"You think Paul Simon is known in the hood?" rapper joked on 'Jimmy Kimmel,' recalling duo's Queens talent show appearance In 1987, when LL Cool J was merely "first album famous," the emerging rapper spent a charming afternoon bonding with folk-rock legend/fellow Queens native Paul Simon for a New York Times  profile. Reminiscing Thursday on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , the Lip Sync Battle host recalled hanging out with the singer-songwriter in his grandmother's basement.