On December 3, 2017 (televised on December 26), LL Cool J became the first rapper to be honored at the Kennedy Centers Honors. Even though he isn’t necessary known as a political rapper, on occasion he has been known to address political concerns. For example, on his 1990 album, Mama Said Knock You Out, he addressed police brutality on the track, “Illegal Search”.
Another example is from his 2008 album Exit 13, “Mr. President”. The song was directed to then President George W Bush. Along with being critical of the Iraq War, it also expresses concerns over health care (“Unless you rich you have poor health care/ Makes you scream and wanna pull out your hair /Discharged from hospitals as soon as you get there”) and immigration (“Illegal immigrants are everywhere / Is it really their fault, they wanted to come here”).
The Kennedy Center Honors was established in 1978. Because of backlash and potential boycott from a couple of the honorees, Donald Trump became the first President not to attend the ceremony.