President Joe Biden went viral for botching rapper LL Cool Jâs name (real name James Todd Smith) during his remarks at the Congressional Black Caucus Phoenix Awards dinner on Saturday, Sept. 23.
Bidenâs blunder came at the beginning of his speech, highlighting those who have evinced leadership in their respective fields and impacted Black culture, from Democratic Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones to LL Cool J.
Amid addressing MC Lyte and LL Cool Jâs influence on hip hop, the 80-year-old president fumbled LL Cool Jâs name.
âThe two of the great artists of our time representing the groundbreaking legacy of hip hop in America, LL J Cool J,â Biden said, earning laughter from the audience.
He talked about how big the âMama Said Knock You Outâ rapperâs biceps were compared to his thighs, referring to him as âboyâ before switching to âman.â
âBy the way, that boyâs gotâŚthat manâs got biceps bigger than my thighs. I think heâsâŚ,â Biden stated, causing the crowd to laugh.
The president then shifted the topic to MC Lyte. Though the moment was brief, viewers couldnât let Bidenâs pronunciation mistake go unseen or unheard.Â
Hollywood Unlock posted the clip, and internet users reacted.
âI donât like how he called him a BOY.â
âThat Boy!! That was a bigger f**k up than his name. Thatâs for damn sure.â
âDid he say âthat boyâ then tried to clean it up? Wow.â
âJoe Biden barely remembers HIS OWN name, LL Cool Jâs name damn near gave him a stroke.â
Biden is known for referring to African-American men as âboy.â He recently did it to Maryland Governor Wes Moore during a speech.
Slave masters referred to male slaves as âboysâ because of their authority over them.
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation held the Phoenix Awards dinner at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
During his speech, Biden acknowledged New Editionâs Mike Bivins and his â40 years [of] producing music that lifts our souls. Forty years and still considered new, I can understand that.â
Before Biden took the podium, Vice President Kamala Harris congratulated LL Cool J and MC Lyte for their latest accolades.
âI also extend congratulations to all our Phoenix Award winners, including LL Cool J and MC Lyte, representing 50 years of hip-hop.â
While Biden may need to brush up on the biggest names in hip hop, VP Harris wasnât shy to talk about rappers she enjoyed during an interview with Keke Palmer on Baby, This Is Keke Palmer.
Harris revealed that although sheâs from the Bay area, where many listened to E-40, she enjoyed some Too Short, an LA-born rapper.
Harris got bright-eyed when she added that she met Too Short at the White House.