Smith's name was etched on the solar panel. A sculpted lion wearing a gold chain and, of course, a goat rocking a similar one can be seen on both sides.
The "sustainable" monument is also filled with Cool J's mantra: "If a task is once begun, never leave until it's done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all."
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Banfield, who previously dedicated a trio of sculptures in Queens to the late Phife Dawg, Prodigy, and Jam Master Jay in 2019, described the installation as a "labor of love."
In a lengthy Instagram post, Banfield shared how the installation was made possible because of LL Cool J's old childhood friend who thought that the rapper "needed his own monument in his home town for all he has done for his community".
After receiving grants from several foundations like Queens Council on the Arts and New York Senator Leroy Comrie, the one year and a half "sonic monument" finally materialized.
Aside from his serious philanthropic initatives, LL Cool J's contribution to the music industry was recently recognized.
Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame
The Queens born rapper was recently inducted at the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame last October 2021, along with Rap legend Jay-Z.
Cool J, humbly accepted his award as he have proven that he deserved the recognition. The 40-year old rapper turned actor have been nominated since 2010 but only managed to be inducted last 2021.
He goes on to his speech saying how how thankful he is on those who have voted for him year after year, and that how "real humility" is important.
