LL Cool J (left:) in the “Mama Said Knock You Out” video; (right) In 2024.Photo:LL COOL J/Youtube; Arnold Turner/Getty
LL COOL J/Youtube; Arnold Turner/Getty
LL Cool Jis bringing back an iconic hit for aSuper Bowlad that packs a punch — literally.
Pfizer’s Super Bowl commercial features LL Cool J’s hit “Mama Said Knock You Out”.Pfizer/Youtube
Pfizer/Youtube
He shadowboxes as he continues through the city streets through a ticker tape parade in his honor amid a cheering crowd, running up steps to an office building — a callback to the iconic steps scene inRocky— as the ad proclaims: “Hey cancer, we’re gonna knock you out.”
“It feels good to have my song used for such an important cause. Strength and resilience are at the heart of hip-hop, and they’re just as crucial in the fight against cancer,” LL Cool J said.
The ad ends on an emotional note as the boy begins sprinting through a suburban street — right into the arms of his mother, who picks him up and embraces him, as flashback photos show him undergoing cancer treatment. In the next scene, the boy is no longer dressed like a prizefighter, but in street clothes with a teddy bear sticking out of his backpack, embracing his parents.
As the rapper said, “My family knows firsthand — staying on top of your health and getting screened early can save lives.” His wife,Simone Smith, was first diagnosed with stage III chondrosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer, in 2004. Her treatment involved a 15-hour surgery to replace the bone and a long rehabilitation period.
Smith made a full recovery and has been cancer-free since.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
source: people.com
