LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules, an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunt. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LL's funds . His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. [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". LL Cool J Net Worth 2022: Age, Height, Weight, Wife, Kids - Ear Shot When he was very young his parents got a divorce and it angered his biological father, James, so much that he shot both LL's mother and grandfather with a shotgun. 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. My family is a very interesting family. The "NCIS" actor recounted grueling details about his childhood in his book "I Make My Own Rules," beginning with his parents' divorce when he was younger. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. [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". Thankfully for the family, both of them survived the incident. [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. Although his dad made a mistake, the rapper revealed that he also tried his best to make things right. "[22] That same year, Smith made his professional debut concert performance at Manhattan Center High School. We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. At the moment, he is married to Simone Smith, and they have four children together. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. He came to the top with his single "I Want a Beat" and his presentation studio collection, Radio, in 1985. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. 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. Eventually, LLs father James came back into his life and helped him out in the early stages of his budding rap career. He didnt need a good reason. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. LL Cool J also dealt with a friend's betrayal and ruthless accountants that siphoned his money. 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. And LL was the one who discovered them! It was just a power trip.. LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. LL Cool J extends his reach during Gray Line New York's "Ride Of Fame" induction ceremony, which honored the native New Yorker Monday at Manhattan's Pier 78. [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. LL Cool J combined acting with his rap career; his acting debut was in 1985's "Krush Groove." LL Cool J on 'Accidental Racist,' Rick Rubin, Being the 'G.O.A.T His father shot his mother and grandfather, leaving them with serious injuries. While speaking to Oprah, the jewelry maker explained that they have an awesome marriage because of the sacrifices and love they share. He is also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.[109]. [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. How 'NCIS: Los Angeles' Star LL Cool J Learned His Mother Was Adopted Cool J and his mother moved to his grandparent's house in 1972. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', 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. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Jul 19, 2021 09:00 P.M. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. Posted by. LL COOL J / ACCIDENTAL RACIST Preface: Intercultural dialogue is a wholly positive and necessary thing. Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. In image as in song, the artists projected a tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', [40] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance in 1992 for the title track. Track 9 on Phenomenon. While Bigger 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 album Walking with a Panther. 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. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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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. 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. A few years later, Simone was diagnosed with bone cancer. After they recovered from their injuries,. and the Fat Boys. [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),[3] is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. target_type: 'mix' [11] The couple met in 1987 and have four children. LL Cool J interview: 'I don't know if people understand how much 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. His early life was horrific - his father shot both LL's mother and grandfather, and the young LL was the victim . Ll Cool J Forgives Dad For Shooting Mother - Contactmusic.com A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. L.L. How LL Cool J Learned to Forgive His Father | Oprah's Next Chapter 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. . He'd long been open about his adoption, but all he knew, based on some . He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. 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. Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. 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. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith on January 14, 1968 in Bay Shore, New York. [8], In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with an award for Musical Excellence. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. Through the love and attitude of others around, the rapper easily forgave his dad, and they enjoyed a perfect relationship from that moment. [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. LL Cool J Bio (Wiki) - Married Biography L.L. LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. [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.) [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. . LL Cool J has been nominated six times for induction into The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame. But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. And LL was the one who discovered them! Dont Miss A Story. [86] iloveoldschoolmusic.com. 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. As soon as it was over there were girls screaming and asking for autographs. ", "LL Cool J Todd Smith Clothing Collection Launch and Video", "Here's LL Cool J's Emotional Opening To WrestleMania 31", "Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia Def Jam, LL, & new school hip hop", "LL Cool J:: Radio ** RapReviews "Back to the Lab" series ** by Steve "Flash" Juon", EntertainmentSimone Smith, LL Cool J's Wife: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, "LL Cool J's Kids With Wife Simone Smith", "Senator Malcolm Smith Show w. LL Cool J part 3", "One On 1: Hip-Hop Artist LL Cool J Leaves Footprints Beyond Music", "LL Cool J: 2018 We are Family Humanitarian Award honoree", "WWII in HD DVD Set | WW2 HD DVD History Channel", "Rock On The Net: 31st Annual Grammy Awards - 1989", "Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992", "Rock On The Net: 35th Annual Grammy Awards - 1993", "Rock On The Net: 36th Annual Grammy Awards - 1994", "Rock On The Net: 39th Annual Grammy Awards - 1997", "40th Annual Grammy Award Nominations Coverage (1998) |DigitalHit.com", "Complete List Of 2004 Grammy Nominations", "Rock On The Net: 1991 MTV Video Music Awards", "Rock On The Net: 1996 MTV Video Music Awards", "The 1997 Edition Was the Best MTV Video Music Awards", "5 Films Head Nominations for NAACP Image Awards", "Blackflix.com: 34th NAACP Image Award Nominees", "Ashanti, Amerie Lead Pack Of Nominees For Soul Train Awards", "19th Annual Soul Train Awards Nominations", "LL Cool J | Long Island Music Hall of Fame". [40] According to Billboard, the album peaked at No. 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. 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. 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 two have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond. LL Cool J ( Full name: James Todd Smith) is a 54-year-old American record producer, songwriter, rapper, and actor. The album went gold. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. LL Cool J - Biography - IMDb LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. Who are LL Cool J parents? - KnowledgeBurrow.com Shortly after that, they started dating, and they married in 1995. LL Cool J Left His Wife Twice & His Dad Shot His Mom and Grandpa 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode What does LL Cool J stand for? Meaning explained - The Sun I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. Sadly, a few years later, the young man stated that his dad mismanaged his funds which led to him getting fired. 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 Graduates From Harvard - Our Weekly However, rap music gave him solace, and he began writing at age 11. He was born on January 14, 1968, as James Todd Smith, in New York. At this point, the entertainer decided to stick by her unconditionally, putting up a positive front, and even offered to give her a bone marrow. In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. EXCLUSIVE: LL Cool J's Mom on How She Raised Him Right 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. 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. ': 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. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. 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. [82], In 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in the sports dramedy Grudge Match. It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. It is a single and is available on iTunes. Father LL Cool J. He has also appeared in several films. With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as AMyth,[89] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. 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. 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. You passed away. [18] 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. Rock the Bells Records was also responsible for the Deep Blue Sea soundtrack for the 1999 movie of the same name. He didnt need a good reason. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. LL Cool J admits that Tito Jackson is his biological father Story by LL Cool J during a press conference at Hotel St. Regis on June 5, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico | Source: Getty Images. 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. 4 on the Billboard charts. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. He is best known for romantic ballads like I Need Love as well as hardcore rap like I Can't Live Without My Radio. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. After acting in The Hard Way and Toys, LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome. 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. LL Cool J Painfully Detailed Why His Dad Shot His Mom & Grandfather Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. 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. Advertisement. The rest is history. Father (LL Cool J song) - Wikipedia 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 . LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day.