LL Cool J

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Biography

James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (an abbreviation for L adies L ove Cool J ames), is an American rapper , entrepreneur, and actor from Bay Shore , New York . He is known for romantic ballads such as " I Need Love ", " Around the Way Girl " and " Hey Lover " as well as pioneering hip-hop such as " I Can't Live Without My Radio ", " I'm Bad ", " The Boomin' System ", and " Mama Said Knock You Out ". He has released thirteen studio albums and two greatest hits compilations, including 2008's Exit 13 , the last for his record deal with Def Jam Recordings . He has also appeared in numerous films, and currently stars as Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS Special Agent List of NCIS: Los Angeles characters#Sam Hanna|Sam Hanna on the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles .

As he grew older, Todd found a way to escape the effects of his abuse and his bullying attitude: hip-hop music. He fell in love with it at the age of nine, and by 11 he was writing lyrics and making his own songs with some DJ equipment his grandmother gave him to stop him riding motorcycles or doing karate.

Influenced by Grandmaster Flash , Afrika Bambaataa , funk legend Rick James , Kurtis Blow , and pioneers Run-DMC , LL started to create his own rap style.

Music career

Radio (1985)

Radio (LL Cool J album)|Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap.Hirschber Lynn. ", New York Times Magazine , September 2, 2007. " I Can't Live Without My Radio " and " Rock the Bells (song)|Rock the Bells " were singles that helped the album go platinum with 1,500,000 sales.

Bigger and Deffer (1987)

In 1987, he released Bigger and Deffer which included " I Need Love ". Also featured on the album was " Go Cut Creator Go ", which pays homage to the DJ. The album sold about 2,300,000 copies. In 1998, The Source Magazine named it as one of the top 100 albums ever.

"I Need Love" was the second single from LL Cool J's second album, Bigger and Deffer. The song, released in the fall of 1987, reached #1 on the R& B/Hip Hop charts, #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, and #8 in the UK Singles Chart. The single won a Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap - Single in 1987. "I Need Love" was ranked #13 on the 100 Greatest Rap Songs.

Walking with a Panther (1989)

LL Cool J's third album was 1989's Walking with a Panther . The album featured the singles " Going Back to Cali (LL Cool J song)|Going Back to Cali ", " I'm That Type of Guy ", " Jingling Baby ", and " Big Ole Butt " and went platinum with 1,100,000 sales.

Mama Said Knock You Out (1990)

As an answer to people saying that his music had became too soft due to the inclusion of several ballads on his previous album, LL Cool J released Mama Said Knock You Out . The album was fully produced by Juice Crew producer Marley Marl , one of the premier producers in the hip-hop industry at the time. Mama Said Knock You Out contained three singles, " The Boomin' System ", " Around the Way Girl ", and the title track, which he performed during an episode of MTV Unplugged . It was also featured in the film The Hard Way (1991 film)|The Hard Way . The album went on to sell over 2,700,000 copies.

14 Shots to the Dome (1993)

After acting in The Hard Way and Toys (film)|Toys , LL Cool J released 14 Shots to the Dome . The album had three singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat" and the strangely titled "Pink Cookies in a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings") and guest-featured labelmates Lords of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". The album went gold.

Mr. Smith (1995)

LL Cool J starred in In the House , an NBC sitcom, before releasing Mr. Smith (album)|Mr. Smith (1995), which went on to sell over two million copies. Its singles included " Doin' It " (that samples "My Jamaican Guy" by Grace Jones ) and " Loungin " (that samples "Who Do You Love? " by Bernard Wright ). Another of the album's singles, " Hey Lover ", featured Boyz II Men sampling Michael Jackson 's "The Lady in My Life," which eventually became one of the first hip hop music videos to air on VH1 . The song also earned him a Grammy Award . Yet another single from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included vocal work by Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown .

Phenomenon (1997)

In 1997, he released the album Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)|Phenomenon . The singles included " Phenomenon (LL Cool J song)|Phenomenon " and "Father". The official second single from Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)|Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1," which featured Method Man , Redman (rapper)|Redman & Master P and introduced DMX (rapper)|DMX and Canibus .

G.O.A.T. (2000)

In 2000, LL Cool J released the album G.O.A.T. , which stood for the "greatest of all time." It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts, and went platinum. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration".

10 (2002)

LL Cool J's next album 10 (LL Cool J album)|10 from 2002, was his 9th studio (10th overall including his greatest hits compilation All World), and included the singles " Paradise (song)|Paradise " (featuring Amerie ), " Luv U Better ", produced by The Neptunes and the 2003 Jennifer Lopez duet, " All I Have (song)|All I Have ". The album reached platinum status.

The DEFinition (2004)

LL Cool J's 10th album The DEFinition was released on August 31 , 2004 . The album debuted at #4 on the Billboard charts. Production came from Timbaland , 7 Aurelius , R. Kelly , and others. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung," which peaked at #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single was the 7 Aurelius – produced, "Hush," which peaked at #26 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Todd Smith (2006)

LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith , was released on April 11, 2006. It includes collaborations with 112 (band)|112 , Ginuwine , Juelz Santana , Teairra Mari and Freeway (rapper)|Freeway . The first single was the Jermaine Dupri produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez . They shot the video for " Control Myself " on January 2, 2006 at Sony Studios, New York. The second video, directed by Hype Williams , was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings .

Exit 13 (2008)

In July 2006, LL Cool J announced details about his final album with Def Jam recordings, the only label he has ever been signed to. The album is titled Exit 13 . The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent . 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. Tracks that the two worked on were leaked to the Internet and some of the tracks produced with 50 made it to Exit 13.

LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called " The Return of the G.O.A.T. ". It was the first mixtape of his 24 year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their rendition of his songs. A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's " Hi Hater ". He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City.

NCIS: No Crew Is Superior

In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. It is a single and is available on iTunes . The new track is based on his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced United States Marine Corps|Marines and United States Navy|Navy United States Navy SEALs|SEAL s," LL Cool J said. "It represents the collective energy in the room. I was so inspired I wrote the song on set."

No More Single

No More Single (2011)

Acting career

While LL Cool J first appeared as a rapper in the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"), his first acting part was a small role in a high school football movie called Wildcats (film)|Wildcats . He continued to work in movies from then until 1995 when he landed his own television sitcom, In the House (TV series)|In the House . He starred as 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.

In 1998 he had a role in the film Halloween H20 . In 1999's Deep Blue Sea , he played the wise-cracking cook on a top-secret sea base besieged by genetically enhanced sharks. He received rave review for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss, nicknamed "God" in In Too Deep (film)|In Too Deep . Later that year, he had a starring role in Any Given Sunday , in which he played Julian Washington, the talented but selfish running back on the dysfunctional Miami Sharks. Since then, LL Cool J has appeared in a variety of films, such as the Rollerball (2002 film)|2002 remake of Rollerball , Deliver Us from Eva , and S.W.A.T. (film)|S.W.A.T. .

In 2005, he returned to television in a guest starring role on the Fox Network|Fox medical drama House as a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease.

LL Cool J also appeared as Queen Latifah 's love interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday (2006 film)|Last Holiday .

He also guest starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards" as the hip hop producer Ridiculous, who Tracy Jordan fears is going to kill him.

LL Cool J appeared in Sesame Street's 39th season where he introduced the word of the day, "Unanimous", in episode 4169 (Sept. 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (Sept. 30, 2008).

LL Cool J is currently a series regular on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles , a spin-off of NCIS (TV series)|NCIS (which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG (TV series)|JAG ). He portrays Naval Criminal Investigative Service|NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an ex– Navy SEAL who is fluent in Arabic and an expert on West Asian culture. The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show.

Other works and venture

Fashion

LL Cool J worked behind the scenes with the mid-eighties Hip-Hop sportswear line TROOP. In the mid 90's, he also helped to launch the clothing line FUBU .

LL Cool J launched a clothing line (called Todd Smith ). The brand produces popular urban apparel. Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community.

Books

LL Cool J has written four books, including 1998's I Make My Own Rules , an autobiography co-written with Karen Hunter . His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is... published in 2002. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig wrote a fitness book, The Platinum Workout . His fourth book LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was co-written in 2007 with hip-hop historian Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy (band)|Public Enemy's Chuck D.

Businessman and entrepreneur

LL Cool J started his own businesses in the music industry such as the music label in 1993 called P.O.G. (Power Of God) and formed the company Rock The Bells to produce music. With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as Amyth, Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. Rock the Bells Records was also responsible for the Deep Blue Sea (soundtrack)|Deep Blue Sea soundtrack for the 1999 movie of the same name. Rufus "Scola" Waller was also signed to the label, but was released when the label folded.

LL Cool J appears in the music video "Mrs. Right" by Mindless Behavior

LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle .com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. 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.

Personal life

LL Cool J married his wife Simone I. Johnson, on August 9, 1995 at his home in Long Island, New York. The couple have four children: one son, Najee (born September 19, 1989) and three daughters, Italia (born January 1, 1991), Samaria (born September 15, 1995) and Nina Simone (born 2001).

Discography

1985: Radio (LL Cool J album)|Radio

1987: Bigger and Deffer

1989: Walking with a Panther

1990: Mama Said Knock You Out

1993: 14 Shots to the Dome

1995: Mr. Smith (album)|Mr. Smith

1997: Phenomenon (LL Cool J album)|Phenomenon

2000: G.O.A.T.

2002: 10 (LL Cool J album)|10

2004: The DEFinition

2006: Todd Smith

2008: Exit 13

Filmography

Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
1985
1986
1991
1992
1995
1995–1999
1997
1998
	All That (TV)
	Oz (TV)
	Woo
	Caught Up
	Halloween H20: 20 Years Later
1999
	In Too Deep
	Any Given Sunday
2000
2001
2002
2003
2003	S.W.A.T.
2004
2005
	Slow Burn
	House (TV)
2006
2007
2007	30 Rock (TV)
2008
2009
2009	NCIS (TV)
2009–present
2011

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

Year	Nominated work	Award	Result
Grammy Awards of 1989	"Going Back To Cali"	Best Rap Performance	nom
Grammy Awards of 1992	"Mama Said Knock You Out"	Best Rap Solo Performance	won
Grammy Awards of 1993	"Strictly Business"	Best Rap Solo Performance	nom
Grammy Awards of 1994	"Stand By Your Man"	Best Rap Solo Performance	nom
Grammy Awards of 1997	"Hey Lover"	Best Rap Solo Performance	won
Grammy Awards of 1997	Mr. Smith	Best Rap Album	nom
Grammy Awards of 1998	"Ain't Nobody"	Best Rap Solo Performance	nom
Grammy Awards of 2004	"Luv U Better"	Best Rap/ Sung Collaboration	nom
Grammy Awards of 2005	The DEFinition	Best Rap Album	nom

MTV Video Music Award s

1991 - MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video , for "Mama Said Knock You Out"

1997 - MTV Video Music Vanguard Award, for "career achievement"

NAACP Image Award s

1996 - Best Rap Artist, for "Mr. Smith"

1997 - Best Rap Artist, for "Mr. Smith"

2001 - Outstanding Hip-Hop/Rap Artist, for "G.O.A.T."

2003 - Outstanding Male Artist

Soul Train Music Awards

1987 - Soul Train Music Award for Best Rap - Single for "I Need Love"

2003 - Quincy Jones Award , for "outstanding career achievements in the field of entertainment"

Blockbuster Entertainment Award s

2000 - "Favorite Supporting Actor - Action" from Deep Blue Sea

The New York Music Awards

15 New York Music Awards

Soul Train Awards

10 Soul Train Awards

Billboard Awards

1 Billboard Award

Rock The Vote Award

1997 - ''"Patrick Lippert Award"'

Source Awards

2003 - Source Foundation Image Award, for "his community work"

Long Island Music Hall of Fame

2007 - Inducted as part of the Inaugural Class of Inductees for his contribution to Long Island's rich musical heritage

BET Hip Hop Awards

2011 - Honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award for his contributions to hip-hop culture

Copyright Citations

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1. 50 Cent 2. Beastie Boys 3. Coolio 4. DMX 5. Eminem 6. Fat Joe 7. Funkmaster Flex 8. Ice-T 9. Method Man 10. Nas 11. Nelly 12. Notorious B.I.G. 13. Rakim 14. Run-DMC 15. Wu-Tang Clan 16. Cypress Hill 17. Eric B. & Rakim 18. Jay-Z 19. Master P 20. MC Hammer 21. KRS-One 22. Timbaland 23. Foxy Brown 24. Canibus 25. Fifty Cent

Hip Hop/Rap Music Artists