Don’t name it a comeback! July 4th Philly has been right here for years! And we now know who will carry out at this 12 months’s live performance! On Tuesday, Might 6, 2025, Mayor Cherelle Parker introduced that hip-hop legend and actor LL COOL J in addition to Grammy-winning R&B artist and Philly native Jazmine Sullivan can be this 12 months’s performers. Right here’s the whole lot you must know concerning the performers and the live performance.
Who’s LL COOL J?
Born James Todd Smith and primarily based in Queens, New York Metropolis, LL COOL J – which stands for Girls Love Cool James – is taken into account by many to be one of many biggest and most influential hip-hop artists of all time. He was one of many first rappers to realize business success within the Eighties and was one of many premiere artists of the enduring hip hop label Def Jam. Starting along with his 1984 debut “Radio,” LL COOL J has launched 14 studio albums over the span of 5 a long time, along with his most up-to-date album, “The Pressure,” being launched in 2025.
One of many few rappers to stay commercially and culturally related within the 80s, 90s, and 2000s, LL COOL J has gone platinum or multiplatinum 4 instances and gold 4 instances. His singles have additionally reached the highest 10 within the Billboard scorching 100 5 instances. Identified for his versatility as each a battle-tested hardcore hip-hop lyricist in addition to a commercially savvy hitmaker, a few of LL COOL J’s most iconic songs embody “Rock the Bells,” “I’m Dangerous,” “I Want Love,” “Across the Manner Woman,” “Mama Stated Knock You Out,” “Hey Lover,” “Doin’ It,” “Loungin,” “Luv U Higher,” “Headsprung,” “Hush,” and “Management Myself.”
LL is a two-time Grammy Award winner, was the primary rapper to obtain the Kennedy Heart Honors in 2017 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2021.
Along with his unimaginable profession in hip hop, LL additionally established a profitable profession in movie, showing in a number of motion pictures together with “Krush Groove,” “Halloween H20,” “Deep Blue Sea,” “In Too Deep,” “Any Given Sunday,” and “SWAT.” LL has additionally discovered success within the tv world, starring within the 90s sitcom “Within the Home,” internet hosting the fact competitors sequence “Lip Sync Battle,” and starring within the fashionable procedural “NCIS: Los Angeles.”
Who’s Jazmine Sullivan?
Jazmine Sullivan is a two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B and neo soul artist thought-about by many to be one of many biggest singers of her technology. Her ties to the town of concord run deep. She was born in Philadelphia and her mom, Pam Sullivan, was a backup singer for Philadelphia Worldwide Information. Her household moved into the Historic Strawberry Mansion in Philadelphia after her father grew to become a curator there.
She additionally graduated from the Philadelphia Excessive Faculty for the Artistic and Performing Arts.
Sullivan has launched 4 studio albums, together with her 2008 debut “Fearless” going platinum and her most up-to-date album “Heaux Tales” going gold. Her hit singles embody “Want U Dangerous,” which reached primary on Billboard’s Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, “Bust Your Home windows” and “Choose Up Your Emotions.”
What’s the Wawa Welcome America Pageant?
The Wawa Welcome America Festival is Philadelphia’s 16-day celebration free of charge occasions. This 12 months’s festivities will embody the return of the Philly Pops, a partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies and a brand new location for the Hispanic Fiesta.
You can read a full schedule of this year’s events here.
When and the place is the July 4th live performance?
The Wawa Welcome America July 4th live performance will happen on Friday, July 4th on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia. You possibly can watch it dwell on NBC10, the NBC10 streaming channel and the NBC10 app.
