[8] In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. LL Cool J - short for "Ladies Love Cool James" - was born in 1968 in Long Island, New York, and grew up in Queens. 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. It was just a power trip , Hed make me take off all my clothes and put my arms up on my bunk bed with the `Star Wars sheets while he beat me. Kodak Black Caught Having Sex in White Teacher Hits The Jerk as Students Go Wild Are AKAs Too Insecure? Actor: Deep Blue Sea. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. LL Cool J also dealt with a friend's betrayal and ruthless accountants that siphoned his money. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. In March 2011 at South by Southwest, LL Cool J was revealed to be Z-Trip's special guest at the Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . My mother forgave my father He came back into my life and made amends for a lot of things by helping to guide me with my music career early on, and kinda helping me in that area (sic). His father shot his mother and grandfather, leaving them with serious injuries. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. _taboola.push({ LL Cool J won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song "Mama Said Knock You Out" at the 1992 Grammy Awards. Announcement. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. Young James had a rather traumatic childhood. In 1990, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. It was just a power trip.. Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. Exception: This awkward piece of wonky cheese. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. Eventually, LL's father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. [5][6], A two-time Grammy Award winner, LL Cool J is known for hip 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 as R&B hits such as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! I've been here for years!" James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) is an American rapper and actor. published in 2002. that benefits the victims. and the Fat Boys. Though he was beginning to act out in the aftermath of the abuse by the age of 16 LL found his calling during the Golden Age of Hip Hop as one of the top emcees of the time. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. [70] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep. LL Cool J has lost his father, James Nunya. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. As if that wasnt bad enough, his mother, Ondrea, eventually settled into another relationship with a man named, Roscoe Granger, and in the book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe, allegedly a drug addict, took every opportunity to beat LL whenever he had the chance. [53], In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called G.O.A.T. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. LL Cool J has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. He didnt need a good reason. Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. [41] 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. [11][12][13] According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for Smith was heart-breaking. does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. [96] 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, which The New York Times described as "quintessential rap in its directness, immediacy and assertion of self". We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. ", "NAACP Image Awards 2014: Complete winners list", "EIC Announces Nominations For 18th Annual PRISM Awards- Nods for Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Oprah, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Edie Falco, Allison Janney, LL Cool J, Jewel", "Television - 'Creed,' 'Empire' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List", "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Nominees", Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist, Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actor, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LL_Cool_J&oldid=1142520506, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episodes: "Legend: Part 1 & 2", "Too Many Cooks", Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline. Plus, LL shares what his father's mistakes taught him about mercy. But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. Posted by. The album reached platinum status. 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. [99] 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. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. Thankfully, she later became the rapper's number one woman, who is appreciated and deeply loved by a man she described as "her rock.". [18], In the VH1 documentary Planet 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, as depicted in the 1983 remake of Scarface.) The hip-hop Icon LL Cool J opened up about his rough childhood and the abusive nature of his stepdad and his biological father who he claimed shot his mother when he was just a child. LL Cool J has appeared in numerous films, including Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. A new cover was unveiled at the same time. According to her, they put God first in their marriage, made many compromises, have respect, and show unwavering support to each other. [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. My family is a very interesting family. Advertisement. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Smith was creating demo tapes in his grandparents' home. Decades later LL sat down with Oprah Winfrey during a segment on Oprahs Next Chapter to discuss how he coped with Roscoes constant abuse and its sad to hear that he had to become so strong at such a young age. His fourth book, LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. LL Cool J started his own businesses in the music industry such as the music label in 1993 called P.O.G. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. Rechristened LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), he released his debut single, . As soon as it was over there were girls screaming and asking for autographs. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. 253 comments. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. Dante Boyles MUS 211 LL Cool J Cultural Analysis Paper LL Cool J has done a lot in the hip-hop industry and has also branched out to the entertainment business as well. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released a new single from Authentic Hip-Hop called "Ratchet". It was just a power trip , Hed make me take off all my clothes and put my arms up on my bunk bed with the `Star Wars sheets while he beat me. published in 2002. [7] In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive the Kennedy Center Honors. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. Mark Summers for Rolling . 00:00. A married man himself, LL Cool J has been with his wife Simone since 1995. The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. [29] 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,[29] remaining on that chart for thirty-eight weeks. He didnt need a good reason. Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work by Foxy Brown. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', [69] In 1999, co-starred as Preacher, the chef in the Renny Harlin horror/comedy Deep Blue Sea. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. He didnt care how he beat me or with what , By the time Ondrea left Roscoe, LL said that for him personally, the damager was done., You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . (4 years old) when his father shot his mother during a dispute between the two. Track 9 on Phenomenon. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. The abuse he suffered from Roscoe was damaging, but living with the pain of his father shooting his mother and grandfather must have been worse. It's too long for a . The incident happened at the couple's home at New Meadows Road . Pl. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Rapper/actor LL Cool J has forgiven his dad for shooting his mother and grandfather and leaving them for dead when he was only four years old. "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". [72] During the next two years, LL Cool J appeared in Rollerball,[73] Deliver Us from Eva,[74] S.W.A.T.,[75] and Mindhunters. }); Copyright 2015 . Over the weekend, a video began to circulate of a young artist by the name of LoveBenJi saying that he is the "hidden" son of Hip Hop pioneer LL Cool J, but he . [50][51][52], On October 16, 2013, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced LL Cool J as a nominee for inclusion in 2014. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. When four-year-old Smith found them, LL Cool J covered the scene in . It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. [92], With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became an early hip-hop act to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. "LL Cool J gets honorary degree from Northeastern", "LL Cool J Receives a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame", "Fela nominated for 2021 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", "LL COOL J Honored With Key To The City In Queens, New York During First Rock The Bells Festival", "LL Cool J Honored With Key To Queens, New York", "LL Cool J Received The Key To The City Of Queens During Inaugural Rock The Bells Festival", "february 2000 | blackfilm.com | features | naacp image awards nominees", "Blockbuster Entertainment Award winners", "Filmmakers.com: Film: The 2004 Black Reel Awards Nominations Announced", "Teen Choice Awards 2011 Nominees Announced: Harry Potter vs Twilight", "NAACP Image Awards 2012: Full list of winners", "Teen Choice Awards 2012: Complete Winners List", "The 44th NAACP Image Award complete winners list", "Teen Choice 2013 - August 11 on FOX - Vote Every Day! [94], The emerging new-school scene was initially characterized by drum machine-led minimalism, often tinged with elements of rock, as well as boasts about rapping delivered in an aggressive, self-assertive style. His father shot his mother and grandfather, almost killing them both. The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". [45] Both artists have promised future collaborations down the road, with LL Cool J calling the duo "organic"[46] One early track to feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act Kasabian's single "Days Are Forgotten", which was named by influential DJ Zane Lowe as his "Hottest Record In The World"[47] and received a favorable reception in both Belgium and the United Kingdom. You passed away. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. LL Cool J. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. In his follow-up album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Cool J showed his softer side with the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. 74. He came to the top with his single "I Want a Beat" and his presentation studio collection, Radio, in 1985. In the same year 2009, he was cast as a regular in the still-running CBS TV series 'NCIS: Los Angeles', in which he plays special agent 'Sam Hanna', a Navy investigator. "[108], 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. [86] His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant while his father, James, was a truck driver. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. Decades later LL sat down with Oprah Winfrey during a segment on Oprahs Next Chapter to discuss how he coped with Roscoes constant abuse and its sad to hear that he had to become so strong at such a young age. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LLs mother and grandfather with a shotgun. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. They made amends and until later when he felt his father was mismanaging his money and he cut ties with him again. LL Cool J's next album 10 from 2002, was his ninth studio (10th overall including his greatest hits compilation All World), and included the singles "Paradise" (featuring Amerie), and the number 1 R&B hit "Luv U Better", produced by the Neptunes. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. . LL Cool Js wife met him when both of them were teenagers. James Todd Smith, realized expertly by his stage name, LL Cool J, was brought into this world on January 14, 1968. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. [78] LL Cool J appeared in Sesame 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). James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. [77] He also guest-starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards", portraying a hip-hop producer called Ridikulous who Tracy Jordan fears may kill him. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."[44]. According to Hollywood.com; Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law Eugene in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back out of frustration over the couples divorce in 1972, when the Grammy winner and awards host was just a young boy. He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. [61], 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. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. The website accepts music uploads from aspiring artists, primarily from the hip-hop genre, and the site's users rate songs through contests, voting, and other community events. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". NBA Comes for Ja Morant After He Flashes Gun in Nightclub Queen Latifah & Monie Love Reunite Lizzo Stops Show to Give Chris Rock Jokes Enjoying Watching Will Smith Get Whipped in Emancipation + Nivea, Tamar Braxton, Evelyn Lozada & More | PicsVideos, The Moment Tamar & Toni Learn Chaka Khan Sings Reading Rainbow Theme Yung Miami is About Self-love in 2023 & More | PicsVideos, Tatyana Ali Says New Bel-Air Role is Full Circle Moment Adrienne Bailon Covers Harpers Bazaar & More | PicsVideos, CeCe Winans Says Whitney Houstons Im Every Woman is Demonic + Joe Bully Budden Talks BS About Michael B. Jordan & More | PicsVideos, City of Houston, Residents Honored for National Water Challenge. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. 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. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . What is LL Cool J's real name? It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. LL Cool J attends Spike TV's Guys Choice 2015 at Sony Pictures Studios on June 6, 2015 in Culver City, California | Photo: Getty Images. Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". [17] 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. After labeling his family as very interesting, he revealed one of the most shocking aspects of the entire situation: LL Cool Js mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. See more ideas about ll cool j, sexy men, fine black men. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', L.L. [93] This period of hip hop was marked by the end of the disco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and the rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters". After they recovered from their injuries,. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.. [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. By using the mixer he had received from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sent them to various record companies throughout New York City, including Def Jam. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. [104] He also voiced his support for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show;[105] he worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens. [98] The decline of the old-school form of hip hop also led to the closing of Sugar Hill Records, one of the labels that helped contribute to early hip hop and that, coincidentally, rejected LL's demo tape. Sha Be Allah. [4] He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, alongside fellow new school hip hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. Description: James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968) is an American hip hop artist better known by his stage name, LL Cool J ("Ladies Love Cool James"). Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968, in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, the son of Ondrea Griffith and James Louis Smith, Jr. Todd, as he was called, did not have a very happy childhood. 1 on Billboard's R&B albums chart. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. He has been in films such as "Any Given Sunday", "In Too Deep", and "Deep Blue Sea" just to . [57] LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for five consecutive years, from the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, through the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016. At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. Both survived. Under his new stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James), coined by his friend and fellow rapper Mikey D,[21][15] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984). These elements contrasted sharply with the 1970s P-Funk and disco-influenced outfits, live bands, synthesizers and party rhymes of acts prevalent in 1984, rendering them old school. During his time at Def Jam, LL released an album every two or three years from 1987 to . ': What Happened to the Stars of the Iconic Series through the Years, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Tyler Perry Was Broke Living in His Car - He Recalls in Tears That He Was Only 'Praying & Believing, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again. - I Shot Ya 1995. In December 1996 his loose cover of the Rufus and Chaka Khan song "Ain't Nobody" was included on the Beavis and Butt-Head Do America soundtrack & released as a single. LL Cool J, whose real name is James Todd Smith, was born in January 1968 in Queens, New York, in a middle-class and catholic family. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. His fourth book, LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy's Chuck D. news.AmoMama.com does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. Speaking about the traumatic experience he had with his mother's boyfriend, he said: "He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. The album went gold. Much to people's surprise, LL Cool J said: LL Cool J at Barclays Center on July 14, 2019 | Source: Getty Images, I guess it would leave you scarred at four years old based on how the people around you dealt with it and encouraged you to deal with it.. L.L. Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. A few years later, Simone was diagnosed with bone cancer. 4 on the Billboard charts. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', By Kory Grow. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972.