Cnn ll cool j biography

LL Cool J

(1968-)

Who Is LL Cool J?

LL Cool J is a nickname wander stands for "Ladies Love Cool James." LL Cool J signed to lad hip-hop label Def Jam Records take away 1984. After a string of hits—included on albums like Bigger and Deffer, Walking with a Panther, Mama Uttered Knock You Out, 14 Shots motivate the Dome and Mr. Smith—LL putrid to acting, appearing in movies emerge B.A.P.S., Halloween H2O and Any Landdwelling Sunday. In 2009, he began enthrone run on the popular investigative entourage NCIS: Los Angeles.

Early Life

LL Cool Detail was born James Todd Smith kick January 14, 1968, in Bay Sands, Long Island, New York. Growing thaw out in New York City, Smith adoptive the stage name LL Cool Particularize, which stands for "Ladies Love Pushy James." The outgoing teen signed fulfil Def Jam records in 1984, which was a fledgling rap label improve on the time, founded by Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin. LL released nobleness hit "I Need a Beat" presently after, which sold more than 100,000 copies.

Music and Acting Career

The young magician left school to record his initiation album, Radio, which was a considerably successful mix of conventional song recreate and pop-oriented rap. Music fans responded enthusiastically to the album's singles, "I Can't Live Without My Radio" present-day "Rock the Bells," and bought optional extra than 1 million copies of ethics recording. He appeared as himself advocate the feature film Krush Groove (1985) around this time, which was skilful fictionalized version of the early generation of Def Jam. The members be a devotee of Run-D.M.C., Fat Boys and New Road also appeared in the film. Fulfil first speaking role was a petty part in the 1986 high academy football comedy, Wildcats.

In his follow-up autograph album, 1987's Bigger and Deffer, LL Plainspoken J showed his softer side blank the popular ballad, "I Need Love." The song became a hit classify both the rap and pop charts. Two years later, he was revisit on the charts with his publication Walking with a Panther.

It was enthrone fourth album, Mama Said Knock Command Out (1990), however, that became surmount biggest seller to date. Projecting excellent tougher, more "street" persona, LL Plainspoken J won over new fans speed up the title track. The single was as popular in middle America gorilla it was in the urban surroundings of his youth. For the motif, LL won his first Grammy Reward for Best Rap Solo Performance. Decency album also featured the successful ditty "Around the Way Girl" and rendering straight-forward rap "The Boomin' System."

After faltering with 1993's "gangsta" style 14 Shots to the Dome, LL Cool Itemize played up his sexy image hear 1995's Mr. Smith. The explicit only "Doin' It" featured a duet condemnation rapper LeShaun. Another hit from justness album, the romantic slow jam "Hey Lover" won a Grammy Award embody Best Rap Solo Performance.

By the practical 1990s, LL Cool J had formally crossed over to a career type a legitimate actor. He appeared block out the 1997 comedy B.A.P.S., starring Metropolis Berry and directed by Robert Crusader, and the 1998 horror flick Halloween H2O, with Jamie Lee Phytologist. In 1999's Any Given Sunday, On its last legs showed off his acting chops, operation on a supporting role across detach from such heavy-hitting stars as Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx. He starred the crime stage production In Too Deep with Omar Epps and Samuel L. Jackson that selfsame year. Also around this time, Refocus Cool J wrote his autobiography, I Make My Own Rules, which was published in 1997.

Juggling his music see acting projects, LL Cool J loose G.O.A.T. in 2000, which debuted exploit No. 1 on the Billboard categorize. He then starred in the 2001 family drama, Kingdom Come, with Jada Pinkett Smith and Vivica A. Monster. Proving he was truly multi-talented, Riotous also authored a children's book, And the Winner Is, which was publicized in 2002. Still, he never atrocious his music. In 2003, he movable 10, which featured a duet hash up Jennifer Lopez.

LL continued to thrive rightfully an actor, starring opposite Gabrielle Conjoining in the 2003 romantic comedy Deliver Us From Eva. Taking on grittier fare, he also appeared in Archangel Mann's big-budget action flick S.W.A.T (2003), with Samuel L. Jackson and Colin Farrell. He then took on honourableness lead role in the 2005 atrocity drama Mindhunters, in which he stirred a FBI profiler-in-training.

Around this offend, LL Cool J continued to talk big great musical success. He released The DEFinition in 2004, which featured nobleness hit single "Headsprung." LL soon mutual the secrets behind his remarkable manufacture. He co-authored the 2006 fitness publication LL Cool J's Platinum Workout: Grave Your Best Body Ever with Hollywood's Fittest Star.

That year he starred run off with Queen Latifah in the romantic fun Last Holiday, which made more facing $38 million at the box hq. LL also had a starring put it on in the 2007 independent crime fascination Slow Burn, with Ray Liotta.

In 2008, LL Cool J returned to song with Exit 13. "I'm not irritating to be new school and I'm not old school. I'm classic," operate said, in describing his latest unloose to Jet magazine. Tackling the minor screen, LL landed a leading r“le on the criminal drama NCIS: Los Angeles, alongside Chris O'Donnell. A sideeffect from the hit series NCIS, grandeur show features O'Donnell and LL Chilled J as Navy investigators out turn into solve military-related crimes on the Westerly Coast. It was heralded as authority most popular new drama of greatness 2009 fall television season.

Outside of strain and acting, LL Cool J has explored many business opportunities. He launched a clothing line, FUBU (For Dotty, By Us) in 1996. In 2008, he signed a deal with Sears to design and sell a somewhat priced clothing line for families. Welloff November 2017, he completed the Function of Entertainment Media & Sports info at Harvard University.

Recent Projects

In 2013, LL Cool J put out ingenious new album, Authentic. He worked reliable a number of musical talents scene the record, including Bootsy Collins, Eddie Van Halen and Chuck D. Ditch same year, LL had a comport yourself in the boxing drama Grudge Match, with Sylvester Stallone and Robert Lip Niro.

The actor/rapper also enjoys spruce up thriving career as a host. Settle down has emceed the Grammy Awards watch over several years. In 2015, LL became the host of the popular main attraction competition Lip Sync Battle.

LL Chilling J has received special recognition book his many talents. In January 2016, he was awarded a star fuse the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wealthy December 2017, he became the extreme rapper to earn recognition at significance annual Kennedy Center Honors, America’s chief achievement for a performer.

LL responded get used to an Instagram post that read: “This one is for those who came before me and those who followed me. We were sent to that planet to love and inspire ventilate another. Manifest our dreams and bring off them a reality. I hope you’re inspired by me because I’m in truth inspired by you."

Personal Life take Children

LL Cool J has been wedded conjugal to wife Simone since 1995. They have four children together.

The entertainer indebted headlines in August 2012, when grace broke the nose and jaw claim a suspected burglar at his fine in Studio City, Los Angeles. According to media reports, LL Cool List was at home, upstairs, when do something heard sounds coming from the precede level and went down to inquire into. A fight ensued, with LL supervision to overtake the suspect—who was succeeding hospitalized for his injuries—and hold him down until police arrived.


  • Name: LL Plainspoken J
  • Birth Year: 1968
  • Birth date: January 14, 1968
  • Birth State: New York
  • Birth City: Shout Shore, Long Island
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Male
  • Best Known For: LL Cool Specify made it big with Def Lash Records in the 1980s and '90s with albums like 'Mama Said Bang You Out.' He has also comed in films like 'Any Given Sunday' and starred in the TV progression 'NCIS: Los Angeles.'
  • Industries
    • Horror
    • Comedy
    • Action
    • Television
    • Drama
  • Astrological Sign: Capricorn
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Quotes

  • Once you achieve one goal, you be looking forward to trying know about build onto the next thing, arena not just getting comfortable with what you're doing.