Smith's biological great-uncle was Hall of Fame boxer John Henry Lewis. [88] The series debuted in autumn of 2009, but the characters were introduced in an April 2009 crossover episode on the parent show. }); Copyright 2015 . 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 . Rechristened LL Cool J (Ladies Love Cool James), he released his debut single, . "It represents the collective energy in the room. Posted by. Under his new stage name LL Cool J (an abbreviation for Ladies Love Cool James), coined by his friend and fellow rapper Mikey D,[21][15] Smith was signed by Def Jam, which led to the release of his first official record, the 12-inch single "I Need a Beat" (1984). Page 1 of LL Cool J biography and life story including childhood story, love relationship, career, walk of fame and more. It was like the scene in `Glory when Denzel Washington was getting beat down like a slave, except I was like 8 years old. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography "I Make My Own Rules" and the details are shocking. Elsewhere in the book, LL said a low point in his sex life came when he had an intimate encounter with a . [29] By 1989, the album had earned platinum status from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), with sales exceeding one million copies; it had previously earned a gold certification in the United States on April 14, 1986. At the age of four, he saw his mother and grandfather shot by his own father. . Radio served as one of the earliest records, along with Run-D.M.C. [97], The energy and hardcore delivery and musical style of rapping featured on Radio, as well as other new-school recordings by artists such as Run-D.M.C., Schooly D, T La Rock and Steady B, proved to be influential to hip-hop acts of the "golden age" such as Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', [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. [70] He received positive reviews for his role as Dwayne Gittens, an underworld boss nicknamed "God", in In Too Deep. Who are LL Cool J parents? These elements contrasted sharply with the 1970s P-Funk and disco-influenced outfits, live bands, synthesizers and party rhymes of acts prevalent in 1984, rendering them old school. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. ", "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. In fact, when he was starting out as a musician, his dad actually re-entered his life and tried to guide him through it. The actor and his wife have been married for twenty-five years. LL Cool Js wife met him when both of them were teenagers. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Although his childhood was a difficult time in his life, LL Cool J chose to forgive his father for what had happened before. The Marley Marl produced album received critical acclaim and eventually went double Platinum, selling over two million copies according to the RIAA. 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. 7 on the Hip-Hop and R&B singles chart, and No. Father LL Cool J. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. AmoMama creates engaging, meaningful content for women. We raise awareness about these issues to help potential victims seek professional counseling and prevent anyone from getting hurt. Beat with belts like a slave with a whip. 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. Welcome to /r/DragonQuest! 253 comments. That's just the tip of the iceberg look. LL opened up about Roscoes constant abuse during an interview with Oprah back in the day. [citation needed] The song also earned him a Grammy Award. Yet, the scars never fully healed. When LL Cool J was just 4 years old, his father shot his mother and grandfather. container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails', He toured with Janet Jackson on her Rock Witchu tour, only playing in Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, and Kansas City. [79], Since 2009, LL Cool J has starred on the CBS police procedural NCIS: Los Angeles. placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails', LL Cool J achieved an 'MTV Video Music Award' for his hit track 'Mama Said Knock You Out in . Posse. He has been in films such as "Any Given Sunday", "In Too Deep", and "Deep Blue Sea" just to . He has been nominated in 2010, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2021 as a performer. LL Cool J was born and raised in Queens, New York, the son of Ondrea (ne Griffith) and James Smith. Mr. James was upset that LL Cool J's mother had left him. 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. 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. 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. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; When 4-year-old LL found them, blood was everywhere." Track 9 on Phenomenon. I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. LL Cool J came out and said that Jay and LL Cool J stand for Jackson. He was driving and stopped by a friends house to say hi. You know how glad I was to have Roscoe out of my life, but the damage was done. LL (birth name James Todd Smith) recounted his painful childhood memories in his biography I Make My Own Rules and the details are shocking. Roscoe beat me for just about anything. target_type: 'mix' A track entitled "Hi Haterz" was leaked onto the internet on June 1, 2008. does not support or promote any kind of violence, self-harm, or abusive behavior. [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. LL Cool J was born in 1968 in Queens, New York, according to Amomama, in a tough neighborhood where drug abuse and crime were rampant. He had a tough childhood because his parents had a violent relationship. Plus, LL shares what his father's mistakes taught him about mercy. This style would serve as one of Rubin's production trademarks and would have a great impact on future hip-hop productions. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! Eventually Ondrea left Roscoe but after all of the trauma LL suffered it was too little too late. And LL was the one who discovered . 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. _taboola.push({ target_type: 'mix' 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. As if that wasnt bad enough, his mother, Ondrea, eventually settled into another relationship with a man named, Roscoe Granger, and in the book, LL details (via The Daily Press) how Roscoe, allegedly a drug addict, took every opportunity to beat LL whenever he had the chance. Apart from that, he shot his grandfather in the stomach. And LL was the one who discovered . 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. 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. Hed even pull me out of the shower to get a beating. [78] LL Cool J appeared in Sesame Street's 39th season, introducing the word of the day--"Unanimous"in episode 4169 (September 22, 2008) and performing "The Addition Expedition" in episode 4172 (September 30, 2008). Kicked me down steps outside in the snow. [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. The rest is history. Here is the truth behind the rapper's life. According to Hollywood.com, it would be years before LL was able to forgive his father. He didnt need a good reason. In 2006, LL Cool J and his personal trainer, Dave "Scooter" Honig, wrote a fitness book titled The Platinum Workout. LL Cool J was also the host of Lip Sync Battle on Paramount Network. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now! Unfortunately, that relationship turned sour when James mismanaged LL's funds . LL Cool J's second album was 1987's Bigger and Deffer, which was produced by DJ Pooh and the L.A. LL Cool J founded and launched Boomdizzle.com, a record label / social networking site launched in September 2008. Born James Todd Smith on 14th January, 1968 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, United States, he is famous for Ladies Love Cool James.. You passed away. Another of the album's singles, "Hey Lover", featured Boyz II Men, and sampled Michael Jackson's "The Lady in My Life"; it eventually became an early hip-hop music video to air on VH1. The agreement angered the rapper's father, truck driver James Nunya, who ended up pointing a gun at his father-in-law Eugene. They made amends and until later when he felt his father was mismanaging his money and he cut ties with him again. During an appearance on Finding Your Roots With Henry Louis . [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. The album debuted at No. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; I've been here for years!" James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), better known as LL Cool J (acronym for Ladies Love Cool James) is an American rapper and actor. My father made a massive blunder, but he also did a lot of things right.. As a result LL fired James and hired a new manager. LL Cool J thanked Canibus in the liner notes of the album, "for the inspiration". [37] It spent 11 weeks at No. LL Cool J on February 9, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California | Source: Getty Images. My family is a very interesting family. LL Cool J Songs - Hit 'em High 1996 - Hush 2004 - U Will Know 1994 I was doing all kinds of wild things by then and getting in all kinds of trouble.. He would beat me for watching television, for lookin at him funny, for looking out the window watching other kids play. The hip-hop Icon LL Cool J opened up about his rough childhood and the abusive nature of his stepdad and his biological father who he claimed shot his mother. He actually had to overcome many challenges to get to where he is today. LL Cool J is one of the most respected rappers in the game but even he has endured his fair share of obstacles. It includes collaborations with 112, Ginuwine, Juelz Santana, Teairra Mari and Freeway. Brigitte Nielsen Proves Age Is Just a Number in Figure-Hugging Outfit & Knee-High Boots in Pics, '13 Reasons Why's Sosie Bacon Flashed Ring - Kevin Bacon's Daughter's Hands Showed Syndrome She May Have, Gwyneth Paltrow & Chris Martin Are Uncoupling Goals as She Calls Him Sweetest Father in Birthday Post, LL Cool J Discovered the Grandparents Who 'Embraced' Him Were Not Biologically Related to Him, Michael J Fox Was Isolating Himself From Wife of 34 Years & Kids - She Helped Him to Become Part Of Family Again, Neal McDonough Was Crushed & Lost House after He Refused to Cheat On His Wife for Movies. It was released on January 13, 1998 for Def Jam Recordings and was produced by the Trackmasters. [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." (4 years old) when his father shot his mother during a dispute between the two. . [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. [49] At around the same time, it was announced that LL Cool J had collaborated with Van Halen guitarist Eddie Van Halen on two tracks on the album.