He will be awarded alongside musician Lionel Richie, singer Gloria Estefan, TV writer Normal Lear and dancer Carmen de Lavallade.
The awards annually celebrate arts figures for their contributions to American culture.
LL Cool J tweeted: "To be the first rap artist honoured by the @kencen is beyond anything I could have imagined."
He added: "Dreams don't have deadlines. God is great."
At 49, he ties with Stevie Wonder as the youngest artist to receive the honour.
