LL COOL J

Grammy-winning rapper and actor James Todd Smith – born in Long Island, New York on January 14, 1968 – is better known by his stage name, LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James). He began rapping at the age of 10 and by the time he was 16, he began recording demos with the financial support of his mother and his grandparents, who helped him purchase the equipment he needed to record. He adapted the stage name LL Cool J and was signed by Def Jam Records. His first single, “I Need a Beat” (1984), was a success and paved the way for his successful 1986 debut album, Radio, which reached number 6 on Billboard’s R&B Albums chart and number 46 on the Billboard 200. The album featured the hits “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” (R&B number 15) and “Rock the Radio” (R&B number 17). His second album, Bigger and Deffer (1987), was even more successful, hitting the Top of the R&B Albums chart and including the hit singles “I’m Bad” and “I Need Love.” Walking with a Panther (1989) was another number 1 R&B album and included the hits “Going Back to Cali” and “I’m That Type of Guy.” However, the Marley Marl-produced Mama Said Knock You Out (1990) was his most successful album yet, climbing to number 2 on the R&B Albums chart. The album included some of his best-known tracks including “The Boomin’ System,” “Around the Way Girl,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” and “6 Minutes of Pleasure.” Further hit albums included 14 Shots to the Dome (1993), Mr. Smith (1995), Phenomenon (1997), the chart-topping G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) (2000), 10 (2002), The DEFinition (2004), Todd Smith (2006), Exit 13 (2008), and Authentic (2013). While his music career was booming, LL Cool J took an interest in acting and appeared in such films as Toys (1992), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Charlie’s Angels (2000), S.W.A.T. (2003), The Deal (2008), Grudge Match (2013), and A.K.A. Mr. Chow (2023). Nominated for many awards throughout his career, LL Cool J has won two Grammy Awards (1992, 1997), two Billboard Music Awards (1991, 1996), two MTV Video Music Awards (1991, 1997), four NAACP Image Awards (1996, 1997, 2001, 2003), and three Soul Train Music Awards (1988 x 2, 2003). Although he announced his retirement in 2016, LL Cool J had a change of heart a short time later and has continued to lend his talents to various projects. In 2024, he returned to music with the release of the single “Saturday Night Special” (featuring Rick Ross and Fat Joey), the first track lifted from the album The FORCE.

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