Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LL's funds . Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. L.L. [37] It spent 11 weeks at No. He appeared as Queen Latifah's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday. The lyrics are about a recently-born baby girl and deceased beat poet Neal Cassady that's right, they couldn't even spell his name correctly SD 26 BRAD PAISLEY FEAT. [62], LL hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. And, so I have learned to hand out the mercy that I like to receive. target_type: 'mix' Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. Shortly after that, they started dating, and they married in 1995. He didnt need a good reason. Even more, he was featured in a television documentary series called Finding Your Roots; LL Cool J learned of the family secret so well-hidden that even his own mother was unaware . He has also appeared in several films. He came to the top with his single "I Want a Beat" and his presentation studio collection, Radio, in 1985. 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. Roscoe would flog him at any given opportunity, and the actor described that time in his life as "hell." It was tough. [14][12][19] His mother was also supportive of his musical endeavors, using her tax refund to buy him a Korg drum machine. does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. I love you", "LL Cool J forgives dad for shooting mother", "Rapper Ll Cool J Puts Wild Days, Demons Behind Him", "LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather", "LL Cool J Says His Mother's Tax Refund Funded His Demo", "Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary", "Def Jam Recordings - LL Cool J Biography", "LL Cool J bio: Edison Force ActorTribute.ca", "Address Island / Def Jam Records Def Jam history", "LL Cool J career discography at HeadSprung.net", "Billboard Music Charts - Search Results - LL Cool J Radio", "LL Cool J Can't Knock Out Billboard Champs", "Biography and other information at Askmen.com", "Kurtis Blow Presents: The History Of Rap, Vol. And LL was the one who discovered them! [53], In October 2014, LL announced that his 14th studio album would be called G.O.A.T. Plus, LL shares what his father's mistakes taught him about mercy. February 20, 2023. He didnt need a good reason. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. We Publish News 24/7. [91], In March 2015, LL Cool J also appeared in an introduction to WrestleMania 31. Posse. shockingly resulted in his father's ruthless shot toward his mother . He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. 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. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. 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. Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. Yet, the scars never fully healed. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. L.L. Screengrab. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip hop act on the show,[32] as well as an appearance on Diana Ross' 1987 television special, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. 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. 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. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. WHO WE AREThe news you want unfiltered.The Electronic Urban Report/EUR puts the most buzz worthy African American news at your fingertips. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. 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. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . LL Cool J's interpretation of "Ain't Nobody" was particularly successful in the United Kingdom, where it topped the UK Singles Chart in early-1997. Although LL Cool J, born James Todd Smith, is an accomplished entertainer, appearing on music charts, starring on TV and movies, and even hosting shows, he had a rough start in life. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. 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 . [18] It was featured in the film Krush Groove (1985), which was based on the rise of Def Jam and new school acts such as Run-D.M.C. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. 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. The rapper was age 4 at the time, and both relatives survived their injuries. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. [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. The album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" - LL's first #1 R&B and Top 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go". 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 worked behind the scenes with the mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP. 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. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13. The show is a spin-off of NCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG. 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 during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. 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. Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. [106] In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with CNN host Piers Morgan, LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President Barack Obama and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to Republican obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." Pl. A new cover was unveiled at the same time. At the beginning of their marriage, Simone ignored her husband for two weeks because he did not honor their honeymoon. LL Cool J would later consider toning his lifestyle down out of respect for his lady, and that was the beginning of a lifetime of commitment. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [97], The energy and hardcore delivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C., Schooly D, T La Rock and Steady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such as Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. LL Cool J and American artist Tito Jackson are not related as father and child. 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. Recently, he allegedly came out and said that Tito Jackson is his father and he also reveals some shocking details about Barry Gordy using him for his talent early on but he had to sign some letters because Tito ain't want him to be his real child. 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 the Recording Industry Association of America. [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. With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became one of the early hip-hop acts to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-D.M.C. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. 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. The rapper was surrounded by drugs, gangsterism, crime, all the vices that could have limited his progress. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. Jul 19, 2021 09:00 P.M. I'm an Independent, you know? LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. To make matters worse, it was the Grammy Award winner who found his mom and grandfather on the floor after his dad shot them. During an interview that the actor had with Oprah Winfrey, the host asked if such a terrible incident had left a scar in him. Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere. [59] In September 2019, it was announced that LL had re-signed to Def Jam for future album releases. 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. [48], On February 8, 2013, it was announced that the title of LL's upcoming album would be changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic with a new release date of April 30, 2013. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. Both relatives survived their injuries, and the NCIS: Los Angeles star insists he has since made peace with his dad even though he was initially reluctant to allow him back into his life. 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. The rapper/actor took to Twitter to inform fans that his dad, James Nunya, passed away at the age of 65. Season 2 Episode 220. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. 's debut album, to combine the vocal approach of hip hop and rapping with the musical arrangements and riffing sound of rock music, pioneering the rap rock hybrid sound. that benefits the victims. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. [94][100], In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. . September 22, 2022. It is a single and is available on iTunes. The actor and his wife have been married for twenty-five years. LL Cool J is in mourning today following the death of his father. It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. _taboola.push({ LL also recorded a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of "Serious Effect" that remains unreleased but leaked online[40]. [20] Smith has stated that by the time he received musical equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. Both relatives survived their injuries, and the NCIS: Los Angeles star insists he has since made peace with his dad even though he was initially reluctant to allow him back into his life. 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"). LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. [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). [86] He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. Although LL Cool J may have a perfect life with his wife of 25 years, he has experienced a few bumps on the ride to a successful life. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. "I want to be clear," said Taryll, who is Tito's son. "[107] In his 2020 book LL 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. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. 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. The 'NCIS: Los Angeles' star and his mother Ondrea sat down with ET to share their fondest (and most embarrassing) memories of LL's upbringing. LL Cool J launched a clothing line (called "Todd Smith"). We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. On October 6, 2012, LL Cool J released a new single from Authentic Hip-Hop called "Ratchet". He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', In this neighborhood, the kids grow up in rap. In the beginning, his mother, Ondrea, also lived in the home after the initial split from LL Cool J's father but left at some point. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. [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. Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. . When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." When his father then moved to California, his mother's boyfriend was physically . "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. target_type: 'mix' 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. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. 2. 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). We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C. [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". [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". 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. After that, Ondrea started dating a new man named Roscoe Granger, who was abusive to the young LL Cool J. Digging into the way that his mothers boyfriend treated him, the actor explained: Roscoe beat me for just about anything. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. The two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women.