L.L. LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. [20] Smith has stated that by the time he received musical equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."[44]. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. When four-year-old Smith found them, LL Cool J covered the scene in . Season 2 Episode 220. [14][12][19] His mother was also supportive of his musical endeavors, using her tax refund to buy him a Korg drum machine. 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. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LL's funds . 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of . The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. Punched me in the chest stomped me out on the flo'. [70] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. The rapper was age 4 at the time, and both relatives survived their injuries. After their lavish wedding, she mentioned that the rapper played one of his video clips, showing how a video vixen was licking his face. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. 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). However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. [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. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. His mother, Ondrea, was a nurse's assistant, while his father, James, drove a truck. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut vocal work by Foxy Brown. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. speaks out against the above mentioned and. Tamron Hall Talks About Her Live-In Nanny and the Joy Raising NBA Comes for Ja Morant After He Flashes Gun in Nightclub Jon Jones Set for UFC Return After Body Transformation | WATCH. Thankfully, the actor and rapper is in a much better place now and learned from his parents mistakes. 253 comments. Posse. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". And LL was the one who discovered them! Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I . [43] Exit 13 was originally slated for a fall 2006 release, however, after a 2-year delay, it was released September 9, 2008 without 50 Cent as the executive producer. It was tough. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. 00:00. LL Cool J has been in a relationship with Kidada Jones (1992 - 1994).. LL Cool J is rumoured to have hooked up with Karrine Steffans (2007), Pilar Sanders (1996) and Gabrielle Union.. About. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. They shot the video for "Control Myself" on January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. He had a tough childhood because his parents had a violent relationship. According to her, they put God first in their marriage, made many compromises, have respect, and show unwavering support to each other. The Journal of Steffanie Jay-Zs Shock in Running Into Kelly Rowland Is Your WATCH LIVE! 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. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. 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. You passed away. LL Cool J (Getty) *In his 1997 biography "I Make My Own Rules," LL Cool J recounts the time his father shot his mother and grandfather because he was bitter about getting a . You passed away yesterday. He has been in films such as "Any Given Sunday", "In Too Deep", and "Deep Blue Sea" just to . 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. [79], Since 2009, LL Cool J has starred on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. [11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. [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.) _taboola.push({ - I Shot Ya 1995. advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. Taryll revealing this sexual abuse, Iyanla said, was a huge step in his . 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip-hop act on the show. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. 14 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart and No. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. 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. There is no more complete source for urban news than the Electronic Urban Report. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies sold in the US.[30]. August 22, 2019. They teamed up to financially support and inspire people through the "Beat Cancer Like A Boss" campaign for the American Cancer Society. It also reached No. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. 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. In this week's heart wrenching episode, Dr. Henry Louis Gates uncovers the emotional history of both Sean "Puffy" Combs and LL Cool J 's families. 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. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. 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. L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? 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. "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. [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. According to a Chicago Tribune report, his father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them. My family is a very interesting family. He achieved further commercial and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking with a Panther (1989), Mama Said Knock You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). [56], 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. news.AmoMama.com speaks out against the above mentioned and news.AmoMama.com advocates for a healthy discussion about the instances of violence, abuse, sexual misconduct, animal cruelty, abuse etc. 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. He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently [63][64], While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),[65] his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats. It was just a power trip.. The album debuted at No. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. "[22] That same year, Smith made his professional debut concert performance at Manhattan Center High School. Yet, the scars never fully healed. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. To this day, there are limited details on the incident, but witnesses say it was a . He didnt need a good reason. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. In his memoir I Make My Own Rules, the rapper recalled the day his father James almost killed his mother and grandfather. 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. 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. target_type: 'mix' In 1990, LL released Mama Said Knock You Out, his fourth studio album. 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. 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. [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. 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. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. The rest is history. Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C. LL Cool J explained the reason for it, saying, "It was good but I didn't feel like it was ready yet. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. "It represents the collective energy in the room. _taboola.push({ That's when the father of two made a big reveal about his own childhood: He was sexually violated at a young age by a male family member. Cool J is a real force to be reckoned with, and this is why he is beloved, honored, and celebrated. The first single was the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. 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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. 2 years ago. Brigitte Nielsen Proves Age Is Just a Number in Figure-Hugging Outfit & Knee-High Boots in Pics, '13 Reasons Why's Sosie Bacon Flashed Ring - Kevin Bacon's Daughter's Hands Showed Syndrome She May Have, Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Uncoupling Goals as She Calls Him Sweetest Father in Birthday Post, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again, Neal McDonough Was Crushed & Lost House after He Refused to Cheat On His Wife for Movies. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, he said. The second single was the 7 Aureliusproduced, "Hush", which peaked at No. LL Cool J's friend and mentor, Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, was shot and killed at his studio in Queens in 2002. }); Copyright 2015 . "I want to be clear," said Taryll, who is Tito's son. Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. It was tough. "It was a relative, but it wasn't any of my father's brothers.". [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. "Father", which was an auto-biographical song that detailed LL's abuse from his mother's boyfriend, would prove to be the most successful single from the album, it made it to #18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became his eighth . LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. And LL was the one who discovered . Screengrab. 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. However, his childhood was quite challenging, starting with the fact that he grew up in a tough section of Queens, New York, where drugs were present almost everywhere. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. But there is an intriguing story behind the heart-melting and powerful duo. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. L.L. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. 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. [36] This stands as one of his biggest-selling career albums, having sold in excess of two million copies in the United States alone. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. LL Cool J started a record label called 'Boomdizzle' that doubled up as a social networking site as well. Sha Be Allah. LL Cool J added: My father he made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right, you know. According to the Chicago Tribune, "as a child growing up middle-class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heartbreaking. The pair are fairing well in their careers, marriage, and parenthood. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. [62], LL hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022. [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. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! target_type: 'mix' Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. 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. 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. Born James Todd Smith on 14th January, 1968 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, United States, he is famous for Ladies Love Cool James.. 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. 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. He didnt need a good reason. target_type: 'mix' [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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks. _taboola.push({ 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. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. LL Cool J has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. Another of the album's singles, "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men, and sampled Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life"; it eventually became an early hip-hop music video to air on VH1. And LL was the one who discovered them! In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. Unlike what many people might believe, LL Cool Js children are not spoiled as he has made sure to instill values in them, as well as the notion of working hard for what they want to achieve in life. _taboola.push({ [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. We also encourage everyone to report any crime incident they witness as soon as possible. LL Cool J portrays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an exNavy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and is an expert on West Asian culture. Right then and there I said 'This is what I want to do'. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. Simone Smith Cool runs a jewelry line; she is the wife to the popular rapper turned actor and a mother to his four kids Najee, Italia, Samaria, and Nina. And LL was the one who discovered . [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. 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. Thankfully, she later became the rapper's number one woman, who is appreciated and deeply loved by a man she described as "her rock.". The album's success also helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a record producer. LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". Yet, the scars never fully healed. Pl. LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. What is LL Cool J's real name? 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. LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. His twelfth album, Exit 13 (2008), was his last in his long-tenured deal with Def Jam. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. Welcome to /r/DragonQuest! Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". They worked through thick and thin to become one of the industry's power couples. The pair are highly supportive of their kids and have taught them the value of being confident and determined about their goals. [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York), better known as LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), is a Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor signed to Def Jam. Radio, along with Raising Hell (1986) and Licensed to Ill (1986), would form a trilogy of New York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop. After they recovered from their injuries,. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life. He didnt need a good reason. Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. My family is a very interesting family. [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. Eventually, LL's father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. 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. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. [91], In March 2015, LL Cool J also appeared in an introduction to WrestleMania 31. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. It was just a power trip he wrote. 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. September 22, 2022. Dont Miss A Story. . [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. Actor and rapper LL Cool J, best known as Special Agent Sam Hanna in NCIS: Los Angeles, has had a very successful life. As a child, James Todd Smith experienced great tragedy. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', [103] In 2003, LL Cool J spoke at a U.S. Senate Committee hearing on the RIAA lawsuits against Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted music over peer-to-peer networks. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . "[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. His father shot his mother and grandfather, leaving them with serious injuries. *In his 1997 biography I Make My Own Rules,. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. L.L. 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.