In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. I watched Behind the Music of LL Cool J the other day :) He didnt need a good reason. 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. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. But there is an intriguing story behind the heart-melting and powerful duo. and the Fat Boys. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. L.A. City Council Shutdown Because Council Members Caught on Opinion: Sacramento Mass Shooting Confirms What Experts Already Knew, What the Puck? [20] Smith has stated that by the time he received musical equipment from his relatives, he "was already a rapper. 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. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. What is LL Cool J's real name? [86] placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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. By the 90s, he already established himself as an actor and juggled both careers seamlessly. LL Cool J is in mourning today following the death of his father. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. With the Rock The Bells label, he had artists such as AMyth,[89] Smokeman, Natice, Chantel Jones and Simone Starks. [9], Smith dated Kidada Jones, daughter of producer Quincy Jones, from 1992 to 1994. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. It debuted at number one on the Billboard album charts,[42] and went platinum. 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. Its singles included "Doin' It" and "Loungin". 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. This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 21:38. LL Cool J's tenth album The DEFinition was released on August 31, 2004. Actor: Deep Blue Sea. In September 2009, LL Cool J released a song about the NCIS TV series. 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. LL Cool J's 11th album, Todd Smith, was released on April 11, 2006. 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 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. He didnt care how he beat me or with what . My family is a very interesting family. [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. 00:00. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her. [31] Another milestone of LL's popularity was his appearance on American Bandstand as the first hip hop act on the show,[32] as well as an appearance on Diana Ross' 1987 television special, Red Hot Rhythm & Blues. You passed away yesterday. 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. As a young boy growing up in New York City LL witnessed a few traumatic events that he carried with him into his adulthood. 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. Following that, on November 3, 2012, LL collaborated with Joe and producers Trackmasters with his second single, "Take It". He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith in Bay Shore, New York on January 14, 1968 to James Louis Smith (AKA James Nunya) and Ondrea Griffith. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life. Despite commercial appeal, the album was often criticized by the hip-hop community as being too commercial and materialistic, and for focusing too much on love ballads. 2016 LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. Kwame Ture on Reactionaries & Revolutionaries (And Why Bill Clinton Hated Empowerment Coach Tera Carissa Hodges Graces Speakers Magazine Cover for Womens Tonight Chris Rock is Set to Make Netflix History | WATCH. 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. He would beat me for watching television, for looking at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. [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. [80][81] In 2013, LL received a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Action for his work on the show. In March 2011 at South by Southwest, LL Cool J was revealed to be Z-Trip's special guest at the Red Bull Thre3Style showcase. According to the Chicago Tribune, "as a child growing up middle-class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heartbreaking. and the Beastie Boys. 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. When 4-year-old Smith found them, blood was everywhere. 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. In 2010, VH1 placed him on their "100 Greatest Artists Of All Time" list. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', [39] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. target_type: 'mix' Series overview and suggestions on where to start! The show is a spin-off of NCIS, which itself is a spin-off of the naval legal drama JAG. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. They met during their teenage years and dated for eight years before exchanging their marriage vows. 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. [104] He also voiced his support for New York State Senator Malcolm Smith, a Democrat, during an appearance on the senator's local television show;[105] he worked with Smith in putting on the annual Jump and Ball Tournament in the rapper's childhood neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens. 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. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. Should we be angry? By Kory Grow. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. And LL was the one who discovered them! [79], Since 2009, LL Cool J has starred on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. Although LL Cool J may have a perfect life with his wife of 25 years, he has experienced a few bumps on the ride to a successful life. It was just a power trip he wrote. "Father" is the third single from LL Cool J's seventh album, Phenomenon. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. published in 2002. 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. L.L. 96 views, 2 likes, 0 loves, 0 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from J.Cano: Law & Order: SVU - Best Episode In his follow-up album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Cool J showed his softer side with the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit on both the rap and pop charts. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. LL Cool J has written four books, including I Make My Own Rules, (1997), an autobiography cowritten with Karen Hunter. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. You passed away. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. "[14] In 1972, Smith and his mother moved into his grandparents' home in St. Albans, Queens, where he was raised. "[18] This was at the same time that NYU student Rick Rubin and promoter-manager Russell Simmons founded the then-independent Def Jam label. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. 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. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. [94][100], In 2017, LL Cool J became the first rapper to receive Kennedy Center Honors. 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. 2. The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. [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. 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. [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. 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. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. It's like speaking Spanish if you grow up in an all-Spanish house. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. When he was four years old, he witnessed his father shooting his mother and grandfather. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith into a middle-class family. His father, James Nunya, was so incensed over the divorce in that he shot his father-in-law in the stomach and estranged wife Ondrea in the back, I Love Old School Music reports. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. 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. Shortly after that, they started dating, and they married in 1995. Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. Season 2 Episode 220. It was tough. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. The iconic rapper and actor tops the list as one of the few black entertainers with a happy home and no controversies. They worked through thick and thin to become one of the industry's power couples. does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. Relationships. [28] AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. Truck driver James Nunya shot his father-in-law . Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. 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 . "I Can't Live Without My Radio" and "Rock the Bells" were singles that helped the album go platinum. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; 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. [17] His grandfather, a jazz saxophonist, bought him $2,000 worth of equipment, including two turntables, an audio mixer and an amplifier. In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. 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. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. The second video, directed by Hype Williams, was "Freeze" featuring Lyfe Jennings. Before the separation was finalized, however, things ended up getting violent. [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. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. LL Cool J partnered with DJ Kay Slay to release a mixtape called "The Return of the G.O.A.T.". LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . Mark Summers for Rolling . The unraveling of LL Cool J's hidden family history also uncovered a rough parallel to the violence he witnessed as a child, when his grandfather and mother were wounded in a shooting involving . Rapper, actor, author and entrepreneur LL Cool J was rap music's first big solo star. ", "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". speaks out against the above mentioned and. _taboola.push({ 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). [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. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. "[23] LL's debut single sold over 100,000 copies and helped establish both Def Jam as a label and Smith as a rapper. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". The third season of PBS' hit show Finding Your Roots continues to chronicle the fascinating family stories of celebrities, politicians, activists and more. 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. 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. [84] He played Beth's father in Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising and was shown in a trailer for the film but his scenes were cut from the final product.[85]. LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. [62], LL hosted the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards on March 22, 2022. 1 on Billboard's R&B albums chart. 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. Elsewhere in the book, LL said a low point in his sex life came when he had an intimate encounter with a . The NCIS star confessed that James came back into his life and made amends for plenty of the things that he did wrong by helping him with his music career early on. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. A married man himself, LL Cool J has been with his wife Simone since 1995. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. We Publish News 24/7. LL Cool J attends Spike TV's Guys Choice 2015 at Sony Pictures Studios on June 6, 2015 in Culver City, California | Photo: Getty Images. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He and co-star Jamie Foxx allegedly got into a real fistfight while filming a fight scene. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. Both survived. He didnt need a good reason. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The album's immense success propelled Mama Said Knock You Out to be LL's top selling album of his career (as of 2002) and solidified his status as a hip-hop icon. LL Cool J combined acting with his rap career; his acting debut was in 1985's "Krush Groove." 4 on the Billboard charts. LL Cool J lives a lavish life with his family nowadays, but it didn't come overnight. 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. [50][51][52], On October 16, 2013, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced LL Cool J as a nominee for inclusion in 2014. My family is a very interesting family. [68], In 1998, LL Cool J played security guard Ronny in Halloween H20, the seventh movie in the Halloween franchise. iloveoldschoolmusic.com. This marked the beginning of a creative collaboration between the rap and DJ superstars. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. 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. The song contains LL Cool J rapping over the instrumental to Maino's "Hi Hater". 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. ", "NAACP Image Awards 2014: Complete winners list", "EIC Announces Nominations For 18th Annual PRISM Awards- Nods for Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Oprah, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Edie Falco, Allison Janney, LL Cool J, Jewel", "Television - 'Creed,' 'Empire' Top NAACP Image Award Nominations; Full List", "People's Choice Awards 2017: Full List Of Nominees", Pink Cookies In a Plastic Bag Getting Crushed by Buildings, Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist, Teen Choice Award for Choice Action TV Actor, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=LL_Cool_J&oldid=1142520506, Articles with dead external links from September 2010, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2022, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2016, Pages using Sister project links with wikidata namespace mismatch, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Episodes: "Legend: Part 1 & 2", "Too Many Cooks", Outstanding Career Achievements in the Field of Entertainment, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Male Performance in a Drama Series Multi-Episode Storyline. Before then, they were lovers with an unsettling relationship plagued by the rapper's familiarity with women and his flirtatious attitude. [93] This period of hip hop was marked by the end of the disco rap stylings of old school, which had flourished prior to the mid-1980s, and the rise of a new style featuring "ghetto blasters". Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. The album went gold. Sadly, a few years later, the young man stated that his dad mismanaged his funds which led to him getting fired. In January 2012, the pair released the track "Super Baller" as a free download to celebrate the New York Giants Super Bowl victory. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. He didnt need a good reason. 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.