PARAMOUNT+ TO DEBUT NEW GROUNDBREAKING DOCUSERIES "HIP HOP WAS BORN HERE" EXECUTIVE PRODUCED AND CO-CREATED BY LL COOL J AND PEYTON MANNING

Hosted by Grammy Award(R) Winning Hip Hop Icon LL COOL J

Produced By MTV Entertainment Studios, Rock The Bells and Omaha Productions

June 27, 2025 - Paramount+ today announced a new music docuseries, HIP HOP WAS BORN HERE, executive produced and co-created by Hip Hop trailblazer and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee LL COOL J and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, set to premiere Tuesday, July 22 on the streamer in the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Brazil. The series will also premiere internationally in the U.K., Australia, Italy, France, Germany, Switzerland and Austria on Wednesday, July 23.

Hosted by LL COOL J, the series will chart the creation, evolution and ongoing legacy of Hip Hop not just as a genre but as a culture. All five episodes will be available to stream exclusively on the service, taking viewers on a journey through Hip Hop history - meeting OGs and future icons, visiting the neighborhoods, studios and places that fostered early styles as well as watching beloved artists analyze their favorite tracks. Featuring interviews with Big Daddy Kane, Doug E. Fresh, Method Man, Rev Run and more, HIP HOP WAS BORN HERE promises to deliver a new level of insight into how hip-hop first came to be and how it transformed into the global sensation that it is today.

See below for full list of special guest appearances:

· LL COOL J

· Big Daddy Kane

· Bimmy

· Crystal Caines

· Doug E. Fresh

· Grandmaster Caz

· Jadakiss

· Lady London

· Marley Marl

· Method Man

· Rev Run

· Roxanne Shante

· Salt of Salt-N-Pepa

· Sheek Louch

· And more!

HIP HOP WAS BORN HERE is Executive Produced by LL COOL J and Stone Roberts for Rock The Bells and Peyton Manning and Jamie Horowitz for Omaha Productions. Kirk Fraser serves as Executive Producer. Bruce Gillmer and Vanessa Whitewolf serve as Executive Producers with Alicia Portugal serving as Co-Executive Producer for MTV Entertainment Studios.

About LL COOL J

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, two-time Grammy(R) Award-winning Hip-Hop icon, Kennedy Center Honoree, recording artist, actor, author, NAACP Image Award winner, entrepreneur, philanthropist and founder and CEO of Rock The Bells, LL COOL J has created one of the most multifaceted careers and brands in entertainment and continues to display his wide range of talents with every project. Four decades after he first burst onto the scene, LL COOL J continues his vibrant, trailblazing career.

LL COOL J began in the nascent, burgeoning rap and Hip-Hop scene of the 80's, which developed into the musical and cultural phenomenon that is today's Hip-Hop. All the while, LL COOL J has remained a musical and cultural force, a living icon and a significant, relevant artist. In March 2018, LL launched his own SiriusXM timeless Hip-Hop channel entitled "LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio," garnering millions of daily listeners. The channel features a wide range of timeless Hip-Hop content, music, interviews and in-depth retrospectives curated, programmed and presented by the award-winning artist. Since its founding, Rock The Bells has developed into a global platform that has become the preeminent voice for timeless Hip-Hop.

Last year LL made his latest artistic contribution and continued elevating Hip-Hop culture after over a decade long hiatus with the September 6th, 2024 release of his highly anticipated new album, THE FORCE (Frequencies of Real Creative Energy), executive produced by Hip-Hop innovator and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Q-Tip, of A Tribe Called Quest. With this album, LL helped celebrate the 40th anniversary of the creation of Def Jam Recordings and became the first Hip-Hop artist to chart Billboard entries across five decades, reaffirming his legacy as a pioneering force and enduring voice in music and culture.

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About Paramount+

Paramount+, part of Paramount's (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment and news brands, is a direct-to-consumer digital subscription video on-demand and live streaming service, combining live sports, breaking news and A Mountain of Entertainment(TM). The streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel. Paramount+ Premium, the service's cornerstone plan, is also home to SHOWTIME(R) content, including scripted hits and critically acclaimed nonfiction projects and films. This premium plan includes unmatched events and sports programming through the local live CBS stream, including golf, basketball and more. All Paramount+ subscribers have streaming access to CBS News Network for 24/7 news and CBS Sports HQ for sports news and analysis. For more information about Paramount+, please visit www.paramountplus.com, and follow @ParamountPlus on social media.

About SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks

SHOWTIME/MTV Entertainment Studios & Paramount Media Networks is a global network of media assets that reaches over one billion people in more than 180 countries featuring some of the most iconic brands in entertainment including SHOWTIME(R), MTV, Comedy Central and Paramount Network among others - and, its studios arm which produces 120+ series annually, including some of today's biggest hits such as Yellowstone, Yellowjackets, Emily in Paris, 1883, 1923, LandmanSouth Park, MobLand, Tulsa King, Rupaul's Drag Race and The Challenge, to name a few.

@ParamountPlus @PeakParamout #ParamountPlus

About Rock the Bells

Founded in 2018 by LL COOL J, Rock The Bells is the preeminent voice of timeless and classic Hip-Hop that stands firm as an anchor, trusted authority, and generational bridge for the culture. As a guardian of Hip-Hop, Rock The Bells preserves the genre's legacy while elevating its influence through storytelling, experiences, and innovation that connect pioneers with rising voices. The Rock The Bells Festival serves as the company's flagship live event, bringing the ultimate celebration of Hip-Hop music, art, and culture to the stage.

Visit www.rockthebells.com, stream LL COOL J's Rock The Bells Radio on SiriusXM Channel 43, and follow @RockTheBells on Instagram and X for more information.

About Omaha Productions

Founded by Peyton Manning in 2020, Omaha Productions is a media company dedicated to creating content that unifies and uplifts audiences.

Omaha Productions currently serves as executive producer on ESPN's Emmy Award-winning Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli, Netflix's first and upcoming second season of Quarterback, Netflix's Receiver and Starting 5, the NFL Honors, and ESPN+'s Places franchise, which includes series hosted by Peyton and Eli Manning, Stephanie McMahon, Abby Wambach, Vince Carter, David Ortiz, Ronda Rousey, P.K. Subban, Sue Bird, Paul Rabil, and John McEnroe. The company has also produced both seasons of ESPN's Full Court Press as well as shows for ABC, A+E, NBCUniversal, and Hulu, including the upcoming Chad Powers scripted series, premiering in fall of 2025.

In addition to documentary work - including VICE's Calipari: Razor's Edge, chronicling John Calipari's first season at Arkansas, and ESPN's The Buddy Way - Omaha Productions has produced alternate telecasts for college football, the NBA, golf, and the UFC. The company has also expanded into live events. In 2023, ESPN and the NFL tapped Omaha Productions to reimagine the Pro Bowl as the Pro Bowl Games.

Omaha Productions is also home to the Omaha Creative Agency, a full-service team behind award-winning content that connects brands with audiences in authentic, culturally relevant ways. With standout campaigns for partners like Bud Light, Nationwide, Nestlé Toll House, and FanDuel, the agency produces commercials, live events, digital content, and branded integrations that deliver real brand impact and audience engagement.