LL Cool J | |
|---|---|
.jpg) LL Cool J in 2023 | |
| Born | James Todd Smith (1968-01-14)January 14, 1968 (age 57) Bay Shore, New York, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Works | Discography |
| Spouse | [1] |
| Partner | Kidada Jones (1992–1994)[2] |
| Children | 4[1] |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Queens,New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | East Coast hip-hop |
| Labels | |
| Website | llcoolj |
Musical artist | |
| Signature | |
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James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally asLL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James),[3] is an American rapper.[4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellownew school hip hop actsBeastie Boys andRun-DMC.
Signed toDef Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album,Radio (1985). He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albumsBigger and Deffer (1987),Walking with a Panther (1989),Mama Said Knock You Out (1990),Mr. Smith (1995), andPhenomenon (1997). His twelfth album,Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. He later re-signed with the label and released his fourteenth album,The FORCE (2024).
LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, includingToys,Halloween H20,In Too Deep,Any Given Sunday,Deep Blue Sea,S.W.A.T.,Mindhunters,Last Holiday, andEdison. From 2009 to 2023, He playedNCIS Special AgentSam Hanna in theCBS crime drama television seriesNCIS: Los Angeles and reprises his role in theNCIS: Hawaiʻi (2023–2024) andNCIS (2025). LL Cool J was also the host ofLip Sync Battle onParamount Network.[5][6]
A two-timeGrammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known forhip hop songs such as "Going Back to Cali", "I'm Bad", "The Boomin' System", "Rock the Bells", and "Mama Said Knock You Out", as well asR&B hits such as "I Need Love", "Doin' It", "Loungin", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010,VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list.[7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive theKennedy Center Honors.[8] In 2021, he was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Musical Excellence category.[9]
James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, inBay Shore, onLong Island,New York to Ondrea Griffith (born January 19, 1946) and James Louis Smith Jr.,[10] also known as James Nunya.[11][12][13] His grandfather, who adopted Smith's mother, is ofBarbadian descent.[14] His 1997 memoir says his father abused his mother.[15] According to theChicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class andCatholic in Queens, life for Smith was heart-breaking. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere."[16] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home inSt. Albans, Queens, where he was raised.[17][18] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe.[16]
Smith beganrapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop groupThe Treacherous Three. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith was creatingdemo tapes in his grandparents' home.[19] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including twoturntables, anaudio mixer and anamplifier.[20] During this time, Smith reconciled with his father who "made amends for a lot of things" by offering him guidance at the start of his music career.[16][12][21] His mother was also supportive of his musical endeavors, using hertax refund to buy him aKorgdrum machine.[22] Smith has stated that by the time he received musical equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. In this neighborhood, the kids grow up in rap. It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house."[20] This was at the same time thatNYU studentRick Rubin andpromoter-managerRussell Simmons founded the then-independentDef Jam label. By using themixer he had received from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sent them to variousrecord companies throughout New York City, including Def Jam.[20]
In the VH1 documentaryPlanet Rock: The Story of Hip Hop and the Crack Generation, Smith revealed that he initially called himself J-Ski, but did not want to associate his stage name with the cocaine culture (The rappers who use "Ski" or "Blow" as part of their stage name, e.g.,Kurtis Blow and Joeski Love, were associated with the rise of the cocaine culture.) Under his newstage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation forLadiesLoveCoolJames), coined by his friend and fellow rapperMikey D,[23][17] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984).[19] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes.[19] Smith later discussed his search for a label, stating "I sent my demo to many different companies, but it was Def Jam where I found my home."[24] That same year, Smith made his professional debutconcert performance at Manhattan Center High School. In a later interview, LL Cool J recalled the experience, stating "They pushed the lunch room tables together and me and my DJ, Cut Creator, started playing. ... As soon as it was over there were girls screaming and asking for autographs. Right then and there I said 'This is what I want to do'."[25] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. The commercial success of "I Need a Beat", along with theBeastie Boys' single "Rock Hard" (1984), helped lead Def Jam to a distribution deal withColumbia Records the following year.[26]
Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap.[27]Released November 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,[28]Radio earned a significant amount of commercial success and sales for a hip hop record at the time. Shortly after its release, the album sold over 500,000 copies in its first five months, eventually selling over 1 million copies by 1988, according to theRecording Industry Association of America.[29][30]Radio peaked at number 6 on theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 46 on theBillboard 200 albums chart.[31] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, and remained there for 47 weeks, while also entering the Pop Albums chart on January 11, 1986,[31] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks.[31] By 1989, the album had earnedplatinum status from theRecording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales exceeding one million copies; it had previously earned a gold certification in the United States on April 14, 1986.[30]"I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the U.S.[32]
With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and theRadio LP, LL Cool J became one of the early hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along withKurtis Blow andRun-D.M.C. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986–'87Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. and theBeastie Boys.[33] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance onAmerican Bandstand as the first hip hop act on the show,[34] as well as an appearance onDiana Ross' 1987 television special,Red Hot Rhythm & Blues.
The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer.Radio, along withRaising Hell (1986) andLicensed to Ill (1986), would form a trilogy of New York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop.[35][36] Rubin's production credit on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to hisminimalist production style, which gave the album its stripped-down and gritty sound. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions.[37] Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.[37]
LL Cool J's second album was 1987'sBigger and Deffer, which was produced byDJ Pooh and theL.A. Posse.[38] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone.[39] It spent 11 weeks at No. 1 onBillboard's R&B albums chart. It also reached No. 3 on theBillboard's Pop albums chart. The album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" – LL's first No. 1 R&B and Top 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go".WhileBigger and Deffer, which was a big success, was produced by the L.A. Posse (at the time consisting of Dwayne Simon, Darryl Pierce and, according to himself the most important for crafting the sound of the LP, Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin), Dwayne Simon was the only one left willing to work on producing LL Cool J's third albumWalking with a Panther.[40] Released in 1989, the album was a commercial success, with several charting singles ("Going Back to Cali", which had originally been released on the 1987 movie soundtrackLess than Zero, "I'm That Type of Guy", "Big Ole Butt", and "One Shot at Love"). Despite commercial appeal, the album was often criticized by thehip-hop community as being too commercial and materialistic, and for focusing too much on love ballads.[41] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations.[42] According toBillboard, the album peaked at No. 6 on theBillboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second No. 1R&B Album where it spent five weeks.
In 1990, LL releasedMama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. TheMarley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to theRIAA.Mama Said Knock You Out marked a turning point in LL Cool J's career, as he proved to critics his ability to stay relevant and hard-edged despite the misgivings of his previous album.[42] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. The album's immense success propelledMama Said Knock You Out to be LL's top selling album of his career (as of 2002) and solidified his status as a hip-hop icon. During this time, LL also recorded a rap solo forMichael Jackson's demo of a song called "Serious Effect" which remains unreleased, but was later leaked online.[42]
After acting inThe Hard Way andToys, LL Cool J released14 Shots to the Dome in March 1993. The album had four singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat (of My Jeep)", "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings", "Stand By Your Man") and guest-featuredLords of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". That June, the album went gold.
LL Cool J starred inIn the House, anNBC sitcom, before releasing his albumMr. Smith (1995), which went on to sell over two million copies. Its singles included "Hey Lover", "Doin' It" and "Loungin". "Hey Lover", featuredBoyz II Men, and sampled Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life". The song also earned him aGrammy Award. Another song from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work byFoxy Brown.In 1996, Def Jam released this "greatest hits" package, offering a good summary of Cool J's career, from the relentless minimalism of early hits such as "Rock the Bells" to the smooth-talking braggadocio that followed. Classic albums includingBigger and Deffer andMama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. In December 1996, his loose cover of theRufus andChaka Khan song "Ain't Nobody" was included on theBeavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack & released as a single. LL Cool J's interpretation of "Ain't Nobody" was particularly successful in the United Kingdom, where it topped theUK Singles Chart in early-1997.[43]Later that same year, he released the albumPhenomenon. The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". The official second single fromPhenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featuredMethod Man,Redman &Master P and introducedDMX andCanibus.
In 2000, LL Cool J released the albumG.O.A.T., which stood for the "Greatest of All Time." It debuted at number one on theBillboard album charts,[44] and went platinum. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". LL Cool J's next album10 from 2002, was his ninth studio (10th overall including his greatest hits compilation All World), and included the singles "Paradise" (featuringAmerie), and the number 1 R&B hit "Luv U Better", produced bythe Neptunes. Later pressings of the album added the 2003Jennifer Lopez duet, "All I Have". The album reached platinum status. LL Cool J's tenth albumThe DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. The album debuted at No. 4 on theBillboard charts. Production came fromTimbaland,7 Aurelius,R. Kelly, and others. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. 16 on theBillboard Hot 100. The second single was the7 Aurelius–produced, "Hush", which peaked at No. 14 on theBillboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart and No. 26 on the Hot 100.
LL Cool J's 11th album,Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. It includes collaborations with112,Ginuwine,Juelz Santana,Teairra Mari andFreeway. The first single was theJermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuringJennifer Lopez. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. The second video, directed byHype Williams, was "Freeze" featuringLyfe Jennings.
In July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam Recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. The album is titledExit 13. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper50 Cent.[45]Exit 13 was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2-year delay, it was released on September 9, 2008, without 50 Cent as the executive producer. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13.LL Cool J partnered withDJ Kay Slay to release amixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". It was the first mixtape of his 24-year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their renditions of his songs. A track titled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". He toured withJanet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City.
In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about theNCIS TV series. It is a single and is available oniTunes. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experiencedMarines andNavySEALs," LL Cool J said. "It represents the collective energy in the room. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."[46]
AtSouth by Southwest in March 2011, LL Cool J was revealed to beZ-Trip's special guest at theRed Bull Thre3Style showcase. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. The two took part in an interview withCarson Daly where they discussed their partnership.[47] Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic"[48] One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock actKasabian's single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJZane Lowe as his "Hottest Record In The World"[49] and received afavorable reception in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate theNew York GiantsSuper Bowl victory. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond.
On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released "Ratchet", a new single from his upcoming album titledAuthentic Hip-Hop. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated withJoe and the production duoTrackmasters on his second single, "Take It".[50]
On February 8, 2013, it was announced that the title of LL's upcoming album would be changed fromAuthentic Hip-Hop toAuthentic, with a new release date of April 30, 2013. A new cover was also unveiled.[51] At around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J had collaborated withVan Halen guitaristEddie Van Halen on two tracks on the album.[52][53][54]
On October 16, 2013, theRock and Roll Hall of Fame announced LL Cool J as a nominee for inclusion in 2014.[55] In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be calledG.O.A.T. 2 and would be released in 2015.[56] LL stated that "the concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine, and put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, the album was put on hold. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet."[57]
On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame.[58]
In March 2016, LL announced his retirement on social media, but quickly walked back his announcement and indicated that a new album was on the way.[59] LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for five consecutive years, from the54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, through the58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016.[60]
In October 2018, LL Cool J was nominated for theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.[61] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases.[62]
On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled his performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19.[63]
LL Cool J hosted the2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022.[64][65]
On June 14, 2024, LL Cool J released the single "Saturday Night Special", featuring rappersRick Ross andFat Joe;[66][67] the single marks LL Cool J's first single as a lead artist in eight years and serves as the lead single from his fourteenth studio album,The FORCE, which is entirely produced byQ-Tip.[68][69] The album was released on September 6, 2024, under Def Jam Recordings, his first under the label since 2008'sExit 13, and distributed by Def Jam and UMG's sister counterpartVirgin Music Group, instead of parent company Universal Music Group.[70][71] The single "Proclivities", featuring rapperSaweetie, was released in August 2024.[72][73] On August 31, 2024, LL Cool J released the album's fourth single "Murdergram Deux", featuringEminem.[74][75]
While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movieKrush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),[76] his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie calledWildcats.[77] He landed the role of Captain Patrick Zevo inBarry Levinson's 1992 filmToys.[78] From 1995 to 1999, he starred in his own television sitcomIn the House. He portrayed an ex-Oakland Raiders running back who finds himself in financial difficulties and is forced to rent part of his home out to a single mother and her two children, one of whom moves out with her before the third season.[79]
In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny inHalloween H20: 20 Years Later, the seventh movie in theHalloween franchise.[80] In 1999, he co-starred as Preacher, the chef in theRenny Harlin horror/comedyDeep Blue Sea.[81] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", inIn Too Deep.[82] Later that year, he starred as Julian Washington—a talented but selfish running back on fictional professional football team the Miami Sharks—inOliver Stone's dramaAny Given Sunday. He and co-starJamie Foxx allegedly got into a real fistfight while filming a fight scene.[83] During the next two years, LL Cool J appeared inRollerball,[84]Deliver Us from Eva,[85]S.W.A.T.,[86] andMindhunters.[87]
In 2005, he returned to television in a guest-starring role on theFox medical dramaHouse; he portrayed a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease in an episode titled "Acceptance". He appeared asQueen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movieLast Holiday.[88] He also guest-starred on30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards", portraying a hip-hop producer called Ridikulous whoTracy Jordan fears may kill him.[89] LL Cool J appeared inSesame Street's 39th season, introducing the word of the day--"Unanimous"—in episode 4169 (September 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (September 30, 2008).[90]
In 2009, he began starring on the CBS police proceduralNCIS: Los Angeles. The show ran for 14 seasons and is a spin-off ofNCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal dramaJAG. LL Cool J portrayedNCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an ex–Navy SEAL who is fluent inArabic and is an expert onWest Asian culture. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009crossover episode on the parent show.[91][92] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the program.[93] In May 2023, following the series finale ofNCIS: Los Angeles, it was announced that LL would reprise the role of Sam Hanna as a recurring guest star in the third season ofNCIS: Hawaiʻi.[94]
In December 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedyGrudge Match.[95] From 2015 to 2019, LL hosted the showLip Sync Battle.[96] He was also cast to play Beth's father inNeighbors 2: Sorority Rising, as shown in a trailer for the film, but his scenes were cut from the final product.[97]
LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP.[98]He also launched a clothing line (called "Todd Smith").[99] The brand produced popular urban apparel. Designs included influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community.[100]LL Cool J has written four books, includingI Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten withKaren Hunter. His second book was the children-oriented book calledAnd the Winner Is... published in 2002. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titledThe Platinum Workout. His fourth book,LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell andPublic Enemy'sChuck D.
Throughout his career, LL Cool J has started several businesses in the music industry. In 1993, he founded a music label called P.O.G. (Power Of God) and formed the companyRock The Bells to produce music. On his Rock The Bells label, he had artists such asAMyth,[101] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. Additionally, Rock the Bells Records was responsible for theDeep Blue Sea soundtrack, which helped to promote the 1999 movie of the same name.Rufus "Scola" Waller also signed to the label, but was ultimately released when the label folded.[102]LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site, in September 2008. The website was designed to accept music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip-hop genre, and allow the site's users to rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events.[103]
In March 2015, LL Cool J appeared in an introduction toWrestleMania 31.[104]
Radio's release coincided with the growingnew school scene andsubculture, which also marked the beginning ofhip-hop's "golden age" and the replacement ofold school hip hop.[105] This period of hip hop was marked by the end of thedisco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and the rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters".Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C.'sdebut album, to combine the vocal approach of hip hop and rapping with the musical arrangements and riffing sound ofrock music, pioneering therap rock hybrid sound.[106]
The emerging new-school scene was initially characterized bydrum machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of rock, as well as boasts about rapping delivered in an aggressive, self-assertive style. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. These elements contrasted sharply with the 1970sP-Funk anddisco-influenced outfits, live bands, synthesizers and party rhymes of acts prevalent in 1984, rendering them old school.[107] In contrast to the lengthy,jam-like form predominant throughout early hip hop ("King Tim III", "Rapper's Delight", "The Breaks"), new-school artists tended to compose shorter songs that would be more accessible and had potential forradio play, and conceived more cohesive LPs than their old-school counterparts; the style typified by LL Cool J'sRadio.[108] A leading example of the new school sound is the song "I Can't Live Without My Radio", a loud, defiant declaration of public loyalty to his boom box, whichThe New York Times described as "quintessential rap in its directness, immediacy and assertion of self".[20] It was featured in the filmKrush Groove (1985), which was based on the rise of Def Jam and new school acts such as Run-D.M.C. and theFat Boys.[109]
The energy andhardcoredelivery and musical style of rapping featured onRadio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C.,Schoolly D,T La Rock andSteady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such asBoogie Down Productions andPublic Enemy.[110] The decline of the old-school form of hip hop also led to the closing ofSugar Hill Records, one of the labels that helped contribute to early hip hop and that, coincidentally, rejected LL's demo tape.[111] As the album served as an example of an expansion of hip-hop music's artistic possibilities, its commercial success and distinct sound soon led to an increase in multi-racial audiences and listeners, adding to the legacy of the album and hip hop as well.[106][112]
In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receiveKennedy Center Honors.[8]
In 2021, he was inducted into theRock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence.[9]
Smith datedKidada Jones, daughter of producerQuincy Jones, from 1992 to 1994.[113]
He married Simone Johnson in 1995.[11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children.[114]
Simone Johnson-Smith, was diagnosed withchondrosarcoma, a third-stagebone cancer, and was later cancer-free as of 2004.[115][116][117] She became an entrepreneur, launching a jewelry line in 2011.
Smith is credited with introducing his wife to singer and close friendMary J. Blige in 2005, inspiring their friendship; the women launched a collaborative jewelry line, Sister Love, in late 2020 after announcing it two years prior.[118][119][120]
In 2023, the couple co-founded a jewelry line for men, Majesty.[121]
In an episode ofFinding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. The series' genetic genealogistCeCe Moore identified Smith's biological grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly and Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis of his DNA. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxerJohn Henry Lewis.[10]
In 2002, LL Cool J supportedGeorge Pataki's bid for a third term as Governor of New York.[122] In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on theRIAA lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music overpeer-to-peer networks. He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income.Chuck D provided an opposing viewpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and the industry was being overprotective of its copyright.[123] LL also voiced his support for New York State SenatorMalcolm Smith, aDemocrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show;[124] LL worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood ofSt. Albans, Queens.[125] In a February 10, 2012, televised interview withCNN hostPiers Morgan, LL Cool J expressed sympathy for PresidentBarack Obama and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership toRepublican obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. I'm anindependent, you know?"[126] In his 2010 bookLL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle, he included Obama in a list of people he admired, stating that the then-president had "accomplished what people thought was impossible."[127]
In 2025, LL Cool J cancelled his performance at theWelcome America Festival inPhiladelphia, refusing to cross a picket line during theDistrict Council 33 Strike.[128]
LL Cool J has his own charitable foundation called Jump & Ball, which is based in his hometown of Queens, New York, and offers an athletic and team-building program for young people. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[129]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Krush Groove | Himself | |
| 1986 | Wildcats | Rapper | |
| 1991 | The Hard Way | Detective Billy | |
| 1992 | Toys | Captain Patrick Zevo | |
| 1995 | Out-of-Sync | Jason St. Julian | |
| Eyes on Hip Hop | Rapper | Video | |
| 1996 | The Right to Remain Silent | Charles Red Taylor | TV movie |
| 1997 | Touch | Himself | |
| B*A*P*S | Himself | ||
| 1998 | Caught Up | Roger | |
| Woo | Darryl | ||
| Halloween H20: 20 Years Later | Ronny Jones | ||
| 1999 | Deep Blue Sea | Sherman "Preacher" Dudley | |
| In Too Deep | Dwayne Keith "God" Gittens | ||
| Any Given Sunday | Julian "J-Man" Washington | ||
| 2000 | Charlie's Angels | Mr. Jones | |
| 2001 | Kingdom Come | Ray Bud Slocumb | |
| 2002 | Rollerball | Marcus Ridley | |
| 2003 | Deliver Us from Eva | Ray Adams | |
| S.W.A.T. | Officer Deacon "Deke" Kaye | ||
| 2004 | Mindhunters | Gabe Jensen | |
| 2005 | Edison | Officer Rafe Deed | |
| Slow Burn | Luther Pinks | ||
| 2006 | Last Holiday | Sean Williams | |
| 2007 | The Man | Manny Baxter | TV movie |
| 2008 | The Deal | Bobby Mason | |
| Drillbit Taylor | Himself | ||
| 2013 | Grudge Match | Frankie Brite | |
| 2023 | A.k.a. Mr. Chow | Himself |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986–1989 | American Bandstand | Himself/Musical Guest | Recurring Guest |
| 1986–1996 | Soul Train | Himself/Musical Guest | Recurring Guest |
| 1987–1998 | Showtime at the Apollo | Himself/Musical Guest | Recurring Guest |
| 1987 | Saturday Night Live | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Sean Penn/L.L. Cool J/The Pull" |
| 1988 | Remote Control | Himself | Episode: "MTV Celebrity Episode" |
| 1991 | MTV Unplugged | Himself | Episode: "Yo! MTV Rap Unglugged" |
| In Living Color | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Anton and the Reporter" | |
| 1994 | The Adventures of Pete & Pete | Mr. Throneberry | Episode: "Sick Day" |
| 1995 | Wheel of Fortune | Himself/Celebrity Contestant | Episode: "Celebrity Award Winners: Game 3" |
| 1995–1999 | In the House | Marion Hill | Main Cast |
| 1995–2004 | Mad TV | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| 1996 | All That | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Tia & Tamera Mowry/LL Cool J" |
| 1996–1997 | Soul Train Music Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| 1997 | Beavis and Butt-Head | Himself | Episode: "Beavis and Butt-Head Do Thanksgiving" |
| 1998 | Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| Oz | Jiggy Walker | Episode: "Strange Bedfellows" | |
| 1999–2000 | Making the Video | Himself/Musical Guest | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| Behind the Music | Himself | Episode: "Run-DMC" | |
| 2001 | American Music Awards | Himself/Co-Host | Main Co-Host |
| The Challenge | Himself | Episode: "Rollerball Resurrection" | |
| Intimate Portrait | Himself | Episode: "Kim Fields" | |
| 2002 | WWE SmackDown | Himself | Episode: "Entertainment Meets Sports Entertainment" |
| 2003–2004 | Top of the Pops | Himself/Musical Guest | Recurring Guest |
| 2004 | American Casino | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J Concert" |
| Behind the Music | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J" | |
| 2005 | American Idol | Himself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Auditions: Cleveland & Orlando" |
| House | Clarence | Episode: "Acceptance" | |
| 2006 | E! True Hollywood Story | Himself | Episode: "Hip Hop Wifes" |
| Biography | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J" | |
| 2007 | NAACP Image Awards | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 30 Rock | Ridikolus | Episode: "The Source Awards" | |
| 2008 | So You Think You Can Dance | Himself/Musical Guest | Episode: "Results Show: Two Dancers Eliminated" |
| Sesame Street | Himself | Episode: "Telly the Tiebreaker" | |
| Project Runway | Himself/Guest Judge | Episode: "Rock N' Runway" | |
| The Greatest | Himself | Episode: "100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs" | |
| 2009 | Fashion Police | Himself/Host | Episode: "The 2009 Grammy Awards" |
| Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Himself | Episode: "I Heart Lily Tomlin" | |
| WWII in HD | Shelby Westbrook (voice)[130] | Episode: "Striking Distance" | |
| 2009, 2023, 2025 | NCIS | Special AgentSam Hanna | 4 episodes |
| 2009–2023 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Special AgentSam Hanna | Main Cast |
| 2010 | The Electric Company | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Bizarre Foods America | Himself | Episode: "Las Vegas" |
| Hawaii Five-0 | Special AgentSam Hanna | Episode: "Pa Make Loa" | |
| 2012–2016 | Grammy Awards | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 2014 | Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways | Himself | Episode: "New York" |
| 2015 | In Their Own Words | Himself | Episode: "Muhammad Ali" |
| 2015–2019 | Lip Sync Battle | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| 2016 | Finding Your Roots | Himself | Episode: "Family Reunions" |
| Greatest Hits | Himself | Episode: "Greatest Hits: 1995–2000" | |
| Hip-Hop Evolution | Himself | Main Guest: Season 1 | |
| 2017 | Pyramid | Himself/Celebrity Player | Episode: "Leslie Jones vs. LL Cool J and Tom Bergeron vs. Jennifer Nettles" |
| Oprah's Master Class | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J" | |
| Martha & Snoop's Potluck Dinner Party | Himself | Episode: "Let's Get Roasted" | |
| American Dad! | Special Agent Sam Hanna (voice) | Episode: "Casino Normale" | |
| 2018 | Story of Cool | Himself/Narrator | Main Narrator |
| Shut Up and Dribble | Himself | Episode: "102" | |
| 2019 | Shangri-La | Himself | 2 episodes |
| Kennedy Center Honors | Himself/Host | Main Host | |
| 2021 | Hip Hop Uncovered | Himself | Episode: "Victory Lap" |
| 2022 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Himself/Host | Main Host |
| They Call Me Magic | Himself | Episode: "Magic" | |
| Supreme Team | Himself | Main Guest | |
| 2023 | Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World | Himself | 2 episodes |
| America in Black | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J, Black Land Reparations and The Shade Room" | |
| Superfan | Himself | Episode: "LL Cool J" | |
| Hip Hop Treasures | Himself | 2 episodes | |
| 2023–2024 | NCIS: Hawai'i | Special AgentSam Hanna | 12 episodes |
| 2025 | NCIS | Special AgentSam Hanna | Season 22 Episode 18 "After the Storm" |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Big Fun in the Big Town |
| 1990 | RapMania: The Roots of Rap |
| 1991 | Desperately Seeking Roger |
| 1995 | The Show |
| 2021 | Mary J. Blige's My Life |
| 2025 | STANS |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "Going Back To Cali" | Best Rap Performance | Nominated | [133] |
| 1992 | "Mama Said Knock You Out" | Best Rap Solo Performance | Won | [134] |
| 1993 | "Strictly Business" | Nominated | [135] | |
| 1994 | "Stand By Your Man" | Nominated | [136] | |
| 1997 | "Hey Lover" | Won | [137] | |
| 1997 | Mr. Smith | Best Rap Album | Nominated | [137] |
| 1998 | "Ain't Nobody" | Best Rap Solo Performance | Nominated | [138] |
| 2004 | "Luv U Better" | Best Rap/Sung Collaboration | Nominated | [139] |
| 2005 | The DEFinition | Best Rap Album | Nominated | [140] |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Bigger & Deffer | Favorite R&B/Soul Album | Nominated |
| 1988 | LL Cool J | Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist | Nominated |
| 1992 | LL Cool J | Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist | Nominated |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | LL Cool J | No. 1 Rap Singles Artist | Won |
| 1996 | LL Cool J | Rap Artist of the Year | Won |
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | "Mama Said Knock You Out" | Best Rap Video | Won | [142] |
| Best Cinematography in a Video | Nominated | [142] | ||
| 1996 | "Doin' It" | Best Rap Video | Nominated | [143] |
| 1997 | Lifetime Achievement | Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award | Won | [144] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Mr. Smith | Best Rap Artist | Won | [145] |
| 1997 | Phenomenon | Best Rap Artist | Won | |
| 2001 | G.O.A.T. | Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Artist | Won | [146] |
| 2003 | 10 | Outstanding Male Artist | Won | [147] |
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Radio | Best Rap Album | Nominated | [citation needed] |
| 1988 | Bigger and Deffer | Best Rap Album | Won | [citation needed] |
| "I Need Love" | Best Rap Single | Won | [148] | |
| 1991 | Mama Said Knock You Out | Best Rap Album | Nominated | [citation needed] |
| 2003 | 10 | Best R&B/Soul or Rap Album of the Year | Nominated | [149] |
| Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment | Quincy Jones Award | Won | [150] | |
| 2005 | "Headsprung" | Best R&B/Soul or Rap Dance Cut | Nominated | [151] |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | In the House | Nominated | [145] |
| 1997 | Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Television Actor | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
| 1998 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | [citation needed] | |
| 2000 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Deep Blue Sea | Nominated | [165] | |
| Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Supporting Actor – Action | Won | [166] | ||
| 2004 | Black Reel Awards | Best Actor | Deliver Us from Eva | Nominated | [167] |
| 2006 | Teen Choice Awards | Award for Choice Movie: Liplock(shared with Queen Latifah) | Last Holiday | Nominated | [citation needed] |
| 2011 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | NCIS: Los Angeles | Won | [168] |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Action | Nominated | [169] | ||
| 2012 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Won | [170] | |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Action | Nominated | [171] | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Class Programs | The 54th Annual Grammy Awards | Nominated | [172] | |
| 2013 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | NCIS: Los Angeles | Won | [173] |
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV Actor: Action | Won | [174] | ||
| 2014 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Won | [175] | |
| Prism Awards | Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline | Nominated | [176] | ||
| 2015 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | [177] | |
| 2016 | Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series | Nominated | [178] | ||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Structured Reality Program | Lip Sync Battle | Nominated | [179] | |
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor | NCIS: Los Angeles | Nominated | [180] | |
| 2017 | Favorite TV Crime Drama Actor | Nominated | [181] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)I sent demo after demo into every record company. And I got rejection letters from company after company. And I just kept at it. And then what actually happened is I quit and my mother got her tax return. And she took her tax return and bought me some equipment because she knew I was depressed and I was down in the dumps because I didn't have the proper equipment to make what I felt was a good demo. So, she took her whole tax return bought me a drum machine. It was a Korg actually. And me and my man Frankie we went in the basement, we didn't even read the instructions. We played it manually.
