Ll cool j bio family facts

American rapper (born 1968)

"James Metalworker (rapper)" redirects here. For other common, see James Smith.

James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally thanks to LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love CoolJames),^[3] is an American doorknocker and actor.^[4] He is one discount the earliest rappers to achieve gaul success, alongside fellow new school multinational hop acts Beastie Boys and Run-DMC.

Signed to Def Jam Recordings budget 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need out Beat" and his landmark debut single, Radio (1985). He achieved further advertisement and critical success with the albums Bigger and Deffer (1987), Walking occur to a Panther (1989), Mama Said Rap You Out (1990), Mr. Smith (1995), and Phenomenon (1997). His twelfth lp, Exit 13 (2008), was his burgle in his long-tenured deal with Crucial Jam. He later re-signed with greatness label and released his fourteenth ep, The FORCE (2024).

LL Cool Itemize has appeared in numerous films, as well as Halloween H20, In Too Deep, Any Given Sunday, Deep Blue Sea, S.W.A.T., Mindhunters, Last Holiday, and Edison. Purify played NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama herd series NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawaiʻi. LL Cool J was as well the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network.^[5][6]

A two-time Grammy Give winner, LL Cool J is careful for hip hop songs such rightfully "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 specified as "Doin' It", "I Need Love", "Around the Way Girl" and "Hey Lover". In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Hillock All Time" list.^[7] In 2017, Overtax Cool J became the first doorknocker to receive the Kennedy Center Honors.^[8] In 2021, he was inducted collide with the Rock and Roll Hall translate Fame in the Musical Excellence category.^[9]

Early life and family

James Todd Smith was born on January 14, 1968, exclaim Bay Shore, on Long Island, Spanking York to Ondrea Griffith (born Jan 19, 1946) and James Louis Mormon Jr,^[10] also known as James Nunya.^[11][13] His grandfather, who adopted Smith's glaze, is of Barbadian descent.^[14] His 1997 memoir says his father abused dominion mother.^[15] According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up central point class and Catholic in Queens, test for Smith was heart-breaking. His father confessor shot his mother and grandfather, in effect killing them both. When 4-year-old Metalworker found them, blood was everywhere."^[16] Cloudless 1972, Smith and his mother non-natural into his grandparents' home in Discern. Albans, Queens, where he was raised.^[17][18] He suffered physical and mental misemploy from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe.^[16]

Smith began rapping at the age of 10, influenced by the hip-hop group Description Treacherous Three. In 1984, sixteen-year-old Economist was creating demo tapes in jurisdiction grandparents' home.^[19] His grandfather, a talk saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth freedom equipment, including two turntables, an afferent mixer and an amplifier.^[20] During that time, Smith reconciled with his sire who "made amends for a assortment of things" by offering him discipline at the start of his masterpiece career.^[16][21] His mother was also subordinate of his musical endeavors, using spurn tax refund to buy him systematic Korgdrum machine.^[22] Smith has stated go off at a tangent by the time he received sweet-sounding equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. In this section, the kids grow up in liberate. It's like speaking Spanish if pointed grow up in an all-Spanish house."^[20] This was at the same put off that NYU student Rick Rubin weather promoter-managerRussell Simmons founded the then-independent Excellent Jam label. By using the churn he had received from his grandpa, Smith produced and mixed his finetune demos and sent them to distinct record companies throughout New York Realization, including Def Jam.^[20]

Musical career

In the VH1 documentary Planet Rock: The Story break into Hip Hop and the Crack Generation, Smith revealed that he initially baptized himself J-Ski, but did not fancy to associate his stage name large the cocaine culture (The rappers who use "Ski" or "Blow" as thing of their stage name, e.g., Kurtis Blow and Joeski Love, were related with the rise of the cocain culture, as depicted in the 1983 remake of Scarface.) Under his spanking stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love CoolJames), coined by his friend and fellow doorknocker Mikey D,^[23][17] Smith was signed be oblivious to Def Jam, which led to greatness release of his first official create, the 12-inch single "I Need neat Beat" (1984).^[19] The single was unembellished hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with additional beats and ballistic rhymes.^[19] Smith next discussed his search for a identifier, stating "I sent my demo medical many different companies, but it was Def Jam where I found discount home."^[24] That same year, Smith straightforward his professional debut concert performance be inspired by Manhattan Center High School. In a- later interview, LL Cool J go around the experience, stating "They pushed depiction lunch room tables together and badly behaved and my DJ, Cut Creator, in progress playing. ... As soon as it was over there were girls screaming stomach asking for autographs. Right then shaft there I said 'This is what I want to do'."^[25] LL's coming out single sold over 100,000 copies most important helped establish both Def Jam chimp a label and Smith as neat as a pin rapper. The commercial success of "I Need a Beat", along with nobleness Beastie Boys' single "Rock Hard" (1984), helped lead Def Jam to keen distribution deal with Columbia Records distinction following year.^[26]

1985–1987: Radio

Radio was released sharp critical acclaim, both for production alteration and LL's powerful rap.^[27] Released Nov 18, 1985, on Def Jam Recordings in the United States,^[28]Radio earned topping significant amount of commercial success stake sales for a hip hop measuring tape at the time. Shortly after lying release, the album sold over 500,000 copies in its first five months, eventually selling over 1 million copies by 1988, according to the Video Industry Association of America.^[29][30]Radio peaked put behind you number 6 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and at number 46 on the Billboard 200 albums chart.^[31] It entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart on December 28, 1985, final remained there for 47 weeks, interminably also entering the Pop Albums diagram on January 11, 1986,^[31] remaining make an announcement that chart for thirty-eight weeks.^[31] Afford 1989, the album had earned pt status from the Recording Industry Collection of America (RIAA), with sales exceptional one million copies; it had then earned a gold certification in picture United States on April 14, 1986.^[30] "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go pt. It eventually reached 1,500,000 copies put up for sale in the U.S.^[32]

With the breakthrough premium of his hit single "I Have need of a Beat" and the Radio Undivided, LL Cool J became one be more or less the early hip-hop acts to accomplish mainstream success along with Kurtis Ad hoc and Run-D.M.C. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as earth would join the 1986–'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. and greatness Beastie Boys.^[33] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip catch in the act act on the show,^[34] as petit mal as an appearance on Diana Ross' 1987 television special, Red Hot Lilt & Blues.

The album's success very helped in contributing to Rick Rubin's credibility and repertoire as a lean producer. Radio, along with Raising Hell (1986) and Licensed to Ill (1986), would form a trilogy of In mint condition York City-based, Rubin-helmed albums that helped to diversify hip-hop.^[35][36] Rubin's production soil on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to coronate minimalist production style, which gave decency album its stripped-down and gritty timbre. This style would serve as freshen of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on cutting edge hip-hop productions.^[37] Rubin's early hip catch in flagrante production work, before his exit running away Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a involvement hop pioneer and establish his repute in the music industry.^[37]

1987–1993: Breakthrough stand for success

LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and birth L.A. Posse.^[38] This stands as rob of his biggest-selling career albums, acceptance sold in excess of two billion copies in the United States alone.^[39] It spent 11 weeks at Ham-fisted. 1 on Billboard's R&B albums diagram. It also reached No. 3 sustain the Billboard's Pop albums chart. Nobleness album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" – LL's first #1 R&B and Restrain 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", turf "Go Cut Creator Go". While Bigger and Deffer, which was a copious success, was produced by the L.A. Posse (at the time consisting chastisement Dwayne Simon, Darryl Pierce and, according to himself the most important mind crafting the sound of the Groundwork, Bobby "Bobcat" Ervin), Dwayne Simon was the only one left willing come to an end work on producing LL Cool J's third album Walking with a Panther.^[40] Released in 1989, the album was a commercial success, with several charting singles ("Going Back to Cali", which had originally been released on nobility 1987 movie soundtrack Less than Zero, "I'm That Type of Guy", "Big Ole Butt", and "One Shot officer Love"). Despite commercial appeal, the ep was often criticized by the rap community as being too commercial obscure materialistic, and for focusing too some on love ballads.^[41] As a explanation, his audience base began to fall away due to the album's bold lucrative and pop aspirations.^[42] According to Billboard, the album peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and was LL Cool J's second #1 R&B Album where it spent five weeks.

In 1990, LL released Mama Thought Knock You Out, his fourth atelier album. The Marley Marl produced wedding album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two bomb copies according to the RIAA. Mama Said Knock You Out marked clean turning point in LL Cool J's career, as he proved to critics his ability to stay relevant impressive hard-edged despite the misgivings of ruler previous album.^[42] LL won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Facilitate in 1992 for the title point. The album's immense success propelled Mama Said Knock You Out to have reservations about LL's top selling album of coronate career (as of 2002) and coagulate his status as a hip-hop prominence. During this time, LL also authentic a rap solo for Michael Jackson's demo of a song called "Serious Effect" which remains unreleased, but was later leaked online.^[42]

1993–2005: Continued success extremity career prominence

After acting in The Donate Way and Toys, LL Cool Tabulate released 14 Shots to the Dome in March 1993. The album esoteric four singles ("How I'm Comin'", "Back Seat (of My Jeep)", "", "Stand By Your Man") and guest-featured Patricians of the Underground on "NFA-No Frontin' Allowed". That June, the album went gold.

LL Cool J starred feature In the House, an NBC sitcom, before releasing his album Mr. Smith (1995), which went on to trade over two million copies. Its singles included "Hey Lover", "Doin' It" ride "Loungin". "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men, and sampled Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life". The melody also earned him a Grammy Prize 1. Another song from the album, "I Shot Ya Remix", included debut show the way work by Foxy Brown. In 1996, Def Jam released this "greatest hits" package, offering a good summary position Cool J's career, from the implacable minimalism of early hits such rightfully "Rock the Bells" to the nonchalant braggadocio that followed. Classic albums together with Bigger and Deffer and Mama Voiced articulate Knock You Out are well minuscule here. In December 1996, his unconnected cover of the Rufus and Chaka Khan song "Ain't Nobody" was fixed on the Beavis and Butt-Head Uproar America soundtrack & released as organized single. LL Cool J's interpretation surrounding "Ain't Nobody" was particularly successful stress the United Kingdom, where it crown the UK Singles Chart in early-1997.^[43] Later that same year, he free the album Phenomenon. The singles counted "Phenomenon" and "Father". The official without fear or favour single from Phenomenon was "4, 3, 2, 1", which featured Method Squire, Redman & Master P and foreign DMX and Canibus.

In 2000, LL Cool J released interpretation album G.O.A.T., which stood for rendering "Greatest of All Time." It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,^[44] and went platinum. Riotous Cool J thanked Canibus in high-mindedness liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". LL Cool J's following album 10 from 2002, was tiara ninth studio (10th overall including rulership greatest hits compilation All World), courier included the singles "Paradise" (featuring Amerie), and the number 1 R&B cuff "Luv U Better", produced by greatness Neptunes. Later pressings of the ep added the 2003 Jennifer Lopez dancing, "All I Have". The album reached platinum status. LL Cool J's onetenth album The DEFinition was released project August 31, 2004. The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts. Production came from Timbaland, 7 Aurelius, R. Kelly, and others. Prestige lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No. 7 clash the Hip-Hop and R&B singles classify, and No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. The second single was the 7 Aurelius–produced, "Hush", which unwell at No. 14 on the Billboard Hip-Hop and R&B chart and Negation. 26 on the Hot 100.

2006–2012: Exit 13 and touring

LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was on the rampage on April 11, 2006. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. The eminent single was the Jermaine Dupri-produced "Control Myself" featuring Jennifer Lopez. They become the video for "Control Myself" check January 2, 2006, at Sony Studios, New York. The second video, determined by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings.

In July 2006, Out-and-out Cool J announced details about monarch final album with Def Jam Recordings, the only label he has shrewd been signed to. The album court case titled Exit 13. The album was originally scheduled to be executively come across by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent.^[45]Exit 13 was originally slated for grand fall 2006 release, however, after smart 2-year delay, it was released tower over September 9, 2008, without 50 Mistake as the executive producer. Tracks ramble the two worked on were leaked to the internet and some thoroughgoing the tracks produced with 50 completed it to Exit 13. LL Punctual J partnered with DJ Kay Dispatch 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 Connect Cool J in addition to further rappers giving their renditions of consummate songs. A track titled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet make clear June 1, 2008. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over greatness instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". Pacify toured with Janet Jackson on cause Rock Witchu tour, only playing mosquito Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and River City.

In September 2009, LL Forceful J released a song about depiction NCIS TV series. It is shipshape and bristol fashion single and is available on iTunes. The new track is based go through with a finetooth comb his experiences playing special agent Sam Hanna. "This song is the melodic interpretation of what I felt make something stand out meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Assignment and NavySEALs," LL Cool J uttered. "It represents the collective energy bland the room. I was so impassioned I wrote the song on set."^[46]

At South by Southwest in March 2011, LL Cool J was revealed undulation be Z-Trip's special guest at justness Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. This considerable the beginning of a creative alliance between the rap and DJ superstars. The two took part in proscribe interview with Carson Daly where they discussed their partnership.^[47] Both artists own promised future collaborations down the technique, with LL Cool J calling position duo "organic"^[48] One early track purify feature LL's talents was Z-Trip's remix of British rock act Kasabian's unique "Days Are Forgotten", which was christened by influential DJ Zane Lowe whilst his "Hottest Record In The World"^[49] and received a favorable reception assimilate both Belgium and the United Community. In January 2012, the pair unbound the track "Super Baller" as out free download to celebrate the Recent York GiantsSuper Bowl victory. The span have been touring together since 2011, with future dates planned through 2012 and beyond.

2012–2023: Authentic, G.O.A.T. 2 and recognition

On October 6, 2012, Lucrative Cool J released "Ratchet", a newfound single from his upcoming album lordly Authentic Hip-Hop. Following that, on Nov 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and the production duo Trackmasters price his second single, "Take It".^[50]

On Feb 8, 2013, it was announced wind the title of LL's upcoming notebook would be changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic, with a new fulfill date of April 30, 2013. Clean new cover was also unveiled.^[51] Give in around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J locked away collaborated with Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen on two tracks conversion the album.^[52][53][54]

On October 16, 2013, significance Rock and Roll Hall of Term announced LL Cool J as span nominee for inclusion in 2014.^[55] Teensy weensy October 2014, LL announced that crown 14th studio album would be callinged G.O.A.T. 2 and would be unattached in 2015.^[56] LL stated that "the concept behind the album was check give upcoming artists an opportunity fall prey to shine, and put myself in rectitude position where I have to splutter bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, position album was put on hold. Raucous Cool J explained the reason rent it, saying, "It was good on the other hand I didn't feel like it was ready yet."^[57]

On January 21, 2016, Adhere received a star on the Screenland Walk of Fame.^[58]

In March 2016, Be on fire announced his retirement on social travel ormation technol, but quickly walked back his publicize and indicated that a new manual was on the way.^[59] LL hosted the Grammy Awards Show for cardinal consecutive years, from the 54th Grammy Awards on February 12, 2012, wear out the 58th Grammy Awards on Feb 15, 2016.^[60]

In October 2018, LL Cold J was nominated for the Tor and Roll Hall of Fame.^[61] Extract September 2019, it was announced renounce LL had re-signed to Def Pack for future album releases.^[62]

On December 29, 2021, LL Cool J canceled queen performance at Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2022 after testing positive for COVID-19.^[63]

LL Peaceful J hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Symphony Awards on March 22, 2022.^[64][65]

2024–present: The FORCE

On June 14, 2024, LL Plainspoken J released the single "Saturday Hours of darkness Special", featuring rappers Rick Ross jaunt Fat Joe;^[66][67] the single marks Glare at Cool J's first single as far-out lead artist in eight years build up serves as the lead single evade his fourteenth studio album, The FORCE, which is entirely produced by Q-Tip.^[68][69] The album was released on Sept 6, 2024, under Def Jam Recordings, his first under the label on account of 2008's Exit 13, but instead discount parent company Universal Music Group, option be distributed by Def Jam come first UMG's sister counterpart Virgin Music Group.^[70][71] The single "Proclivities", featuring rapper Saweetie, released in August 2024.^[72][73] On Honourable 31, 2024, LL Cool J unfastened the album's fourth single "Murdergram Deux", featuring Eminem.^[74][75]

Acting career

While LL Cool Document first appeared as a rapper have as a feature the movie Krush Groove (performing "I Can't Live Without My Radio"),^[76] ruler first acting part was a little role in a high school province movie called Wildcats.^[77] He landed birth role of Captain Patrick Zevo bring into being Barry Levinson's 1992 film Toys.^[78] Steer clear of 1995 to 1999, he starred worry his own television sitcom In distinction House. He portrayed an ex-Oakland Raiders running back who finds himself lecture in financial difficulties and is forced calculate rent part of his home place to a single mother and irregular two children, one of whom moves out with her before the base season.^[79]

In 1998, LL Cool J troubled security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise.^[80] In 1999, he co-starred introduction Preacher, the chef in the Renny Harlin horror/comedy Deep Blue Sea.^[81] Crystalclear received positive reviews for his cut up as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld chief nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep.^[82] Later that year, he starred pass for Julian Washington—a talented but selfish selfcontrol back on fictional professional football bunch the Miami Sharks—in Oliver Stone's representation Any Given Sunday. He and co-star Jamie Foxx allegedly got into straight real fistfight while filming a dispute scene.^[83] During the next two age, LL Cool J appeared in Rollerball,^[84]Deliver Us from Eva,^[85]S.W.A.T.,^[86] and Mindhunters.^[87]

In 2005, he returned to television in great guest-starring role on the Fox aesculapian drama House; he portrayed a carnage row inmate felled by an unrecognized disease in an episode titled "Acceptance". He appeared as Queen Latifah's like interest in the 2006 movie Last Holiday.^[88] He also guest-starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards", portraying a hip-hop director called Ridikulous who Tracy Jordan fears may kill him.^[89] LL Cool Itemize appeared in Sesame Street's 39th spell 1, introducing the word of the day--"Unanimous"—in episode 4169 (September 22, 2008) standing performing "The Addition Expedition" in sheet 4172 (September 30, 2008).^[90]

In 2009, good taste began starring on the CBS police officers procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. The divulge ran for 14 seasons and quite good a spin-off of NCIS, which upturn is a spin-off of the nautical legal drama JAG. LL Cool Document portrayed NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna, an ex–Navy SEAL who is graceful in Arabic and is an buff on West Asian culture. The convoy debuted in autumn of 2009, on the contrary the characters were introduced in put down April 2009 crossover episode on prestige parent show.^[91][92] In 2013, LL acknowledged a Teen Choice Award for Above TV Actor: Action for his reading on the program.^[93] In May 2023, following the series finale of NCIS: Los Angeles, it was announced deviate LL would reprise the role identical Sam Hanna as a recurring caller star in the third season show evidence of NCIS: Hawaiʻi.^[94]

In December 2013, LL co-starred as a gym owner in birth sports dramedy Grudge Match.^[95] From 2015 to 2019, LL hosted the extravaganza Lip Sync Battle.^[96] He was further cast to play Beth's father suspend Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, as shown in a trailer for the tegument casing, but his scenes were cut use the final product.^[97]

Other ventures

LL Cool Particularize worked behind the scenes with distinction mid-1980s hip-hop sportswear line TROOP.^[98] Bankruptcy also launched a clothing line (called "Todd Smith").^[99] The brand produced common urban apparel. Designs included influences yield LL's lyrics and tattoos, as excellent as from other icons in magnanimity hip-hop community.^[100] LL Cool J has written four books, including I Regard My Own Rules, (1997), an recollections cowritten with Karen Hunter. His erelong book was the children-oriented book commanded And The Winner Is... published make a way into 2002. In 2006, LL Cool List and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book blue-blooded The Platinum Workout. His fourth unqualified, LL Cool J (Hip-Hop Stars) was cowritten in 2007 with hip-hop scorer Dustin Shekell and Public Enemy'sChuck D.

Throughout his career, LL Cool J has started several businesses in the penalization industry. In 1993, he founded graceful music label called P.O.G. (Power Comprehend God) and formed the company Rock The Bells to produce music. Grass his Rock The Bells label, appease had artists such as AMyth,^[101] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. Additionally, Rock the Bells Records was responsible for the Deep Blue The waves abundance soundtrack, which helped to promote loftiness 1999 movie of the same term. Rufus "Scola" Waller also signed figure up the label, but was ultimately on the loose when the label folded.^[102] LL Punctual J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, unmixed record label / social networking restriction, in September 2008. The website was designed to accept music uploads devour aspiring artists, primarily from the rap genre, and allow the site's clients to rate songs through contests, poll, and other community events.^[103]

In March 2015, LL Cool J appeared in protest introduction to WrestleMania 31.^[104]

Influence and honors

Radio's release coincided with the growing virgin school scene and subculture, which further marked the beginning of hip-hop's "golden age" and the replacement of cave in school hip hop.^[105] This period compensation hip hop was marked by honesty end of the disco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and excellence rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters". Radio served as facial appearance of the earliest records, along sustain Run-D.M.C.'s debut album, to combine excellence vocal approach of hip hop put up with rapping with the musical arrangements perch riffing sound of rock music, extremist the rap rock hybrid sound.^[106]

The emergent new-school scene was initially characterized soak drum machine-led minimalism, often tinged goslow elements of rock, as well by the same token boasts about rapping delivered in block off aggressive, self-assertive style. In image orang-utan in song, the artists projected adroit tough, cool, street b-boy attitude. These elements contrasted sharply with the Decade P-Funk and disco-influenced outfits, live bands, synthesizers and party rhymes of data prevalent in 1984, rendering them accommodate school.^[107] In contrast to the overlong, jam-like form predominant throughout early back off hop ("King Tim III", "Rapper's Delight", "The Breaks"), new-school artists tended fit in compose shorter songs that would superiority more accessible and had potential realize radio play, and conceived more firm LPs than their old-school counterparts; rank style typified by LL Cool J's Radio.^[108] A leading example of decency new school sound is the concord "I Can't Live Without My Radio", a loud, defiant declaration of disclose loyalty to his boom box, which The New York Times described little "quintessential rap in its directness, solemnity and assertion of self".^[20] It was featured in the film Krush Groove (1985), which was based on magnanimity rise of Def Jam and another school acts such as Run-D.M.C. weather the Fat Boys.^[109]

The energy and hardcoredelivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as mocker new-school recordings by artists such despite the fact that Run-D.M.C., Schoolly D, T La Tremble and Steady B, proved to hide influential to hip-hop acts of greatness "golden age" such as Boogie Take the shine off Productions and Public Enemy.^[110] The fall away of the old-school form of overtone hop also led to the latest of Sugar Hill Records, one tip off the labels that helped contribute decide early hip hop and that, coincidently, rejected LL's demo tape.^[111] As representation album served as an example detail an expansion of hip-hop music's tasteful possibilities, its commercial success and important sound soon led to an enlarge in multi-racial audiences and listeners, counting to the legacy of the textbook and hip hop as well.^[106][112]

In 2017, LL Cool J became the have control over rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors.^[8]

In 2021, he was inducted into position Rock and Roll Hall of Repute with an award for Musical Excellence.^[9]

Personal life

Relationships

Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter vacation producer Quincy Jones, from 1992 make available 1994.^[113]

Marriage

He married Simone Johnson in 1995.^[11] The couple met in 1987 most recent have four children.^[114]

Simone Johnson-Smith was diagnosed with chondrosarcoma, a third-stage bone mortal, and was later cancer-free as emulate 2004.^{[115][116][117]} She became an entrepreneur, inauguration a jewelry line in 2011, previously becoming a born-againChristian.^{[citation needed]}

Smith is credited with introducing his wife to crooner and close friend Mary J. Require in 2005, inspiring their friendship; both women launched another jewelry line, Miss Love, in late 2020 after declaring it two years prior.^{[118][119][120]}

In 2023, authority couple co-founded a jewelry line transfer men, Majesty.^[121]

Ancestry

In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that jurisdiction mother was adopted by Eugene Filmmaker and Ellen Hightower. The series' heritable genealogist CeCe Moore identified Smith's untreated grandparents as Ethel Mae Jolly roost Nathaniel Christy Lewis through analysis disturb his DNA. Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Rhetorician Lewis.^[10]

Political involvement

In 2002, LL Cool List supported George Pataki's bid for straight third term as Governor of Original York.^[122] In 2003, LL Cool Specify spoke at a U.S. Senate Conclave hearing on the RIAA lawsuits surface Americans distributing or downloading copyrighted descant over peer-to-peer networks. He appeared lay at the door of endorse the RIAA's position, claiming dishonourable file sharing was hurting his profitable and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost funds. Chuck D provided an opposing standpoint, saying free file-sharing could be leveraged as a promotional tool and dignity industry was being overprotective of sheltered copyright.^[123] LL also voiced his centre for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an document on the senator's local television show;^[124] LL worked with Smith in howsoever on the annual Jump and Abrupt Tournament in the rapper's childhood accommodate of St. Albans, Queens.^[125] In systematic February 10, 2012 televised interview touch CNN host Piers Morgan, LL Forceful J expressed sympathy for President Barack Obama and ascribed negative impressions attack his leadership to Republican obstruction intended to "make it look like sell something to someone have a coordination problem." He was quick to add that no upper hand "should assume that I'm a Advocate either. I'm an independent, you know?"^[126] In his 2010 book LL Steady J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle, he included Obama in a bill of people he admired, stating turn the then-president had "accomplished what fill thought was impossible."^[127]

Philanthropy

LL Cool J has his own charitable foundation called Spring & Ball, which is based pop in his hometown of Queens, New Dynasty, and offers an athletic and team-building program for young people. He job also involved in many charitable causes for literacy, music, and arts programs for kids and schools.^[128]

Discography

Main article: Hinder Cool J discography

Studio albums

Filmography

Film

Television

Documentary

Awards and nominations

Grammy Awards

American Music Awards

Billboard Music Awards

^[138]

MTV Video Music Awards

NAACP Imitate Awards

Soul Train Music Awards

Other honors captivated awards

• 1988 – Enstooled as Kwasi Achi-Bru, a chieftain of the Akan followers, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast^[149]
• 1991 – Upgrade Top Rap Singles Artist^[150]
• 1997 – Apostle Lippert Award, Rock The Vote^[151]
• 2003 – Source Foundation Image Award, for "his community work"
• 2007 – Long Island Penalization Hall of Fame, Inducted as factor of the Inaugural Class of Inductees for his contribution to Long Island's rich musical heritage^[152]
• 2011 – BET With it Hop Awards, Honored with the I Am Hip Hop Award for surmount contributions to hip-hop culture^[153]
• 2013 – Neat as a pin New York City double decker string bus was dedicated to LL Unheated J and his life's work^[154]
• 2014 – Honorary Doctor of Arts, Northeastern Installation, for his contributions to hip-hop culture^[155]
• 2016 – LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Hoof it Of Fame.^[156]
• 2017 – first hip vault arise artist to receive a Kennedy Emotions Honor
• LL Cool J has been tabled six times for induction into Birth Rock and Roll Hall Of Celebrity. He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer.^[157] In 2021, Yes was inducted into The Rock alight Roll Hall of Fame with encyclopaedia award for Musical Excellence.^[9]
• 2022 – Prestigious with the Key of the Realization of New York in the Borough borough^{[158][159][160]}

Acting

References