In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. 253 comments. [17] The single was a hard-hitting, streetwise b-boy song with spare beats and ballistic rhymes. He did not get the best attention as a young child, and his surroundings subjected him to a life of bullying and arms. [41] After his mother moved on, she married an abusive man and drug addict named Roscoe Granger. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. American rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor (born 1968), LL Cool J during a 2001 performance in Germany, 19932005: Continued success and career prominence. The commercial success of "I Need a Beat", along with the Beastie Boys' single "Rock Hard" (1984), helped lead Def Jam to a distribution deal with Columbia Records the following year. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', The rapper-actor recently took to Twitter to tell fans of his dad's passing at the age of 65. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', 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. James Todd Smith, popularly known as LL Cool J, is a well-known artist in the movie and music industry. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; 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 . window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Designs include influences from LL's lyrics and tattoos, as well as from other icons in the hip-hop community. [56], In March 2016, LL announced his retirement on social media, but quickly walked back his announcement and indicated that a new album was on the way. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. "This song is the musical interpretation of what I felt after meeting with NCIS agents, experienced Marines and Navy SEALs," LL Cool J said. The new boyfriend was not a father figure to him at all and was abusive. 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. Decades later, he's in a really good place with a stable career and a great family life. After this experience, the couple's relationship became stronger. Awards. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. [15][16] He suffered physical and mental abuse from his mother's ex-boyfriend Roscoe. Together, they share four children named Najee, Samaria, Italia, and Nina. [101] He married Simone Johnson in 1995. LL Cool J launched a clothing line (called "Todd Smith"). LL Cool J has an enviable relationship with his wife, Simone Smith, and they share four kids. It was tough. and the Beastie Boys. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. 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. He appeared to endorse the RIAA's position, claiming illegal file sharing was hurting his sales and that his session musicians "can't live" due to the lost income. 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. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. LL Cool J's mother forgave his father for shooting her in the back. The two took part in an interview with Carson Daly where they discussed their partnership. 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. [106] In a February 10, 2012 televised interview with CNN host Piers Morgan, LL Cool J expressed sympathy for President Barack Obama and ascribed negative impressions of his leadership to Republican obstruction designed to "make it look like you have a coordination problem." The singles included "Phenomenon" and "Father". [24], Radio was released to critical acclaim, both for production innovation and LL's powerful rap. Although both survived James saw them covered in blood. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. James reportedly did it because he was distraught that Ondrea had left him and also taken their son with her. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. 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. My mother forgave my father He came back into my life and made amends for a lot of things by helping to guide me with my music career early on, and kinda helping me in that area (sic). target_type: 'mix' The album is titled Exit 13. LL Cool J was born James Todd Smith into a middle-class family. If that wasn't hard enough, he experienced a tragic and dramatic event when he was only four years old. *In his 1997 biography I Make My Own Rules,. In that same year, he released the album Phenomenon. It was the first mixtape of his 24-year career and includes freestyling by LL Cool J in addition to other rappers giving their renditions of his songs. LL Cool J looks back on "Accidental Racist" and explains why he declared himself the G.O.A.T. In fact, when he was starting out as a musician, his dad actually re-entered his life and tried to guide him through it. Later, LL's mom was instramental in getting her son to reconcile with his father. Young James had a rather traumatic childhood. They met during their teenage years and dated for eight years before exchanging their marriage vows. NEW BEDFORD After Tito Jackson lost the Boston mayor's race in 2017, he began to take stock of his life and heritage. 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. [87] The brand produces popular urban apparel. You have entered an incorrect email address! In this week's heart wrenching episode, Dr. Henry Louis Gates uncovers the emotional history of both Sean "Puffy" Combs and LL Cool J 's families. 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. Series overview and suggestions on where to start! LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. [48], On February 8, 2013, it was announced that the title of LL's upcoming album would be changed from Authentic Hip-Hop to Authentic with a new release date of April 30, 2013. 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. 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. Apr 3, 2018 - Explore Kellz M's board "LL Cool J" on Pinterest. Dante Boyles MUS 211 LL Cool J Cultural Analysis Paper LL Cool J has done a lot in the hip-hop industry and has also branched out to the entertainment business as well. Father LL Cool J. The album was originally scheduled to be executively produced by fellow Queens rapper 50 Cent. 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). [88] My family is a very interesting family. By Kory Grow. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', Once there, his friend offered to introduce his cousin, Simone. 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. This was the same person who shot his mother in the back and granddad in the stomach. It is a single and is available on iTunes. His father shot his mother and grandfather, nearly killing them both. That's when the father of two made a big reveal about his own childhood: He was sexually violated at a young age by a male family member. His mother did survived, but once she divorced LL's dad, she hooked up with a . His upbringing, though, was quite traumatic. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. ': 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. 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. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', "[107] In his 2020 book LL Cool J's Platinum 360 Diet and Lifestyle, he included Obama in a list of people he admired, stating that the then-president had "accomplished what people thought was impossible. 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. [60] His upcoming album will be produced by Q-Tip. Then his mom ended up marrying her physical therapist, who ended up being extremely abusive. And LL was the one who discovered them! According to the Chicago Tribune, "[As] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. The rest is history. ", "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". 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. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. [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. L.L. [102], In an episode of Finding Your Roots, Smith learned that his mother was adopted by Eugene Griffith and Ellen Hightower. mode: 'thumbnails-rr1', I love you", "LL Cool J forgives dad for shooting mother", "Rapper Ll Cool J Puts Wild Days, Demons Behind Him", "LL Cool J Revealed in 1997 Memoir That His Dad Shot His Mom, Grandfather", "LL Cool J Says His Mother's Tax Refund Funded His Demo", "Acronyms and abbreviations by the Free Online Dictionary", "Def Jam Recordings - LL Cool J Biography", "LL Cool J bio: Edison Force ActorTribute.ca", "Address Island / Def Jam Records Def Jam history", "LL Cool J career discography at HeadSprung.net", "Billboard Music Charts - Search Results - LL Cool J Radio", "LL Cool J Can't Knock Out Billboard Champs", "Biography and other information at Askmen.com", "Kurtis Blow Presents: The History Of Rap, Vol. [76], In 2005, he returned to television in a guest-starring role on the Fox medical drama House; he portrayed a death row inmate felled by an unknown disease in an episode entitled "Acceptance". We humbly honor the old school soul music era and will keep pushing forward to keep it alive. *In his 1997 biography I Make My Own Rules, LL Cool J recounts the time his father shot his mother and grandfather because he was bitter about getting a divorce. But there is an intriguing story behind the heart-melting and powerful duo. }); Copyright 2015 . LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. Now, LL explains how heand his motherlearned to forgive. You passed away yesterday. Rechristened LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), he released his debut single, . [92], With the breakthrough success of his hit single "I Need a Beat" and the Radio LP, LL Cool J became an early hip-hop act to achieve mainstream success along with Kurtis Blow and Run-DMC. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. 2016 LL Cool J was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. [35] Rubin's early hip hop production work, before his exit from Def Jam to Los Angeles, helped solidify his legacy as a hip hop pioneer and establish his reputation in the music industry.[35]. [33][34] Rubin's production credit on the back cover reads "REDUCED BY RICK RUBIN", referring to his minimalist production style, which gave the album its stripped-down and gritty sound. 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. A married man himself, LL Cool J has been with his wife Simone since 1995. Relationships. and the Fat Boys. "[55], On January 21, 2016, LL received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 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. [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. [77] He also guest-starred on 30 Rock in the 2007 episode "The Source Awards", portraying a hip-hop producer called Ridikulous who Tracy Jordan fears may kill him. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. }); Copyright 2015 . [43] 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. 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. 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. target_type: 'mix' And LL was the one who discovered them! He has released twelve studio albums over his 27 year career, has starred in numerous feature films and currently LL Cool J, Simone Smith and family at The Fashion Institute of Technology on May 25, 2017 | Source: Getty Images. . The last LL COOL J album, Authentic, was released in 2013, five years after his last Def Jam album, Exit 13. Sha Be Allah. The album featured the singles "I'm Bad", the revolutionary "I Need Love" - LL's first #1 R&B and Top 40 hit, "Kanday", "Bristol Hotel", and "Go Cut Creator Go". You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. 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 series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. He shot him in the stomach before shooting his estranged wife, Ondrea, LL Cool J's mother. His second book was the children-oriented book called And The Winner Is published in 2002. He currently plays NCIS Special Agent Sam Hanna in the CBS crime drama television series NCIS: Los Angeles. However, the victims survived, and thankfully, things were repaired in the household, with the Smith patriarch admitting and turning away from his errors. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. According to the Chicago Tribune, "[as] a kid growing up middle class and Catholic in Queens, life for LL was heart-breaking. [32], Radio's release coincided with the growing new school scene and subculture, which also marked the beginning of hip-hop's "golden age" and the replacement of old school hip hop. Now he is the first hip-hop artist to ever receive a Kennedy Centre Honour this month for his lifetime . My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. Although he initially refused, he changed his mind after looking at how beautiful Simone was. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories. After they recovered from their injuries,. LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . Pl. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. Taryll revealing this sexual abuse, Iyanla said, was a huge step in his . But The lessons you taught me live on in my heart. Source: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images / Getty. Signed to Def Jam Recordings in 1984, LL Cool J's breakthrough came with his single "I Need a Beat" and his landmark debut album, Radio (1985). A new cover was unveiled at the same time. But even with all of that negativity LL still found a way to forgive his father for everything hes ever done to him. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. In his book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe constantly beat his mother. Unfortunately, the bad things didnt stop after the previously mentioned incident took place. Gigs at larger venues were offered to LL as he would join the 1986-'87 Raising Hell tour, opening for Run-D.M.C. [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. [39] As a result, his audience base began to decline due to the album's bold commercial and pop aspirations. 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. Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. [54] LL stated that "the concept behind the album was to give upcoming artists an opportunity to shine, and put myself in the position where I have to spit bars with some of the hardest rhymers in the game"; however, the album was put on hold. LL Cool J has lost his father, James Nunya. James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. Both survived. By using the mixer he had received from his grandfather, Smith produced and mixed his own demos and sent them to various record companies throughout New York City, including Def Jam. published in 2002. 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 . And LL was the one who discovered . The rapper was age 4 at the time, and both relatives survived their injuries. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LLs funds and he ended up owing $2 million dollars to the IRS. My mother forgave my father He came back into my life and made amends for a lot of things by helping to guide me with my music career early on, and kinda helping me in that area (sic). Mama Said Knock You Out marked a turning point in LL Cool J's career, as he proved to critics his ability to stay relevant and hard-edged despite the misgivings of his previous album. LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 LL Cool J won his first Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance for his song "Mama Said Knock You Out" at the 1992 Grammy Awards. While speaking to Oprah, the jewelry maker explained that they have an awesome marriage because of the sacrifices and love they share. 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. Classic albums including Bigger and Deffer and Mama Said Knock You Out are well represented here. 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. LL was a young boy growing up in New York when his parents separated in 1972. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. 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. He was quick to add that no one "should assume that I'm a Democrat either. The lead single was the Timbaland-produced "Headsprung", which peaked at No.